Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c10.s2.22

c10.s2.22

On such occasions, king, chiefs and people were brought near together, taking part in joint dedications. At Ovisa, for instance, in 1775, on the occasion of eye painting, the King dedicated lands to the Nallegoḍa Vihāra, and many dedications of praveṇi lands by villagers were also made, the chiefs and others being witnesses (Lawrie’s Gazetteer, p. 671). In the case of communal or private dedications, the Royal consent was required, and readily given, often with the addition of further gifts. And so, to quote again the words of the chronicle, the king was ‘one with the religion and the people.’†