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| Ever
wondered why Sri Lanka has a ruling class
so selfish, and so scared ? |
|
| 2 hours of hardwork everyday, six monthes long research, with a
full time job to do and with an angry wife and three children to look after.- May this hard work be dedicated to ALL
brave young men who went to protect their heritage and inspire so many more
to rise up and defend our continuity with justice and fairness for ALL within
a multi-cultural environment where selfish, lying, two-faced-two-tongued
gutless greedy traitors, has no opportunity to play their wicked game of
fraud. ( Dont forget Dutch
times, and Portugese times ) |
|
| 1796 |
Third Bitish delegation arrives
in Kandy & innocent king falls into the trap by
believing their lies and deceit.……….. |
Led
by Robert Andrews they arrive in good time when King was very unhappy with
the Dutch for their desperate attempts to keep monopoly. British offer an
outlet for Kandy to obtain salt & fish, and to operate 10 ships. King
wants more ports and an assurance that the Dutch areas do not fall into
British control. But British really seeks only a resistance of the king that
will keep at least some of the Dutch troops tied down enabling the British to beat the Dutch
with the least casualties. They also fighten the king about the fall of the
monarchs giving French revolution as an example, & shows that only the
British can help monarchs around the globe. |
|
| 1796 |
15 th Feb, 1796, British take
Colombo & Lanka from the Dutch without resistance & breaks the promise given to Sinhalese
who are faced with the most powerful enemy in the world now. |
British Navy advances along the
coast to Negombo, & then on foot they cross Kelani river to reach
Colombo. They humiliate the Sinhala army from Kandy that came to help by
sending them back saying they are not needed. British also send the Sinhala
army that took Matara from the Dutch on the 2nd February back within 22 days.
The British had used Kandy only to tie the Dutch troops in forts. Thus the
joint elements of Briitish East India co. & British Govt. took the entire
coastline and the land 20 miles interior. Kandy is faced with the most
powerful enemy in the world now. |
|
| 1796 |
The rebellion the British
expected take place - British gives what the selfish
officials & village chiefs need, & easily suppress the patriotic
Sinhalese |
Having
introduced drastic social and economic reforms, British expects an uprising.
Full military power is used against the rebels. Kandyan chiefs, Dutch and
French officials secretly support the rebels. Noticing this, British promises
to reintroduce the old way of taxes and removes the reforms. The selfish
officials are happy with that. This also wins the selfish village chiefs and
with their help the British round up the few remaining rebels with ease. |
|
| 1796 |
Dutch and Malay mercenaries |
Dutch and Malay mercenaries of
Dutch service, are transferred to British East India Co. |
|
| 1797 |
British brings in the
"Caste-tactic"- By giving jobs to the two largest casts, British
get the Sinhalese majority depended on the British rule. With this Sinhala
majority being loyal to the British, Sinhala rebellions will only lead to the
massacre of the patriotic Sinhalese. |
A
committee that was appointed to investigate the cause of the rebellion
recommend a strong tactics to curb any future uprising. While continuing with
the Village headmen rule, the very first British governer Frederick North
himself declare himself of Govigama
caste, and a lower civil servant as a Karawe caste. This created the fashion
of superior jobs for the Govigama or Vellale and next level of jobs to karawe
caste. Sinhalese will continue to believe in this fashion. With these two
casts being the majority of the Sinhalese society, the British have the
majority Sinhalese depended on the British rule. From here onwards, the
Sinhala rebellions will not arise from the Sinhala majority as the majority
is loyal to the British. |
|
| 1798 |
Last King of Lanka - 4th Nayakakar king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe -Selfish 1st Adigar
places an unsuitable puppet to the throne, who will destroy the reputation of
the 3 previous Good Nayakkar kings. |
As good king Rajadi Rajasinghe
died of a fever, leaving no heir, selfish Pilimatalawe, the 1st Adigar, who
is unpopular among the Kandyans is left with power to recommend one. He looks
for a temperary puppet king who will not challenge the power he was gaining
in Kandy. He find a 18 year old SL born Nayakkar, Konnasamy, who is a son of a former queen's sister.
But his plans to use the new king to his advantage and to oust him once he is
popular among the people backfired as the new king took control of the
situation himself. |
|
| 1799 |
Selfish Pilimatalawe
offers British the country in return for the crown
to rule Sinhalese |
In a meeting with the governer
in 1799 in Avissawella, he forward his offer & is rejected by Frederick
North. Instead he sees the potential of using him to take Kandy and offers
him to be a deputy king in Kandy surrounded by a British army unit and British
officials while the king & the royal court moving to Colombo as nominal
leader. But Pilimetalawe insists he want to be the king. |
|
| 1799 |
Deciding not to be a puppet to
Pilimatalawe, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe goes bananas |
Sensing the lack of loyalty
around him , and plaged by insecurity and plotters and conspirators, He turn
a tyrant desperate to wipe out any suspected opponent. Sometimes when he
cannot single out a possible threat he would kill hundreds hoping the one he
wanted was among them. He confiscates the wealth of the Nobles in punishment
for not displaying loyalty. His hideous torture include impaling by draining
the blood out. He trusts the lower classes but mistrusts the Kandyan
aristocracy who he sees as his opponent. He changes sleeping rooms during the
night & changes guards at will to
stop timing by any conspirators. He becomes indulgent in alcohol, and
fianally become alcoholic due to the tension around him. |
|
| 1800 |
General Macdowall meet the king |
King demands right of a port and
10 ships refusing the proposal of British protection to the king. |
|
| 1801 |
British setup schools with
longterm plans |
British create 170 christian
schools to expand it's local support base. |
|
| 1802 |
Lanka is taken over by British
Crown |
But British India co is given
time till 1822 to monopolise on Cinnamon trade. |
|
| 1802 |
All Dutch possessions are handed
to British |
|
| 1802 |
British favours Muslims |
British
use Muslims to recruit faithful soldiers as they do not trust Sinhala or
Tamil people. They allow Muslims to trade , open own schools and mosques. |
|
| 1802 |
Kandyan officials meet the
British in Colombo |
led by 2nd adigar Migastenne,
envoys fail to get those demands from the British. |
|
| 1802 |
Britain agrre to give to
Napoleon all British colonies except Ceylon & Trinidad. |
Amiens, Treaty of, peace treaty
signed on March 27, 1802, between Great Britain on one side and France,
Spain, and the Batavian Republic (Napoleon's puppet state in the Netherlands)
on the other. This treaty finally ended the War of the Second Coalition, one
of the Napoleonic Wars, already partly brought to a close by the Peace of
Lunéville in 1801. By the terms of the Treaty of Amiens, Great Britain was to
surrender to France and the French allies all British conquests except Ceylon
(now Sri Lanka) and Trinidad. France agreed to evacuate Egypt, Naples, and
the Papal States. Among the territories Great Britain was to surrender were
the Cape of Good Hope Colony to the Batavian Republic and Malta to the Order
of the Knights of Malta. None of the treaty provisions was fully observed,
and hostilities resumed in 1803 |
|
| 1802 |
First Two Local army regiments
are formed by the British( One with Malays & one with collaborating
Sinhalese-"Sepoy") |
The Malays formed initially as a
Malay Corps and later in 1802 as the 1st Ceylon Regiment under a British
Commanding Officer. In the same year, a 'Sinhalese' unit was was raised and
called the 2nd Ceylon Regiment, also known as the 'Sepoy' corps. |
|
| 1803 |
British launches war on Kandy |
Two columns, one led by Major
Macdowall from Colombo, second led by Barbut from Trinco, reaches Kandy in 21
days as the king evacuates the city. |
|
| 1803 |
British plans to install two
puppet kings ( One for Jaffna, One for Kandy) |
British install a puppet king
for Lanka - Muttusami - a Nayakkar who fled for British area few years back,
who will rule from Jaffna & Kandy
kingdom given to Pilimatalawe |
|
| 1803 |
Kandyan Counter-attack after 122
days, British force get annihilated. This is the last
Sinhala ARMY victory before the total surrender in
1815. |
After
the British is plagued with Malaria, the Kandyans attack. First attack is
repulsed. But British has too many casualties. They decide to withdraw to
Trinco with the able bodied. The withdrawal force get trapped as they cannot
cross Mahaveli river that has higher water level due to floods. King demands
for Muttusami. British hands him over. He is executed on the spot. On the
pretext of escorting them to cross the river, two by two, they are taken away
and murdered. Only 4, including Major Macdowall ( who will die a prisoner )
are kept alive as prisoners. Only one of them survive to escape later. |
|
| 1803 |
British resort to farays of
destruction into Kandyan territory |
British take revenge by
releasing army units on raid and destroy missions in to the Kandyan
territory. They use both British and local units. This destruction causes
famine. |
|
| 1803 |
Sinhala army advances within 15
miles of Colombo & then is routed by British firepower. This is the LAST Major battle of the Sinhala Army
before the collapse in 1815.. |
King
who misunderstood the British failure in the guerilla warfare in Malaria
infested rough terrain, remains ignorant to the outside world. He believes he
could take colombo with a few captured 6-pound cannons. British let them
advance for 30 days before hitting with heavy firepower. Sinhala army
captures Hanwella only to lose it the following day. In 2 monthes Sinhala
army is routed by firepower. King flees all the way to Kandy as he has no
army to stop and fight with. |
|
| 1803 |
Third local regiment under
British is formed ( again Malays only) |
In
1803 a 3rd Ceylon Regiment was raised with Moluccans and recruits from
Penang. All these regiments fought in the Kandyan wars of 1803. More
Sinhalese and Malays were recruited to these regiments |
|
| 1805 |
Proof that even at this time
majority in Jaffna are Moors, not Tamils. |
Capt.Robert
Percival of British army in JFN writes that the majority in peninsula are
moors who wears a little white round cap on their shaven heads. Next are
Malabars, who appear different to the South Indians. 3rd is Sinhalese community in Jaffna. |
|
| 1805 |
Kandyan army takes Katuwana, a
frontier town |
In a massive attack, British is
forced to give up Katuwana. |
|
| 1807 |
Kandy Lake is completed. |
Built by Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe,
people were forced to offer labour, public and the ministers question the
value of a lake which irrigate no land. King keep his harem in an island in
the middle of the lake. |
|
| 1807 |
British stop harrassment forays
into Kandyan territory to win people |
Realising
people were alienating from the king as more and more Kandyan chiefs were
talking mutiny in secret with the British, the raids are stopped in order to
win the people. |
|
| 1807 |
Governer's
letter reveals the devious social strategy |
January,1807, a letter sent by
Governer Maitland to Eden, GA of Matara says, " Use this carefully and
secretly, Reliance of Buddhism and philosophy of Matara
Buddhists must be destroyed, In Matara, Bikkus are more powerful than village
chiefs, Make sure all chiefs are Christians. " |
|
| 1811 |
Pilimatalawe is beheaded for
treason in Kandy |
King finally kills his no.1
minister for treason. Ehelepola is promoted to 1st Adigar. |
|
| 1812 |
Britsh Govt allows Europeans to
receive up to 4000 acres of land |
|
| 1814 |
The most shocking execution in
history of Lanka - Alcoholic bad king murders the family
of 1st Adigar who has defected to the British |
The expeirenced, hardened
executioner faints with horror and disgust for the torture the family of
Ehelepola was subjected to. People stay indoors for 2 days in grief and
shock. Many nobles take this opportunity to convince people to believe the
Britsh are better than the Nayakkar rule. But people neither support the king
nor the aristocracy. King is said to be drunk in anger at the time of
execution & is said to have regretted later of his cruel orders. |
|
| 1814 |
Fourth local regiment is formed
by the British ( using only Africans) |
in 1814 a 4th regiment was
raised comprising African troops. |
|
| 1815 |
British advance on Kandy saying
that they will save Sinhala kandyans from a cruel Malabar ruler |
Two divisions reach Kandy in 30
days. Kings Chief Adigar, Molligoda pretend to be loyal to king, but will
join the British force once they are in Kandy. |
|
| 1815 |
14th February , 1915- Kandy fall
forever |
|
| 1815 |
18th
February . 1815- 165th monarch of Lanka is captured |
He will die in exile in India in
17 years and his son , childless, in 28 years. |
|
| 1815 |
Kandyan convention is ignored by
the frustrated public |
British
governer Sir Robert Brownrigg & the kandyan chiefs signed the agreement
making Molligoda the 1st Adigar, Ehelepola refuses & chooses to retire if
he is not made king. He gets a few villages, a bulk sum, all his lands. The
frustrated public ignores the ceremony as they dont like or approve any of
the parties who sign the treaty. The treaty includes British promises to
provide state patronage to look after Buddhism, not to allow Christian
Missionary schools to be opened in Kandy( Missionaries campaign to break this
promise in 3 years). |
|
| 1815 |
Only one signature in Tamil |
All Kandyan chiefs signed in
Sinhala, only one signed in Tamil. |
|
| 1816 |
British favours Moors. Sinhalese
are angry & helpless |
British notices Moors as the
mort trusted community to control the masses. They extend special treatment
that is not available to others, specially Sinhalese. |
|
| 1816 |
British destroy the irrigation
complexes in Uva in scorched- earth tactic. |
|
| 1817 |
National uprising with imposter Vilbave as new king |
Sinhalese in Uva get angry for
Moors getting special treatment under the British, rise up in protest. It
soon spread to all areas of Kandy as British has no troops and the floods
have risen the water levels of rivers. An imposter claiming to be a relative
of the good Nayakkars, appears winning the confidence of the people. He is
declared new king. |
|
| 1818 |
Keppitipola joins the rebels |
Brother-in-law of Ehelepola,
sent to crush the rebels changes sides. So does all chiefs except Molligoda.
Keppitipola discovers the so called king is an imposter, but decides to
settle it once the rebellion is over. British arrests Ehelepola & expels
him to Mauritius where he dies in 7 years. Madugalle, chief of Dumbara joins
the rebels following Keppitipola. |
|
| 1818 |
First use of propaganda
as a tactic in Lanka |
British resort
to wasteland policy that create starvation in rebel held villages, firepower is used to destroy any thing that helps rebels, and
use propaganda for the first time in Lankan history by publisizing that the
Dalada is still in British hands and the so called new king is an imposter. |
|
| 1818 |
Dalada is captured by the
British |
Variyapola Sri Sumangala thero ,
who went into jungle with the toothrelic from Kandy in April is capured on
28th Nov by British troops based in Nikawella . They find the tooth relic
hidden in the robe. Maj.John Davey treats it with respect to win the hearts
& minds of Kandy public. |
|
| 1818 |
"We
don’t need British troops in Ceylon as long as Moor soldiers are there". British crushes the revolt & admires Moor Soldiers &
stops recruitment of Sinhalese to armed services |
With reinforcements from India,
the revolt ( that has lost popularity) is crushed. Keppitipola is captured on
30th october, Madugalle on 26th November and are executed. British admires
Moors for their loyalty in war against Sinhalese. We don’t need British
troops in Ceylon as long as Moor soldiers are there says Major Hardy. The
Moors get rewarded by British proclamation, placing them under British rule,
instead of Kandyan rule even if they reside in Kandy. The recrutiment of
Sinhalese is stopped as their loyalty cannot be trusted. |
|
| 1818 |
Missionaries get the British to
break the promise of not establishing Missionary schools
in Kandy |
Though Governer Robert Brownrigg
refused permission in 1816 because of the promise in the convention of 1815,
the missionaries however persuade the British to allow them to establish
missionary schools in kandy. |
|
| 1818 |
Reasons for the rebellion - Shows where the Lankan society is heading……. |
Increasing
landlessness, negligence of irrigation works that leads to decline of the
peasant agriculture effected the self-sufficient Sinhalese tremendously
leading to famine & insecurity, village chiefs were not concerned about
these problems as they reap the benefits of colonialism, state negligence on
the threats to Buddhism, social oppression at the hands of native social
class, increasing lawlessness & breakdown in peace & harmony due to
opening of taverns, & crimes which started after the arrival of Indian
tamils, pressure on Sinhalese peasants to neglect peasant agriculture &
work for low wages as slaves in colonial plantation agriculutre. |
|
| 1819 |
British doesn't introduce the
injection in the Small-fox epidemic |
Though
the injection for the small-fox virus was available since 1802, the British
does not introduce it to Lanka. Many people die in 2 years. Helpless people
leave the patient in a hut in the back yard and many die & become food to
animals. |
|
| 1819 |
16 year old
2nd Lt.Thomas Skinner arrives - One of the great
British soldiers who understood the plight the Sinhalese has been subjected
to, from the glory to misery. He treats Sinhalese with respect, &
spends his money to develop the
country. |
Accopanying
his father who was an officer in the Artillery, He travels from Trinco to
Kandy to Colombo and is very impressed by the land and the people. He looks
after smallfox patients around his outpost, patients crawl towards his camp,
he sends out patrols to collect them, he has a room to lay them & attend
to them, He orders them to be given Kenda. Many are cured. He pays his
labourers with his own money as the funds granted is not enough to pay them
for surveying the Col-Ratnapura road.
He also recommends that governers should walk among the locals &
should get to know them as much as possible. He delegates a lot of
responsibility to his locals and notes that no one ever let him down in honesty,
efficiency or trust while many White colleagues have engaged in bad
practices. |
|
| 1819 |
British make Lankans alcoholic
& Lt.Thomas Skinner of British Army-the first person
to try to curb alcoholism in Lanka. The British-sponsored alcohol promotion
goes hand in hand with the frustration & the helplessness of the people
in an era of hopelessness. |
Thomas Skinner repeatedly
recommends to his superiors that alcohol must be banned in this country as it
destroys this unique culture as many people are begining to rob and lose
values. But the British sees it as a way to weaken the people to submission. Licenses
are issued to create tavern-owners. They are given permission to give free
alcohol in order to attract customers, some areas resist as not even 1% can
be lured to alcohols, But within few years, it become a 60,000 sterling pound
a year business. The people have two choices to survive. One is to
collaborate with the invader & their native ruling class. Second is to
become a hostile target of the ruling class & starve. Many Sinhalese who
strive to maintain their principles,
find it difficult to collaborate. The alcohol promotion goes hand in hand
with this frustration & the helplessness of the people in an era of
hopelessness. Many addicted villagers even sell their crops, even
prematurely, to drink.Thomas Skinner is considered the first to try to curb
alcoholism in Lanka. |
|
| 1819 |
British
decide to build roads using Rajakariya tactic - They use high caste
administrative officials to get the low-caste people to do this. |
British realise the need to
build roads to transport cannons and troops quickly. They use Rajakariya
tactic getting village chiefs to force their workers to work for the colonial
masters for nothing. Sinhalese begin to hate these new forms of slavery and
the new ways of naming them. Since high castes are involved in administration
system, the low-castes end up doing these slavery. |
|
| 1820 |
British Lieutenant discover
Polonnaruwa after 700 years & no Sinhala leader is
interested ! |
A Lt.Fagan of British army, while exploring the
jungles & stumbled upon a huge lost city covered in thick grown jungle.
He reported this to the superiors & gave correct whereabouts. But no
Sinhala social leader will take steps to clear it for another 50 years until
the British governer himself orders the Disawe of Thamankaduwa to clear the
jungle & excavate the ruins. |
|
| 1820 |
Miracle at Dalada |
8th January, 12 noon, bright
streaks of silver rays are projected to sky as far as a human eye could see,
from the pinnacle of the temple, observed by all who were in the city of
Kandy at the time, recorded very well by a British Army doctor named Dr.John
Davey, his account tallys with the recorded versions of chief monk and
another surviving document by a Catholic Mudaliyar. All these documentts are
preserved in the British archives. |
|
| 1820 |
Anuradapura is discovered by a
young British civil servant, Ralph Backhaus |
Hidden in massive tropical
forest, malaria mosquitos breeding in millions in unused tanks, poor
communication & transport facilities, isolation of ill-nourished, disease
ridden, decling population around them. But it will take another 70 yrs till
excavations are done. |
|
| 1822 |
British India Co. lose Cinnamon
trade to it's own Govt |
British Govt do not renew
contract. So monopoly is taken by the British Govt who reduce export and
maintain artificial high prices for more profit. |
|
| 1822 |
British civil servants to learn
Sinhala, or Tamil ( gives Tamils 50-50 mentality) |
the regulation that no British
civil servant would be promoted unless he knew either Sinhala or Tamil.
|
|
| 1823 |
Kandy has 5 Missionary schools |
|
| 1824 |
European Businesses in Colombo
are permitted to import |
Governer Sir Edward Barnes
remove the govt restriction on imports to the delightment of the European
traders in Colombo who will expand their businesses. |
|
| 1824 |
Population in Lanka is estimated
at 851,940 |
Within 87 years this will
increase to 4,106,300 due to immigration & natural increase. |
|
| 1825 |
Colombo-Kandy Road completed. |
British desperate to build
roads. First to overcome the guerilla warfare & then to keep the trade
moving. |
|
| 1826 |
Mahawansa is discovered |
George Turnour, British civil
servant, GA of Ratnapura, with the help of Buddhist monks traced the
Mahavandsa written in Pali verse on old ola leaves ( dried leaves of Talipot
leaves), in the library in Mulkirigala viharaya built in 150BC. |
|
| 1827 |
300 out of 2100 cinnamon workers
dies |
British
forces people to move to other areas for labour work, but lack of
transportation and housing facilities lead to many such labourers falling
sick and dying. Out of 2100 cinnamon quashers 300 didn't return home this
year as they fell dead on their 2-3 week long journeys thru jungles. |
|
| 1829 |
Proof that British used forced labour, unpaid, to build the
roads they were obsessed about |
A memo by Commissioner of inland
revenue confirm that British used forced labour, unpaid, to build the roads,
in this case, Col-Kandy road. |
|
| 1830 |
Economy improved & British
reviews changes to ensure the continuity |
|
| 1830 |
Caste tactics devide the
Sinhalese - The caste who hold offices will always go
against the rebellions as their livelihood is threatened. |
British tactic of getting
Govigamas, who are half the population, to believe that they hold the upper
hand in the society would devide the Sinhalese society with no hope of any
liberation struggle ever becoming successful. The caste who hold offices will
always go against the rebellions as their livelihood is threatened. It even
devides the Bikkus as the Bikkus of high cast families even restricting the
upasampada to lower casts. This made lower caste Bikkus to seek higher
ordination from Burmese monks thus leading to the creation of Amarapura
Nikaya. |
|
| 1830 |
Urubokka & Kirama Dams
collapse due to neglect |
|
| 1831 |
649 Missionary Schools in the
country |
|
| 1832 |
30th January- Last King of Lanka
dies in exile in India |
|
| 1832 |
British finally finish building
the road they always wanted.Trinco-Kandy-Colombo |
|
| 1832 |
Lanka becomes the Constitutional
Pioneer of the British Empire: Colebrook-Cameron Reforms - Creation
of a faithful elite of several fractions, into the running of the colonial
rule & the removal of harsh rules to satisfy this elite. |
Instead
of concentration of power on a governer, the reforms recommended a government
with a administrative, legistative framework run by British offcials using
the local chiefs, locals educated in European schools. It was a successful
breakaway from the Dutch admn system in place. It also took away colonial
rules such as the ones introduced during Portugese & the Dutch times,
that were felt hard and harsh on the public ( Mainly the elite). Instead it
concentrated on enrolling a created faithful elite of several fractions, into
the running of the colonial rule. It was a classic way of taking care of
rebellions. |
|
| 1833 |
Peradeniya wooden bridge is
built without using a single nail or nut. |
Thomas Skinner as the Highway
commissioner, builds the bridge by the locals, made of Burutha , A model is
still in a museum in UK, no nails or nut. |
|
| 1833 |
Only the English educated can
enter the Government service |
|
| 1833 |
British establish Supreme court |
|
| 1833 |
Set up of Legistative
Council - One for each community( Burgher,Tamil,
Sinhala ), Sinhala one will be a Catholic & from the same families ; In
reality, Sinhala community is NOT represented. |
This was to reduce the monopoly
of the governer in ruling the country. It introduced 3 unoffcial
representation for the major native ethnic groups , one each from Burgher,
Sinhala & Tamil community. Burgher is selected from Chamber of Commerce,
& Planters Association. Sinhala & Tamil one is selected from the same
families ( in Sinhala, mainly from Alwis or Obeysekera families) which some
independant observers see as not a way to really represent the community.
Even the Sinhala representative will always be a Catholic until 1889 ( when a post created to represent a Kandyan
in the hope that he will be a Buddhist.) |
|
| 1833 |
British establish Kachcheri in
Anuradapura, leading to holy city being populated |
Soon many Govt buildings and
residences, meat stalla, taverns, kovils, churches begin to buildup. They
complain that the drumming and prayings in temples are a nuisance to them.
British limit the hours where noise can be made. This agitates Buddhists. |
|
| 1840 |
Under pressure from Missionaries
Anti-Buddhist elements, Colonial Govt disassociates
Buddhism from the State |
James Stephen, an ardent
anti-Buddhist official in the State office, anti-Buddhist elements incl
Missionaries, Secrataries of States apply pressure on the govt to show that
there is no meaning of sticking to the promise it did under Kandyan
convention in 1815 to protect & safeguard Buddhism. They also forget the
promise they renewed in 1818 under the rebellion. So the Colonilal office
take a policy decision to disassociate from Buddhism. |
|
| 1840 |
Dr
Christopher Elliot, a British Medical practitioner pushes for genuine
representation of the Lankans in the legistative council. |
Dr Christopher Elliot, a British
Medical practitioner pushes for genuine representation of the lankans in the
legistative council. His demands are veiwed as very radical and it will take
another 100 years before his line of thinking takes place. He is advised by
the sec of state that further allocation of representation could lead
collapse of the British control. |
|
| 1840 |
British Governer refuse to sign
for appointing Bikkus - Another breach of the Kandyan
convention |
Protested by the Christian
missionaries, Governer James Alexander stuart refuse to sign the document
that appoints bikku leaders. That was another breach of section 5 of the
treaty made in 1815. |
|
| 1841 |
British establish a varnacular
schools for Sinhala & Tamil, but charges heavy fees
masses cant afford so that only the collaborating class can afford to send
children.not enough to
cover the masses. No secondary schools |
From 1841, the British provided
vernacular schools teaching in Sinhala and Tamil. The Portugese and Dutch
too, had given instruction in these two languages. But it is viewed as a sham
to silence the critics. It does not provide the opportunity to the masses
& was hardly recognized in the British ruling system in Lanka. No
secondary schools, Charges a lot of money so that only the officials can send
children.
|
|
| 1843 |
Only child of the last king,
dies childless in India in Exile |
|
| 1843 |
Coffee profits at it's peak |
|
| 1845 |
First Non-Govigamas are
appointed to Mudaliyars posts |
Reluctant
to depend on one social class, British decide to have competition. They use
new rich Karawe mainly. |
|
| 1845 |
Coffe profits declined |
|
| 1847 |
Christians pressure lead the
British to refuse to take responsibility of
Dalada - Another breach of 1815 Kandyan convention |
Protested by the Christian
Advisory Committee, & missionaries, Governer Viscount Torrington is
ordered by British Foreign secretary stanley, to detach all govt connections with Buddhism in ceylon.That
was another breach of section 5 of the treaty made in 1815. |
|
| 1848 |
Kandyans become landless as more
& more is acquired by British for plantation agriculture |
|
| 1848 |
British realise the need to
restore the irrigation system |
Noticing the reasons for the
rebellion, British Governer Sir Henry Ward notice the need to restore
irrigation, which can reduce rice imports & increase export
revenues. It will take another 7
years to materialise. |
|
| 1849 |
GongaleGoda Banda is exiled
to Malacca |
on 1st January, after 100 lashes
, he is sent to Malacca for life along with other prisoners. He will die in
11 monthes in exile. |
|
| 1849 |
Gongalegoda Banda dies in exile |
on 1st December, he dies. Other
fellow rebel prisoners in exile informs Lanka of his death. |
|
| 1849 |
Revival of Tamil Hinduism much
ahead of Buddhst revival thru the coming of Arumuga Navalar
- The foremost Tamil revivor |
After working with Missionaries
he learnt the art of propaganda, and the missionary tactic which he countered
with his own work later on. People like him who were part of the British
& Catholics sytem against Hinduism, and the rich South Indian support
they could always get, placed Tamil Hindu
Revival much ahead of Buddhst revival. |
|
| 1849 |
Vannarponnai Press is set up by
Arumuga Navalar to help in maintaining Hindu & tamil identity |
|
| 1849 |
Arumuga Navalar also set up the
school which will become Jaffna Hindu College, the premier Tamil school in
Lanka |
|
| 1850 |
Lanka population is 1.73 million |
|
| 1853 |
British favours
Catholics of Karawe caste: Appointment of a wealthy
Karawe brings Govigama protesting |
Appointment of the wealthiest
Sinhalese, Jeronis De Soysa of Moratuwa to the post of Mudalier make the
Govigama caste to protest demanding only Govigamas be appionted to high
posts. The Governer Sirt George Anderson refuse this time as he wanted
Competition. He was scared of Govigama becoming too powerful. Karawe was an
ideal trustworthy candidate being predominantly Catholics. |
|
| 1856 |
British start to restore
Irrigation networks with Uma Ela in Uva. |
It's success prompt the governer
ward to implement several others. In 50 years Rs.13.5 million will be spent
on restoring irrigation. It will stop food shortages that frequently happened
under European rule, and will create a surplus of rice that will be exported. |
|
| 1856 |
Restoration of Kantalai
Irrigation project cancelled |
Due to deseases like Malayria,
lack of population in dry zones, lack of transports, forced the abandoning of
these projects. |
|
| 1856 |
Gamsabhas are established |
To control cultivation & use
of water in villages. |
|
| 1857 |
Indians Two-year bloody rise up
against British rule : Nepalese, Sikhs & many Princes
don’t support it. Atrocities occurred on both sides, with massacres of
British soldiers and women and children at the garrison in Kanpur, and the
firing of captured mutineers from cannon by the British.Nepal and the Sikhs
stayed loyal (the Sikhs had been bitterly hostile to the Mughal Empire),
while most Indian princes stayed aloof. |
Indian soldiers (sepoys) serving
in the Bengal army of the British East India Company mutinied against their
British masters. There were many reasons: the sepoys resented British
indifference to Hinduism and caste traditions, the Westernizing reforms and
Chistian missionaries in British India, and having to fight overseas. The
immediate cause was the new rifle. To load this rifle, the sepoys had to bite
off the ends of cartridges greased with a mixture of fat from cows (sacred
for Hindus) and pigs (unclean for Muslims). The Company corrected the mistake
as soon as it was discovered but, none the less, in April 1857, 85 sepoy
troopers at Meerut near Delhi refused to use the new rifles and were put in
irons. On May 10, their comrades freed them, killed their officers, and
marched on Delhi: the mutiny had begun. The rapid spread and popularity of
the mutiny indicate that there were clearly deeper causes for resentment. The
forceful introduction of English as the medium of learning, the apparent
contempt for the traditions and culture of the various communities must all
have been contributing factors. |
|
| 1858 |
Restoration of Yoda Ela
irrigation project cancelled |
Due to desease like Malayria,
lack of population in dry zones, lack of transports, force the abandoning of
these projects. |
|
| 1858 |
Missionary pressurise the
British to allow Government grants to the education system into Missionary
schools too |
They persuade the British by
using the heavy influence the church has on the government. It was a selfish
move, as they were already well-funded. |
|
| 1859 |
British just manage to crush the
Indian rebellion with Sikh, Nepal & the silence of many neutral princes. British Govt take over India from East
India Co. & give greater consideration for Indian views & traditions,
This also make Indians to develop a political
nationalist movement for freedom. |
Enormously outnumbered, the
British desperately defended Lucknow and Arrah, recapturing Kanpur in July
1857 and Delhi in September. Lucknow was relieved in March 1858 by Colin
Campbell, and central India was subdued by April 1859. British reprisals and
acts of vengeance followed the mutiny, with many mutineers and civilians
executed without trial. In Delhi, in particular, thousands of people were
killed. The Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah, was publicly humiliated. The mutiny
had erupted rapidly from a single incident but the rebels, lacking leadership
or any clear strategy except a general aim to overthrow the conquerors, had
collapsed just as quickly under the superior organization, and sheer
self-confidence of the British. As a direct result of the mutiny, the East
India Company was abolished and the British crown took over the government of
India. Henceforth, the British Empire showed greater consideration for Indian
views and traditions; but the myth of British invulnerability had been
punctured and India developed a political nationalist movement to press for
freedom. |
|
| 1860 |
3000 miles of roads built
costing over one million sterling pounds |
In order to facilitate trade
& to send forces. |
|
| 1860 |
Coconut become the 2nd best
plantation next to coffee |
Cheaper to maintain, need less
labour ( did not need Indian Tamils as the few Sinhalese workers were enough
), need little capital to start than
coffee… |
|
| 1860 |
Tea plantation is introduced. |
|
| 1860 |
New Governer cancels restoration
of irrigation projects |
Sir Charles MacCarthy sees no
profit or short-term benefit to the projects, He cancels them & invests
more in railway to coffee plantations. |
|
| 1860 |
Buddists resistance &
liberation campaigns begin to grow |
Mainly true Bikkus of Amarapura
nikaya, some traders, in low country start public debates & meetings
where Buddhsits defend & beat others convincingly. |
|
| 1860 |
All
except the Sinhala elite request reforms in the council. |
Planters,
European settlers, Burghers, Dutch descendants all req unofficial
representation to be increased & reforms to be introduced in order to
hand more power to locals. Sinhala elite refuse & their continuous lack
of interest thru out the 19th century makes these cries fruitless. |
|
| 1861 |
Ceylon Volunteer Corps is formed |
commencing the volunteer service
in Lanka, Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers delights mercantile community. It
grows into several volunteer units. |
|
| 1862 |
Set up of Lankopakara Press in
Galle |
This will look after printing
needs of the campaigns. |
|
| 1862 |
1st phase of the Buddhist
campaign-Society for the propagation of Buddhism |
is considered as the first phase
of the campaign for the rights of Sinhala Buddhists. |
|
| 1862 |
Present Tuparamaya is restored |
present one is only 63 ft tall
& 59 ft in diameter. It hardly shows it's former explendour now. |
|
| 1864 |
De Soysa family become the
wealthiest in Lanka |
Helped by income from arrack,
ferries, agriculture investments in everywhere in Lanka. This creates a
powerful Karawe caste who will always fight for places in the govt mostly
unsuccessfully, as British would always look for Govigama faithfuls of which
there were many. |
|
| 1865 |
State Secretaries notice
ill-effects of neglect on Irrigation |
Sir Hercules Robinson speaks of
bad effects of the neglect & renew projects with limited budget
available. |
|
| 1865 |
Establishing Ramanya nikaya as
an offshoot of Amarapura Nikaya who support the sinhala Buddhist campaign
wholeheartedly |
This new nikaya will always
stress on issue of poverty & humiliation of the Sinhalese Buddhists. |
|
| 1868 |
Curious British take photos of
the Lost city of Polonnaruwa- again the Sinhala Disawe is
NOT interested |
While persuing British
Lt.Fagan's discovery after 48 years a British civil servant named Birch, and
a British Lt.Stewert trace the lost city & photograph it, These photos
prompt the British Governer Sir Arthur Gordon to order Tamankaduwe disawe to
clear the jungle & excavate the ruins. |
|
| 1868 |
Civil service has 74 Britons
& only 10 Lankans( including Burghers) |
|
| 1869 |
Coffee affected by a leaf
dicease |
Coffe plantation will cease in
20 years |
|
| 1869 |
Secondary School is opned to
Lankans |
|
| 1869 |
Dirty tactics to force students
to Missionary schools-Govt schools are closed whereever a missionary school
is opened |
Whenever a missionary school is
opened, the govt school in the area which normally charge a lot of money, is
closed forcing the students in to the missionary school. Education becomes a
tool to brainwash natives into submission. |
|
| 1869 |
140 schools with 8751 students
alarms British |
In 10 years both these figures
shoot up by eight times alarming the British of having too many members of
the elite. |
|
| 1870 |
Governer personally orders
reluctant Sinhala Disawe to clear the jungle in Polonnaruwa |
photos taken in 1868, prompt the
British Governer Sir Arthur Gordon to order Tamankaduwe disawe to clear the
jungle & excavate the ruins. Work start supervised by S.M.Burrows, Archy
commissioner at the time. |
|
| 1870 |
Indian Tamils number 123,000 |
|
| 1870 |
Colombo Medical College opened |
|
| 1871 |
Kandy
railway opened- British get upperhand in transport |
British desperate to break the
Sinhalese monopoly on transport , Sinhalase businessmen owned carts, crafts,
lorries. British hoped railway would
give them the upperhand. |
|
| 1871 |
Marriage laws ban polyandry in
Kandyan Kingdom |
|
| 1872 |
British realized the potential in trade income from rice-
allows Sir William Gregory to restore the irrigation networks. |
He obtained full backing from
London to give priority to restore & expand irrigation networks. This
time the British archaelogists reports about the dry zone impress the Birtish
to look for possiblity of making profits on rice. A GA is appointed to the
North central province to personally supervise. Villagers do the labour, Govt
gives sluice & masonary work free, Gamsaba provides admin at grassroot
level, 100s of tanks repaired. |
|
| 1872 |
Founding the Vidyodaya Pirivena |
|
| 1873 |
Cold war between British &
the capable Lankan elite start- British rethinks tactics to
keep the rising capable elite down - They make rules to limit Lankan elite to areas where decision-making was minimum |
British notices the new breed of anglicized, self-made, Lankans who could take the
European masters head-to-head & who demonstrated ambitious, power hungry,
leadership qualities. British introduces tactics to
bar this Lankan elite from entering higest echelons of power. They make rules
to divert the rising elite to less powerul areas like Medical, Education,
Judiciary services ( keeping them away from GA, AGA, Railway, Survey, Irrigation)
where the decision making was minimal & they are unable to show
initiative & influence. |
|
| 1873 |
British decides to favour Govigama caste again as a
tactic to hold Lanka |
They also go back to favouring
Govigamas as they are the majority by downsizing even the Catholic Karawes.
This leads to a social trend, in a domino effect of lower castes being
rejected & discriminated all the way down by the Sinhala majority Govigama
caste. |
|
| 1873 |
Panadura Debate - An American
reads this report & migrate to Lanka to help Buddhists |
Boldest, most brilliant &
powerful champion of Sinhala Buddhism, Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda thero(The
terror of the Missionaries ) silences critics in an excellent, witty, &
elequant speeches. This report grabs the attention of an American in USA
named Henry Olcott, who decide to migrate to Lanka to help Buddhists. He will
arrive in 2 years. |
|
| 1873 |
Battle for Anuradapura begins-as the British refuse to respect Buddhists pleas |
Battle for Anuradapura begins as
the British rejects the Buddhist pleas & Builds Govt buildings on Sinhala
heritage of A'pura. British selects Anuradapura as Admin capital for
N'Central province and establishes govt buildings on top
of historic monuments without any respect for Sinhala heritage |
|
| 1874 |
Law college opened |
|
| 1874 |
Jethavanaramaya grabs the
attention of British Archeologists |
Curious
Biritish begin to clear the base of jungle covered JTVNRMya to study it in
detail. What they find over the next 20 years impressed them so much that it
received wide publicity, & attention. Discovery of Sinhalese history make
many British archeologists learn to respect the heritage. |
|
| 1875 |
Founding the Vidyalankara
Pirivena |
|
| 1875 |
Arrival of Sir Henry Olcott
& Madame Blavatsky- He teaches Lankans about the tactics of the
missionaries, tells the British
that it was wrong to disassociate the state from Buddhism. |
Attracted by the reports on
Panadura debate he decides to help Lankan Buddhsts in their struggle against
the Catholic forces. He teaches Lankans for the first time the tactics of the
Missionaries, and the weaknesses of Christianity. He gets Vesak a Public
holiday, and helps design Buddhist flag in 1885. He will make the British
Governer Gordon admit that British had hastily severed the state's
association with Buddhism. |
|
| 1875 |
Olcott establishes Buddhist
Theosophical society to help the education |
Noticing
the apathy of the Buddhsits, financial problems, lack of teachers &
administrators in education, Olcott set up the society to organize Buddhist
education islandwide with the financial help of a few traders. |
|
| 1876 |
The Best British Irrigation Work
in the Colonial world so far- 19th century's best
irrigation administration see good harvests in
developed areas of the dry zone. |
Restore work in the dry zone
make the governer Sir William Gregory's effort the best British effort so far
in the colonial world. Governer Gregory claim that there never was a British
social experiment more speedily & entirely successful, as the half-starved
dying villagers in the areas became well-fed healthy well-to-do farmers in a
few harvests. Governer is credited
with having the 19th century's best irrigation administration. It will also
increase the population in rice areas manyfold. Specially in the south where
the increase become 46% |
|
| 1876 |
Kirindi Oya project is
completed. |
|
| 1877 |
Major Thomas Skinner dies |
10 years after retirement, a
British officer who liked Lanka so much, & who fought so much to protect
the original Sinhalese culture, dies. |
|
| 1877 |
Rubber plantations introduced |
Rubber
needed mainly part-time workers for which there were enough Sinhalese
workers.( like in Coconut.) |
|
| 1877 |
Selfish & racist European
Planters opposes irrigation project |
Representatives of the European
planters in the legistative council oppose restoration of tanks. |
|
| 1877 |
Under pressure, British
introduces the Grain Tax - Sinhala rice production &
farmers are doomed again. Even Ponnambalam
Ramanathan speak against this injustice. |
Governer Godon Gordon introduces an irrigation fund using 25% of
the profits of the rice trade. This become a severe burden on farmers,
specially the ones who burrow money to cultivate or whose crop get destroyed
in natural disasters. Strict implementation of the tax meant govt seized the
land & sold it to recover the arrears. This led to starvation of farmers
in affected areas. Even Ponnambalam Ramanathan & many newspapers in
Colombo try to battle against the British propaganda justifying it. |
|
| 1878 |
There are 1178 schools with
67,750 students |
This is an increase of
800% within 9 years |
|
| 1880 |
Civil service exam is conducted
in London to filter only the most loyal Lankans into
higher jobs- Only the most
loyal has the opportunity to make such wealth ( to
afford the exam in London) |
In order to make sure only the
most loyal get well-looked after and has the opportunity, British abolishes
the civil service exam held in Lanka. Locals are advised to go to London to
do the exam. This makes the cost unbearable even to the wealthy. Only the
most loyal has enough opportunity make such wealth. Thus, the British shakes
themselves free of local ties. To make Lankans happy a queen's scholarship is
offered to Lankans who get "Selected". The argument is that it
lowers standards & efficiency by having the exam in Lanka. |
|
| 1880 |
2nd, 3rd & 4th Generations
of collaborating Sinhala elite start to despise Sinhala
masses - Sinhala way of
respecting those who serve the people & the country best, is now limited to a family-tradition of fewer & fewer Sinhala families who
struggle to maintain the original Sinhala values. |
British want to keep civil
service to themselves and directs the rising native elite to law, medicine
& church activities. Chilredn of Mudaliers start getting into legal
careers. They despise the average public & oppose the education being
offered to the common public in fear of losing their previlidge position. As
they introduce a new social class, controlling the elite become a problem
both to the British & the people. 2nd, 3rd & 4th Generations of
collaborating Sinhala elite start to develop reasons to
despise & discriminate Sinhala masses to ensure their place in the
society - Sinhala way of respecting those who serve
the people & the country best, is now limited to a family-tradition of
fewer & fewer Sinhala families who struggle to maintain the original
Sinhala values. |
|
| 1880 |
Sinhalese Elite refuse to extend
the education to the rest of the Sinhalese public |
British who didn't want to spend
on education to the average Sinhalese, are supported by the new Sinhala
elite. It is one of the cruicial issues they agree on. Sinhalese such as
J.P.Obeysekera,( Sinhala rep in the Legistative council), even publicly claim children of the poor should not be educated for they might
cause their parents to get into debt by spending lavishly. They were fearful that education would stimulate social change
undermining their priviledged position which was theirs by inheritance( or,
rather by collaboration and timidness). |
|
| 1881 |
To control the local elite,
British reduces Lankan representation to 7 ( Including Burghers) from 10 in
1868 |
Civil service has 84 Britons
& 7 Lankans( including Burghers) - Lankan representation has been reduced
to 7 from 10 in 1868 |
|
| 1883 |
Religious Riots of Kotahena- Vesak celebrations of Buddhists annoy Catholics who are the majority in the area. |
Ven Migettuvatte Gunananda thero
in Kotahena temple organised a pinkama to honour completion of a Budda
Statue. His fiery speeches and continuation of the pinkama during the week
angers Catholics who are the majority in the area. Many Catholics are arrested
for creating trouble. Sir Henry Olcott himself represent matters to London
about the grievances of the Buddhists. |
|
| 1885 |
JTVRMya top parts collapses |
The square tower gets damaged in
a slip, one section of the Hataras kotuwa was already missing. British
reluctant to repair. Fortunately, British Archeologists who like Buddhist
heritage, insist on repair work. Their
pressure forces British to release funds for the repair work. |
|
| 1885 |
One third of the schools are in
the Jaffna peninsula |
Over
300 out of 819 schools in the country, are in the Jaffna peninsula. This
explained the higher ratio of the educated Tamils later. |
|
| 1885 |
40% of the total Government
Education grants are directed to the schools in Jaffna peninsula. |
But the peninsula has less than
11% of the population of Lanka. |
|
| 1885 |
Lady Ridgeway Hospital
established |
|
| 1885 |
Buddhist flag is designed,
helped by Sir Henry Olcott |
|
| 1885 |
Revival of Islam in Lanka |
Under lawyer named Siddi Lebbe,
assisted by Arabi Pasha, the exiled leader of an abortive egyptian religious
uprising in 1882, Muslims are told of the importance of education which they
have been ignoring all this time. Muslims are told to save their children
from brainwashing by the whirteman. |
|
| 1885 |
British legistators note that
Lanka, despite having a massive educated social elite, lacks enthusiasm &
agitation for reforms |
Are we surprised ? No. Are we
worried ? No, No. |
|
| 1885 |
Only the Sinhala rep vote
against the Vesak poya day holiday ( While even the
Governer & Tamil rep vote for it) |
As even Governer Gordon, and
Tamil rep P.Ramanathan vote in favour to make Vesak a public holiday, only
one vote fell against it, it was the vote of the Sinhalese rep H.L.Alwis, a
distant relative of Obeysekera and Bandaranayaka family. |
|
| 1886 |
Samadi
Pilimaya ( Which Nehru use to meditate in British prison) is discovered |
Fallen on the ground, with a
broken nose. The bad nose repair job & the cement roof erected later to
cover it, has spoilt the serene image of it. It will gain publicity in South
Asia as Sri Javaharlal Nehru uses it's image to meditate & found immense
peace & solace, in the prison by the British in India. |
|
| 1887 |
A tunnel is dug thru
Jethavnrmaya |
British dig 162 ft long tunnel
thru JTVNRMya by British Archaeologists to find any butied books or
documents. The Bricks thus taken out will be used later to reconstruct the
stupa. |
|
| 1888 |
1048 peasants died of starvation
near offcials lawn tennis & health centre |
As recorded by C.J.R.Le Mesurier
AGA-N'Eliya. This is due to Grain tax, which lead to near famine, rural
poverty, starvation. |
|
| 1888 |
Muslims ask for a seat in the council & is
rejected by the British |
|
| 1889 |
Two additional seata are created
in Legistative council to represent the Kandyans & the Muslim community |
British try to please the
Buddhists by saying that the Kandyan can represent the Buddhists. |
|
| 1890 |
British archeologists get green light for Anuradapura excavations
after 70 years |
Under
Bell, British Archy commissioner, & other fascinated British
archeologists, excavation begin 70 yrs after it was discovered by a young
British civil servant, Ralph Backhaus. |
|
| 1890 |
Collapse of Coffee Industry |
|
| 1890 |
British try Sugar, cotton, tea,
rubber after coffee |
|
| 1890 |
Theosophical society establish
40 Buddhsit schools breaking the monopoly of Missionary schools |
|
| 1891 |
Indain Tamils number 235,000 |
|
| 1892 |
Best
surviving Vahalkada's of Lanka are found in MirisaVetiya-A'pura, It'll get
destroyed in 1987 |
Vahalkada of Mirisavetiya built
by King Dutugemunu in 161 BC, 2000 yrs ago, gain much praise from
Archeologists & the art historians for the fine architectural features.
But on 7th June 1987, Mirisavetiya collapsed completely destroying everything
including the great Vahalkadas. It was President Premadasa who will direct it
be rebuilt at a cost of 28 million rupees, & cereminiously opened it on
4th June, 1993. |
|
| 1892 |
Sinhala rep James pieris opposes
abolishing of the Grain tax while Tamil rep Ramanathan
& Kandyan rep Panabokke push for it. |
Tamil rep Ramanathan &
Kandyan rep Panabokke push for the abolishing of it as it killed the Sinhala
rice farmer. But Sinhala rep refuse to support it. However, Grain tax is
abolished. To compensate for the loss income, British will form the import tax
on imported cheap rice. This collected money will be used for the irrigation
fund. But it is too late and does not really help the already dead rice
cultivation. |
|
| 1893 |
A monk begin work on
RuwanVeliMahaSeya with some villagers |
Ruins of RWMSeya is restored by
a pious monk named Naranvita Sumanasara, who start reconstruction work with
the local villagers. Later it will get a boost by the establishment of
Ratnamali ChaityaWardana society. Work will finish in 47 yrs. But it is smaller
than the original massive monument. |
|
| 1895 |
Matara railway opened |
|
| 1896 |
Big damage in Jethavanaramaya
forces British to start repairing |
Western face of Hataras kotuwa
collapsed severely shaking the whole structure. Alarmed British Archeologists
started repair work, HCP Bell made substantial contribution. |
|
| 1897 |
Walisinha Harishchandra renounces civil life to preserve Buddhist rights |
Walisinha
Harishchandra, a student at Wesley college, gave up studies after listening
to a lecture by Anagarika Darmapala, & joined him, to live a life of a
Brahmachari to preserve Buddhism in Lanka. He start to practise public speech
in Sinhala. |
|
| 1897 |
Indian Tamils begin to settle
down in Lanka as
Tea become a ripper, earning nearly 60% of the export income |
It grabs no.1 beating chinese
tea in London markets. Requirement of labour thru out the whole year, turn
the Indian Tamils who were seasonal workers into full timers. As tea needs
around the year labour, the seasonal work patterns stopped & many of them
are forced to stay permanently for economic reasons. With this many of them
limit their trips back & forth to & from South India and turn into
permanent residents in Lanka. |
|
| 1898 |
In foolish competition, Kandyans
begin their claim as the highest cast. While the Sinhalese are thus devided
in foolish hostility, British benefits. |
As
a result of the competition created by British between the Govigama &
Karawe castes, the caste devide reaches it's ugliest point as TB Panabokke
claims that the highest caste of Sinhalese are the Upcountry Govigama's. The
theory of Kandyan supremacy over the rest of the Sinhalese now begins. While
the Sinhalese are thus devided in foolish hostility, British benefits. |
|
| 1898 |
British try to take Thuparamaya,
refusing to honour Ancient Sanansa issued by Kings, that guarantee temple rights to the land. They destroy valuable archeological evidence |
Under the excuse that if a land
is not occupied or utilized for religious purposes, it is a crown land,
British try to take Thuparamaya. British refuse to honour or accept ancient
king's sannasa that guarantee the temple rights. To evict a Siamese monk from
Tuparamaya, colonial govt declare the temple a crown land & evicts the
monk. Declaring the same again, the hut of a residing Upasaka is demolished
by the Sinhala Town Arachchi on another occassion. All these leads to Buddhsit riots of 1903 in Anuradapura. |
|
| 1898 |
British refuse
to recognise more than two Buddhist temples in A'pura. All other sacred places are covered in jungle. |
Colonial govt's list of buddhist
temples in Anuradapura,( to assure the rights under the Temple Lands
Commission of 1856), has only two ( Udamaluwa & RuwanveliSeya). Colonial
govt refuse to honour the ancient Sannasas issued by Sinhala Kings assuarring
the land rights of the temples. Many Atamastanayas, including RuwanveliSeya's
lands were covered in jungle unless Buddhists could gather enough resources
to repair them. All these leads to Buddhsit riots of 1903 in A'pura. |
|
| 1898 |
Refusing to recognize Buddhist
temples, British begin to demolish temples in Anuradapura. Monk buys the rubble in auction. |
Colonial govt refuse to honour
the ancient Sannasas issued by Sinhala Kings assuarring the land rights of
the temples. One temple( Meda Pansala) in Anuradapura is forcibly demolished
and pieces were bought back in the auction for scrap, by the monk Ratanapala
Anunayaka thero himself. All these leads to Buddhsit riots of 1903 in
Anuradapura. |
|
| 1898 |
British GA in Anuradapura
rejects the Sannansa issued by the
King, & demolish Gonameriyava temple |
C.S
Vaughen-GA Anuradapura declared the sannasa issued by last king (SriVikrama
Rajasinghe) for the 2000 acres of land of Gonameriyava temple, invalid. All
these under the excuse that if a land is not occupied or utilized for
religious purposes, it is a crown land. |
|
| 1898 |
British use stones of Buddhist
temples to build roads, Even Archeologists ignore the destruction of MahaPadmaViharaya in
A'pura |
C.P.Bell, Archeological
Commissioner refuses to stop the workers crushing the stonepillars of the
MahaPadmaViharaya, to be used as stones on roads. British thus remove
archeological findings away on carts to be either neglected & destroyed
elsewhere without records, as the chief monks appeal for his attention. All
these leads to Buddhsit riots of 1903 in Anuradapura. |
|
| 1899 |
While
Sinhala representatives are silent, Tamil rep become the unofficial Buddhsit
rep in the council |
As the Sinhala representative
and the Kandyan rep are both silent, P.Ramanathan, Tamil rep in the council,
nephew of Sir Muttu Coomaraswamy, speaks for the Buddhists & get praised
by the Buddhists in gratitude. He is even considered by Buddists as their
representative in the council. |
|
| 1899 |
Using the silence of the Sinhala
elite, British claimed that ethnic relations are far more cordial in Lanka
than any other colony |
The successful devisive facters
were religion & the caste, which
affected only the Sinhalese. The elite of other communities were always
attentive to their continuity and pushed for it while the Sinhala reps ignored
the dangerous future the Sinhala community was heading into, and pushed only
to maintain their position. |
|
| 1899 |
As almost all
govt buildings, official residences, markets, schools were located in the
land belonging to Atamastanaya-First well organized
Buddhist movement to protect Anuradapura is born |
Walisinghe
Harishchandra, on request by Anagarika Darmapala, is sent to Anuradapura by
Mahabodi society to safeguard Budddhist monuments and interests as activities
of enemies were threatening and Colonial govt was taking no interest in
protecting the city. Almost all govt buildings, official residences, markets,
schools were located in the land belonging to Atamastanaya, ignoring the
Buddhists requests. |
|
| 1899 |
" We may not succeed, But
we must try, and ten years later we might get what we try to achieve"-
Anagarika Darmapala |
Advising of why they should look
at long term objectives rather than short term gains in order to free the
sacred ancient city of Anuradapura, Anagarika Darmapala says " we are quite powerless to stop theses acts of state vandalism
due to the high status of officials concerned. We may not succeed, But we
must try, and ten years after we might get what we try to achieve." |
|
| 1900 |
Ceylon Defence Force goes to
Boer War-first war under British |
In
1910, the name of the Ceylon Light Infantry volunteers Force will be changed
to Ceylon Defence Force |
|
| 1900 |
Karawe competes Govigama for the
Sinhala post in the council. British continue to favour
Govigama, refusing Karawe. |
Karawe dominated capitalist
elite, mainly Christians, challenge the Govigama for the post in legistative
council. Karawe members, though strong financially & socially, despite
being mainly Catholics, are continuously barred the British. British decides
to continue to choose the faithful govigama members saying
'Family tradition of loyal service to crown is more important than medicore
intelectual talents". |
|
| 1900 |
With the little money collected
from poor Sinhala farmers, First Buddhist schools are
established in Rajarata after many centuries |
with only 3 rupees in the
account, Mahabodi society desperately preach in Rajarata gathering only
Rs.9.45 from mainly poor Sinhalese. Within an year they collect enough money
to establish the first two Buddhist schools in the North Central province and
the North province. First school will be in Kekirawa, second in Anuradapura.
But poverty and Malaria affects children's ability to attend school. Schools
function only on donations as the parents have no money to give. |
|
| 1901 |
Sinhalese Royal park, Mahamevuna Uyana is discovered by
British archeologists |
British
archeologists led by H.C.P. Bell discover the ancient Royal park of over 40
acres. It is so large that the excavations continue even today. Even today,
archeologists continue to find astonishing archeological evidence on the
glory of the lost grand civilisation of the Sinhalese. |
|
| 1901 |
Lanka population is 3.56 million |
Increase of over 260% in 50
years. |
|
| 1901 |
Anuradapura Buddhist Defence
council is established |
After 2 years of organising, the
council fights for the protection of the sacred places. Chief thero of
Atamastanaya is the president and V.Harishchandra is the secretary. They plan
to appoint island wide local managers to expand. |
|
| 1901 |
British who refused rebuilding
of the monastry, decides to build the Medical officers
Bungalow on the Adahana Maluwa, a sacred land in
Anuradapura. Angry Buddhists protest. This is also one factor that led to
Anuradapura riots of 1903. |
Year
ago when chief monk of Atamastanaya applied for permission to erect a
building for a monastry on ancient AdahanaMaluwa in Anuradapura, Govt
refused. The Monks protested against the govt plan to erect offices on this
sacred land. Determined to erect the office, the colonial government devided
the land and said monks can have the western half & that the government
would build a office in the eastern half. Buddhists are angry.
V.Harishchandra's followers prepare the land to build a monastry, repeatedly
claiming it is a Buddhist land. Their nameboard "Mahabodi Society"
is repeatedly brought down by the colonial government and it is again erected
in the night by the Buddhists. The arguments and the war of petitions drag on
for 3 years finally leading to Anuradapura riots of 1903. |
|
| 1902 |
John Ferguson records the
reluctance for reforms by the Sinhalese elite |
John Ferguson, owner edior of
Ceylon Observer, who is an unofficial European representative in the council
notes that "the Sinhala elite is our greatest
difficulty in pushing for reforms. Obeysekera ( Govigama & also the
Sinhala rep in the counsil ) objects to local elections & James peiris (
karawe ) does not even reply. They do not want power to be transfered to
their own countrymen" |
|
| 1903 |
Don Senanayake's ( father of
D.S) Temperence Society draws huge crowds |
Their meetings draw over 20,000
when Colombo has only 6000. But it does not groa as the non-Buddhists fear it
will develop into Buddhsit nationalism. |
|
| 1903 |
Colombo population is 6000 |
|
| 1903 |
9th June-Anuradapura
riots - frustrations of a helpless and downtrodden
community, are let loose…..& then the British are ready to consider the
demands for temple rights |
Mudaliyar Amarasekera,
carelessly knocked over an old women while trying to ride his carriage
carelessly through a pilgrimage crowd in Anuradapura. Without stopping to
treat the old lady, he continued to his house. Angry by his arrogance and
careless attitude, the husband of the woman and some of the other pilgrims
went to protest in front of the house. The Mudaliyar came out with his thugs
and assaulted the protestors. Angry
locals then attacked his house and other places within the sacred city in
order to clear the area. But situation got out of hand as rioters led by a
Ratwatte Rate Mahattaya attacked the Roman Catholic church severly assaulting
and causing seroius injuries to Rev.Father Raux. Later, the colonial govt
suspended him for not being on leave from duty by coming to Anuradapura for
no valid reason. But considering the loyal service of his father as a
Mudaliyar, British gave him back the job. Around 34 rioters were sent to
prison for up to 3 years. The damage to the church was exagerated many times
and was upto nine times of the second biggest damage claimed in the
riot. |
|
| 1903 |
British give priority to the
loyal service by the family- Ratwatte Rate Mahattaya, who attacked the Catholic church injuring
Rev.Father Rauxhim, get his job back.
The others are punished. |
Though the colonial govt
suspended Ratwatte Rate Mahattaya for not being on leave from duty by coming
to Anuradapura for no valid reason, considering the loyal service of his
father as a Mudaliyar, British gave Ratwatte Rate Mahattaya, who attacked the
Roman Catholic church severly assaulting and causing seroius injuries to
Rev.Father Rauxhim, back his job. Others are punished. |
|
| 1903 |
Governer asks Buddhists to pay compensation to the
damaged Church before granting sufficient land rights to the temples |
It was only after the riots the
British decided to say that they are willing to consider reasonable demands
of the Buddhists. Yet it was unfair to tax the whole of Buddhist community
for the damage caused to a church by a convicted group of people who had
already been fined and punished by the courts. This vindictive punishment
irritates Buddhists again. |
|
| 1904 |
British newspapers make fun of
the selfish Sinhala elite of Ceylon |
"Ceylon is Our Happy
Possession, While other colony's make noise for more reforms, Ceylon makes
Money". By Daily Graphics, a British newspaper comment
on the silence of the Sinhala elite who are not interested in more reforms on
legistative council |
|
| 1904 |
Sinhala elite refuse a seat for
low-country Sinhalese |
John
Ferguson's ( a European rep in council) request in the legistative council
for a seat to be created to represent the low-country Sinhalese. But there
was no one to second it. Obeysekera, the Sinhala rep even object to it. |
|
| 1904 |
"Sinhala elite cant match
the intellectuality or maturity of the Tamil reps"-says European reps |
John Ferguson ( a European rep
in council) noted none of the Sinhala elite can match the intellectuality or
maturity of the Tamil reps some of whom even speak on
behalf of the Buddhists as the totally anglican Sinhala rep do not even speak
on Buddhist affairs. |
|
| 1904 |
Frustrated
by the British favouring Govigama, Elite of the low-country Sinhalese,
decided to neglect the national struggle & concentrate on money-making.
The rest of the powerless Sinhalese are left helpless |
Being more interested in very
lucrative trade ( plantation agriculture, liquor, coconut, rubber ) than
persuing national interests, they deviated themselves from the national
liberation or political struggle for the Sinhalese. While other communities
established their stance on their rights, this left a vacuum for the
leadership of the Sinhalese. leaderless & powerless, Sinhala people &
their rights, went astray. It also left the door open to any liar with
ulterior motives to step in to benefit from being the Sinhala leader. The sad plight of the once proud & grand Sinhala civilisation, continue even today. |
|
| 1904 |
Tamil elite begin to push for
reforms, supporting the Burghers, for more political power.
British note the Tamil elite as tough customers to cheat |
Tamil rep in the legistative
council, Sir Muttu Coomaraswamy, and his successors kept up their support for
the European reps who were pushing for the reforms. British would see Tamil
reps as the most intriguing community in Lanka as they pushed for reforms.
The Tamil elite whether as a Hindu or as a Christian, was far less anglicised
than the Sinhala elite. They pushed for developing their areas and the
people. They will get the railway built to Jaffna in the following year. |
|
| 1904 |
Power of the Tamil elite
threaten the Europeans- Tamil
nationalism begins, Tamils make maximum use of
Education opportunity in Jaffna as Jaffna begin to have highest literacy rate
in Lanka |
British would see Tamil reps as
the most intriguing community in Lanka as they pushed for reforms. The Tamil
elite whether as a Hindu or as a Christian, was far less anglicised than the
Sinhala elite. They made big use of the education opportunity in Jaffna which
made Jaffna the highest literacy rate in Lanka. They migrated to Asia, Africa for jobs & then to Colombo as
there were few Sinhalese. They became the biggest competitors to the burghers
who could not match them in this race. Also Tamil students who went to South
India bring back feelings of Tamil nationalism . |
|
| 1904 |
Japanese victory against Russia
surprise the world |
world surprises in 1904 during
the Russo-Japanese War. Japan unexpectedly humiliated the much larger Russian
Empire. |
|
| 1904 |
Sinhalese Celebrations in Lanka
for the Japanese victory |
Sinhala associations collect
money for Japan, Japanese war heros photos are sold in streets,( 15,000
coipes of Meesen, a Japanese commander, sell in one day), Sinhala leaders
organize rallies in Colombo to celebrate the Japanese victory. Participated
by Bikkus, Anagarika Darmapala says that Sinhalese must take an example from
the Asian victory against the European powers. Sinhalese favourite countries
are Japan & then China, even today. |
|
| 1905 |
Jaffna railway is opened |
|
| 1905 |
Rubber Boom |
Expanding motor-vehicle industry
make rubber prices rise up |
|
| 1905 |
Irrigation Dept is established
without improving the efficiency or the productivity |
But
it fails to improve the investment in irigation works though it expanded the
areas cultivated. The productivity was the lowest in Asia as the techniques
haven't been made efficient. This enabled imported cheap rice from Burma
being easily available. The Migrants & the upper classes preferred
imported rice. Growing other crops was more profitable. Irrigation revival
alone was not enough. |
|
| 1905 |
Drumming case in Anuradapura - A
classic example of how British is responsible for ethnic
& racial problems, and also exactly why the
Buddhsists asked for the sacred city to be left alone. |
The
colonial govt housed the govt officials in the sacred city despite protests
by the Buddhists to leave the sacred city alone. Now some officials, mainly
Europeans & Catholics, started to complain about Buddhist drumming in the
temples, saying that they cant sleep. British quickly introduced a law
prohibiting Buddhists to drum after 9pm as the govt servants who were housed
in the sacred city by the British themselves , couldn't sleep. Buddhists were
unhappy and angry. In April, drummers from Kurunegala drummed thru out the
night and are taken into custody by the colonial police. |
|
| 1905 |
Drumming
case escalates as the British GA personally picks on the Buddhist procession |
GA-Anuradapura,
Vigors, who had a reputation of annoying the Buddhists, walked in with the
police to ban the Buddhist procession to welcome Hikkaduwe Sumangala thero
saying that they have to obtain a license for drumming. Buddhist monks calmed
the angry Buddhist people down and accepted the ruling peacefully. |
|
| 1905 |
"Bo-maluwa is not a
religious area" -says British as GA & police walk
in with their shoes on |
When drumming started in
Udamaluwa the same night, GA walked into Udamaluwa with their shoes on, to
arrest the drummers. When many People spoke protesting to
this disrespectful act, a Police Sergeant and a constable started to assault
them. Two Sinhalese then hit back injuring the
policemen. 5 people, including 3 drummers, are arrested and fined. British govt say that Bo-maluwa is not a religious worshipping
area. |
|
| 1907 |
Extremist Muslims take advantage
on helplessness of the Buddhists- They prohibit any noise
near the mosque in Gampola. Such agitations lead to
1915 Sinhala-Muslim riots |
Taking advantage of the
onslaught against the Buddhists, extremist Muslims put up a signboard at the
mosque, prohibiting making any noise within 100 yards of the mosque on
Ambagamuwa Street, Gampola. But Buddhists continue the Annual Buddhist
procession from Gangatileke temple in Gampola, as it had done for the last
800 years. They will have to pass the mosque & the signboard. For next 5
years they will pass the signboard without problems. Then there will be
problems. |
|
| 1907 |
British who refused
to build a public pilgrim house, build a rest house
for the comforts of visiting European visitors in Anuradapura. They challenge the poor Buddhists to raise money to build a pilgrims rest |
British had
refused to grant funds to build a public pilgrim
house in Anuradapura. Many Europeans were then interested to witness the
great archeological findings in Anuradapura. On the same spot, near the banks
of TissaWeva, British spend 50,000 Rs of public money to build a rest house for the comfort of visiting Europeans.
This make Buddhists very angry. They have been asking for a public pilgrim
house for the welfare of the Buddhist visitors. To calm down the Buddhists,
devious British Govt finally say that they will
provide the land "IF" Buddhists can come up with the money to build it. With almost all of the Sinhala elite simply being not
interested, Poor Buddhists cannot raise that kind of money. |
|
| 1907 |
The words "Buddhist
Extremists" are introduced by the British as Governer
lies about the Meat Stall near the sacred Bo-tree. |
Replying to a written Buddhist
request to get the meat stall removed from the sacred Bo-tree area, the
Colonial govt says that it as an attempt engineered by Buddhist
"extremists". They also say that the Governer on his visit
personally witnessed that it was nowhere near a shrine. ( yeah, it was only
just another "tree" it was close to.) This
"Buddhist extremist" term will become favourite words of those who
try to rip off Lanka in the decades to come.
Whenever the Sinhala Buddhists try to speak against injustice or unfair
deals, they will be labelled with this term. |
|
| 1908 |
"Even in UK, the British
citizens don’t get things done by sitting quiet" |
Ceylon Morning Herald says this.
The journalist was obviuosly surprised with the silence of
the Sinhalese elite about what was going on. |
|
| 1910 |
Rubber become the 2nd highest
earner |
Rubber become the 2nd highest
earner, next to Tea, replacing Coconut |
|
| 1910 |
Best standard of living for the
ruling & colabarating elite in South Asia & South East Asia. Lankan elite & the Colonial masters are well-off at the
expense of the hard working and oppressed peasants. |
Along with Singapore &
Malaysia, Lanka enjoys the best standard of living for the ruling &
colabarating elite in South Asia & South East Asia. Native planters,
investors, peasants play the key role in the economy. They become specialists
in their jobs, increasing the productivity. But the profits are collected by
the British & enjoyed by the elite, while peasants and the hard-workers
get only a pittance. The elite and the European businessmen has very much
less tax to pay compared to the very high income they get in tea, coffee,
rubber, cinnamon, graphite mining, arrack sales. Land was easily accessible
to them thru govt auctions and sales. |
|
| 1910 |
Only two elite social groups to
publicly push for reforms |
Chilaw & Jaffna Associations
become the only two elite social groups to publicly push for reforms. But
they are too local & too few to make enough noise. |
|
| 1910 |
British sponsored Kandyan
Govigama elite now talk of a separate Kandyan state |
Instead of pressing for more
reforms and total independence of the country, the power of the British
backed Kandyan Govigama elite, due to the silence of the Karawe caste who is
busy making money, now think of Kandyan supremacy. John Halangoda cliams that
the Kandyans, since they are a different race, need a separate state. |
|
| 1911 |
Highest population Growth in
Asia - Population shoot up to 4,106,300 |
Both by natural increase &
the immigration, due to the successful export economy |
|
| 1911 |
Internal Migration into Colombo
& Hill country |
Flourishing plantations &
trade in Colombo attract traders, Craftsmen, and technicians from other
areas. |
|
| 1911 |
Sinhala country should be ruled
by the Sinhalese |
Anagarika Darmapala addresses
the Sinhalese. He try to awaken the true Sinhalese. He says that Sinhala
country should be ruled by the Sinhalese for only them
make it fair for everyone. |
|
| 1912 |
Dept of Agriculture is formed |
|
| 1912 |
Ugly competition between
Govigama & Karawe castes, see Govigama supporting a
Tamil to win the post- This gives confidence to
Tamil nationalism since there was no opposition from the Sinhala elite |
H.U.P. Jayawardana ( JR's
uncle), goes to India to invite Ponnambalam Ramanadan to contest for the
educated Ceylonese post, which was
created by 1911 Macculum proposals). He wants to beat the Sinhala
contestant Marcus Fernando whose Karawe caste is criticised by the
Jayawardanas. Sinhala elite get P.Ramanadan to fight low-caste Sinhala
candidate. Both Jayawardana & Senanayaka families goes to the harbour to
welcome P.Ramanadan, who wins the post, giving more ideas
to the Tamil supremacists about the possibilty of the power they have in their hands. |
|
| 1912 |
Buddhist procession from
Gangatileke temple is blocked by Muslims near the mosque |
Five years after erecting the
noticeboard, the procession from the temple is blocked by Muslim extremists
near the mosque. Elikewela who is the Basnayaka Nilame of the temple leads
the precession through the Muslim protesters saying it is a 800 years old
tradition. |
|
| 1912 |
Muslims complain exagerated to
the British - British ban making any noise within 50 yards
of the mosque. Buddhists ask why only the Muslims
are complaining when the Church on the same street is not troubled. |
Muslims
complained to the British GA for Kandy, P.S. Saxton, that the Buddhists were
behaving badly. They claim that Buddhsits were making insulting noises near
the mosque. British imposed a govt rule that no noise must happen within 50
yards radious of the mosque, and threaten to ban the temple procession if it
breaks the rule again. Elikewela, Basnayaka Nilame, thru T.B.Nugawela-
Diyawadane Nilame of Dalada Maligawa, complained to Kandy GA & ask how
the procession is a problem to the mosque when the Christian church on the
same street is not complaining. |
|
| 1912 |
Arrogant British GA increase the
limit from 50 to 100 yards |
When Elikewela went to see Kandy
GA to remind that they are breaking the promise of 5th chapter, 1815 Sinhala
treaty, angry British GA extend the limit to 100 yrds. |
|
| 1912 |
15th April, Alcohol Act passes thru the council without any objections from the Sinhala rep |
Sinhala rep, Christopher
obeysekera, (grandfather of SWRD Bandaranayaka), remain silent. This act
allows Bars being opened in front of Sri Maha Bodiya, and
Beef, Mutton, Venison stalls being opened near Jethavanaramaya, Tuparamaya,
RuwanveliMahaseya, mostly by the Muslims. |
|
| 1913 |
British prohibit civil servants & village chiefs from joining the temperance
movement |
As it could affect the revenue,
the civil servants had to get permission before joining, and village chiefs
were banned from joining at all. |
|
| 1913 |
Temperence society is a classic
example of how British had successfully divided the society to their
advantage |
The few
Non-Buddhists in the society do not want to criticise the Missionary. The Europeans didn't like public
meetings or political demonstrations. Traditional elite do not want reforms to legistative council. Nationalists wanted only to place more
reps in the council. But
Buddhists were pushing for the ultimate all the way. They could go nowhere. |
|
| 1913 |
"No one is complaining or
unhappy in Lanka"-says British |
Lack of one strong sentiment
from the locals,enable the British to claim that Lanakans
are happy the way the things are. |
|
| 1913 |
Passing away of W.Harishchandra
due to cancer |
The man who gave
leadership to the Buddhist revival and the socially-down Sinhalese masses while Sinhalese Headmen & chiefs assigned by the British,
stayed neutral and silent despising the masses, passed away on 13th Sept. His
leadership, though led to confrontations in 1903 Anuradapura riots and 1905
Udamaluwa incident, had awaken the masses and led
to the survival of Anuradapura for the future generations. |
|
| 1914 |
World War -1 starts: When Austria backed by Germany threatens Serbia, France &
Britian support Serbia. |
In 1914, Archduke Ferdinand,
heir to the throne of Austria, was assassinated in Sarajevo, Serbia. Austria,
backed by Germany, threatened Serbia. England and France announced their
support for Serbia. Both sides mobilized, and on August 3, Germany declared
war on France. Within a few days western Europe was engulfed in World War I
or, as it was then known, the Great War. At first, Germany moved quickly into
France, threatening to take Paris, but the French lines held and finally
forced the Germans back. During the next four years the two sides held
opposing lines of trenches, which stretched from the North Sea to Switzerland
and moved hardly at all throughout the fighting. |
|
| 1914 |
Nilame Elikewela goes to courts
against the British GA- Sinhala rep in the council is
totally silent AGAIN- But Buddhists
win the case on 4th June |
In the ongoing issue of the
signboard put up by the mosque, after the limit was extended to 100 yrds by
the arrogant British GA, He take the matter to courts. Christopher
Obeysekera, ( Grandfather of SWRD Bandarsnayaka) sole
Sinhala rep in the council, does not speak a word to defend the Buddhists. But Anagarika Darmapala, & Valisinghe Harischandra campaign
hard. |
|
| 1914 |
14th June, British GA, supported
by Muslim & Christian extremists, appeal against the ruling. |
Many social, political &
religiuos leaders of the minorities in Lanka, have developed the habit of
uniting to despise Sinhala Buddhist rights. Unchallenged by the so-called
Sinhala elite, they continue their mean onslaught against
the Buddhists until their propaganda take firm root
as nothing but the truth. |
|
| 1915 |
Young Lanka League -1st radical
group with a political programme for independence, But they
forget to rally the upcountry Indian workers |
Set up by A.E.Goonesinghe, whose
lonely efforts for 12 years were hardly supported by any reformists or the
elites or the National congress, the
Young Lanka Leahue give leadership to the urban working class. They also form
urban trade unions which made the British realized that the strikes &
work-stoppages were becoming a reality. But the league did one fatal mistake.
They forgot to unionise the Indian workers in the hill country. This left a vacuum for the selfish Indian Tamil leaders to group them
seperately as an ethnic workers union. |
|
| 1915 |
2nd Feb- British GA in Kandy
wins the appeal & overjoyed Muslim extremists harass
Buddhists |
2nd February, the Supreme Court
rules that the British-GA's rule of 100 yards no-noise zone around the mosque
must stay. Such rulings give confidance to minorities to humiliate &
despise the rights of the SInhalese. Jubiliant Muslims, humiliate Bikkus,
attack 2 houses in Kurunegala & Polgahawela during Pirith & Dana
ceremonies, & attack a few Sinhalese shops which were in business
competition with Musilm traders. |
|
| 1915 |
27th Feb-British favouration let
Muslims get away in the Telligamuwa attack by only advising them not to be violent
again : helpless against
continuing injustices & humiliation in their own
country, Sinhalese anger and frustration begin to
boil. |
27 th Feb- Muslim thugs assault
the Buddhist Upasampada procession at TelliGamuwa. One monk is assaulted
until he fell unconcious, a young Sinhalese who tried to protect the Samadi
Budda statue is assaulted & Muslim thugs break the statue into pieces. In
courts, Muslims lie that the procession made a big noise when passing a
mosque while there wasn't even a mosque at that time in any of the places
where the incidents took place. There was only a Muslim school in the
village. Realising Muslims thuggery couldn't be justified, British ignores to investigate further.
British as usual, stay lenient to Muslims. They
only advise the Muslims not to be violent again.
Then, British dismiss the case. But, helpless against continuing injustices & humiliation
in their own country, Sinhalese anger and frustration begin to boil. |
|
| 1915 |
26th
May- British orders even the Vesak "DanSela" at Dalada in Kandy to
be cancelled following Muslim complains of loss of profits those nights |
Sinhala traders in Kandy and the
Kandyan Buddhist Association organised a Dansela for the 30th time. Muslim
traders complained to the British that it was with the
intention of closing their businesses. They also complain that they can otherwise earn a lot of business
those nights. They also
protest that the Dansela was only important for the Buddists, not the Muslims. British ordered to cancel the Dansela. Kandy
municipal authority stated that "Muslims
should not be suffering in business just because Buddhists celebrate Vesak
and this decesion was taken for the economic reasons on behalf of the Muslims grievances". |
|
| 1915 |
28th may- Overjoyed by British
leniency, confident Muslim extremists abuse & attack
Buddhists; Ambush of
Buddhist pilgrims near the infamous mosque :
In the morning the Sinhalese were seen attending to the wounded
Muslims. Such was the SInhala Buddhist way. |
Overjoyed & confident by the
British leniency, Muslims thugs assault and insult many peaceful buddhist
pilgrims who are visiting Kandy. The nightmail train to Kandy was full of
Muslim thugs who start many quarrells with the youth of Sinhala families in
the train. In Akurana, Muslim thugs threaten the Buddhists saying that your
Dalada would be destroyed tonight. Some Buddhists were too frightened &
went back home. British had assigned only 5 policemen on duty in Kandy. After
midnight, a cart of Buddhist pilgrims were on their way back to Gampola. It
is ambushed within 120 yards of the infamous mosque by the Muslim thugs. 16
year old A. Rathnayaka who later became a rep of the upcountry council, was
one who survived the assault by hiding by the roadside. He witnessed
everything in detail. He saw the mob assaulting even the children. Thugs
burnt the cart. Within hours, angry Sinhala youths surround the mosque that
night. Shots are fired at them from inside the mosque. Sinhala youthes storm
the mosque. But they are controlled & stopped by the Sinhala elders and
the police who arrived. |
|
| 1915 |
29th May-Sinhalese make a human
shield around Dalada Medura as Muslim extremists protected
by British threaten to destroy Dalada, & 10
years of Muslim provocations cause the riots. |
Taking the threats made by the
Muslim thugs seriuosly, angry Sinhalese gather around Dalada in Kandy to
prevent any Muslim attack on Dalada. They believe that the British who had
now displayed total leniency to Muslims, would do nothing to safeguard Dalada.
Many Sinhalese swear to die protecting Dalada. Clashes occur between them
& the Muslim thugs in Kandy. At 11 am on Dalada veediya, 200 meters from
Dalada Maligawa Muslim thugs isolate & stab a 17 year old Sinhala youth
dead. Then they rip the intestines out to generate fear among the Buddhist
pilgrims. Police do not try to find
the assasins. Instead police try to disperse the crowd of angry SInhalese by
force. Sinhala elite join the police, requesting people to go home. Angry
poeple find one Muslim thug who had killed 3 Sinhalaese, incl a baby and a
Upasaka( a Buddhist practising Dasa-sil), and kill him. Several Muslim shops
go up in flames in Kandy. Even some of the police gets assaulted. One British
soldier is thrown into Kandy lake. In Denagama & Kosgoda, two
"notorious" racist Brtish offcials get killed. |
|
| 1915 |
Sinhala-Muslim riots -caused by
the unpopular acts of the Moors that victimize Sinhalese; British take the side of the Moors
& massacre many Sinhalese |
On commemoration of 100 years
since the Kandyan convention, the burning rift between the Sinhala & the
newly migrated Moors from the Malabar coast in India ( who practised giving
credit at unreasonable high rates, and who were very unpopular because of
their competing tactics with the low country Sinhalese) brought them into
conflict. British took the side of the Moors. British, treating it as an organized conspiracy against the
crown, used forces to mercilessly crush it, killing many Sinhalese. British
introduce new rules that give British officials freedom to commit hideous
crimes against Sinhala civilians.Years long attempts by the few patriotic
Sinhalese elite, to bring the injustices to the attention of London never
worked. |
|
| 1915 |
Sinhala rep in the Council
speaks against the Sinhala while shocked Tamil rep &
the respected European rep Harry Creasy speak on behalf of the Sinhala |
S.C.Obeysekera who disliked any
Sinhala uprising, and who was relieved to see the crushing of the rising
Buddhist power, speak against the Sinhala. The Tamil rep, Ponnambalam Ramanathan
& one of the respected European reps, Harry Creasy, mainly concerned with
if the same state violence could be
unleashed on their communities in the future, speak on behalf of the Sinhala & against the British for the cruelty and the new rules that
gave some British officials freedom to commit hideous crimes against Sinahala
civilians. |
|
| 1915 |
31st may-Riots
spread to Colombo as Muslim traders raise prices ;
Bikkus and Sinhala leaders stop every Sinhala reaction by the 1st june. In the real SInhala Buddhist way, temples become havens for
displaced Muslims. |
In response to the riots, Muslim
traders who has near monopoly on the retail business on the common public,
double their prices. Arguments between them and Sinhalese lead to further
flare up. By noon clashes take place in Maradana, Slave island, and kotahena.
Unhappy with the competitiveness of the Muslims, Christians support the
Sinhalaese. But Bikkus and genuine Sinhala leaders manage to stop every
Sinhala reaction by the 1st june. Again, showing the real SInhala Buddhist
way, temples become havens for displaced Muslims. |
|
| 1915 |
31st
May,1st June, Sinhala young men are requested by the Sinhala elderly to
disperse |
British close Bridges at
Kelaniya and Moratuwa to stop Sinhala crowds advancing on the capital. |
|
| 1915 |
2nd June -German battleship come
close to Ceylon- Frightened British arrest Lankans with German connections |
Frightened
British begin to crack down on Lankans with German connections. They arrest
Albert Wijesekera, Bro-in-law of the British army officer Henry Pedris, whose
family has many business contacts with Germany.(Incl a showroom in Munich) In
prison, He dies of weakness caused by the lack of food. |
|
| 1915 |
2nd June-Martial law is
introduced after the riots are over & British use the
opportunity to massacre the known Sinhalese patriots |
Calculating
& deviuos British now move in, making maximum use of the opportunity, to
assasinate all known genuine Sinhala patriots in the provincial towns and
villages, under the cover of the riots. ( which had ended by the 1st June)
Using Marati, Punjab,Tamil, Malay, & collaborating Sinhala troops, they
kill, at will, any one on tips given by the local Muslims, village chiefs,
Burghers & Catholics. Muslims use this opportunity to get rid of their
local business rivals. Even Hiramanaya is declared an illegal weapon, as an
desperate excuse to kill many patriots. Many who had hiramanaya in the
kitchen are killed. In official records, 4885 Sinhalese are arrested. Of
them, only 3573 are produced in courts. There is no record to say what
happened to the balance 1312. Official British Army records show 66 Sinhalese
were killed. Secret British police claim 107 Sinhalese were killed. British
Govt claim that only 39 Sinhalese were killed. |
|
| 1915 |
Sinhala villagers lose the
house/land if they cant pay compensation to Muslims |
British also recovers the
compensation to Muslims from the Sinhala villages. If the villager cannot
pay, they'd lose the land or the house. |
|
| 1915 |
2nd
July- A "14 year old Tibet monk" witness rude treatment by British
troops in arresting meditating Bikkus |
British storm Rathgama Aranya to
arrest Bikkus. Thero Gnanatilaka and four German tourists meditating in the
Aranya, are arrested. A 14 year old young Tibet monk watches it. He will grow
up, trying his best all his life, to get Sinhalese back on the track. He would be known as S. Mahinda thero. |
|
| 1915 |
2nd july -Henry Pedris, and two
more Sinhala soldiers ( one is known only as a Samarasinghe from Matara, and
second still unknown) refuse to shoot the Sinhala crowd & are arrested |
Valentine Jayawardana, Eden
Wlfred Jayawardana, Junius Clintus Jayawardana, 3 officers (
"Bappas" of J.R.Jayawardana who will ironically, without shame, declared open Henry Pedris
statue on 7/7/78 on Isipatana Mw, Col-5 ) who were shooting the Sinhala
crowd, arrested the British officer Henry Pedris, son of a successful
business family. British imprisoned him in a dark cell in Magazine prison.
Same day, British military court decided he must face the
firing squad on the 8th. He listened to the verdict calmly, and asked for 5
requests. To see parents once, to offer a
Ata-pirikara to a Bikku, to be shot by Punjab troops, to host a last-farewel
party to the fellow officers in the armed forces, & finally to bury him
in his family cemetary. British allow him only the 2nd & the 4th
requests. |
|
| 1915 |
4th july-Mother collapses seeing
Henry Pedris in the cell |
visiting with the husband and
the daughter, She is shocked to see the dirty clothes and the sorry state of
her son who is locked in a dark cell like an animal. |
|
| 1915 |
6th July- School children come
on to the streets asking for release of Henry Pedris |
Students of Royal, St.Thomas,
Ananda and many others are on the streets with black arm bands. That night
S.L. Doubgin ( the Police chief)
visited Magazine prison and instructed the prison officers to kill
Pedris following morning without waiting for another 24 hrs. He said it was
too risky to wait till the 6th. |
|
| 1915 |
British
conspiracy to assasinate Henry Pedris without waiting for the due date. |
That night S.L. Doubgin ( the
Police chief) visited Magazine prison
and instructed the prison officers to kill Pedris following morning without
waiting for another 24 hrs. He said it was too risky to wait till the 8th. |
|
| 1915 |
" shoot, I'm ready,
shoot" -7.28am on 7th july-
Killing of Henry Pedris and the other two Sinhala soldiers : British refuse to hand over the body. It is believed that the
British secretly buried it somewhere
in a cemetary using some faithful officials who remained tightlipped about
the location. |
In
the morning a prison official named Olnett opened the cell door, and grabbed
Henry Pedris by the little beard and the chin & said " Lets
go". When marched through the other arrested patriots, John de Silva (
tears flowing ), FR Senanayake placed his face on John De silva's shoulder
and cry, AE Goonesinghe says "You are my hero" when Pedris passes
him. 7.28am, he was seated on a chair in his army uniform. He refuses to bind
his eyes as did Puran Appu, and says " shoot, I'm ready, shoot".
Hearing the gun shots, DS Senanayake placed his head on AE Gonesinghe's lap
and would not speak for hours. FR Senananyake cry holding the chest. Prison
official Olnett says " there your Pedris was shot" as he walked pass with 2 more officials carrying the
bloody chair, to John de Silva. As crowds gathered near the prison, the govt
refused to honour his last request & the body disappear from the prison
premises. Parents plead for the body. But they would not get the body. |
|
| 1915 |
9th
July, R.A.Mirando, Sinhala Buddhist leader, is assasinated by the British
officials |
He
was the one who had replaced the vacuum left by Henry Olcott giving
leadership to ParamaVingnanarthaya, and fought to protect Buddhist schools.
Police chief Daubgin badly wanted him. 8am in the morning, after his prayers
at Fort Bodiya, he was walking to the office of ParamaVinganartha. A bullet
fired by a Punjab soldier pierce his heart. Police chief Daubgin says that he
was shot by robbers. |
|
| 1915 |
Sinhala rep in the Council
speaks against the Sinhala while shocked Tamil rep &
the respected European rep Harry Creasy speak on behalf of the Sinhala |
S.C.Obeysekera who disliked any
Sinhala uprising, and who was relieved to see the crushing of the rising
Buddhist power, speak against the Sinhala, while the Tamil rep Ponnambalam
Ramanathan & one of the respected European reps Harry Creasy speak on
behalf of the Sinhala & against the British for
the cruelty and the new rules that gave some British officials freedom to
commit hideous crimes against Sinahala civilians. |
|
| 1915 |
"You may kill as many
Sinhalese as you can now, but they will never forget this injustice."-
Anagarika Darmapala |
Darmapala writes from India
where he is imprisoned by the British, " Sinhalese
will rather die than living without Buddhism, You may kill as many Sinhalese
as you can now, but they will never forget this injustice." |
|
| 1917 |
Formation of Ceylon Reform
Commission by Ponnambalam Arunachalam |
This will play a key role within
Ceylon National Congress, the Lankan counterpart of the Indian National
Congress, pushing on nationalism. Both Sinhala & Tamil
members accept him as the best person to lead. |
|
| 1917 |
First idea of a Jewish state in
Jerusalam |
In 1917 British Foreign
Secretary James Balfour issued a proclamation supporting the idea of a Jewish
state in Palestine, a region recently liberated from the Ottoman Empire. The
Balfour Declaration marks the beginning of modern Israel. After World War I
ended in 1918, Jews began to migrate to Palestine, which was set aside as a
British mandate with the approval of the League of Nations in 1922. |
|
| 1917 |
Funny
Family race between Bandaranayakes & Senanayakes ; Adds Comedy to the
otherwise tragic tale of the Sinhalese |
Bandaranayaka's claim owning 11,723 acres and Senanayakas
claim having 6317 acres. The
competition escalated as the children of Don Stept Senanayake entered
St.Thomas college, Mt.Lavinia. Proud Bandaranayakas do not want their
children be educated in the same level. So they get their son withdrawn from
St.Thomas, & bring down a tutor from UK. This resident tutor teaches
young Bandaranayaka at Horagolla Walavva. |
|
| 1918 |
Ceylon National Congress ; British start thinking about ways to destroy this new
Sinhala-Tamil alliance |
This was formed as a dream of
Ponnambalam Arunachalam, who sees national unity & racial harmony in a
free Lanka. But he fails to see the
different fractions with different aims in it. Nationalists, Constitutionalists,
radicals- all having lines drawn on what they want. this weakness gives the
British the chance to destroy it. Also British badly want to destroy this new
Sinhala-Tamil alliance which is very unhealthy for them. |
|
| 1919 |
Sinhala Mahajana Sabha by Ceylon
National Congress - 1st opportunity for peasants to be part of the political
activity |
Ceylon
National congress set up a network of local sabhas involving farmers in rural
areas, & connect with the ayurveda doctors, teachers, traders who could
get membership. |
|
| 1919 |
First British tactic to weaken
the Ceylon National Congress. British don’t grant state
funds or expertise to Minneriya Development co |
Minneriya
Development co, is formed to develop agriculture in Polonnaruwa. British
don’t grant state funds or expertise. It was formed by a group of
capitalists. But they fail. Sinhala Maha Sabha step in to salvage the
operation. British don’t grant funds or help with the expertise. The lack of
funds, technical skills, & management skills, halts the projects & it
become unsuccessful. It was the first British tactic to weaken the Ceylon
National Congress. |
|
| 1920 |
Second British tactic to destroy
the Ceylon National Congress : by winning the Kandyans away
from the congress. British use selfish and short-sighted Kandyans weaknesses. |
British decided that the
Kandyans, with their high ego & the ignorance, were the best to
manipulate. Taking advantage on Kandyan fears that they
were so far behind in every aspect, including trade, wealth, and civil
service, than the low-countrymen, and the Kandyan fears that
constitutionalists, including the Tamils, will oneday threaten the
traditional power of the Kandyan Chiefs, British
Governer Sir Willaim Manning detached Kandyan support away from the National
congress. |
|
| 1920 |
Third British tactic to destroy
the Ceylon National Congress : End of the One-to-One ratio
in the council : The harmony between Tamils &
Sinhalese elite is broken by the British |
In a classic move, British
increased the reps positions in the council for Sinhalese
to 13 & for the Tamils to 2, based on ethnic population ratios. Unhappy Tamil elite, who are used to 1-to-1 mentality, demanded
for previous one-to-one ratio. The Sinhala memebers of the Ceylon National
Congress decided not to support Tamils demands for 1-to-1. Tamils broke away
from the congress. This included a reluctant Ponnambalam Arunachalam, who
though not a racist, was pressurized by the Tamil elite as a leader, to
persue the Tamil minority cause seperately. Suddenly he decided to speak
against the constitutional reforms, fearing the transfer of power to Sinhalese.
|
|
| 1920 |
No of Govt schools is 919 &
Christian schools 2122 |
|
| 1921 |
Tamil settlements on east are
limited to only the coast. |
Official British sensus reports
indicate that almost all Tamil settlements on the east coast do not even
spread more than 10 miles to the interior. |
|
| 1921 |
Proof that Batticaloa was under
Kandy & Sinhalese once dominated the region |
S.G.Canagaratnam, chief Mudalier
of Eastern Province writes in official memo that Batticaloa belong to Kandy
kingdom. He notes with sadness the diminishing Sinhala population there, who
once flourished in populated villages. He mentions of many Sinhala ruins
mainly in the West & south of the district. |
|
| 1921 |
Lanka Population is 4.5 million |
|
| 1923 |
Fourth British tactic to destroy
the Ceylon National Congress : British
inspires Kandyan elite to think as a separate race ;
Short-sighted Kandyan elite form Kandyan National Assembly to seek a separate
state in Lanka with gross disregard to the fate of the Sinhalese in other
parts of the country. It also give Tamil elite ideas of seperate state.
British helps the foolish Kandyans to develop these ideas of seperatism in
order to stop Lankans getting united. |
The Kandyan guerilla wars
against the British were the last military campaigns of the Sinhalese. They
were planned & fought mainly by the people of Sinhala military ancestry.
Due to their constant resistance against the invaders and the collaborators,
they had run into fatal confrontations with British made village chiefs.
Having lost to the superior power, they have now ended up being poor &
low-casted by the village chiefs. Some Kandyan elite make use of the heroism
of these people to claim that the Kandyans are superior. They insist that
Kandyan race must be represented seperately in the legistative assembly to
safeguard their separate & distinct identity. It was only an attempt by
the selfish elite to establish power over Kandyan people with gross disregard
to the fate of the Sinhalese in other parts of the country. It also gave
Tamil elite to think about re-establishing the seperate rebel kingdom in
Jaffna. The Kandyan chiefs competition against the Karawe cast, who lived
mainly in the low-country, was another reason to think seperately. |
|
| 1926 |
"You rule there, We rule
over here": Kandyan elite publicly claim they are
relatives of the Jaffna elite |
T.Panabokke & A.Moonemalai, two Kandyan elite say that
the Kandyans are relatives of the Tamil elite in the north. Such foolish public statements further strengthen Tamil elite
thinking " You rule there, We rule over here" |
|
| 1927 |
First request for a federal
state of regional autonomy.- who ? By the Kandyan elite ! |
Kandyan
National Assembly officially ask for a separate federal state with regional
autonomy at the Donoughmore commission. |
|
| 1927 |
Land Commission - lending land
to peasants to cultivate will generally fail ; But it was the first major
colonial policy change on agriculture. |
Crown land is lent to peasants
who are not authorised to sell or lease them. They can pass the lease on to a
heir. But the insufficient support of the infrastructure development,
specially in the dry zone, make it a failed project in many areas. It works
in some parts of the down south. |
|
| 1927 |
A.E. Goonesighe organises
Colombo Harbour Strike |
British
govt is forced to recognize the workers unions as working class come to the
streets. |
|
| 1927 |
Colombo tramways strike |
|
| 1929 |
Attempt to destroy the sacred
Bo-tree |
A mentally sick person try to
destroy the tree on 30th July, He was stopped after cutting a branch. |
|
| 1930 |
No of Govt schools is 2122 &
Christian schools is 2502 |
|
| 1930 |
Newstead college-Negombo ask a
Sinhala student to change from Sinhala to Latin |
In the 1930s, Newstead College
in Negombo wanted Dr. Wimala de Silva to transfer from Sinhala to Latin. Her
father, an ayurvedic physician, stated firmly that his daughter could study
any subject she chose, but ‘Wimala must not give up Sinhala’. She went on to
study English and Sinhala both at the university. |
|
| 1930 |
Leadership of the Tamil elite
goes to extremists who seek nothing but seperatism |
Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan dies
in 1930. New hot blood like G.G.Ponnambalam ( who will replace Ponnambalam
Ramanathan as the new Tamil leader
) impress the crowd with radical
hardline speeches. They get leadership of the Tamil community through racist
speeches. Moderate Tamils have no say or no other leadership to gather under. |
|
| 1931 |
Lanka Population is 5.31 million
; Over-population in South West |
The migration to Colombo cause
over-population in the south west, where over 30 % of the Lankan population
is living by now |
|
| 1931 |
British offer freebees to Indian
Tamil immigrants, refuse to offer the same to Lankan working class |
Free travel, medical facility,
housing, schools, meals for children are provided. When Sinhala politicians
like D.S.Senanayake ask for the same privilidge for the Lankan working class,
British say that it was the Indian govt that forced them to do these at an
unbearable cost. |
|
| 1931 |
Most
remarkable study on colonial affairs of the 20th century-Donoughmore
Commission; is opposed by minorities |
The Donoughmore report is
opposed both by the Muslims and Tamils as it can lead to future Sinhalese
majority rule. Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan campaigns both in Colombo & in
London, T.B.Jayah in Colombo for Muslims. |
|
| 1931 |
First Asian country to enjoy
universal Sufferage |
As recommended by the
Donoughmore commission, both males & females over 21 will get eligibility
to vote. |
|
| 1931 |
Tamil extremists boycott State
Council election in protest to Donoughmore commission |
Jaffna Youth League, comprising
teachers and students, campaign hard for a separate sub-kingdom in Jaffna.
They decided to boycott the election in a meeting attended by south Indian
politician Kamaladevi Chattopadhya.
Tamil moderates are helpless to stand against them. |
|
| 1931 |
Desperate British decides to
recognize responsibility to look after Buddhism to keep Sinhalese happy |
British who are worried about
how long they could exploit Lanka, decide to recognise & take over
supervision & administration of Buddhist temples & monuments. |
|
| 1932 |
Drepression hits Lanaka for 2
years |
Export revenue is reduced by
half ( as overseas consumer markets are hit with depression ), 9000 Lankans
& 84,000 lose jobs, over 100,000 Indians go back to India. Retrenchments
in whitecollar jobs increase. Things will be bad for 2-3 years until the
exports start to make profit again. |
|
| 1933 |
Great Royal Alms-hall is
discovered |
Among the ruins covered in the
jungle, archeologists identify the Royal alms-hall that fed over 8000 monks
and many civilians daily. |
|
| 1935 |
Birth of Indian Tamil Plantation
Workers political unity ; Natesa Iyer open a trade union
among the Indian Tamils |
Nadesa Iyer opens a trade union
among the Indian Tamil plantation workers. Lankan Trade union had neglected
having control on the leadership of these workers in their union. Nadesa Iyer
is a colleague of A.E. Goonesingh's trade unions. He had learnt the subject
through his experience. He become the leader of the plantations Indian
workers. This creates a gap between them and the Indian plantation workers
who will go & remain on a path of ethnic interests.They are, even today. |
|
| 1938 |
G.G.Ponnambalam ask for 50-50
representation |
His
unfair demand of representation of 50-50 for 30% of minorities & 70 %
majority, is rejected by the British who want to keep Sinhalese happy. |
|
| 1939 |
World War-2 starts ; It will end
in 1945 |
|
| 1940 |
RuwanVeliMahaSeya restoration
completed: It has taken 47 years. Still it is smaller than
the original. |
17th
June, a 25 ft tall golden pinnacle and crystal is placed on the stupa. Stupa
covers 5 acres but still smaller in diameter 300ft from original 370 ft.
Height is 350 ft, which is smaller again. |
|
| 1941 |
Lanka become main Rubber
supplier to Allied forces |
As Dutch East Indies &
Malaysia is lost, Ceylon is the main supplier of Rubber. But Lankans do not
get the full benefit as the British collect the profit. |
|
| 1942 |
Colombo university- the 1st in
Lanka |
Colombo university- the 1st
university in Lanka after nearly half a decade of requests |
|
| 1943 |
State Council decides to use
Sinhala and Tamil equally ; Tamils get to work in own language, but adds on
to the 50-50 mentality. |
State Council resolved that the business of State Council should be conducted in Sinhala and
Tamil. They also decided that both Sinhalese and Tamil be made compulsory subjects in all
public examinations. While it give Tamils who are
only 10% of Lankan population, their rights to work in own language, it also
gives Tamil extremists another boost of 50-50 mentality. |
|
| 1943 |
Sinhalese and Tamil are made the
medium of all schools. |
In
1943, acting on the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee on
Education, State Council resolved that Sinhalese and Tamil be made the medium
of in all schools. It reached 8th standard in 1956, Ordinary Level in 1958,
and Advanced Level in 1960. From 1961, University education was in Swabhasha.
|
|
| 1945 |
World War-2 which started in
1939, end in 1945 |
America emerges as a new
powerful super power while Britain and France try to keep their status. |
|
| 1946 |
Public exams call for a pass in Sinhala OR Tamil |
the
Ceylan Civil Service examination, the General Clerical Examination, the
Police Probationers exam, English Teachers Certificate exam and the Senior
School Certificate exam, called for a pass in Sinhala or Tamil. |
|
| 1947 |
British announce fully
responsible status within the British Commonwealth |
D.S.Senanayake
( who impressed the British with his display of loyalty and 100% coorporation
during the WorldWar -2 ) & Sir Oliver Goonetileke who handled all the
negotiaitons in London, wins their 2 year campaigne for independence,
finally. |
|
| 1947 |
G.G.Ponnambalam's Tamil congress join UNP - a party that
is freely open to minorities to exploit or to participate |
G.G.Ponnambalam's
Tamil congress join UNP - a party that is freely open to minorities to
exploit or to participate. As a sign of trusting D.S.Senanayake's concerns
for minorities & his vision of a mixed state-power & politics
irrespective of race & religion, they joined UNP. But the Tamil
extremists will leave in one year, forming the Tamil Federal party. |
|
| 1947 |
90 years after the Bloody
rebellion, British are pressurized to grant independence
to India - result of relentless & wise campaigns
by the elite, intensity and frequency of which the British found difficult to
cope with |
On August 15, 1947, India ceased
to be a part of the British Empire and became a united sovereign state. In
the words of Jawaharlal Nehru, first Prime Minister of the new nation: “At
the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to
life and freedom.” Independence was the conclusion of a struggle dating back
at least as far as the outbreak of the bloody Indian Mutiny in 1857. By the
early 20th century, India had developed an organized, highly articulate
Indian nationalist movement, embodied in the Indian National Congress and
other groups. World War II, mass expressions of protest through civil
disobedience, and even the enlistment of Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian
National Army on the Japanese side, increased expectations among Indians that
British India would soon win its freedom. From 1942 the British government
was prepared to promise eventual independence in return for cooperation in
the war effort. Mohandas Gandhi, one of the principal fighters for an
independent India, had made non-violent struggle the centre of his political
philosophy. |
|
| 1947 |
India's Multi-cultural dilemma |
Although Ghandi, and secular
nationalists such as Nehru, sought to unite Hindu and Muslim Indians,
religious tensions, sometimes erupting in bloody sectarian strife, increased,
and demands by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and others for a separate Muslim state gained
strength. On August 15 it was not one but two states that came into being, as
the north-western and north-eastern parts of the subcontinent, containing
substantial Muslim populations, were separated off to form Pakistan. This
partition was to result in horrific massacres of Hindu and Muslim refugees as
the two communities migrated to follow the new borders, and the first
Indo-Pakistan War broke out soon after over the status of Kashmir. |
|
| 1948 |
22 Buddhist schools & 199
Christian schools |
There are 199 Christian schools
in the country, but only 22 Buddhist schools when independence arrived. This
showed the discrimination the Sinhalese were subjected to. |
|
| 1948 |
Sept'48-
Education bill is approved & Rural kids get access to education |
Abolishing of school fees,
Grants to all schools stopped & the beginning of state run schools create
an avenue of advancements for the rural kids. |
|
| 1948 |
Tamil hardliners leave Tamil
congress to form the more racist Tamil Federal party - who
will introduce the concept of separate state in 3 years |
in
1947, G.G.Ponnambalam's Tamil congress joined the UNP - a party that is
freely open to minorities to exploit or to participate. As a sign of trusting
D.S.Senanayake's concerns for minorities & his vision of a mixed
state-power & politics irrespective of race & religion, they joined
UNP. But the Tamil extremists will leave in one year, forming the Tamil
Federal party. in 3 years it was this party that introduced the concept of
separate state |
|
| 1948 |
British leaves after creating
Israel in the middle of Arab states |
In 1948 Britain withdrew from
the region, leaving an independent Jewish state surrounded by hostile Arab
neighbours. War followed immediately, ending with an uneasy truce in 1949.
During the next 25 years Israel fought three more wars: the Sinai campaign
(1956), the Six-Day War (1967), and the Yom Kippur War (1973), winning all
and expanding its territory each time. |
|
| 1951 |
Most important relic ever found
from a dagaba |
partlky
crumbled Mihindu Seaya in Mihintale was covered in jungle. During the process
of clearing the jungle, a relic casket made of a polished black unknown
material that hasn't been found from nowhere else in the world, was unearthed
from the inside chamber. Inside the relic were beads, trinkets & ash, believed to be Mihindu theros. The
temple owns it today. |
|
| 1951 |
Formation of SLFP - attracted
the Buddhists who are now sick of trusting the minority traitors who take
advantage of any free open system like UNP, to achieve their unreasonable
demands. |
Disagreements
between D.S.Senanayaka & SWRD Bandaranayaka made the latter to resign
& form this new party. Centuries of discrimination and neglect has caused
so much of resentment among Sinhala Buddhsits, school teachers, Ayurvedic
doctors, and Bikkus, who were looking for a stronger stance on the guarantee
of survival of the majority. SLFP attracted the Buddhists who are now sick of
trusting the minority traitors who take advantage of any free open system
like UNP, to achieve their unreasonable demands. UNP failed to publicly
announce their stance on the rights of the Sinhalese and also to curb the
unreasonable demands of the minorities.
|
|
| 1951 |
First claim of a separate Tamil
state is introduced by Tamil federal party. |
At the 1st National convention
of the Tamil Federal party, the theme is introduced for the 1st time. This is
the beginning of the extremist Tamil propaganda of being a distinct nation
with a separate historic path. |
|
| 1952 |
University of Peradeniya |
|
| 1952 |
July,52- Death of D.S,Senanayake |
who falls off the horse at
Galleface green. |
|
| 1953 |
Dependance on export economy
brings disaster after the end of Korean war ; Economic
downturn |
An economy
that depends on exports, is vulnerable to the world market prices. When end of Korean war brought the rubber prices down, the govt
couldn't offer the subsidies it used to provide to the public. This led to an
increase of food & clothing prices & work stoppages and strikes. |
|
| 1955 |
"Consume the fruit without
planting the tree and nurturing it"-even after
independence, the ruling elite refuses to have the correct vision. They live
beyond the means of the country, at the expense of the future. Their policies protect
their positions & wealth. |
The
elite give priority to maintaining their social status over National
strategies to develop the country and the people with honesty &
sincerity. Living within the means
does not become a national economic virtue. As the late Joan Robinson, the
famous Cambridge economist observed, as long ago as the 1950s, socially and
economically strong Lankans, were people who wanted to consume the fruit
without planting the tree and nurturing it. They led lifestyles quite
inconsistent with the national income at the expense of the development of
the land and the people. Thus, Lanka continue to be one of the poorest
nations in the world, though a ruling class lives as if Lanka was a rich
country. |
|
| 1955 |
India introduce rules to stop
Tamil Seperatism in South India |
Responding to vigorous campaigns
in South iNdia for Tamil Separate state, Nehru introduces the 16th amendment
forcing govt officials to take an oath to uphold sovereignty & integrity
of India. This prevents treachery by the Tamil govt officials. But the
dreaming continues. |
|
| 1955 |
Lanka is admitted to United
Nations |
|
| 1956 |
Feb- UNP
promises Sinhala to be the official language to win the election over the new
SLFP |
in order to win people, UNP also
plays the language issue, losing the support of the extremist Tamil leaders.
But UNP failed to win the Sinhala people who were already with the SLFP. SLFP
has won people by putting it first. |
|
| 1956 |
Landslide victory for SLFP
against a weak Sir John Kotalawala's UNP |
|
| 1956 |
First major ethnic riots of
post-colonial Lanka : Tamil extremists unleash violance in
the North & East. Army is deployed to protect Sinhalese from the Tamil
racist thugs. Army experience thier first encounter with Tamil militancy. |
Some minorities who enjoyed
colonial life at the expense of the Sinhalese, see at least some point in the
Sinhala only act as a way to correct a 400 year old injustice. But the
stubborn refusal of the Tamil elite, to compromise on 50-50 mentality, lead to
confronting politics. This helps extremist Tamil leaders. Tamil thugs go on
rampage in the north & the east, killing many Sinhalese. Army is deployed
in the north & east to control the violance by Tamil thugs. News about
Tamil racist attacks in the north are suppressed by the authorities for the
fear of reprisals in the south. Lankan army Soldiers are
surprised to receive fire from Tamil militants. The
authorities ignores the complaints and warnings by the soldiers. |
|
| 1956 |
In August in Trincomalee, Tamil demands are outlined. |
Autonomy for the north &
east, parity of status to Sinhala & Tamil languages, Satisfactory
solution to the Indian Tamil problem are outlined at a convebtion in Trinco. |
|
| 1956 |
Anglo-French realization that
they are no longer super-power of the West in the Suez crisis ; America make
them feel their status as a super power |
Despite
worldwide condemnation, Britain and France refused to back down, and began
landing troops in the Suez Canal Zone on November 5. After early military
successes, the operation became untenable when Britain especially found
itself in an economic crisis at home. The value of the British pound
plummeted, and the closure of the Canal created an oil crisis. USA make the
opportunity to point out who is stronger. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the United
States President, refused to help the British, until the UN resolutions were
respected. The day after it began, the Anglo-French invasion of the Suez
Canal region was halted. Britain and France grudgingly accepted the UN
resolutions, and pulled their forces out in early December 1956. The Suez
Crisis was over, but it had lasting consequences. Eden’s career was
destroyed, and he resigned soon after. The global community had been shown
that the day of the colonial European great powers was over; the new masters
of the post-war world were the superpowers. |
|
| 1956 |
Sinhala medium goes upto grade
8. |
In
1943, on the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee on Education,
State Council resolved that Sinhalese and Tamil be made the medium of in all
schools. It reached 8th standard in 1956, Ordinary Level in 1958, and
Advanced Level in 1960. From 1961, University education was in Swabhasha. |
|
| 1956 |
Commission on higher Education
recommends teaching of advance level in Sinhala to stop Sinhala
becoming a dead language. |
The
1956 Commission on Higher Education had pointed out that 92% of the
population could not study beyond the 8th standard, because the rest of the
education was in English. They also show that science and other modern
subjects could be taught in Sinhala. They also emphasize that Sinhala should not be a dead language. |
|
| 1957 |
July- the
Banda-Chelva pact- In order to solve the problem of
Tamil leaders refusing to back down on racial demands, S.W.R.D. Bandaranayaka
negotiates compromisations with Chelvenayagam of Tamil Federal party. Under pressure, he agrees to unreasonable demands. Tamil racist demands thrive on loudness
of their propaganda & the silence of the opposition to it. |
SWRD Bandaranayaka continues to
negotiate with the Tamil federal party. He seeks compromisation on
unreasonable Tamil racist demands. Under criticism from many quarters about
the way he implemented drastic changes previous year, he gives in to several
unreasonable Tamil demands, 1. Tamil to be the official language for
administration purposes in the north & the east ( which will force other
communities living in the area to work in Tamil). 2. Instead of Federalism,
greater powers to regional councils, ( which included totally unnecessary
powers to be centralized jeopadising national security & one area
receiving an unfair attention, &
also can lead to Tamil separatist rule ) 3. Colonisations in North & east
to be restricted so that Tamils will continue to be the majority there (
which discriminate other communities in Lanka as no one else talks about
being the majority anywhere else). When this Banda-Chelvenayagam Pact is
published, the public protests at the way the Tamil demands leads to racial
seperation and one community having more rights & powers than the rest of
the communities. |
|
| 1957 |
British finally pulls out of the
military bases in Lanka |
|
| 1957 |
"Seruvila Sacred
Bo-tree" planted by king Devanampiyatissa, fall into hands of
Mallikativu village committee |
The site of the Lanka's SECOND-most sacred bo tree in Seruvila
is owned by the village committee under village committee ordinance. Under
their protection, the tree will disappear by 1977 without a trace. Today a
Hindu kovil has replaced the Bo-tree. It will be the most important known
loss of Sinhala heritage at the hands of Tamil racists. |
|
| 1958 |
May- Publication of Banda-Chelva
pact cause protests & protests cause riots as Tamil extremists attack
Sinhalese in the North & East. Army Soldiers who are
deployed, witness the massacre of the Sinhalese by Tamil thugs. The Tamil
militants fire at Army again. The authorities ignores it. For the first time, Two Sinhalese police constables are killed
by the Tamil militants in Batticaloa. It is kept a
secret. |
Elements from all over including
members of UNP, SLFP both come out protesting. They
criticise giving-in to unreasonable demands just because the big noise Tamil
racist leaders make & just because other communities dont come up with
such demands. Bikkus perform Satyagraha on streets.
Riots break out against the protestors in the North. Violent Tamil racist
attacks brutally massacre innocent Sinhalese in the North & East. News
about Tamil racist attacks in the north are suppressed for the fear of
reprisals in the south. Lankan army is again deployed both in the North &
the East to bring civil order. Again, soldiers
complain of having been fired at by Tamil militants. The authorities ignores
the complaints again. |
|
| 1958 |
August- Tamil language provision
act is introduced, giving reasonable use of Tamil in N&E for Admin
purposes. But Tamil leaders refuse to give up their unreasonable demands. |
It provides reasonable use of Tamil for administration purposes. But Tamil leaders who thrived on seperatism, are not satisfied. The Tamil leaders resolution to stick with hardline separatism
policy scares Sinhalese more than others. It will take another 8 years before
the parliament actually approve even this due to opposition to it by the
Tamil extremist MPs & some extremist Sinhala MPs. |
|
| 1958 |
" Please take your share
& depart"- Abu Dhabi - a classic example of
economic exploitation and Arab nationalism - Sheikh Shakhbut's resistance demonstrated Arab pride and nationalism. |
Abu Dhabi provides a classic
example of the way that economic exploitation and Arab nationalism coming
together. This desert state on the Arabian peninsula granted a concession in
1939, stipulating that the sheikh would receive 7 US cents per barrel if oil
was discovered. In 1958 a consortium of companies struck oil. In a short
time, thousands of people migrated to the tiny country seeking jobs; they
soon outnumbered the indigenous population by 2:1. The ruler of Abu Dhabi,
Sheikh Shakhbut, was distraught. The newcomers would
destroy traditional ways. Incomers asked him to
establish a post office, and he refused, declaring that the country had done
well without one. The oil consortium, embarrassed by their low payments to
the sheikh, urged him to accept an equal share of the profits. He replied that he wished they would simply take their 50 per
cent of the oil and depart, leaving his in the ground. In 1965 other members of the ruling family persuaded him to
accept the new agreement. But Sheikh Shakhbut's
resistance demonstrated Arab pride and nationalism. |
|
| 1958 |
Sinhala medium goes upto grade
10. |
In
1943, on the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee on Education,
State Council resolved that Sinhalese and Tamil be made the medium in all
schools. It reached 8th standard in 1956, Ordinary Level in 1958, and
Advanced Level in 1960. From 1961, University education was in Swabhasha. |
|
| 1959 |
Assasination of
S.W.R.D.Bandaranayake |
By an disillussioned bikku, with
the mastermind being the most powerful political bikku of the times. This
mastermind Bikkku was the one who helped Bandaranayaka to come to power in
1956. This eliminated the left wingers from the Bandaranayaka's govt. |
|
| 1959 |
Age of voting is lowered to 18
from 21 |
|
| 1960 |
World's 1st woman prime minister |
|
|
| 1960 |
Sinhala medium goes upto grade
12 |
In
1943, on the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee on Education,
State Council resolved that Sinhalese and Tamil be made the medium of in all
schools. It reached 8th standard in 1956, Ordinary Level in 1958, and
Advanced Level in 1960. From 1961, University education was in Swabhasha. |
|
| 1961 |
January- Mrs Bandaranaika breaks
the promise to allow Tamil racist demands of Tamil Federal Party after
winning the election. Instead, she implement Sinhala Only act. This allows
Tamil racists to scare the Tamil moderates about Sinhalese domination |
In
order to get their support to win the election, she had promised to Tamil
Federal party that she will implement the Banda-Chelva pact. That promise led to Federal party joining
SLFP. This enabled the SLFP to come to power beating the UNP. But once in
power, she changed her mind. It is probably either she lied to Federal party
OR, she was only fully briefed about the long term consequences of the
unreasonable demands of the pact, only after coming to power. It is probably
true that she took feedback from both the few Sinhala extremists AND the wise people who pointed out the extremism
of the Tamil aspirations. She therefore take a hard stand & decided to
implement the "Sinhala only" act in Administration of Lanka. |
|
| 1961 |
Tamil retalliate with civil
disobedience campaign in the North & the east. |
State of emergency declared in
these areas. |
|
| 1961 |
Turning of Catholic resentment
into a hatred ; All schools financed by the Govt are taken
over by the state ; Subsequent failure of the
system due to the incompetancy & mismanagement, enable the Catholic
extremists to blame all the following problems in Lanka on such corrections
of injustices. |
All schools financed by the Govt
are taken over by the state. This lead to some controlling of the missionary
exploitation & conversions. But angers Hindus, Muslims, Christians. Only
a few schools will continue with their own funds. But they fail to view it as
something the Colonial rulers had established for the destabilisation of the
society. But the govt's failure in administration incompetence & economic
failure does nothing to silence the critics. Pointing out the failures and
the collapse of the system due to these incompetancy & mismanagement,
Catholic extremists will easily blame all the following problems in Lanka on
such corrections of injustices. |
|
| 1961 |
Sinhala medium goes upto the
university. |
In
1943, on the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee on Education,
State Council resolved that Sinhalese and Tamil be made the medium of in all
schools. It reached 8th standard in 1956, Ordinary Level in 1958, and
Advanced Level in 1960. From 1961, University education was in Swabhasha. |
|
| 1962 |
Military Coup of the Catholics |
|
| 1963 |
The controvesy over koneswaram
temple in Trinco. Fort Frederick is built with sculptured
stones and pillars of the Buddhist temple Gokanna Viharaya. (after the temple
was demolished by the Portuguese commander Constantine de Sa - recorded by
portugese historian De Queyros). The current Hindu
Koneswaram temple was first consecrated in 1963, when Tamil extremists
destroyed the BoTree (The Bo-tree was the last remining item from the ancient
Gokanna viharaya built by king Mahasen in 280 AD. ) & converted another
ancient Buddhist Temple in to a Kovil. |
Eelamists claim the original
Koneswaram temple was recorded in a Tamil poem by Kavi Rajavarothiar as being
1589 BC.( which was the period where the first Tamil migrants arrived in
Lanka, a land of opportunities). Immediately after a liberation, the Lankan
king Mahasen established a Buddhists temple named Gokanna Viharaya in 280 AD.
( The truth is either it was a Buddhist temple from the
beginning, OR it was a centre of Tamil racism, (which ruined the Lankan
civilisation around 280 AD), which made the Lankan king to destroy it. May be
both is true. Eelamists also claim that a
Kulakottan, a South Indian prince rebuilt and enlarged this temple in the 5th
century AD.( This was during a brief occupation of Lanka by the South Indian
army during an invasion). Further research has to
be done to sort out the truth, as the Eelamists propaganda machine has
silenced all other claims by the weight of their sheer noise, loudness and
continuity of the propaganda in their favour. The
Bo-tree in front of the Hindu kovil, disappered and the site was covered by a
cemented platform, even today. |
|
| 1964 |
Sirima - Shastri pact- one of
the successful deeds |
She & Bahadur Shastri, prime
miniter of India, agrees on 525,000 indian Tamils going back to India, and
300,000 being absorbed into Lanka. |
|
| 1964 |
SLFP loses Both Tamil allies
Tamil Federal party & Ceylon Workers Congress to UNP |
CWC led by S.Thondaman, for the
1st time since 1947 joined the UNP. SLFP is now unpopular among the
Catholics, Tamils, Muslims ( by failing to pass legislation on quasis a
system of courts for Muslims in marriages and divorces). |
|
| 1964 |
The Trinco Bo tree, last
remaining item from the ancient Gokanna viharaya in fort Frederick, Trinco,
is destroyed completely by unidentified people. |
The Bo tree in front of the
Hindu kovil, disappear and the site is covered by a cemented platform today.
It is the last remining item from the ancient Gokanna viharaya built by king
Mahasen in 280 AD. It was destroyed by the Portugese to build the fort Frederick
& the incident was recorded by portugese historian De Queyros. |
|
| 1965 |
UNP comes to power with the help
of minorities ( Minorities fail to realize that this was a
delicate period of transition where the injustices to the Sinhalese are
slowly corrected, and the competition is not as easy as it used to be under
the British. They are made to feel insecure by their
own leaders). |
But the minorites fail to notice
the free-for-all system the predominantly Sinhala governments were trying
hard to create. It was not an easy task for the Governments to correct the
colonial injustice done on the Sinhalese and at the same time to make the
minorities who had enjoyed better at the expense of the Sinhalese, happier.
Though the governments were mainly Sinhalese, they made sure that the system
was open for all minorities to compete. But the minorities are NOT used to
competing with the Sinhalese, mainly because the Sinhalese were not able to
compete before. The minorities never had to compete with the Sinhalese masses
before. The Colonial rulers, by suppression of the Sinhalese masses, had made
it easy for the minorites to compete. This had enabled the minorities to
reach heights that they would otherwise find not very easy to reach. But the
minority leaders hide this fact from the minorities. Instead they genearte
fear & insecurity in the minds of their community about the Sinhalese. This
fear & insecurity prompts the minorities to keep those who make the
biggest noise as their leaders. |
|
| 1965 |
March-Dudley Senanayake &
Chelvanayagam pact is signed ( Enhancing on Banda-Chlva
pact, and giving in to more unreasonable racist
demands of Tamils) UNP MPs themselves stand against the racist demands & it get cancelled in 3 years. |
1. Tamil is the official lang in
the N&E, 2.Tamils can do business in Tamil anywhere in the country 3.
Legal proceedings in courts in the N&E in Tamil 4. Land in N&E to be
given only on priority of, first
to landless in the district, then to landless in the N&E, then to other Lankans, with preference to Tamils again. NO SINHALESE
ASKed FOR THE SAME FOR THE SOUTH. There is strong opposition to it by the
UNPers themselves. They point out that it is not only racist, but it can also
lead to Tamils drifting to seperatism. The truth see it being not
implemented. The bill gets cancelled within 3 years. |
|
| 1968 |
UNP cancel the Dudley-Chelva
pact |
There is strong opposition to it
by the UNPers themselves. They point out that it is not only racist, but it
can also lead to Tamils drifting to seperatism. The truth see it being not
implemented. The bill gets cancelled within 3 years. |
|
| 1970 |
Branches of the second Sri Maha
Bodi is cut against protests to PM sirimavo, Min. of cultral affars, GA
Trinco, Commissioner of Archeology. |
Against protests by the chief
priest of the Seruvila Vihara and the All ceylon Buddhist congress, the
ministry of posts & telecommunications under C.Kumarasuriyar, go ahead to
cut branches of the tree under the pretext of providing telephone line to the
residence of Muttur M.P., Mr.Thangadorai. Desperate protests to PM Sirimavo,
Min. of cultral affairs, GA Trinco, Commissioner of Archeology fail to
protect it. |
|
| 1971 |
Biggest revolt by the youth in
the recorded Lankan history ; caused by the Ignored problems of the capable
& daring Sinhalese youth |
The ignorance
of those who are responsible to attend the problems of the capable &
daring Sinhalese youth, enable JVP leadership to
recruit support for a marxist rebellion. Unable to understand neither the
root cause of youth unrest nor the culprits of the rebellion, the government
kills over 20,000 Sinhalese young men & women who were mostly innocent. In
the most dangerous development, The govt discovers
the power of emergency regulations & how it can be used to silence the
critics. |
|
| 1971 |
SLFP govt of inefficiency,
curruption, and incapable officials, struggles with economy ; giving Tamil extremists & Catholics the chance to severely
critisize the post-colonial changes |
Inefficiency,
curruption, lack of correct people with the vision, makes the economy worse.
Rice porduction which just picked up by 1970 was on decline again due to the
poor administration base, Govt monopolised the food distribution to avoid
catastrophy. Imports become too costly. The lack of foreign exchange makes it
difficult to buy imports. That meant lack of luxury goods, bread etc. This
helps Catholics, Burghers & Tamil extremists to critisize the correction
of injustices after the British left. |
|
| 1971 |
A Hindu Kovil is built right
next to the sacred Bo tree in Seruvila. |
Assistant commissioner of
Archeology, M.H.Sirisoma, visits the Bo-tree & finds a wall built around
the land & a Hindu kovil being built on the adjoining land. This is 6
years before the tree disappear. |
|
| 1972 |
First Stubborn action of Lankan
govt - Increasing
the term from 5 to 7& misuse of admn power for political purposes begins |
Unprecedented in the history of
constitution-making in any democratic modern state, the Lankan Govt uses it's
overwhelming superiority in the Parliament to extend the period of power from
5 to 7. It would be the first act of more daring acts to follow. Then the
power of the Judiciary to hear the appeals against mala-fide administration
decisions, is drastically reduced. This lead to the state machinary being
used against political opponents. |
|
| 1972 |
Misuse
of Govt power become large scale : As the Govt was going in the wrong
path, the Tamil youth's dream of an
armed struggle, began to attract support from even the moderate Tamil
Nationalists. |
Blind
by the new discovered power of the SLFP government after 1971, acquisition of
land, houses, shops, vehicles is carried out to victimize opponents. Freedom
of press is lost due to crafty means ( govt control the allocation of
newsprint), govt control the broadcasting as well, Public meetings arew
banned under emergency regualations, Discrimination on political grounds
become a standard tactics that no one can speak against, Politicisation of
the public service run down to even the lowest levels of the machinery. State
resources are blatantly used, incl staff, for political work. Appointments
& decisions are made on political and personal connections, leading to
corruption & Inefficiency. |
|
| 1973 |
Largest crowd ever gathered
todate in Lanka - Funeral of Dudley Senanayake |
He died on 13th April, Funeral
was on the 21st April, nearly half the population in Lanka paid him last
respect. |
|
| 1975 |
Robert McNamara marvels at
Anuradapura |
Ex-US
Secretary of Vietnam War fame, Robert Mcnamara, one of the creators of the
World Bank, while visiting
Anuradapura, claim that the civilization of the the Sinhalese must be much ,
much older than 2500 years to be able to achieve that kind of technological
and philosophical expertise. |
|
| 1977 |
April - SVJ Chelvanayagam fell
ill & died. |
|
| 1977 |
Seruvila Bo tree disappears with
the stone pillars around it : the most important heritage lost, out of all
the 237 identified ancient Buddhist temples in the N&E |
Trinc GA who visit the place
find both the tree and the pillars had disappeared and a new Hindu kovil was
being built on the land despite another Hindu kovil being on the adjoining
land. That was the end of the second most sacred Bo tree in Lanka. It was the
most important heritage lost, out of all 237 ancient Buddhist temples the
British archeologists had found in the north and the east. |
|
| 1978 |
New Constitution recognised
Tamil as a national language & Indian Tamil recognition |
It keeps Sinhala as the sole
official language. It abolished the distinction between citizens by descent,
thus removing the claim that indian Tamils are treated as 2nd class
citizens.TULF stay away from these constitution changes as it has promised
it's youth to stick on to the path to Eelam. |
|
| 1978 |
Budda Statue in Sembimalai
temple, near Kuchchaveli disappears & a Hindu kovil is built on the
temple site. Statue will be recovered by some soldiers. |
8 feet tall statue of the
ancient temple dated back to 280 BC, disappears after the Trinco-GA's visit
in early october. There were marks to show that it has been dragged down the
precipice.( Fortunately it was recovered 6 miles away later. As Govt officials
are inactive, It will be rescued & safeguarded by some of the soldiers of
the fighting units of the armed forces, out of personal interest &
motivation. ) |
|
| 1981 |
Kurundapasana viharaya of the
150BC in Nedunkerni, is cemented & is converted to a Hindu kovil |
Unidentified
people built a roof on the stone pillars, and cemented the image house, and
planted a trident, using the stone slab of the sacred foot print stone of the
Budda to light camphor. The stupa was levelled and cemented. |
|
| 1983 |
July Racial riots - Using brutal force, & handicapped by the traitors within,
the Govt fails to understand & handle the Tamil militancy effectively.
They keep people in the dark about the real nature of the Tamil racist
terrorism. This leave room for the rumours to spread. The anger &
frustration, against both the Govt & Tamil extremism, reach it's boiling
point |
A foolish, and a clueless Govt
keep people in the dark about the real nature of the Tamil racist rebellion
in the North & the East. This leave room for the rumours to spread. The
Govt itself is unable to understand & estimate what was going on. They
knew either to apply the brutal force or, to simply sit on the problem,
waiting for the next militant move. The Government is handicapped by the
traitors within, who neutralise any "effective" counter-terrorist
activity. The anger & frustration, against both the Govt & Tamil
extremism, reach it's boiling point when the army's night moble patrol is
cleverly ambushed in Jaffna. The ensuing riots cost 311 Tamil lives and 160
Sinhala lives, including the last Sinhalese undergraduate in Jaffna
university, whose stomach was ripped open and intestines pulled out. LTTE
take maximum benefit with so many recruits joining in after the riots. For
the next decades, the Eelamists will be able to attract international
sympathy or support, claiming over 3000 Tamils were masacred in the
south. |
|
| 2001 |
Muslim-Sinhala riots in
Mawanella - A case between Thugs & Muslim traders, is
turned into a racial riot following extremist
Muslims humiliating the Buddhists. (They attacked
the Buddhist statue with swords and rods & dragged it along the road with
a rope around it's neck - Then over 60 Muslim shops went up in flames ) |
on 30th April, a Muslim trader
assaulted 3 Sinhala youths who asked for the balance money after buying 3
cigerettes. They complained to Priyantha, a Sinhalese youth in the town who
came & assaulted the Muslim trader. On the 1st of May, as complained by
the trader, Police arrested only the Sinhalese. The following day, some
Muslim youths closed Mawanella Muslim school and with the elder students, set
fire to the police jeep of the Mawanella OIC, and in the worst case, attacked
the Buddhist statue with swords and rods & dragged it along the road with
a rope around it's neck. This act flared up an angry Sinhalese reaction,
which was up to this time, only a case between Muslims & thugs. All this was covered up for the fear of
more riots. On 4th may, Muslims coming out of Friday mosques, attacked
Maradana police station, Sinhala shops. It spread to Ampara, Kantalai, &
Mutur, where, ignored by authorities, Muslim extremist's militancy exists. |
|
| Dedicated
to All young men and their families who lost their future irrecoverably and
hopelessly while trying to defend our heritage, freedom, justice and fairness
for ALL. Please do learn the lessons from the history. Otherwise all these
sacrifices will be a waste. Also please ask for good governance,
Anti-discrimination and Equal rights laws so that no one gets discriminated
or treated unfairly because of race, religion, cast or creed. Then the
extremists who cause problems between ethnic and religious groups by
seperatism or predatory religious expansion tactics etc. will have no job.
Also, always search for the truth, nothing but the truth & then isolate
the lies. Never be fooled by enemy propaganda. |
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