Reference
Glossary
The Sinhala and Pali terms used across this archive, with their script forms and meanings.
- All 39
- Irrigation & agriculture 6
- Office & administration 7
- Religion & monastic life 10
- Society & community 6
- Architecture & craft 6
- General 4
C
- Culavamsa චූලවංශය cūḷavaṃsa
- The continuation of the Mahavamsa, covering the later Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandyan periods.
M
- Mahavamsa මහාවංශය mahāvaṃsa
- The principal Pali chronicle of Sri Lanka, compiled from the fifth century CE. A religious and dynastic narrative rather than a modern history; its early sections are traditional account rather than datable record.
S
- Sannasa සන්නස sannasa
- A royal grant, usually inscribed on a copper plate, recording the award of land or privilege. Sannas are among the most useful documentary sources for landholding history.
T
- Thombo තෝම්බුව tōmbuva
- The land and population register maintained by the Dutch and continued by the British. Thombo registers recorded holdings, service obligations and community, and are a principal source for how colonial administration classified the population.