Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c9.5.1

c9.5.1

In each district of the Kandyan kingdom certain craftsmen were organized as a department known as Koṭṭal-badda, supervised by two officers called Koṭṭal-badde Nilame, appointed by the King for districts other than the Disāvaniya. In the Disāvaniya, the office of Koṭṭal-badde Nilame was usually united with that of Disāva, who appointed a Koṭṭalbadde Vidane, usually of the craftsman caste, as his lieutenant. The body of craftsmen thus organized in the Four Kōrales (one of the Disāvani) consisted of the following classes: 1. Seven Vaḍuvō who performed all carpentry work for the King or Disāva; they were usually employed at the Danḍu Maḍuva (timber yard) in Kandy. 2. Five Liyana Vaḍuvō, or turners. 3. Five Sittaru, or painters. 4. Fourteen Ī-vaḍuvō, or arrow makers, who made bows, arrows, spears, staves, etc., and gauded them with lac; of these men, two worked in the Royal armoury. 5. Fourteen Atapattu Karayō who furnished or executed fine work, and were principally employed in ornamenting and inlaying locks, guns, knives, etc., with gold, silver or brass; two of them worked in the Royal armoury. 6. Four Baḍallu, or silversmiths, workers in gold, silver, brass, or copper; two of them worked in the Royal armoury. 7. One Gal-vaḍuva, or mason.