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

a provincial governor who seems to have held the title of
Tparja The evidence for this is the reference in the
- 2
Sammohavinodan! to a prince ca].ledDTparaja ruling over N5gadpa.
There is also a reference in one of the pre-Christian BrhmI
inscriptions at Mihintal to a certain DTpara who was the son
of a king of Anurdhapura DTparja was probably the title of
the governor of Ngadpa. That Ngadpa was undoubtedly a
province of the Anurdhapura kingdom in the second century A.D.
is clearly established by the gold plate inscription found at
Vallipuram in Jaffna This inscription informs us that in the
time of Vasabha (67-111), Nakadiva (1 acI!pa) was administered
by a minister (amete) of that king. In the P.li chronicle there
are only a few references to NgadTpa. Sometimes for long periods
there is no mention of this palce at all. Such silence is explained
by Rasanayagam in an incredible m1iner. To him, 'the presuiirption
therefore, is that in those years the northern principality was
quite independeiit and quiet' It is a well-known fact that the
428
1. S.Paranavitana, 'The Arya Kingdom of North Ceylon', p. 189.
2. SammohavinodanT, P.T.S. ed. , p. k43.
3. U.C.H.C., I, pt.]., p.229. In No.231 of 1930/31 (M.E.L for 1930/31)
a subordinate of I?Ajendra I is called DTpattaraiya (Skt. dv!parja).
It is not known whether he as associated with Jaffna in any way.
li. See supra, p.'1O-
5. C. Raaaiiayagam, 2. • p. 66.