Govigama
EN සිං
Reference

Glossary

The Sinhala and Pali terms used across this archive, with their script forms and meanings.

A

Adigar අධිකාරම් adhikāram
The highest office of the Kandyan kingdom below the king, equivalent to a chief minister. There were normally two, the Maha Adigar and the Second Adigar.

D

Disawa දිසාව disāva
The governor of a province (disavany) in the Kandyan kingdom, combining administrative, judicial and military authority. Keppetipola held the Disawa of Uva when he joined the 1817–18 rebellion.

G

Gansabhawa ගම්සභාව gamsabhāva
The village council, which settled local disputes, regulated water sharing and organised communal work. Revived in modified form under British administration in 1871.

K

Korale කෝරළය kōraḷaya
An administrative division below the province, itself made up of pattu and villages. The term survives in place names such as Four Korales and Seven Korales.

M

Mudaliyar මුදලි mudaliyār
A native headman in the maritime provinces under Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. The Mudaliyar class formed the intermediary administration between the colonial state and the Sinhalese population, and the Maha Mudaliyar was its most senior figure.

R

Rajakariya රාජකාරිය rājakāriya
Literally "the king's work": the obligation of service owed to the crown in return for holding land. Duties varied by community and by holding, and the system bound labour to land rather than paying for it. Abolished by the British in 1832.
Rate Mahatmaya රටේ මහත්මයා raṭē mahatmayā
The chief headman of a korale, ranking below the Disawa and responsible for revenue, order and the organisation of service obligations in his district.