Nilame

Nilame is a historical title used in the Sinhala-speaking regions of Sri Lanka, most notably within the Kandyan Kingdom. The term referred to members of the regional aristocracy who held land, commanded local forces, and administered districts on behalf of the king. Nilames were drawn from prominent Sinhala families and often held hereditary estates; they occupied high-ranking posts in royal administration and performed ceremonial duties alongside other nobles.

The exact etymology of Nilame is not clearly documented, but it is generally understood as a title associated with noble rank within the Kandyan feudal hierarchy. In practice, Nilames served as local governors and landholders with duties that could include tax collection, maintenance of law and order, and provisioning of military forces, acting under the supervision of royal ministers. They formed an important social tier between the king and common subjects, with status tied to landholding and loyalty to the crown.

The power and privileges of Nilames declined with the collapse of the Kandyan Kingdom and the advent of British rule in the 19th century, which introduced centralized authority and reshaped feudal landholding and administration. In modern Sri Lanka, Nilame persists as a surname in some families and appears in historical records and genealogies. The concept of Nilame remains a figure of historical and cultural significance, illustrating the island’s feudal-era aristocracy.