Dambulla Rock Inscription of Kirti Nissankamalla
The Dambulla Rock Inscription of Kirti Nissankamalla (Sinhala: නිශ්ශංකමල්ල රජුගේ දඹුල්ල ගිරි ලිපිය) is found engraved on the rock to the right immediately after passing the Vahalkada (the entrance hall) in the courtyard of Dambulla Cave Temple in Matale District, Sri Lanka (Seneviratna; 1983; Wickremasinghe, 1912). It is one of the many inscriptions established by King Nissankamalla (1187 - 1196 A.D.). Content
The inscription has been engraved on the rock surface covering an area of about 5 ft 9 in. by 3 ft 6 in. (Wickremasinghe, 1912). The writing has been executed between 25 parallel horizontal lines and the scripts represent the form of the Medieval Sinhala letters used in the 12th and 13th centuries (Wickremasinghe, 1912). Like most of Nissankamalla's records, this inscription also gives exaggerated accounts of his powers, his expeditions to Cola and the Pandya countries, and his philanthropic and religious acts (Ranawella, 2007). Dambulu rock inscription Reign: Kirti Sri Niss…
