On the Chronicles of Ceylon

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The volume is the reprint of a book entitled On the Chronicles of Ceylon by Bimala Churn Law first published by the Asiatic Society in 1947. The author in the Preface of the original edition, while informing the readers that he had dealt with the same topic in his earlier book entitled History of Pali Literature published in 1933, mentioned: "In the present book my treatment is different from that of the previous writers.... I have discussed the chronological, literary, and historical position of the chronicles in Pali and Sinhalese" by utilising all available materials gathered from ancient and modern literature on the subject.
I hope the students and scholars in the field would be immensely benefited by the reprint of the book.

In this treatise an attempt has been made to present a careful and exhaustive study of the chronicles of Ceylon in a spirit of scientific research. In 1908 Geiger made a critical study of this subject for the first time in his work on The Dipavamsa and Mahāvamsa and their Historical development of Ceylon. In 1928 G. P. Malalasekera published a book on the Pali Literature of Ceylon (J.R.A.S. publication, Prize Publication Fund, Vol. X) and in 1933 1, in my History of Pali Literature, dealt with the same topic. In the present book my treatment is different from that of the previous writers. In three chapters I have discussed the chronological, literary, and historical position of the chronicles in Pali and Sinhalese. I have tried to utilize all the available materials, which may be gathered from ancient and modern literature on the subject. This work is, I believe, new in its treatment, and will remove a long-felt want. I shall consider my labour amply rewarded, if it be of some use to scholars interested in the Ceylonese chronicles.