Sasadawatha

Sasadavatha is considered the second oldest classical work found in Sinhalese literature. Although authorship of the work remains unknown a verse in Sasadavatha indicates the period when the work came to be written - Polonnaruwa period when Queen Leelawathi (1197–1200 1209–10 and 1211–12) reigned. She was the longest reigning monarch in Sri Lankan history of royals. The Sasadavatha came to be written between 1197 and 1200. This work of poetry is based on the 316th tale of the Jataka Book Sasa Jataka. It celebrates the generosity virtue of the Buddha - to - be. Sasadavatha contains 293 verses comparatively a longer collection of poetry found among Sinhalese classical poetry collections.