By Sena Thoradeniya

Beginning with the third part of this essay we give examples to illustrate the unholy alliance that existed between the British Colonialists and Kandyan Chieftains perpetuating Colonial Administration in Ceylon. This aspect will be discussed under several sub-headings.

At the outset it should be mentioned that there are certain limitations to this study:

(1) We have not taken into consideration slavishness of Native Headmen in the Maritime Provinces (of Colombo, Kalutara, Chilaw (of NWP), Galle, Matara and Hambantota Districts) and Tamil Native Headmen (of Northern and Eastern Provinces);

(2) Kandyan Chieftains of Central Province, North Western Province (excluding maritime area), North Central Province, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provide examples for the study we made;     

(3) Our analysis is more or less descriptive in nature. All entries are arranged in chronological order.

In this part five areas will be discussed:

(1) Special privileges granted to Kandyan Chiefs by the British;

(2) Unusual and peculiar promotions given, what was unheard under Kandyan Kings;

(3) Chieftains as Presidents of Village Tribunals and Unofficial Magistrates;

(4) Additional Office held and Chiefs as Justices of Peace;

(5) How sons and other close relatives succeeded office holders (after their demise or retirement) making the office hereditary.  

1. Special Privileges

(1.1) On 21^st of November 1818 the Governor Robert Brownrigg issued under his seal to mark his esteem authorising Ratwatte, Dissava of Matale to sit on a chair in the Mangul Maduwa (Audience Hall). Kandyan chieftains either stood or knelt before the King when the King was in the Audience Hall.    

(1.2) Pilimatalawwe (iv- alias Kapuwatte), the second Adigar in the reign of the last King, suspected of having encouraged the 1818 uprising, was taken prisoner and kept in custody in Colombo. In 1820 he was released from confinement by the Governor, Edward Barnes. The Governor informed the Resident in Kandy that it was his wish that the Adigar should be employed in a suitable office. A license was granted to Pilimatalawwe by the Governor Barnes on 14^th August 1821 to ride in a palanquin between Mahaveli Ganga and the ancient Gravets of Kandy. The Governor further delivered a license to him to sit on a chair in the Audience Hall. He ordered to restore the box of jewels belonging to him and to pay a sum of 4000 Rixdollars (300 pounds) as a gratuity from the Government in consideration of the losses sustained by him in 1818. In May he was appointed Maha Gabada Nilame. He signed as Kapuwatte Maha Nilame.

Ordinary villagers whose houses, household property and barns burnt and plundered, homesteads, land with crops, paddy fields and irrigation work destroyed, cattle slaughtered and taken away, were not paid any reparation even after 205 years!  

(1.3) Pilimatalawwe (the son of first Adigar who was executed in 1812 by the last King for treason), late Dissava of Sath Korale, a leader in the Uva-Wellassa uprising was exiled for life to Isle of France changing the death sentence for some special reasons. Around 1833 he was released and allowed to come back to Ceylon. Pilimatalawwe wrote a letter to Captain Cooper dated 21^st January 1833 informing his arrival to Colombo. He thanked him for releasing him, his kindness, tendered his compliments to the Secretary there and the doctor who attended on him.  He may have written this letter as a sign of courtesy. Nothing wrong in it.

In February he was granted permission to proceed to Kandy for three months and return to Colombo at the expiration of three months. But the interesting part of this saga smells foul. Petitioning to the Supreme Courts he gives his reasons for joining the rebels” against the British. He also complained that his salary of 100 Rix Dollars was hardly sufficient to live decently.

No other middle level prisoner who returned to Ceylon from exile was a paid a salary.

A letter sent by Pilimatalawwe while he was a prisoner in the isle of France to Robert Brownrigg (after Brownrigg had relinquished his duties as Governor of Ceylon) states reasons for joining the rebels” and requests him to solicit his Britannic Majesty to pardon him” and other prisoners for their first offence”.  He writes that it was his father who with the permission of the King sent two ambassadors to India and requested the English to come to assist the Sinhalese and expel the Dutch from Ceylon”. He further states that when the English came his father sent an army of 7000 Sinhalese soldiers and 60 Malays with coolies to join the English, but he could not display the power of his army as the war was soon terminated. 

(1.4) The British confiscated the Morahela Nindagama lands of Dissava of Wellassa and Batticaloa for joining the freedom struggle and Governor Robert Wilmot Horton in 1837, gave them (around 7000 acres) to Mahawelatenna Mohottala who supported the British, on the birthday of King William IV together with a silver urn.

  Whereas the loyalty and good conduct of Mahawelatenne Mudiyanse have entitled him to some mark of Royal favour and munificence and it is our desire to mark the sense, we entertain the same by personal grant of lands”. Later he was created” an Adigar, a case of a lower ranker Mohottala receiving the highest position of Adigar. Thus, British colonial administrators created” such Adigars and Dissaves granting Royal favour and munificence” for the servility of these office holders.  

(1.5) Dehigama was the Udagabada Nilame and Rate Mahattaya of Yatinuwara in the last King’s reign. He was loyal to the British in 1818 and by Proclamation of 18 November 1818, his lands were declared free of duty during his life and that of his heirs. Later he was made an Assessor in the District Courts. One of his family members who became a Christian functioned as a Member of the Legislative Council for a brief period.

(1.6) According to J.H.F. Hamilton C.C.S. (1888) the land where Medamahanuwara palace was situated was sold by the British to Mampitiye Rate Mahattaya in 1828. Mampitiye sold it to Madugalle Rate Mahattaya. Even ancient palaces were not spared by the Britishers.

(1.7) Millawa, the Dissava of Wellassa, was a signatory of the Kandyan Convention of 1815. He was suspected as a sympathiser of 1818 Freedom Struggle and his land was confiscated. He was taken to Colombo as a prisoner; he died there and buried in Kotahena.  His sons who took their mother’s name Dunuwila held high positions as Dissavas, Rate Mahattayas, Diyawadana Nilames, Interpreters and Police Inspectors, Police Magistrates under the British. Dunuwila Loku Banda, the Inspector of Police helped the British troops to ruthlessly suppress the agitators in 1848 at Kandy. (In 1896 R. Dunuwila was the Police Magistrate at Chilaw).

(1.8) Kandyan Chiefs who were converted into Christianity were offered high office. Both Iriyagama Rate Mahattaya and Andarawewa, President of Village Tribunal were Christians.

(1.9) In 1907 Meedeniya, Rate Mahattaya of Tun Korale and Patha Bulathgama proceeded to England on leave.When in England he had the honour of being presented to the King.

(1.10) W. Dunuwila Dissava was selected to represent the Kandyan community at the Coronation of King George V on June 22, 1911 and left for England in May.

(1.11) P. B. Bulankulama Dissava was awarded a Long Service Sannas in recognition of his 42 years of service to the Government. He was earlier rewarded for the great assistance he gave in finding labour for the construction of the Northern Railway in 1900 by the Government with a grant of a gold medal”, wrote Seymore Government Agent of NCP.

Chief Buddhist prelates were used even after 1818 as informants:

On 25 July 1836 the Governor William Horton presented the Act of Appointment to Induruwe Sumangala Medhankara Unnanse appointing him as the Chief Priest of Saffaragam in the Southern Province with the instructions, to make known to the constituted authorities of Government of all treasons or traitorous conspiracies against His Majesty’s Government.”

A similar Act was presented to him on 17 September 1836 by the same Governor appointing him as the Chief Priest of Adam’s Peak with the same instructions, to give information of all treasons and conspiracies”.

Although privileged some office holders abused powers of high office they held. A. F. Molamure Rate Mahattaya of Atakalan Korale, Sabaragamuwa built an anicut in the village of Ranwala for his use at government expense.

2.Promotions

(2.1) S.M. Burrows, Assistant Government Agent of Matale wrote in 1877 that the dignity of Dissava of Matale North and East was revived and the office conferred upon Dullewa Adigar” and he will work concurrently with the Assistant Agent. Read again what Burrows had written about Dullewa in 1889. A.C. Lawrie (1896) wrote that the Governor conferred the rank of Adigar on Dullewa but silent about later developments. Conferring Adigarships to their faithful servants was a ruse employed by the British colonialists. In 1890  the Legislative Council sanctioned Dullewa’s appointment as Adigar of Matale. 

During the reign of Kandyan kings there were only two Adigars, Udagampaha and Pallegampaha respectively.

(2.2) Another scion of a former office holder who rose to the rank of Dissava was Dorakumbura of Matale.  Appointed to a minor rank in 1826 as Atapattuwa Lekam, in 1836 he was made a Korala of Gampaha Siya Paththwa and in 1849 Deputy Coroner; In 1857 he was appointed Rate Mahattaya of Matale North and in 1872 Rate Mahattaya of Matale South respectively. In 1884 he was granted the honorary rank of Dissava by Governor Arthur Gordon.

Kandyan kings never had honorary Dissavas in their provincial administration.

(2.3) Dorakumbura was the President of Matale South Gamsabava and member of District Road Committee.  After serving 64 years he retired in 1890 and was allowed to receive a full pension and to hold the office of Justice of Peace (JP), the first Kandyan honoured with the title JP and Inquirer into Deaths. He was succeeded by a Keppetipola.

(2.4) S. M. Burrows Acting Assistant Government Agent of Nuwara Eliya proposed to appoint an additional Korala to Kotmale Division in 1899.

(2.5) Nugawela Rate Mahattaya was created” Dissawa, writes J.P. Lewis, Acting Government Agent of Central Province in 1902.

(2.6) A comical thing happened in North Central Province in 1903. Nikawewa, retired Rate Mahattaya of Hurulu Palatha was invested with the rank of Dissava of Nuwara Kalaviya, a high office which had been in abeyance for over 70 years.  Government Agent L. W. Booth writes the revival of this high office is not only a high honour to the recipient but confers distinction on the whole body of the Chiefs and is a recognition of the important place which the North Central Province has once more assumed among the principal divisions of the Island”. According to Booth the high rank given to a retiree confers distinction” to other Chiefs and makes NCP on par with other provinces in the Island. But NCP remained one of the most under-developed, impoverished provinces in the Island.

(2.7) In 1906 a Rubber Exhibition” was held at Peradeniya. Exhibition buildings was decorated in Kandyan style with painted pillars and coloured clothes.  For the interest shown by Mr. William Dunuwilla, Police Magistrate of Matale in the erection and adornment of the rubber exhibition buildings and the prompt manner in which they were got ready in time for the opening” he was granted the title of Dissava by the Governor and duly invested on the King’s birthday” wrote JP Lewis, Government Agent of Central Province.

Luckily there was no social media. Otherwise he would have dubbed Rubber Dissava”!

(2.8) Nugawela Rate Mahattaya who was seconded to assist him was gazetted a JP for the District of Kandy.

(2.9) In 1906 Hulugalla Rate Mahattaya of a division in NWP was created” an Adigar.

(2.10) Illangantillake of the Police Courts, Kurunegala was appointed a President of Village Tribunal in 1906.

(2.11) In 1907 P.B. Ratwatte, the first probationary attached to the Kandy Kachcheri was appointed as Rate Mahattaya of Tumpane. This was a new method adopted in appointing Chief Headmen.

(2.12) In 1908 J. C. Lankatillaka Kachcheri Muhandiram of Badulla was appointed RM of Wellawaya.

(2.13) G.H. Dimbulana of the Provincial Road Committee of Badulla appointed RM of Wellassa in the same year.

(2.14) Mahawelatenna who went on retirement was reinstated as Rate Mahattaya of Meda and Kadawatha Korales, Sabaragamuwa in 1908. On his retirement in 1912 he was made a JP and an Unofficial Magistrate.

 (2.15) In 1909 on the King’s birthday three Kandyan chiefs were conferred with higher ranks:

(a) the rank of Dissava on Moneravila Keppetipola Loku Banda retired Rate Mahattaya of Matale South. (Thus, retired officials were also elevated to higher ranks, a thing that had never happened during the reigns of Kings of Kandy).

(b) the rank of Rate Adikaram on Weerasekera Mudiyanselage Kalu Banda Korala of Udispattuwa, Uda Dumbara. Rate Adikaram was aninferior post to that of Rate Mahattaya and the majority of the officials who held this rank hailed from Matale Maha Disava.

(c) the rank of Disava Lekam on Samarasinghe Mudiyanselage Punchi Rala Korala of Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara. (In the reign of Kandyan Kings Disava Lekam or Disava Mohottala was an officer appointed by a Disava to represent his interests in the Disava).

 Lewis Government Agent of Central Province wrote: The last two were the first cases in which these ranks were conferred during British rule so far I am aware. The ranks have been revived in order to provide Kandyan headmen of the status of Koralas and others with titles corresponding to those of Muhandiram, Arachchi etc. issued for the Low Country Sinhalese, from which they are debarred”.

 (2.16) In 1910, P. A. C. Ekneligoda who was the Kachcheri Muhandiram of North Central Province was promoted as Kachcheri and Gravets Muhandiram.

(2.17) Among those who received Coronation honours in 1910, was L. B. Yatawara retired RM of Patha Hewaheta . He was conferred the rank of Dissava for serving 35 years.

(2.18) On the occasion of His Majesty’s birthday, rank of Rate Lekam was bestowed on Batangala Banda Korale of Kalupita Pattu South, Kegalle in 1911. 

(2.19) The rank of Dissava was conferred on J.H. Meedeniya RM of Tun Korale and Patha Bulatgama in June 1912.

 (2.20) When L. B. Halangoda RM of Matale East left owing to ill-health in 1912, acting appointment was given to D.B. Uduwawala, Gansabava Clerk.

(2.21) On the occasion of King’s birthday in 1913 L.B. Nugawela RM of Beligal Korale, Kegalle was made a JP.

(2.22) On his retirement Mahawelatenna was made a JP and Unofficial Police Magistrate in 1913.

(2.23) In 1920 on the King’s birthday the rank of Adigar was conferred on J. H. Meedeniya retired Dissava who was a Member of the Legislative Council, regarded as the senior retired Chief Headman.  The Assistant Government Agent of Kegalle District, A. W. Seymore wrote,” the people of the District made several spontaneous demonstrations of their satisfaction over this appointment”. Seymore did not know how demonstrations” were organised, whether they were spontaneous” or not.

 (2.24) When Tennakone Rate Mahattaya of a division in North Western Province retired after 46 years of service in 1920 he was given the rank of Hon. Dissava.

 (2.25) K. B. Welagedeara RM of Kotmale died in 1921; S. B. Talwatta of Kandy kachcheri was appointed in his place.

(2.26) L.B. Bogahalanda RM of Dambadeni Hatpttuwa retired after47 years of service in 1921. He was succeeded by T. W. Maralanda, President of Weuda Villi Hathpaththuwa.

(2.27) In 1923 on the King’s birthday E. A.  Elapatha, Rate Mahattaya of a division in Sabaragamuwa was honoured with the rank of Dissava, in recognition of his long and meritorious services”, wrote G.F.R. Browning Government Agent of Sabaragamuwa.

(2.28) When L.B. Bulakulama retired as Rate Mahattaya of Nuwaragam Palatha in NCP in 1923, he was made a Dissava.

(2.29) In 1927 C. B. Hindagala, President of VT of Walapone and Uda Hewaheta was succeeded by R. B. Kulugammana, Vernacular Writer” of Nuwara Eliya kachcheri.

(2.30) J.R. Nugawela, President of VT of Devamedi Hathpattuwa NWP, was appointed as RM of Uda Hevaheta, Nuwara Eliya District in 1930.

(2.31) G.J.B. Kiriella, President of VT of Navadun Korale of Sabaragamuwa was   appointed as RM of Kukul Korale in the same year.

(2.32) C. P. Dunuwila, Clerk in Nuwara Eliya kachcheri appointed as President of VTs of Uda Hevaheta and Walapone when R. B. Kulugammana retired on the recommendations of a Medical Board in 1932.  

(2.33) L. Nugawela Dissava of NWP was given the rank of 2^nd Adigar on the king’s birthday, a very strange appointment. Nugawela was the RM of Katugampola Hathpattuwa who retired in 1930 after serving 39 years and 6 months. Only during Kandyan Kings’ reigns we had a 1^st Adigar and a 2^nd Adigar.

(2.34) On the same occasion P. B. Madahapola RM of Hiriyalapattu was made a Dissava.

(2.35) At the death of P. A. C. Ekneligoda, Kachcheri and Gravets Mudliyar of Ratnapura in 1932, K. B. Kaduruwewa Kachcheri Muhandiram succeeded him.

(2.36) In 1936 S. L. B. Dharmakeerthi, RM of Matale North was succeeded by H. B. Tenne, President of VT of Matale North. In place of Tenne S.A. Yatawara, Proctor S.C. was appointed.

(2.37) T. W. Maralanda , RM of Weuda Villi Hatpattuwa NWP retired in 1939 and was made a Dissava.

3. Presidents of Village Tribunals and Unofficial Magistrates

Some RMs were appointed either as Presidents of Village Tribunals or Unofficial Police Magistrates.  

(3.1) In 1898 T. B. Yatawara RM of Uda Palatha and Panabokke RM of a division in Matale were made Unofficial Police Magistrates.

(3.2) Dunuvila in 1902 was made Police Magistrate in Matale.

(3.3) A new post of President of VT in Uda Palatha, Uda Bulathgama and Patha Hewaheta was created in 1905 and A.B. Galagoda RM of Yatinuwara was given it on a salary of Rs. 1452/= per annum with a travelling allowance Rs.360/= per annum.

(3.4) Rambukwelle RM of Uda Dumbara  was the President of VT of Uda Dumbara. When Rambukwelle went on sick leave in 1905 RM of Patha Dumbara acted for him and P. B. Ratwatte a probationer was sent as RM of Patha Dumbara to act for him. Rambukwella died in December same year.

(3.5) T. B. Katugaha, RM of Yatikinda wasappointed as President of VT in Patha Dumbara in 1907 and W.R. Bibile, RM of Butthala was reinstated as RM Buththala in the same year.

(3.6) In 1920 T.H.E. Moonamale was made police Magistrate of Dandagamuwa, NWP and in the same year newly created President of VT of Beligal Korale, Kegalle was conferred on Polgasdeniya.

(3.7) (a) L. B. Hulangamuwa RM of Matale East was appointed as President of VT of Matale East relieving the RM of Matale East of his judicial functions. (b) J. R. Nugawela RM of Uda Hevaheta left on transfer as President VT of Uda Dumbara and Patha Dumbara in 1936. Some held both offices concurrently. 

4. Additional Office and Justices of Peace

Additional work given enhanced the positions of Kandyan Office Holders.

Rate Mahattayas were appointed as members of various Commissions in recognition of their loyal service; Dullewa as a member of Buddhist Temporalities Commission, Dullewa Banda as a member of the Grain Commission, J.H. Meedeniya Rate Mahattaya of Tun Korale as a member of the Commission which considered the question of Agricultural Banks are few examples. In addition, some functioned as members of Provincial Road Committees, District School Committees/ Rural Education Committees (Government Agent as Chairman of both Committees), Sanitary Boards (e.g. R. E. Paranagama RM of Patha Dumbra in 1919 and A.J.W. Marambe, retired RM of Uda Bulathgama (compiler of Tri Sinhale Kadaim Potha, pioneer in the study of kadaim poth – boundary books). 

In 1923, W.A. Udugama RM was made Vice Chairman of Matale Urban District Council. Koralas were appointed as Attendance Officers (schools).

As in the reign of Kandyan Kings Kandyan Headmen concurrently held positions of RM or Dissava and the position of Diyawadana Nilame or Basnayaka Nilame positions.

Almost all Rate Mahattayas and Dissaves after retirement were appointed as Justices of Peace (JP). Those days JPs had wide powers: visiting police stations, attending drills, supervising musketry, being available at times of emergency, ready to take charge of any police station and give orders in the event of any disturbance, fire, serious accidents and other calamities.

5. Hereditary Office

Sons, sons-in-law, nephews, brothers, brothers-in-law and other close relatives succeeded office holders (after their demise or retirement) making the office hereditary as in ancient times. Chieftains were allowed to serve even if they reach ripe age. They retired only on account of old age or ill-health, allowing their kinsmen to succeed them. Thus, colonialists too made certain positions hereditary.    

(5.1) A Keppetipola was appointed Rate Mahattaya of Matale South in 1890. He was none other than Monaravila Keppetipola’s grandson.  He retired in 1902 after serving 36 years having served as RM of Matale North for 10 years and RM of Matale South for 12 years respectively.  His father, Monaravila’s son Loku Banda was sent to Colombo as approved by Governor Edward Barnes to be educated in English says Lawrie. In 1822 he was permitted by the Governor to visit his grandmother at Matale for three months. Another version of this story is that Keppetipola’s son was sent to Christian College, Kotte (present Sri Jayawardenapura Maha Vidyalaya) and he died there.

Sanction was received by the Assistant Government Agent, Matale to appoint Keppetipola Rate Mahattaya’s son H.D. Keppetipola who was acting for his father as Rate Mahattaya of Matale East two cocoa seasons”. 

(5.2) In 1890 son of Dorakumbura Dissava, Dorakumbura Korala was made President of Village Tribunal of Matale East.

(5.3) In 1894 William Ellawela who held the post of Rate Mahattaya of Navadun Korale in Sabaragamuwa for 28 years and 9 months retired. His retirement was formally accepted by the Governor at a Durbar held in Old Fort at Ratnapura. At the same time his son Francis Ellawela was appointed to succeed him.

(5.4) In 1903 When Kachcheri Muhandiram Nugapitiya died his brother succeeded him. This was a case of brother succeeding brother as in the ancient times.

(5.5) Soon after Nikawewa retired RM was invested with the rank of Dissava in 1903, his son-in-law K. B. Panabokke was appointed Rate Mahattaya of Kalagam Palatha, NCP.

(5.6) When T.B. Ekneligoda, retired from his office of Rate Mahattaya of Kuruvita Korale, Sabaragamuwa he was appointed JP for the province. He was succeeded by his nephew J.W. Ekneligoda in 1904.

(5.7) Nugawela Disava , Rate Mahattaya of Harispattuwa retired in 1905 after 45 years of loyal and faithful service”. He was succeeded by his son P.B. Nugawela: in recognition of the unbroken service of his family to British Government”. 

(5.8) In 1906 Maduwanwala Rate Mahattaya of Kolonna Korale (hero of modernmyth makers), Sabaragamuwa retired after 21 years of service. He was succeeded by his brother-in-law Kalawane P. Banda. In the ensuing parts we will discuss how he organised elephant kraals for the pleasure of Governors and British Royalty.

(5.9) In 1908 J. C. Lankatillake, a Kachcheri Muhandiram was appointed Rate Mahattaya of Wellawaya. Later in 1920 on his transfer to Udukinda, he was succeeded by V. E. Lankatilake, his family member.

(5.10) At the demise of Ellawela his son succeeded him as Rate Mahattaya.

(5.11) When Alawathugoda Rate Mahattaya of Walapane retired in 1913 he was succeeded by his son.

(5.12) Dingiri Banda Korale of Laggala Udasiyapattuwa retired in 1912 and was succeeded by his brother Kiri Wasthu.    

(5.13) When C.B. Nugawela Rate Mahattaya of Udunuwara resigned in 1912 after serving 44 years, his family member T.B. Nugawela succeeded him.

(5.14) P.B. Alawathugoda RM of Walapone retired in 1913; he was succeeded by his son M.B. Alawathugoda who at the time held the post of President of VT of Nuwaragam Palatha in NCP.

(5.15) When L.B. Bulakulama retired as Rate Mahattaya of Nuwaragam Palatha in NCP in 1923, he was made a Dissava and the post was remained in the Nuwarawewa family by the appointment of his son”.

The importance of political aspect of this practice, camouflaged as the advantages of training young Kandyans of good family” was described by Kegalle Assistant Government Agent Price, in his 1889 Report.

END OF PART III