Ceylon, the resplendent luscious tropical island on the Indian Ocean, like a superb emerald on the gorgeous pendant of Mom India, was an attraction from historic instances, to many nice powers to accumulate as a useful possession. Sadly, From the fifteenth Century to the center of the twentieth Century, a interval of just about 500 years the island was colonised by Portuguese, Dutch and British, lastly managed to get its Independence from Britain in 1947.
Historic historians wrote the chronical Mahavamsa relating the arrival of Prince Vijaya along with his 700 followers from Sinhapura in North India and landed on this stunning tropical island known as Thambpani, married its Queen Kuveni, and have become King and raised the primary authentic Aryan Sinhala Race. It’s moderately an epic much like Greek mythology, the place a Greek warrior Odysseus touchdown in Crete along with his 700 crew. Thambapani was then inhabited by tribes often called Yakkas and Nagas, most likely Hindus from South India. They should have been extremely smart as they accepted Buddhism when Emperor Asoka of North India despatched, to his good friend King Devanmpiyatissa, his son Mahinda Thera and a retinue of Buddhist monks to propagate Buddhism. That occasion was adopted by the Emperor sending his daughter Sanghamitta with a sacred Bo-sapling to be planted in Anuradhapura in 250BC which remains to be alive.
The island flourished. King Dutugemunu constructed within the Metropolis of Anuradhapura within the North Central province, an enormous Chaitya often called Ruwanweli Maha Seya, entombing relics of The Buddha and practiced Buddhism in its purest type. Later, King Prakarmabahu throughout his reign transformed a number of lakes in Polonnaruwa to huge tanks to protect rain water from flowing to the ocean and use it for cultivation of rice and different grains. The inhabitants have been principally farmers, who cultivated rice on a grand scale for export to the neighboring nations. Even when Britain colonised the island in about 1800, praised the nation as ‘The Granary of the East.’
From historic instances the Northern area within the island was a kingdom occupied by Tamils because of its closeness to South India. It occurred in the course of the reign of King Elara, a Tamil, there was a struggle between the Sinhalese and Tamil kingdoms. and King Elara was killed by King Dutugemunu. Feeling unhappy and to indicate respect for Elara, he constructed a monument ordering all who cross it to bow their head in abeyance.
Though there have been invasions from South India, some Sinhala kings married South Indian princesses and constructed for his or her worship Hindu Kovils in temple premises. Even now, Buddhist worshippers would pay small bribes panduru to hunt favours from the Hindu gods. Thus, the Sinhalese acquired an excessive amount of Indian tradition along with Buddhism due its closeness to India. Muslim Arabs from the Center East traded within the coastal areas of the island, for spices treasured stones and pearls on their technique to the East, settled down within the island and named it Serendib and have become inhabitants as Muslims, constructing Mosques for worship.
The Portuguese arrived within the island for commerce in within the fifteenth Century. They colonised and constructed church buildings and launched Christianity to the coastal fishing of us, and baptised them with Christian names prefixed with the Portuguese title Don. Even the final king of Kotte was baptized and given the identify Don Juan Dharmapala. Many Sinhalese in cities and cities for favor modified their faith and purchased Portuguese names. After about 280 years of occupation the Dutch took over from the Portuguese, and colonised for an additional 250 years or so, and propagated Christianity additional, and constructing extra church buildings, networks of canals for transport produce and Launched Roman Dutch Legal guidelines for governing.
Within the 1800 or so, the nation was taken over by the British and have become a British Colony. The nation gained from introduction English training in faculties and faculties and the primary College in Kandy. Fashionable roads, railways, bridges, harbours have been constructed and ruled by extremely environment friendly educated Civil Servants accountable for the 9 Provinces. The British at first launched espresso plantations, however was destroyed by blight, and Tea was launched masking 1000’s and 1000’s of acres within the hill nation and exported to nations all around the world. Ceylon Tea turned identified worldwide for its nice aroma and have become the islands primary product along with Rubber.
Colombo turned the business capital of South East Asia and its harbour was named by Britain as ‘The Clapham Junction of Jap Transport,’ Its reputation unfold for ships from Europe to the Far East to bunker gas, water and victualling. Ceylon was thought of the brightest gem on the British Crown as there was peace and prosperity and goodwill among the many individuals.
Sadly, WWII broke out in 1939 by Germany and Japan attacking neighbouring nations and the entire world was concerned. Ceylon contributed Tea and Rubber and its produce to Britain, Ceylonese fighter pilots, air mechanics, naval scores and troopers. The struggle resulted in 1944 when American bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atom bombs destroying them in just a few seconds. Peace prevailed all around the globe. Colonial dominated nations clamoured for freedom and India obtained Independence from Britain on fifteenth August 1947 and Ceylon was granted Independence the next 12 months on February 1948.
It was a contented and momentous occasion for Ceylon to be given Independence in 1948 with out spilling a single drop of blood. The Union Jack was lowered; Ceylon’s nationwide flag was hoisted. The nationwide anthem was sung, a 21-gun salute was fired, and Britain’s Governor Common proclaimed Ceylon an Impartial nation within the British Commonwealth. In 1972 Ceylon turned a Republic inside the Commonwealth and altered its identify to SRI LANKA.
It’s nearly 75 years since Sri Lanka obtained Independence from Britain and sadly the nation was misruled and ruined by ignorant avaricious unpatriotic Sinhalese leaders preventing for energy. It’s now a bankrupt nation and 80% of the inhabitants is ravenous with out meals, gas and drugs. It a shame to plan celebrating 75 years of ‘misrule’ as ‘75 years of Independence.’ The 4th February 2023 ought to be a day of repentance and spiritual prayers to God, Allah and all of the Devas to make Sri Lanka a affluent and pleased nation, with freedom and equality to all its multinational and multireligious residents within the very close to future.
The author, D. L. Sirimanne from Kohuwala is 103 years outdated
