The Jaffna Tamil Inscription of Parakramabahu VI is one of the Tamil Inscriptions in Sri Lanka. Inscribed on a limestone pillar, this artefact was discovered in 1968 when it was used as a floor stone in a tea shop called Central Cafe on Main Street in Jaffna (Indrapala, 1971). It was later moved by authorities to the nearby Jaffna Archaeological Museum for conservation.
The limestone appears to have formed part of a door-jamb or a pillar in an earlier structure but is presently in a fragmentary state (Indrapala, 1971). The inscription on it covers an area of 5' 6'' x 7'' and contains 25 lines of writing but only 15 lines are readable (Indrapala, 1971).
The Content
Except for the first letter in Grantha, the rest of the record is inscribed in the Tamil script of the 15th century (Indrapala, 1971). According to Indrapala, the writing of this record is similar to that of the Naimmana Tamil Inscription of King Parakramabahu VI [(1412-1467 A.D.) Indrapala, 1971].
The purpose of establishing this inscription is unclear due to its fragmentary state. However, the name of the ruler in whose reign the inscription was set up is identifiable in the preserved portion (Indrapala, 1971). Scholars such as Indrapala identify this ruler with King Parakramabahu VI (1412-1467 A.D.) and date the record to a year between 1448 and 1467 (Indrapala, 1971).
Sinhala literacy sources reveal that Prince Sapumal, the adopted son of Parakramabahu VI ousted the Tamil ruler in Jaffna and annexed his territory to the Kotte Kingdom. According to the view of Indrapala, the historical authenticity of this claim is further confirmed by this Tamil inscription (Indrapala, 1971).
References
1) Indrapala, K. (ed), 1971. Epigraphia Tamilica. Volume I, Part I. Jaffna Archaeological Society. pp.29-32.
