A province of Sri Lanka, 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 Anurādhapura. At one time it was united with the Malayaraṭṭha 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 Dakkhiṇapassa (e.g., Cv.lviii.41) and Dakkhiṇabhāga.

Among the strongholds of Dakkhiṇadesa are mentioned Muhunnaru, Badalatthala, Vāpināgara, Buddhagāma, Tilagulla, Mahāgallaka and Mandagalla (Cv.lviii.42), and among its villages, Puṅkhagāma (Cv.lxi.42) and Bodhisenapabbata (Cv.lxi.33).