[1][2] The names Randoli, Rididoli, and Yakadadoli are believed to have originated from the palanquins used by the different ranks of consorts of the Kings of the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka.
Queen Consort (Sinhala: අග බිසව) was the highest-ranked position in the Randoli category, and her biological or adoptive children were the only ones qualified to succeed to the throne.
In the first dynasty to rule the Kingdom of Kandy, the House of Siri Sanghabo, the kings married Sinhalese royal blood lineage (Gampola, Keerawalle) as the Queen Consort.
Despite being a consort, Pramila Devi was childless and refused to adopt the king's only son from a Yakadadoli (royal concubine), leaving the question of succession to the throne in doubt.
As the only heir to the throne of Kandy from her father's lineage, she briefly ruled the kingdom as queen regnant backed by the Portuguese army in 1581.
Despite being a queen consort, she was relatively inactive in politics during the reign of Senarath due to her physical and mental illness, which was most likely caused by forced marriage.
The Queens' Chambers, also known as the Meda Wasala (Sinhala: මැද වාසල), is located to the north of the Palle Vahale, which was used as quarters for the royal concubines and is similar in architectural design.
It consists of a small open courtyard with verandahs and a single bedroom, constructed of valuable timber with a bed placed on four stone understructures.
Many features of Kandy era architecture can be seen in the Meda Wasala, including wooden pillars with carvings, piyassa with pebbles, a central courtyard with padma boradam, and a drain system built around it.
According to historical records of the Kandy era, King Sri Vikrama Rajasingha secluded Queen Rangammal in this building, and only her closest servants had the chance to see her.
Despite its size, the Meda Wasala has only one room, and four copper sheets in the archaeological museum are believed to have been used as a protective spell buried in pits in the four pillars of the bed.
[3][4] The wedding ceremony of the queen consort of Kandy, as detailed in "An Account of the Interior of Ceylon, and of Its Inhabitants" by John Davy, was a grand and elaborate affair.
On the wedding day, the king arrived and was presented with flowers by the chiefs while the ladies rubbed sandal powder and other perfumes on his arms.
The father or nearest male relative of the bride poured water on betel leaves from a gold pot and declared that he relinquished his daughter to the king.
Afterward, the chiefs and their ladies were invited to the palace for a grand supper, during which they were entertained with performances by dancers, singing girls, and musicians.
Separate dishes, including two or three hundred different kinds of curries, were served, and milk or a sweet beverage resembling lemonade was offered as a drink.
Overall, the wedding ceremony of the queen consort of Kandy was a joyous occasion filled with festivities and an unusual exchange of civilities, as described by John Davy.
Favorite consorts of the king frequently received land grants, and they used a palanquin made from silver that reflected their level in the royal household.
[6] The Royal Consorts Quarters, also known as the Lower Palace or Palle Wahale (Sinhala: පල්ලේ වාසල),[7][8] is a historical building constructed during the Sri Vickrama Rajasingha era.