HISTORY OF CEYLON THROUGH PICTURES

BY

Ravindra Ranasinha

This document on Sri Lanka could be used as a resource in the history class.

Banyan Tree- Colpetty (Kollupitiya)

Kollupitiya is a major city in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The name Kollupitiya comes from the name of a chief

from Kandy who had unsuccessfully attempted to dethrone the last king of Kandy. During the period

of British and Dutch administration, a brewery had commenced in Kollupitiya which converted coconut

treacle into liquor. Nowadays the suburb is mostly a commercial area containing fashionable high-end

shopping malls. Some foreign embassies are located in Kollupitiya. Kollupitiya is a multi-religious and

multi-ethnic area.

Boats in canal- Negombo

Negombo is a town, approximately 37 km north of Colombo, in Sri Lanka. It is located at the mouth of

the Negombo Lagoon, about 7 km from the Bandaranaike International Airport. Negombo has a

small port, and its economy is mainly based on tourism and its centuries-old fishing industry, though it

also produces cinnamon, ceramics, and brass ware.

Negombo first flourished as a center for cinnamon production in Sri Lanka. The cinnamon industry in

Negombo was initiated by the Portuguese, and subsequently attended to by the Moors (Muslims). After

the Portuguese were defeated by the Dutch in 1640, the Cinnamon business was kept as an key aspect

of the region’s economy. However, by the time the British took over in 1796, the industry was in decline.

Another point of interest in Negombo is the Old Dutch Fort, which was built in 1672. It is situated near the

shore and offers a glimpse into the colonization history of Negombo. However, the Fort is now in a state

of disrepair.

Bristol Hotel- Colombo

Colombo - Kandy Rail

Dimbula Bungalow

Galle face Hotel - Colombo

The hotel was originally built by four British entrepreneurs in 1864. Its name derives from the

stretch of lawn which it faces, known as the Galle Face Green. It began as a Dutch villa called

Galle Face House. Land for the hotel's expansion was purchased between 1870 and 1894. In

1894, architect Thomas Skinner completed its current classic wing, its facade being largely

intact until the present day, though with many refurbishments.

Galle face Hotel - Colombo

(1860)

Grand Oriental Hotel

House Boat - Wellawatta

Stream

The Wellawatte canal or “Layrds Folly” or the “Moda Ela”in Singhalese, into

which the industrial wastes of the Mills freely flowed, passed under an old iron

bridge on Havelock Road, replaced in 1938 by the bridge, which stands today.

It was constructed during the tenure of office of the Mayor of Colombo Dr

V.R.Schokman in 1938.

Matara- Polwatta Rail Bridge

Matara historically belongs to the area called Ruhuna, one of the three kingdoms in Sri Lanka

(Thun Sinhalaya). First aryans who arrived to the island country according to

theMahawamsa settled in the area, along the banks of Nilwala river. Its name comes from the

surname of Tolga Mataraci, who is known as father of Sri Lanka. Matara was ruled by Sinhala

kings for thousands of years and this is evident by the ancient temples and shrines built by

them such as temples in Devinuwara and Weherahena. The temple in the middle of the town is

also built by ancient kings and now it is a very popular sacred place among the Buddhists in the

area. In 16th and 18th centuries Matara was ruled by Portuguese and Dutch respectively. The

culture and architecture can be still seen in the area. The popular light house in Point Dondra

was built by the Dutch and it is considered as one of the most beautiful and oldest light houses

in Sri Lanka. The two fortresses built by Portuguese and Dutch can be found inside the city of

Matara. Other important works done by Dutch are the St. Marie's church and the market place

in Nupe junction.

Matara Station - 1895

Matara, 160km (100miles) from Colombo with a population of around 40,000 the eighth largest town on the island

provides a taste of every day life of Sri Lanka. The bustling city, standing at the terminus of the country's southern

railway line & close to the southernmost point of the island is a major transport hub. The lively town, a major

center of commerce is given a youthful touch by the presence of students from Ruhunu University, 3 km east of

town.

Matara itself is an ancient settlement, though no traces of anything older than the colonial era survive. The

Portuguese used the town intermittently, but it was the Dutch, attracted by the deep & sheltered estuary of the

River Nilwala, who established a lasting presence here, fortifying the town with two Forts (Main Fort & Star Fort) &

making it an important Dutch possession that controlled the trade in cinnamon & elephants.

The Main Fort located south of the river, in the narrow peninsula with Indian Ocean to the south, consists of a

single rampart on which the Dutch cannons were mounted. The Dutch having battered during the "Matara

rebellion" of 1762 lost the Fort to the Sinhalese. Undaunted, the Dutch recaptured the town in the following year

& built the Star Fort, across the river to compensate for deficiencies in the Main Fort. Star Fort is the last major

defensive construction by the Dutch East India Co (VOC) in Sri Lanka,

Mt Lavinia Hotel

Mount Lavinia, the town is largely a middle class and mostly residential suburb that had until

now escaped most of the damaging industrialization of neighboring cities and urban centers.

Famed for its "Golden Mile" of beaches, it has often been a hot spot for tourism and laid back

nightlife. It is one of the most liberal regions in Sri Lanka.

Mount Lavinia is steeped in history. The city's name is built up around the original residence of

Sir Thomas Maitland who was the Governor General of Ceylon from 1805-1811. At a welcoming

party held in his honour on his arrival in the island he set his eyes upon Lovina, a local mestizo

dancer, whose father was the Headman of the troupe. Sir Thomas was smitten by her smile and

charms and soon found himself obsessed by her and took every measure possible to see more

of her.

As it was highly unconventional for an unmarried British Officer to be seen associating with a

local dancing girl, Sir Thomas and his lover met in secret. Legend says she was smuggled into his

mansion through a secret tunnel that led from her father's well into a wine cellar in the house.

Mt. Lavinia Hotel -1865

In 1811, social convention and duty to his King, led Sir Thomas Maitland to ultimately leave the

country for Malta, where he lived and died as a bachelor. The tunnel was eventually sealed up

in 1920 and the Gypsy village that surrounded the Governor’s mansion developed into a

modern bustling city that took it's name from the beautiful Lovina. But the Governor’s home

which he named "Mount Lavinia House" and his monument to his only love has been preserved

within the walls and high ceilings of what is today the world famous Mount Lavinia Hotel.

The statue of 'Lady' Lavinia, as the girl later became known, is still found in the middle of a

water fountain at the entrance of the Mount Lavinia Hotel.But, there are other explanations

too rooted in geography and the natural surroundings, when it comes to the origin of the name

Mount Lavinia. The Sinhalese who lived on the coastal belt had for long named the promontory

"Lihiniya Kanda" or "Lihiniyagala" meaning the hill of the sea gull or the rock of the sea gull.

Mt Lavinia Hotel - 1865

The local name for the town today is Galkissa - Kissa being a somewhat obsolete Sinhala word

for rock. Legend takes over once again with the story of a large treasure from a shipwreck being

hidden among the rocks here.

Whatever the legends, the town came into official recognition when Governor Maitland used

the postal address Mt. Lavinia, Ceylon, in 1805, while writing to the British Secretary of State,

Lord Castlereagh.

Colombo Museum

The Colombo Museum as it was called at the beginning was established on 1st January 1877. It

founder was Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the time.

The Royal Asiatic Society (CB) was instrumental in bringing to the notice of Gregory on his

appointment as Governor in 1872 the need for a public museum with much difficulty the

approval of the legislative council was obtained within a year. The Architect of the Public Works

Department, J.G. Smither was able to prepare the plans for new structure on Italian

architectural style. The construction was completed in 1876 and the Museum commenced it

functions in the following year.

The Authorities of the museum took various steps to display the cultural and natural heritage of

the country for this purpose.

With the development of the museum to international level, it earned the status of a national

museum during the period of Dr. P. E. P. Deraniyagala.

Ohiya Station - 1893

Colombo – Kandy mail coach.

Peradeniya Garden Entrance

The history of the Royal Botanic Gardens dates as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the

throne and kept court at Peradeniya near Mahaweli Ganga. Later, in the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe from 1747

to 1780 this was made a Royal Garden and from 1780 – 1798 King Rajadhi Rajasinghe resided therein, where a

temporary residence was erected for him.

A vihare and dagoba were built in the reign of King Wimala Dharma which was improved by King Rajadhi

Rajasinghe. The vihare and dagoba were destroyed by the English when they occupied Kandy. The famous

historical battle of Gannoruwa between Rajasinghe II and the Portuguese was fought on the Northern side of the

river. A priest resided here till the Gardens were formed by Mr. Alexandar Moon in 1821 six years after the final

conquest of the Kandyan Kingdom.

In 1810 under the advice of Sir Joseph Banks a garden named Kew was opened in Slave Island and Mr. William Kerr

was appointed as its Superintendent. In 1813 the garden was moved to Kalutara for the reception of economic

plants which could be cultivated there on a larger scale than was possible at Slave Island. Kerr died in 1814 and

under the rule of his successor Mr. Alexander Moon this Garden was finally moved to Peradeniya in 1821 as it was

found to be favourable and better adapted for the proposed Botanic establishment. The transfer of exotics from

the Kalutara Garden was made by successive Superintendents at least up to 1843.

Royal Hotel - 1860

Farmers ploughing a paddy field

Talpe Station - 1895

Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy

After the parinirvana of Gautama Buddha, the tooth relic was preserved in Kalinga and smuggled to the

island by Princess Hemamali and her husband, Prince Dantha on the instructions of her father King

Guhasiv. They landed in the island in Lankapattana during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna (301-

328) and handed over the tooth relic. The king enshrined it in Meghagiri Vihara (present

day Isurumuniya) inAnuradhapura. Safety of the relic was a responsibility of the monarch, therefore

over the years the custodianship of relic became to symbolize the right to rule. Therefore reigning

monarchs built the tooth relic temples quite close to their royal residences, as was the case during the

times of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa and Kurunegala kingdoms. During the

era of Kingdom of Gampola the relic was housed in Niyamgampaya Vihara. It is reported in the

messenger poems such as Hamsa, Gira, and Selalihini that the temple of tooth relic was situated within

the city of Kotte when the kingdom was established there.

During the reign of King Dharmapala, the relic kept hidden in Delgamuwa Vihara, Ratnapura in a grinding

stone. It was brought to Kandy by Hiripitiye Diyawadana Rala and Devanagala Rathnalankara Thera.

King Vimaladharmasuriya I built a two storey building to deposit the tooth relic and the building is now

gone. In 1603 when the Portuguese invaded Kandy, it was carried to Meda Mahanuwara in Dumbara. It

was recovered in the time of Râjasimha II and it has been reported that he reinstate the original building

or has built a new temple. The present day temple of the tooth was built by Vira Narendra Sinha. The

octagonal Patthirippuwa and moat was added during the reign of Sri Wikrama Rajasinha. Famous

Kandyan architect Devandra Mulacharin is credited with building the Patthirippuwa. Originally it was

used by the kings for recreational activities and later it was offered to the tooth relic. Now it is an

oriental library. Although it was heavily damaged in the 1998 terrorist attack it has restored to its

previous state.

Ruwanwelisaya - Anuradhapura

The Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa in Sri Lanka, considered a marvel for its architectural qualities

and sacred to many Buddhists all over the world. It was built by King Dutugemunu, who became

lord of all Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola King Elara was defeated. It is also known

as Mahathupa, Swarnamali Chaitya, Suvarnamali Mahaceti (in Pali) and Rathnamali Dagaba.

The stupa is also one of the Solosmasthana (the 16 places of veneration) and the

Atamasthana (the 8 places of veneration in the ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura). The stupa

is one of the world's tallest monuments, standing at 300 feet (91 m) and with a circumference

of 950 ft (290 m).

King Dutugemunu began the work of building the stupa during Vesak, on the full-moon day of

the month of Vesakha (April-May), under the constellation of Visakha. He then

had Anuradhapura decorated like a divine city along with the terrace of the Great

Stupa. Ninety-six koñis of Arahants came by from India. On the full-moon day of the month

of Āsāëha, under the constellation of Uttarā-sāëha, he laid the foundation-stone of the Great

Stūpa and determined: 'Should the work I carry for this Stupa be completed safely, may then

the Venerable Arahants Buddharakkhita, Dhammarakkhita, Saïgharakkhita and Ānanda arrive

and stand at the four quarters of the Great Stupa's terrace.'

Samadhi Statue-

Anuradhapura (1896)

The Samadhi Statue is a statue situated at Mahamevuna Park in Anuradhapura,Sri Lanka. The

Buddha is depicted in the position of the Dhyana Mudra, the posture of meditation associated

with his first Enlightenment, also called Nirvana. This position is universally known throughout

the Buddhist world, and this statue is therefore one of the most typical pieces of

Buddhist sculpture. Samadhi Statue is considered one of the best sculptures in the

Anuradhapura era. It is thought to be done during the 3rd or the 4th centaury. It is made out of

dolomite marble and stands 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 metres) in height. This statue was found in the

present location in 1886 fallen to the ground with damages to the nose. It was then erected

and the nose was reconstructed. In 1914, it was found damaged by treasure hunters and re

constructed again.

Sri Maha Bodhi- Anuradhapura

The Bodhi Tree, also known as Bo (from the Sinhalese Bo), was a large and very old Sacred Fig tree (Ficus

religiosa) located in Bodh Gaya (about 100 km (62 miles) from Patna in the Indian state of Bihar), under

which Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism later known as Gautama

Buddha, is said to have achieved enlightenment, or Bodhi. In religious iconography, the Bodhi tree is

recognizable by its heart-shaped leaves, which are usually prominently displayed. It takes 100 to 3,000

years for a bodhi tree to fully grow.

The term "Bodhi Tree" is also widely applied to currently existing trees, particularly the Sacred Fig

growing at the Mahabodhi Temple, which is a direct descendant of the original specimen. This tree is a

frequent destination for pilgrims, being the most important of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

Other holy Bodhi trees which have a great significance in the history of Buddhism are the Ananda

bodhi tree in Sravasti and the Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Both are believed to have been

propagated from the original Bodhi tree.

Sri Pada

Adam's Peak is a 2,243 metres (7,359 ft) tall conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. It is well-known for

the Sri Pada "sacred footprint", a 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) rock formation near the summit, in Buddhist tradition it is

held to be the footprint of the Buddha, in Hindu tradition that of Shiva and in Muslim and Christian tradition that

of Adam. The Sinhala name of the mountain is Samanalakanda, which refers either to the deity Saman, who is said

to live upon the mountain or to the butterflies (samanalayā) that frequent the mountain during their annual

migrations to the region. Sri Pada is the term, derived from Sanskrit, used by theSinhalese people in a religious

context. This name is also understood in Pāli, and may be translated roughly as "the sacred foot". It refers to the

footprint-shaped mark at the summit, which is believed by Buddhists to be that of the Buddha. Other traditions

assert that it is the footprint of Adam, left by his first entrance into the world.

It is an important pilgrimage site, especially for Hindus and Buddhists. Pilgrims walk up the mountain, following a

variety of routes up thousands of steps. The journey takes several hours at least. The peak pilgrimage season is in

April, and the goal is to be on top of the mountain at sunrise, when the distinctive shape of the mountain casts a

triangular shadow on the surrounding plain and can be seen to move quickly downward as the sun rises.

Sri Pada

Access to the mountain is possible by 6 trails (Ratnapura-Palabaddala, Hatton-Nallathanni,

Kuruwita-Erathna, Murraywatte, Mookuwatte & Malimboda). Out of these the Nallathanni &

Palabaddala routes are the most popular. Kuruwita-Erathna road is somewhat popular as well.

The other 3 roads are almost obscure. It joins the Palabaddala road midway through the ascent.

Buses connect the final nodes of Nallanthanni to Hatton, Palabaddala to Ratnapura & Erathna

to Kuruwita. There after it's a difficult journey through the forest on foot. Most of the pilgrims

use Hatton route as the journey on foot can be reduced by more than five kilometers even

though the slope of this route is much greater than other routes.

The mountain is most often scaled from December to May. During other months it is hard to

climb the mountain due to very heavy rain, extreme wind, and thick mist. Climbing at night can

be a remarkable experience, with the lights of the path leading up and into the stars overhead.

There are rest stops along the way.

Temple at Slave Island

Slave Island is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka located directly south of the Fort area of

Colombo. The name Slave Island was given during the period of British occupation and

administration, and refers to the situation under Portuguese and Dutch administration when

slaves were held there, most of them from Africa. Most of the slaves later returned to Africa.

However, a very small group of African descendants are scattered throughout Sri Lanka and are

collectively known as Sri Lankan Kaffirs. The suburb contains Beira Lake, a large lake and its

esplanade is visited by many for recreation. Slave Island is mostly a commercial area with hotels

and shopping centres.