PRIDE OF A NATION

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SRI WICKRAMA RAJASINGHE Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe is the last king of Sri Lanka. As well he was the last king of "Nanayakkara " chain. Nayakkara was originated in South India mainly. Since ancient times many kings brought South Indian queens to Sri Lanka for the purpose of marriage. By these marriages the bond between Sri Lanka and South India was tightened. Apart from that new pedigree of Nayakkara was created in Sri Lanka. Nayakkara kings practiced Hinduism. King Rajasinghe was born in Madurai and died in 1832, Vellore, India. He was also called as "Kannasami"and became the king of Kandaudarata (Kandy) in age of 18. Prime Minister of Kandyan court was called as Adigar or Adikaram. Pilimathalawe Adigar was one of the powerful character of Kandyan court at that time. He put his all efforts to set up dynasty to "Kannasami" . But later on he wanted something else and he wanted British to rule the country. And he thought that he would be given more po

COLLAPSE OF THE KINGSHIP, 1815 KANDYAN AGREEMENT (Fatal destiny of a proud kingdom) The administration of old Ceylon was based on of kingship. The king ruled whole country with the assistance of ministers and other provincial rulers. Prima facie it seems a decentralized system whereas all the powers were centralized in the hands of one person called "King". Therefore one might argue k ingship as a dictatorship. But kings always acted according to advice of Buddhist monks and ministers of Raja wasala. Therefore the kingship was consisted with democratic features. However the traditional kingship concept was uprooted with the English administration. The whole Kandyan kingdom was conquered by English men in 1815 y signing the Kandyan agreement which contained 12 sections. Then British governor Robert Brownrigg and the Kandyan chiefs in Magul Maduwa (Royal Audience Hall) which is situated in Dalada Maligawa premises. The Treaty contained as follows in brief, 1)Malabari

SINHALA MUSLIM RIOTS 1915 Sri Lanka is a multi ethnic country. This riot was emerged between Sinhala Buddhist and Indian Moors which are two main ethnicity of the country. By this time English was governing the whole country. The native population of the country is Sinhalese and Indian Moor was minority. According to the ancient records Ceylon Moor settled the country along with Arab merchants who landed for trade while Indian Moors originated from South India. However the Gampola Perahara incident was the core reason for Sinhalese and Muslim riot. The riot was initially between Buddhist of Wahallagoda temple and Indian Moors who originally came from South India. Indian Moors objected stating that , the Buddhist perehara (procession) could not be allowed with the music while passing their mosque premises. Agreeing to all the terms Buddhist decided to carry out the perehara another time which is not conflicted with praying hours of the mosque.This perehara had been conducting by

DALADA MALIGAWA

Dalada Maligawa one of the most precious and holy icon of all Buddhists around the world, which is situated in central province with a great architecture. According to ancient sources picturesque "Paththiruppuwa", was created by well known Dewendra Mulachari who was the best architecture by the time of Kandyan kingdom. Holy tooth Relic of Lord Buddha who is the leader, philosopher and the greatest preacher of Buddhists' all over the world was safely kept inside the chambers with all fragrant flowers and various offerings. Esala Perahara is held by the countrymen with the fully supervision and state sponsorship in every July. It is a mirror of the cultural and religious harmony and the uniqueness of all Sri Lankan. According to the sources available, Tooth Relic was brought by Prince Dantha and Princess Hemamala, who set foot by the time of king Kithsiri Megha in Anuradhapura era. Since then, protecting Tooth Relic was the prime duty of the kings. Kings who r

KUTTAM POKUNA (twin pond)

KUTTAM POKUNA Sri Lanka though small in its physical size, is inherited a great technology. The irrigation system owned by Sinhalese is par excellence. My very first article on excellent irrigaion system of old ceylon is a great example for its greatness. Apart the tank system ponds and channels too plays a major role in irrigation system . Kuttam pokuna one of masterpiece, done by king II Agrabodhi. The term Kuttam Pokuna refers twin ponds. Though it is called as twin in the sense, southern pond is greater than northern pond. According to the history the two ponds were filled by the water carried from Thisa wewa, Nuwara wewa and Basawakkulama wewa by way of under ground pipe system. First , the water was filed to a tank which is located above the tank.Then smaller pond is filled by water through a "Makara kata" which is shaped as a mouth of a dragon. Then pipe line lied bottom of the pond. Its a great reflection of engineering system of our ancestors, which belon

RUWANWELI MAHA SEYA Ruwanweliseya the most famous as well holy precious masterpiece of all Sri Lankan Buddhists. Ruwnweliseya stands on the holy land of Anuradapura within the well known Mahamewna uyana alias MahaMegha uyana which was devoted on bealf of the Bikkus in Anuradhapura era by king Devanampiyatissa. It was a peaceful landscape with calm and tranquil surrounding. According to Mahavansa the well established written source on Sri Lankan history says that, by the time of demarcating boundries of Mahamewuna Uyana Arhath Mahinda thero had preached that a king named Dutugemunu would build a holy Dagaba called Ruwanweliseya one day. That particular rock inscription was found by king Dutugemunu later on. Ruwanweli Maha seaya is also known as Swarnamali maha chaithya. There is an interesting folk story among age old rajarata people on the name "Swarnamali". According to it, there was a Diety call Swarnamali who lived in Ranthelambu tree which was standing in the prem