Mahawamsa, George Turnour and Royal College Colombo
Posted on March 10th, 2021

Rohan Abeygunawardena

On 25th of February 2021 ‘’Ceylon Daily News’’  published  following news item;

‘’An ancient Ola leaf original copy of the Mahavamsa” (Great Chronicle) currently kept at the library of the University of Peradeniya is to be declared as a UNESCO World Heritage. The decision has been reached by UNESCO experts upon verifying that all sections of the Mahavamsa” (the written history of ancient Sri Lanka) were correctly conserved at the University Library, Prof. Upul Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya University told the media yesterday.’’ (https://dailynews.lk/2021/02/25/local/242520/ola-leaf-mahavamsa-be-declared-world-heritage)

According to same news item representatives of UNESCO have inspected other Mahavamsa” palm-leaf books located at various places in the country, but due to their shortcomings, they were deemed not eligible for World Heritage status.

Mahavamsa” or “The Great Chronicle” is the documented history of the great dynasty of Sri Lanka in general and Sinhalese Buddhist in particular. This important work of Lankan origin  is believed to have been written by Bhikku Mahanama  in Pali language describes the life and times of the people who forged Sri Lankan nation, from the coming of Vijaya in 543 BCE to the reign of King Mahasena (334 – 361) (6th Century BC to 4th Century AD).

If not for the discovery of this great chronical by an Englishman born in Ceylon the history of Sri Lanka would have taken a different turn.  He is the Hon. George Turnour. His father George Turnour (Snr) landed in Ceylon in 1783 with 73rd Regiment and in 1795, he was appointed Fort Adjutant of the Jaffna Fort and later made Commandant of the Mannar Fort in 1797. He married Emilie de Beaussett, niece of Cardinal Duc de Beaussett. Born in Ceylon on 11 March 1799, George Turnour Jnr was the eldest of six siblings, he had one younger brother Edward Archer and four Sisters Anne Emily, Frances, Elizabeth and Jane.  Having shown knack for academic enrichment, he was sent to England for education under the patronage of Sir Thomas Maitland in 1811.

He returned in 1820. During this era most educated, talented young men were drawn into the Colonial Service. Their principal objective was the betterment of mankind in general, and not personal prosperity. Young George Turnour was one of them and he joined the Ceylon Civil Service (CCS) as an Assistant to the Commissioner of Revenue. Subsequently he was made Assistant to the Chief Secretary. In 1822 he was appointed the Collector of Kalutara thereafter he was appointed Government Agent (GA) of Sabaragamuwa Province in 1825.

He noticed a strange document lay on his table not connected with his routine duties as GA of the Province. This was an ola leaf manuscript (palm-leaf manuscripts) brought by his friend Galle, a Buddhist monk. (Most probably he was called Galle because he was a monk from ‘Mulikirigalla’). Galle realised that the GA who was fairly knowledgeable in Sinhala language and a talented man interested in history.  They had many discussions about the country’s history. As a result Turnour ’s interest was aroused. Galle searched for ancient manuscript of history at many Buddhist temples and finally found Tikā or commentary on the Mahāvaṁsa at Mulikirigalla Rajamaha Vihara, near Tangalle. This was a temple founded one hundred and fifty years before the birth of Christ. 

Unfortunately the manuscript was written in ‘’Pali.’’ Although fluent in the Sinhalese vernacular, with a considerable knowledge of Sinhalese script, Turnour knew nothing of Pali; an extinct language at that time. But his friend Galle was there to help him. Galle contacted many Buddhist monks who had scant knowledge of Pali language and helped his friend with research. It took nearly 10 years to research and translate the chronical of Sri Lanka ‘’Mahawansa’’ to English language while carrying out his official duties. That was in the year 1837. However based on his study of the Mahawamsa and other materials, Turnour published an article titled ‘Epitome of the History of Ceylon’ in the Ceylon Almanac in 1833. In this article he listed down the succession and genealogy of 165 Kings from the arrival of Vijaya to the British. James Emerson Tennent who became the Colonial secretary of Ceylon referring to the article said in this work, after infinite labour, he (Turnour) succeeded in condensing the events of each reign, commemorating the founders of the chief cities, and noting the erection of the great temples and Buddhist monuments, and the construction of some of the reservoirs…he thus effectually demonstrated the misconceptions of those who previously believed the literature of Ceylon to be destitute of historic materials”.

The existence of an historical record called the Mahavansa, or Great Dynasty, was known to a handful of Buddhist priests before translated into English language. Since then many local and foreign scholars became interested in the history of Ceylon. As a result many other ancient written historical documents were discovered such as Deepawansa, Chulawansa, Atthakata etc.

It is interesting to note some of the views expressed by European scholars, prior to the 1830s, Robert Percival in his book in 1803 stated the wild stories current among the natives throw no light whatever on the ancient history of the island. The earliest period which we can look for any authentic information is the arrival of the Portuguese under Almeida in 1505” and John Davy in his book in 1821 mentions the Singhalese possess no accurate record of events; are ignorant of genuine history, and are not sufficiently advanced to relish it”. (Quoted from ‘’Archaeological Milestones in Sri Lanka: Part 01’’ by Chryshane Mendis)

If not for the efforts of George Turnour  one of the oldest continuously recorded chronicles in the world covering a period of over twenty three centuries like Mahawamsa would have lost and the history of ‘’Sinhalese Buddhists’’ all but forgotten. 

George Turnour was appointed as Assistant Colonial Secretary and was appointed Treasurer in 1841. Due to ill health he retired early and returned to England and set out to Italy where he died in Naples on the 10 April 1843 aged 44 years.

This great scholar and historian was elected an honorary member of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britten and Ireland. Following his death, a fund was raised which erected a tablet at St. Pauls Church, Kandy. The remaining funds were used to start the Turnour Prize at the Royal College, Colombo.

Established in 1846, Turnour Prize was the oldest of the panel prizes of the oldest public school of Sri Lanka, Royal College Colombo. It is one of the most prestigious prizes and honour awarded to a student of the school. First awarded to Charles Ambrose Lorensz (1846) there are over 150 students who received this award on merit. All most all of them became eminent personalities who made enormous contribution to the progress of Sri Lanka and mankind.

Turnour Prize was dedicated to the historian George Tunour who surfaced the history of Sri Lanka which was called ‘Tambapanni’, ‘Ratnadeepa’, ‘Dharmadeepa’, ‘Sinhale’, ‘Taprobane’, ‘Serandib’, ‘Zelan’, ‘Çeylon’ and many other names by the inhabitants, visitors, travellers and conquerors. Finally his discovery has been recognised as a ‘’World Heritage’’

George Tunour’s 222nd birth anniversary falls on 11th March 2021.

Rohan Abeygunawardena

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