This book can be said to have its roots in a contretemps between university students and army personnel at Peradeniya Campus in February 1969: for this conflict provided an unexpected vacation which enabled me to write up a seminar paper on the rise of a Karāva elite which was then presented before the Ceylon Studies Seminar. Since then progressively modified versions of this paper have been presented at various times at the Center of Asian Studies at the University of Chicago, at Harvard University, at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and at the Südasien Institut of the University of Heidelberg. I have profited from every one of these discussions. In the course of re-directing my research and expanding my findings into a book-length analysis, I have also been fortunate in receiving advice and assistance in various forms from numerous individuals. At the risk of courting charges of invidious distinction, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the assistance received from the late G. C. Mendis and the late Shanti Sri Chandrasekera and to thank Paul Alexander, Maren Bellwinkel, Barney Cohn, C. R. de Silva, K. N. O. Dharmadasa, Hans-Dieter Evers, Sena Jayasuriya, V. Kanapathypillai, Bruce Kapferer, Gananath Obeyesekere, Patrick Peebles, L. S. D. Pieris and Dietmar Rothermund for their encouragement and aid. In its final stages the anonymous referees of the Cambridge University Press helped me to bring this production into more readable shape. Despite this imposing list of support, and the equally imposing history of this publication, shortcomings must remain. I claim the right to be criticised for these.