This inscription is engraved on four stones built into the western wall of the Nātha Dēvālē in Kandy. The wall includes eight inscribed stones in all, referred to here as A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. Stones A–E are arranged in one row, while stones F–H form part of the row below. One inscription reads straight across stones A and B, is continued on stone C and concludes on stone D. A separate, fragmentary record begins on stone E and continues on stones F–H. The first of these two inscriptions is dealt with here (see IN03157 for the other). The text is dated on the tenth of the dark half of Bak in the Buddhist year 2085 (30 March, 1543) and records the grant of various concessions by the king Śrī Jayavīra Mahā Väḍa-vun-täna to the people of Dumbara, Pansiyapattuva, Mātalē, and Ūva Tunkin̆da, and of the village Alutgama for their services in an attack by the Portuguese on the Hill Country. The king mentioned here can probably be identified with Jayavīra Baṇḍāra, who is thought to have succeeded to the throne of Kandy in 1511 and reigned until 1552. He was the successor of Sēnāsammata Vikrama Bāhu, who is credited with having founded Kandy as a capital and also with having established (or at least rebuilt) the Nātha Dēvālē, although the current building on the site dates from a later period.
On the tenth of the waning moon of Bak in the year of Buddha 2085. Because, when there was a disturbance made by the Portuguese against the Hill Country, the governors of Dumbara, Pansiyapattuva, Mātalē, Ūva Tunkin̆da, and Alutgama, (and) the host, small and great, of these (four) countries, having beaten the Portuguese, were very loyal to Jayavīra Mahā Väḍa–vun–tena, from the supplies taken for the king’s house from this aforesaid host there shall be remitted the New Year pingo, the fine for infringing orders, and, should food be cooked, the supplies of cooked rice for the royal resting places as heretofore.
For the remaining two countries and the village neither to the chief sent to (govern) the division nor to the kōraḷayā and the minor headmen shall any money be paid for the departments of the hunting dogs, the foreign cattle, and the horses. Except the cooked rice (equal to) three (parts of) uncooked rice a day for any chief or kōraḷayā who has gone (on circuit), no new (contribution of) cooked rice shall be eaten, no new (contribution of) money shall be taken.
If there be any one who has rebelled against Jayavīra Väḍa–vun–tena or who has (worked) for both sides, from him shall be taken for the king’s house all and every one of the (usual) supplies.
To the command, which is to endure according to this edict so long as the order of Majesty shall endure, I‚ Śrī Jayavīra Mahā Väḍa–vun–täna, (certify) that I have called to witness all the thirty-three koṭi of gods including Śakra and all the four guardian gods and have caused to be inscribed this stone record and have given it to the host, small and great.