The sannasa (land grant) is engraved on both sides an oblong copper-plate. There are fifteen lines of text on the observe and a further fifteen lines on the reverse. Writing in the late 1920s, Codrington recorded that the plate “has for many years been in the possession of Mr W. P. Ranasinha, Notary Public”. The latter’s son – A.G. Ranasinha Esq., C.M.G., C.B.E. – lent it to an exhibition organised by the Historical Manuscripts Commission in 1952.
The sannasa records a grant of land to two Brahmans – one Potā Ojjhalun and his nephew Avuhaḷa Ojjhalun of the Śān̆ḍiḷya gotra. As the sannasa relates, these Brahmans served as chief purohita “until His Majesty our King Mahā Parākrama Bāhu…had worn the crown fifty-five times” (i.e. had reigned for fifty-five years). Kings of this period wore the state crown every year on the anniversary of their coronation, hence a king who wore the crown fifty-five times must have reigned for fifty-five years. In recognition of their service, the Brahmans received for their maintenance the village of Oruvaḷa in Aturugiri Kōralē. Subsequently another king made this village a perpetual dānakṣetra in favour of the nephew and also granted him another village in the neighbourhood. Avuhaḷa Ojjhalun, not content, applied either to the same king or to one of his successors for a copper-plate charter confirming that the land held by him was permanently declared a dānakṣetra subject to an annual payment of fifteen fanams to the god Vishṇu. In answer to this request, the present sannasa was issued by king Siri San̆gabo Śrī Parākrama Bāhu at Jayavarddhanapura Kōṭṭē in the fourth year of his reign.
Codrington identifies Mahā Parākrama Bāhu – the king served by the two Bhamans – as Parākrama Bāhu VI, who reigned from 1412 (or 1415, according to certain historical sources) until 1467 A.D. However, the identity of Siri San̆gabo Śrī Parākrama Bāhu – the king who issued the sannasa – is less certain. Kings Parākrama Bāhu VII, VIII and IX are all possibilities, although it is most likely to have been one of the first two. On palaeographic grounds, Codrington favours Parākrama Bāhu VIII. Oruvaḷa (Oruwala), the village mentioned in the grant, is situated near Aturugiriya, about three miles south-south-west of Nawagamuwa.
Hail! prosperity! On the fifth of the waxing moon of Äsaḷa in the year following the third of Our Majesty the Overlord Śrīmat Siri Sangabo Śrī Parākkrama Bāhu, the great king of kings, born of the spotless clan of Prince Sumitra, sprung from the race of the Sun in lineal descent from Mahā Sammata named Manu Vaivasvata, sovereign of Tri Sim̆haḷa and lord of the nine gems, [this command was given] what time We were vouchsafing after due inquiry edicts fit to be carried out in the world, seated on the lion throne surrounded by our ministers in the auspicious palace at Jayavarddhana–pura, which is perfect with all the necessary qualities of a city.
The two Brahmans Potā Ojjhalun and his nephew Avuhaḷa Ojjhalun of the Śān̆ḍiḷya clan first of all served as chief domestic chaplains (purohita), one after the other, until His Majesty our king Mahā Parākrama Bāhu, sovereign of Tri Siṁhaḷa and an incarnate Bodhisatva, had worn the crown fifty-five times, and received as maintenance for their service the baṇagama Oruvaḷa. While he was continuing to possess, on His Majesty’s demise this aforesaid Brahman Avuhaḷa Ojjhalu performed the subsequent rites fit to be observed by royal princes, a king’s legitimate sons. For this cause His Majesty gave him much praise and showed His pleasure by making the village, which had continued in the possession of these (Brahmans), a perpetual dānakṣetra (gift-land), and ordered a fresh grant of a village apart. On the prayer that We should grant a copper-plate for the baṇagama Oruvaḷa, which these domestic chaplains had held for a number of years, We have contemplated making the same a dānakṣetra in favour of the aforesaid Avuhaḷa Ojjhalun, and [accordingly] have written and given a permanent plate, granting it with a command that as long as the Sun and Moon endure there shall continue in the lineal descent of the children and grandchildren of the aforesaid domestic chaplain Avuhaḷa Ojjhalun the following lands:
The baṇagama in Aturugiri Koraḷe, to wit, the extent from Kuḍuvaḷa gati yāya of Am̆buḷuvāya within these four boundaries:
East, Van̆durāmulle Karan̆da-gasa äḷa,
South, Oruvala-pitiye äḷa,
West, The boundary of Ballävila, Aggona and Pora, and the Para-gasa atmaga,
North, The boundary of Korato[ṭa], Diyavuṇu matoraṇa mī-gasa, and Sīlpän-doḷa.
Fields of 1 amuṇa 2 pǟlas sowing extent from Uḍavela, and Sirivinna, 1 pǟla 5 lahas [in extent], which though apart have belonged from the first to the aforesaid village Oruvaḷa.
The garden of Prince Kapurā in the midst of Aturugirigama, and fields of 1 amuṇa 2 pǟlas [extent] in the same.
All these together with jungles, meres, fields, oviṭas, village-revenue, residing gardens, trees, shrubs, and the like, on payment of 15 fanams every year to the lotus coloured king of the gods [Vishṇu].
Should any one, whether kings, sub-kings, great ministers, or others such as administrators of kōraḷēs, or subordinate military officers of divisions, or people of the elephant stalls, hunters with hounds, hunters with clubs, or any such recover (maintenance in) rice, betel, service, profit, fines, recoveries, paḷiya, or marālaya, or cause by deed or word any trouble or disturbance, or should any one have [already] so done, he will be boiled in San̆jīva, Kālasūtra, and the remainder of the eight hells, without release therefrom, and thereafter be born in endless births a graveyard preta. Should in the future a king of our great lineage appear and there be a sovereign who, without risking this fate, helps this village by giving the necessary services and authority, may he wear his crown fifty-five times in Laṁkā as did our great Bodhisatva the great king Parākrama Bāhu, and, acquiring merit, become a monarch whose wheel rolls everywhere in this auspicious universe, and, going in the end to the great Bodhi tree, become a Buddha transcendent in the world.
I, Pālāttarun, [certify] that this sanhas copper plate was written and granted in obedience to His Majesty’s command to this [aforewritten] effect.
Of giving and protecting (what has been given), protecting is nobler than giving. By giving one attains to heaven, by protecting Nirvāṇa.