A Study on Village Court System and Division of Powers as Revealed by the Wewalkatiya Stone Inscription

Abstract

The contribution of inscriptions in the investigation of social, economic, and political information of the past Sri Lanka is immense. It is expected to discuss the old social structure of Sri Lanka as far back as the 10th century and the village court system and powers that operated in it based on the information of the “Wewalkatiya” stone inscription. The primary objective of this study is to identify the democratic methods used in solving social problems by the village courts in the 10th century. Sometimes, it is possible to examine the possibility of adapting such ancient methods even to the present. Accordingly, the research problem of this study is to investigate the nature of the village court system of the 10th century and its governing powers. Subject to the qualitative research method, information on the "Wewalkatiya" stone inscription in Epigra Zelenice Volume 01, other related books, videos, and internet web users were used as the source of the inscriptions investigation. The “Wewalkatiya” stone inscription was established during the ninth reign of King Mihindu IV and this is of historical importance because it reveals information about the social control methods, rules, and punishments that were implemented in those social structures. Thus, it is possible to think that social values and morals may have been protected due to the value systems built up in these societies by the implementation of rules and regulations related to village courts. According to this inscription, the offences punishable are murder, theft, physical torture, and the killing of animals like cattle, cows, goats, etc. The punishments were the death penalty, mutilation, payment of fines, confiscation of property, etc. Also, the facts mentioned in the inscription reveal that this punishment system was valid for the ruling class as well as the controlled party who violated the above punishments. Accordingly, it is possible to understand how far the village court system and powers, which are known from the 10th century “Wewalkatiya” inscription, are democratic and can contribute to modern governance activities.