COLEBROOKE REFORMS SOCIO-ECONOMICS TRANSFORMATION AND 1848 STRUGGLE
FIRST PART
1848 Rebellion is also known as Matale keralla which was initially emerged from the common touch of the country. Colebrooke suggestions for a new constitution changed almost every sector of Ceylon drastically. Each recommendation of the Colebrooke committee was designed for the well being of the Throne of the Britain. By this time domestic revenue was lower than the expenditure, this was the main reason for introducing Colebrooke reforms It changed traditional Sri Lankan society with major administration and judicial changes while leading to a great bloodshed on this land.
i) Establishing Legislature and Executive committee for the first time.
ii)Abolition of Rajakari Kramaya which was compulsory personal service in kings era.
iii)Improving commercial cultivation, this reduced the state sponsorship for paddy cultivation.
iv)Establishment of Supreme court the very first time.
v)Abolishing the ancient Gam Saba system.
vi)Reducing the administrative provisions from 16 to 5
vii) Novel tax and tariffs declared by Lord Torrington
Due to this drastic changes, traditional Sri Lankan set up changed. This was an additional burden to the rural farmers who were oppressed with tax and tariffs declared by English governmet.
In ancient time slight problems, arose among villagers were solved by the Gamsabah which was highly recommended place for dispute resolution. Even in today the Mediation boards established under government do the same task what Gam sabah had done long ago. But due to the abolition of Gam saba, villagers had to go to the town in seek of justice. Fees for proctors, transport difficulties, and long journey to Colombo was extremely tiresome for villagers. This made things worse for them.
Colebrooke commission established legislature consisting 15 members namely 09 official and 6 unofficial those who represented the natives. Before this commission there was no such law making body. Legislative, executive and judiciary powers were all vested unto king. Lord Colebroke was a liberal thinker who firmly believed on the theory of separation of powers, which describes all three sections of the government should be independent enough in order to function well. Accordingly legislature, executive and judiciary was established separately.
Ancient times subjects could go to the king straight and seek their needs. But following the invasion our king was someone who was beyond the seas and no one could see. This was odd.
Rajakari kramaya which was a personal service system to the king on behalf of their existence on king's lands. This personal service system was very fruitful to the betterment of the village as well country. Roads were repaired, ponds, tanks and reservoirs were built under this system. According to Colebrooke who flourished with liberal free thinking unanimously declared this , as a kind of slavery but it was not such for natives. With its abolish rural development perished. None want to take care of village. Giant tanks became dilapidated , water conservation system destroyed. Meanwhile everyone was busy with commercial cultivation while paddy cultivation was at the verge of death which was the main livelihood of many. Villagers exhausted with financial difficulties. Government's main attention was paid to commercial cultivation which was designed to a different cultivation system.
People had to work for commercial cultivation which is totally different livelihood to be practiced. Unlike paddy these cultivation tea, rubber required full time attention in their process of growing. This was much odd for them.
And old Ceylon was structured with an unique administrative composition where Kanda Udarata was often remained as an independent and isolated entity. Commission saw the danger of its remaining as an isolated entity , it might be a threat for the existence of British in Sri Lanka which happens even before.
Out of all these reforms latest set of taxes declared by the Lord Torrington at that time doubled the burden. Farmers who earned with difficulty could not help. Livelihood could not be maintained due to the lack of state sponsorship, but they had no resort. Going against the throne could not even imagine for poor villagers.
Eg; Taxes for dogs, .... All day-today equipment were subjected to taxes.
All these steps were odd as well novel to natives who used to a simple charming life style. 1818 Struggle arose among elite while 1848 emanated out of ordinary villagers who were gravely oppressed by English administration.
The next episode will explicitly depict the every nook and corner of 1848 struggle.
STAY SAFE ...
iv)Establishment of Supreme court the very first time.
v)Abolishing the ancient Gam Saba system.
vi)Reducing the administrative provisions from 16 to 5
vii) Novel tax and tariffs declared by Lord Torrington
Due to this drastic changes, traditional Sri Lankan set up changed. This was an additional burden to the rural farmers who were oppressed with tax and tariffs declared by English governmet.
In ancient time slight problems, arose among villagers were solved by the Gamsabah which was highly recommended place for dispute resolution. Even in today the Mediation boards established under government do the same task what Gam sabah had done long ago. But due to the abolition of Gam saba, villagers had to go to the town in seek of justice. Fees for proctors, transport difficulties, and long journey to Colombo was extremely tiresome for villagers. This made things worse for them.
Colebrooke commission established legislature consisting 15 members namely 09 official and 6 unofficial those who represented the natives. Before this commission there was no such law making body. Legislative, executive and judiciary powers were all vested unto king. Lord Colebroke was a liberal thinker who firmly believed on the theory of separation of powers, which describes all three sections of the government should be independent enough in order to function well. Accordingly legislature, executive and judiciary was established separately.
Ancient times subjects could go to the king straight and seek their needs. But following the invasion our king was someone who was beyond the seas and no one could see. This was odd.
Rajakari kramaya which was a personal service system to the king on behalf of their existence on king's lands. This personal service system was very fruitful to the betterment of the village as well country. Roads were repaired, ponds, tanks and reservoirs were built under this system. According to Colebrooke who flourished with liberal free thinking unanimously declared this , as a kind of slavery but it was not such for natives. With its abolish rural development perished. None want to take care of village. Giant tanks became dilapidated , water conservation system destroyed. Meanwhile everyone was busy with commercial cultivation while paddy cultivation was at the verge of death which was the main livelihood of many. Villagers exhausted with financial difficulties. Government's main attention was paid to commercial cultivation which was designed to a different cultivation system.
People had to work for commercial cultivation which is totally different livelihood to be practiced. Unlike paddy these cultivation tea, rubber required full time attention in their process of growing. This was much odd for them.
And old Ceylon was structured with an unique administrative composition where Kanda Udarata was often remained as an independent and isolated entity. Commission saw the danger of its remaining as an isolated entity , it might be a threat for the existence of British in Sri Lanka which happens even before.
Out of all these reforms latest set of taxes declared by the Lord Torrington at that time doubled the burden. Farmers who earned with difficulty could not help. Livelihood could not be maintained due to the lack of state sponsorship, but they had no resort. Going against the throne could not even imagine for poor villagers.
Eg; Taxes for dogs, .... All day-today equipment were subjected to taxes.
All these steps were odd as well novel to natives who used to a simple charming life style. 1818 Struggle arose among elite while 1848 emanated out of ordinary villagers who were gravely oppressed by English administration.
The next episode will explicitly depict the every nook and corner of 1848 struggle.
STAY SAFE ...
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