WESAK: The second month of the Sinhalese year (May-June).
WESIGILIYA OR WESIKILIYA: A privy for priests.
WESMUNA: A mask worn at a Devil or other dance.
WIBADDE-MOHOTTALA: The writer who keeps the account of the paddy revenue of a temple.
WIDANE: The superintendent of a village or a number of villages. The agent of a proprietor.
WIHARAYA: A Buddhist temple (from the Sanskrit vi-hri to walk about), originally the hall where the Buddhist priests took their morning walk; afterwards these halls were used as temples and sometimes became the centre of a whole monastic establishment. The word Wihara or Vihara is now used only to designate a building dedicated to the memory of Gautama Buddha, and set apart for the daily offering of flowers, and of food given in charity. To the Wihara proper there has been added in modern times an image-house for figures of Buddha in the three attitudes standing as the law-giver, sitting in meditation, reclining in the eternal repose of unbroken peace and happiness; and these figures now form prominent objects in every Wihara, and it is before these figures that pious Buddhists make their offerings of rice, flowers, money, etc. It should not be confounded with the “Pansala” which signifies the monastic buildings as distinguished from the temple or place of worship around which they are clustered.
WILKORAHA: A large chatty used in soaking seed paddy.
WITARUMA: An inferior Vidane, but the office has lost its original dignity. The duties formerly consisted of mere general superintendence of Muttettu-work and carrying of messages to Hewawasam tenants. The Vitaranna now is only a common messenger doing ordinary service as a petty overseer.
WIYADAMA: Anything expended or issued for use, whether money or stores. It is generally used for provisions given to a headman or person of rank.
WIYAKOLAMILA: Hire of buffaloes employed in threshing paddy.