Abstract:
There are many thesis about the origin of Nâdagama tradition of Sri Lanka, which
was popular from North to South of the Western coast of Sri Lanka. Even though
the most popular theory regarding the origin of Nâdagama tradition in Sri Lanka is
that it came during 18th century AD with the catholic missionaries from South India,
some scholars as Dela Bandara argues that it has an important link to and direct
influence of Terukuttu and Vîthi Nâtaka of Kuttu tradition of South India. Thus,
according to social and historical facts, he argues that Sinhala Nâdagama tradition
goes back to 13th century AD. The central argument of this study builds up to
contradict the theory of origin of Nâdagama as a tradition introduced by Catholic
missionaries and as an offspring of Terukuttu and Vîthi Nâdaka and to establish
the thesis that its origin goes back to Kuttu tradition of South India, which has been
recorded as the most ancient dramatic tradition mentioned in South Indian History.
