113992242-Dravidian-Settlements-in-Ceylon-and-the-Beginnings-of-the-Kingdom-of-Jaffna-By-Karthigesu-Indrapala-Complete-Phd-Thesis-University-of-London-1965

It is the accounts in the Sinhalese and Pli
245
chronicles, especially those of the Clavaisa and the P1Tjva]4ya,
that form the basis of the study of the conquest. Though
unsatisfactory in some waye, the first familiar statements of
what happened comes from them. The most important of these
accounts are those of the C11laaisa and the Pjvaliya. The
Pjvaliya account is of exceptional value as it was written
within half a century after the invasion. The nature and value
of these two accounts have formed the subject of a lengthy and.
critical discussion by A.Liyanagamae Suffice it to say here
that much of these accounts is devoted to denouncing the
wickedness of the invaders and. bemoaning the damage dome to the
Buddhist Order. Despite the bitter tone of the accounts, there
is no doubt that they are based on genuine traditions as is
confirmed by the archaeolth ica]. evidence and by one of the
Tamil chronicles and are very valukble to our study. Hence
our account of the invasion and of the subsequent occupation
of northern Ceylon is to be primarily based on these sources.
1. A. Liyanagamage, . cit.
2. See infra, p. 3'i.