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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South India in early times. In Ceylon, South Indian traders
probably established temporary settlements in the ports. The fact
that the two earliest and most renowned iva temples of Ceylon
are to be found in the ancient ports of Mahtittha and Gokaa
may point to the establishment of South Indian settlements in
these ports at an early date. The antiquity of these shrines can
be traced to about the third century A.D. The aiva Tmi-1 works
of later times, prominent among these being the Takçia-kailcapuram
and the T a-vaipava-rlai, trace their origin to
pre-Christian times Much of the material in these works, relating
to the early period, falls outside the realm of historical
probability and one has to turn to other sources for reliable
information concerning this quwation. The iva temple at Nahtittha
namely Tiru-kttvaram, appears to have been noti g e1 in the
Dhvaisa. According to this work, there was a temple of god at
the port of Mahtittha in the ninth year of Kitti Sin Megha (A.D.3lO)
The existence of a iva temple at Goka4a in the time of }1ahaena
(27k-301) is vouched for by the Naiivasa, which mentions the
construction by Mahsena of a vihra at Goka after the destruction
of a temple of god there The Laattha pp inI, the commentary
1. ., Tirnmalai Carukkam ; Yvm., p. 6.
2. Dahavatsa, ed. and tr. B.C.Law, p. k2.
3. ., 37:kl.