The oldest extant Pāḷi Chronicle of Sri Lanka. Like the Mahāvaṃsa, it was based on the Commentary (aṭṭhakathā) handed down in the Mahāvihāra of Sri Lanka. It gives the impression not of an evenly worked out whole, but rather of a stringing together of fragments, a composition of whole lines, sometimes whole stanzas, borrowed from the Commentary. It is generally agreed that the Dīpavaṃsa assumed its present form about the fourth century A.C. It is stated (Cv.xxxviii.59) that Dhātusena made endowments for the regular recital of the Dīpavaṃsa.

The work was edited and published by Oldenberg in 1879. For details see Geiger: Dīpavaṃsa and Mahāvaṃsa.