The contribution by women in public administration in ancient Sri Lanka from the 3rd century AD to 15th century

Abstract

For the safety, stability and integrity of a prevalent administration, the sacrificial commitment and the mediation of women played a very vital role. The stability and strength the power of intervention and commitment of the community of Womenwas a deciding factor for the safety and smooth running of the public administration machinery of ancient Sri Lanka. The Women and the ruler were not only the idealist forerunners in the dynamics of the field of politics of the social fabric of Sri Lanka, butthey were the also the carrier elements of the human culture. Womenleadership which was not subject to open and serious discussion inancient societiesis now an open topic of discussion. The Women community established soon after the arrival of Arahath Mahinda Thero in Sri Lanka which then spread all over Sri Lanka. The manner in which the relationship was built between the women and the ruler, the impact the women made on the polity, the service rendered to the ruler, the kind of benefits the ruler gained from this support, the intervention the women made in the ancient days’ polity, their role and the response that society offered towards the intervention of the Women will be studied critically in this paper. This research is recorded as a comparative study that integrates archaeological facts and records of the pre-colonial system. The intervention of thewomenin the political field provided powerful support to the authority and the increasing power of the ruler. It has tended to act directly and indirectly, both to freeze the pattern of the rule to a routine and tradition. In the same way, it was an effective force in providing the rulers with a code of ethics whichcreated ways and means of avoiding attacks and challenges to them from the open society. The cooperation extended by the rulers for the good of the womencommunity, to the political institution and political leadership become a powerful force in shaping the leadership and the institution. However, it also turned out to be a violent and sentimental force that disturbed the ancient political institution. Thus, the Women become a dynamic symbol of the force of the state balancing its historical political route, while proving to be dynamic and changing elements.