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| Mahâ Dissâvas ofKingdom of Kandy | |
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| Member of | Amātya Mandalaya |
| Reports to | TheMonarch |
| Appointer | The Monarch |
| Monarchical Sri Lanka | |
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Part of a series on the politics and government of theSinhala kingdom | |
| Monarch | King |
| Queen consort | Randolis |
Sub king / Heir apparent | Yuvaraja |
| Other queens | Rididoli |
| Wife or Concubinage | Yakadadoli |
| 1st Prime Minister | Pallegampahê Adikâram Mahatmayâ |
| 2nd Prime Minister | Udagampahê Adikâram Mahatmayâ |
| 3rd Prime Minister | Siyapattuwa Adikâram Mahatmayâ |
| Chief Secretary | Mahâ Mohottâla |
| Provincial Governors | Mahâ Dissâvas |
| Royal Household Officers | Dugganna Nilamês |
| Sons of Chiefs | Bandâras |
TheMahâ Dissâvas was a Great Officer in theAmātya Mandalaya, or Sinhalese Council of State, in theSinhalese Kingdoms of monarchicalSri Lanka. Like many of the existing high offices at the time it had combined legislative and judicial powers and functioned primarily equivalent to that of aProvincial governor.[1] The office of Dissava was retained under the successive European colonial powers, namely thePortuguese Empire, theDutch East India Company and theBritish Empire. A Dissava was the governor of a province known as aDisavanies. Within his province, the Dissava held both executive and judicial authority.
Persons were appointed to the title and office by theKing during theKingdom of Kandy, these appointees headed the administration of a large province of the kingdom known as aDisavanies and was the king's personal representative, tax collector in that area. There were twenty one provinces of which twelve of the larger outlying provinces where Dissava. There was no time limit for the officer holder as he held the post at the pleasure of the King, which meant throughout his life, if not incurred the displeasure of the King. It was not hereditary, although members of the same family have been appointed.
As king's personal representative in a province they held much power, controlled the civil administration, taxation, judicial, law enforcement and military matters of the province. Many close relatives of the King being commonly appointed. They received a portion of the taxation as pay and also large land grants from the King, some being hereditary. Along withMaha Adigars and a few others high officials of the kingdom they made up theRadala caste, who were referred to as theChieftains of Kandy by the British. Many were instrumental in the surrender of the Kandyan Kingdom to the British and were signatories to theKandyan Convention in 1815.
The Portuguese continued the administrative units of Disavanis, which existed in the territories the Portuguese gained from former Sinhalese kingdoms. During the Portuguese rule there were four such disavanis. The civil, military and judicial administration of these units were carried out by a Dissava appointed by thePortuguese Captain General in keeping with the tradition of the land. The Dissava led theLascarins which was the local militia in time of war. Initially both Sinhalese and Portuguese were appointed to this post, thereafter Portuguese were preferred. He was assisted in military functions byMudaliyars,Muhandirams andArachchis. In judicial functions he was assisted byBasnayakas andMohottalas. Each Disavanis was divided into sub units called Korales. These were presided by a Korale Vidana, who was amagistrate and revenue collector.
The Dutch continued the system of administration of the Portuguese, but gradually reduced the power of the local headmen. The Dissavas were members of the Political Council of the Commendary the locality they belong to. Following the expansion of British rule into the provinces of the former Kandyan Kingdom in 1815, the British retained the office of Dissava reporting to a board consisting of theBritish Resident in Kandy and two assistants.
Following theUva Rebellion in 1818 and changers to the administrative divisions of the island with the creation ofDistricts, BritishGovernment Agents took over the duties of the Dissava, with the remaining and newly appointed Dissavas being mere honorary titles appointing Kandyans loyal to the British Crown ashonors. After Ceylon suspended honours in 1956, these appointments were never made.
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