The son of this lion-human union not only killed the primal father, but espoused his siter. Beginning from this, our ancient chronicles have enough evidence of violent power struggles between kings, a classic example being the case of prince Kashyapa who slowly buried his father king alive in the mud embankment of Kalawewa to get his father's 'wealth'. But it is apparent that what the chroniclers who are Buddhist monks tell us is only part of the story given their own involvement in these power struggles as part of the ruling triad consisting the king, the nobility and the monastic community. Moreover, for the same reason of being involved in power, the ancient history of Sri Lanka written by Buddhist monks do not reveal much of the state repression against the civilian population. However, despite these limitations these historical sources directly and indirectly reveal various forms of violence in ancient Sri Lankan society.
Violence can take various forms.
Sri Lankan society was based on a caste hierarchy which served the elite of the society, the triadic ruling group of non-producers. There was compulsory services to the state which all able bodied men had to perform free of charge. Peasants cultivated land of the landlords, and paid rents, taxes etc and personal services to the state and the lords. During the Kandy period there is evidence of flogging people through the four streets as punishment for murder. Thus an arm was amputated for robbing the Treasury, the tongue pulled out for slander, and so on.