The inscription is covers all four sides of a quadrangular stone pillar, which stood in the early twentieth century in a corner of a room in the Kacceri (Government Agent’s Office) at Mannar. It is said to have been found in Māntai or Tirukkētīśvaram (or possibly in the bund of the Giant’s Tank) but the precise circumstances of its discovery are not recorded. The inscription details a grant of immunities to three villages on the northern coast, belonging to the house of meditation (piyangala) named Baha-durusen (Bhadra-sena) in the Mahā Vihāra. The text is dated on the tenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Mädindina (March–April) in the twelfth year of King Siri Saṅgbo. Since the palaeography belongs to the late ninth or early tenth century A.D., it is likely that the king in question was either Sena II or Kassapa IV, both of whom used the biruda Siri Saṅgbo. Paranavitana (Epigraphia Zeylanica 3, pp. 102–103) favours Kassapa IV on the grounds that the executor of this grant – a minister named Paṇḍirad Dāpuḷu – is also mentioned in the same capacity in the Mäḍirigiriya Pillar Inscription (IN03070), which is dated to the third regnal year of Kassapa IV’s immediate successor, Kassapa V. While the same minister could easily have served both Kassapa IV and his successor, it is highly unlikely that he could have held office from the twelfth year of Sena II’s reign until the third year of Kassapa V’s – a period of more than fifty years.

Epigraphia Zeylanica
Paranavitana, S. (1928-33). ‘No. 5. Mannar Kacceri Pillar Inscription (A.S.C. No. 355),’ Epigraphia Zeylanica 3, p. 105.

Hail! Prosperity! On the tenth day of the waning moon of the month of Mädindina (February–March) in the twelfth year of His Majesty SiriSaṅgbo.

 

Whereas it was ordered [as follows] by a [decree] of unanimous assent, in connexion with the lands included within the four boundaries of the three villages named Pepodatuḍa, Kumbalhala and Tumpokoṇ, situated in the Kuḍakadavukā [division] of the Northern Coast, belonging to the meditation hall (piyangala) named Bahadurasen (Skt. Bhadrasena) of the Great Monastery, we, two of us [namely] Pilaviṭ Mayind and Koḷabǟ Sivu, commissioned by Paṇḍirad Dāpuḷa, [enact thus] in pursuance of the said decree [passed] with the unanimous assent [of the Council].

 

To these villages, royal officers and piyovadāran shall not enter. Those of the archery department, the melāssi, headmen in charge of districts and of provinces shall not enter. The employees at the two offices, deruvanä, pereläki, archers, guards, and those of the paid services shall not enter. Carts, oxen, labourers, imposts of cooked and raw rice, and periodical gifts of milk and oil should not be taken. The perenāṭṭuvam shall not enter. The ferrymen residing in these villages should not take avalin (oars?) of (or from) the tenants. Sadāladdan shall not enter. Officers in charge of kabhäli shall not enter. Officers in charge of Mahapuṭu (i.e. Mahātittha) shall not enter. Those who reside at the Nāvehera shall not enter. Those who reside at the Rakavehera shall not enter. Having forbidden the entry of the aforsaid persons, we, two of us, have given to these villages the immunities [sanctioned by] the Council.

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