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

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signifying 'jungle settlers' (Waldsiedler). But this interpretation,
as we shall see presently, is unacceptable. Paranavitana, too,
feels that the Vanni chiefs appear to have been in Ceylon 'from
early days' (earlier than the thirteenth centur) Thi8 opinion
is based on certain statements in the Nikya-sahrahaya and the
Eu-attanag4uvaisa . The latter works alludes to certain
Siri-vannis in the Attanag4u region who disregarded the authority
of Nugalan ) who was ruling at Anurdhapura
This monarch may be any one of the three Moggallnas who ruled
between the fifth and the seventh century. The source of our
information is a work of the post-Polonnaruva period and,
therefore, the reference to Vannis in the period before the
eighth century does not seem to be authentic. Paranavitana
himself has cast doubt on this reference by saying that 'we
cannot be certain that the author of this text was not attributing
to the past conditions which were normal in his day' The
Nika-sagrahay-a, too, has a similar reference. According to
this work, ParkramabThu I conquered three hundred and sixty-four
Vanni territories. This is, however, not mentioned in the
1. U.C.H.C., I, pt. 2, P. 738.
2. E.u-ay . , p. ki.
3. U.C.H.C., I, pt. 2, p. 737.
Li.. NIL gi&n,, p. 20.