Abstract:
Vannam which are in connection with the Low-Country dance tradition called
Sindu Vannam are prevalent in southern and western areas of Sri Lanka.
Kandyan and Sabaragamu Vannam were written for entertainment and Sindu
Vannam written in a ritualistic style or form of Bhakti Geetha. Sindu Vannam are
considered as a lyrical composition like a chain. There are 32 compositions of
Sindu Vannam. All are related to Vishnu who is the god from Devinuwara in Sri
Lanka. Sindu Vannam speak well of god Vishnu or Upulvan. It has been written
in a ritualistic and supplicate manner for the protection of the human of the
world. Researchers have put forward their opinion about the history of Sindu
Vannam. According to the feature of the metre of Sindu Vannam, there is a view,
thatVannam have been written in the Dambadeni era. Likewise, according to the
styles oflanguage, Sindu Vannam were created as a part ofliterature in the final
half of the Kotte or Kandy era. However, opinion varies up to day. The aim of this
study is to inquire into the historical background of Sindu Vannam. For this
study it was difficult to find the sources related to the Sindu Vannam, although
manuscripts and Metrical composition are important in this study as basic
sources. In addition, interviews and library references are also used. In this
study, it is clear that according to the features of metre, Sindu Vannam have not
been writtenin the Dambadeni era. It can be concluded that Sindu Vannam have
been written in the post Kandyan era or Matara era as a literary pattern.
