Abstract:
Sri Lanka have had a unique and traditional system of land tenure from the
beginning of the Anuradhapura Period until the fall of the Kandyan Kingdom in
1815. This system underwent certain changes from time to time, and during Kotte
and Kandyan Periods there developed a system of land tenure with distinctive
characteristics. This study would examine the traditional system of land tenure which
existed during those two periods. The objective of the study is to identify the manner
in which the system of land tenure functioned, the special features in Kotte and
Kandyan Periods and to compare the systems of land tenure of those Periods.
Further, when carrying out the study the socio-economic conditions which influenced
the formation of such unique characteristics were also looked into. The study is
based on the research question: whether the traditional land tenure systems of Kotte
and Kandy were an extension of the system which existed in Sri Lanka during the
pre-Kotte Period. Historical Methodology was applied for the research. Methods of
library surveys, field work, and consultation of archival documents (Colombo and
Kandy depositaries of the National Archives) were applied. It can be assumed that
the systems of land tenure in Kotte and Kandy had unique characteristics and at the
same time shared common features. Also, these systems were based not only on legal
conditions but also depicted complex characteristics due to influence of economic
and administrative background. Thus, it can be concluded that although they were an
extension of the system existed in the pre-Kotte Period, the Kotte and Kandyan
systems depicted a uniqueness too.
