PRIDE OF A NATION

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, wh...

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...

COLEBROOKE REFORMS SOCIO - ECNOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND 1848 STRUGGLE - PART II 1848 struggle is the second main bloodshed in Ceylon in which many sacrificied lives and rest loose their assest. It was not an isolated event but an union of cluster of  incident. As observed previously it was an outrage came out of common touch of this country. Gongale Goda Banda and Veera Puran Appu were the cheif leaders of the uprising. Waste land ordinance in 1840 made a chaos in the society where many loose their lands which came from inheritance. It is truism that since the early ages Sri Lankan had no documentary evidence in order to prove the possession to their land which were mainly considered as the assest of the king. The aforementioned ordinace paved the way for government to acquire lands which had no written document in order to prove the title. Pheasents had to face many disturbances due to this issue. The hidden object of this was to acquiring the lands for the purpose of cultivati...

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 fi...

1818 INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE (UDARATA MAHA KARELLA) Sri Lanka was exposed to the Western in 1505 with the advent of Portuguese, later Dutch and English  respectively. Out of all three western nations English ruled Ceylon nearly 130 years. English  came 1796, with the invitation of Udarata King English came to chase away Dutch. But something unexpected happened. Ceylon became a British colony. In year 1815, English concurred whole country, by way of famous 'Udarata Givisuma'. It was consisted with 12 articles. Breaking the promises English infringed it in broad daylight. Buddhism and Buddhist monks were neglected. This was a big struck. Many were not pleased with English administration, this displeasure soon converted in to a struggle for independence. Seeds of the struggle came from Wellassa and later spreaded. Apart from these reasons, appointment of Muslim Muhandiram called "Hajji Marikkar" to Wellassa was the closest  for 1818 struggle. His appoin...

  Kingship and governance in old Ceylon PART II POLONNARUWA, DAMBADENIYA TO KANDY Though Anuradapara kingdom has  no specifically designed fortress, or protective creations, it survived nearly thousand years. " Raja Raja and Rajendra's " great invasion paved the way to change the kingdom. Polonnaruwa named as second kingdom of old Ceylon accordingly.  Polonnaruwa" alias "Pulathisipura" too existed considerable period of time. I Vijayabahu fought and won  against "Raja Raja and Rajendra" Dravidians who came from South India.  I Vijayabahu   was protected by a rural village headman called "Buddaraja alias Budalna" Later defeated Cholas. After unifying the country he had to renovate all the tanks devastated by Cholas. (Chola is mainly a rural state in South India, always invaded Ceylon whenever they become powerful ) His whole time was allocated for renovations. His foreign policy is note worthy. It was a great strategy used by the...

KINGSHIP AND GOVERNANCE Of OLD CEYLON - ANURADHAPURA ERA - PART 1 Sri Lankan history can be categorized under two major headings, I) Before the written history (pre historic age) II) After the written history(advent of Aryan) When we discuss the kingship and the ruling system of pre historic age, it is rare. Unwritten history is started before the advent of Vijaya. According to the Buddhist literature few stories are revealed.  Choolodara and Mahodara in Buddhist culture said to be siblings and they were introduced  as Kings, they might be powerful rural leaders with great power.  Maniakkitha Na Raja also a such leader who ruled Kelaniya. Before the  arrival of Aryan three main tribes resided and ruled old Ceylon. Those  were good at mercantile affairs especially the "Naga" . The unique location of the country made it possible. For a well organised business, firmly established administration is needed. Therefore it is evident t...