A province of Ceylon, probably to the north of Anurādhapura. It was often occupied by the Tamils, and its chiefs refused to acknowledge allegiance to the Sinhalese kings. Its people had to be subdued from time to time by the Sinhalese kings, in order to establish the peace of the land and the security of the throne (See, e.g., Cv.xliv.71; xlvii.3, 54; xlviii.83-4, 95, 112).
The district formed a convenient landing-place for invaders coming to Ceylon from India, where they might complete their preparations (E.g., Cv.i.14). It is sometimes called Uttararattha, E.g., Cv.ixx.92.