A province of Ceylon, the territory west of the mountains and reaching up to the sea. It was so called from the relation of its position to that of Anurádhapura. At one time it was united with the Malayarattha and formed part of the territory governed by the king's second son (E.g., Cv.xli.35; but see Cv.Trs.i.54, n.4). Later, it seems to have become the special province of the heir-apparent (E.g., Cv.xliii.8; xliv.84; lxv.23; lxviii.33; li.12, etc.).
It is also referred to as Dakkhinapassa (E.g., Cv.lviii.41) and Dakkhinabhága.
Among the strongholds of Dakkhinadesa are mentioned Muhunnaru, Badalatthala, Vápinágara, Buddhagáma, Tilagulla, Mahágalla and Mandagalla (Cv.lviii.42), and among its villages, Punkhagáma (Cv.lxi.42) and Bodhisenapabbata (Cv.lxi.33).