72nd National Day of Sri Lanka
Considering the geographical location of Sri Lanka, complemented to perfection with its wide assortment of natural resources, it is evident that the country is sure to become the focal point of Europeans, decades into the past.
The arrival of the Portuguese in Sri Lanka (referred to then as Ceylon) in 1505 A.D and occupying the maritime provinces marked the kickstart of a line of foreign dominion. The Portuguese were ‘exchanged’ with the Dutch in 1656 (thus giving birth to the phrase “inguru deela miris gaththa wage”) when they captured Colombo and several other strongholds which was previously held by the Portuguese.
The British defeated the Dutch in 1796; successfully driving them away from the country.thus the claim to the maritime provinces was shifted again. Through proper strategy executions, they were able to take total power of the entire country in 1815. There onwards Sri Lanka remained as a link in the British Empire, until the dawn of independence.
Before long, realization dawn amongst the general public that imperialism was indeed a villain in disguise. Thus they got the drive and passion to fight against it. The people of Uva and Wellassa launched an upstart attack/rebellion against the new rules during the Uva uprising (1817-1818). It was where the people, supported aptly by participating chieftains showed what they are really made of. The turncloak (from the point of view of the British) Monarawila Keppetipola Disawa took charge of this uprising.
The British had to resort to plan B, and that is to bring in reinforcements from India to subdue some of these uprisings in different provinces. Keppetipola was captured at the end of October 1818. He and his associate Madugalle Dissawa was put into trial, adjudged guilty, and beheaded the following month.
The next revolt arose in 1848 due to the abuse of power of the officials. The unjustifiable impose-ment of harsh taxes like the cart and boat tax, stamp tax, gun tax, body tax, road tax and the dog tax was a tad more than what the people were willing to tolerate.
Following this, a young man from the coastal town of Moratuwa went to Kandy and led the proud peasants of the hill country in an armed insurrection against British rule. He captured the town of Matale and declared himself king. The brave 35-year old young man was Weerahennedige Francisco Fernando – better known as Puran Appu.
He, too was eventually captured by the British forces, and sadly was executed on the 8th of August 1848. Gongalegoda Banda, also know as Peliyagoda David ( birth name being registered as Wansapurna Deva David) proclaimed himself as the King when the rebellion ultimately spread to Dambulla in 1848.
He was coronated as the rightful “King of the Kandyan Kingdom” by the chief incumbent of the Dambulla temple, Ven Giranegama Ratanajothi Thero amidst thousands of adoring people at the Dambulla temple. This coronation earned him the name ‘Sri Wickrama Siddipathi’. He, too was captured by the British, and was left with no option but to live the rest of his life in exile, until he took his last breath in December 1849 in Malacca.
Among the prominent personalities was Venerable Migettuwatte Gunananda Thero (1823 – 90) – born orator, fearless debater, erudite scholar and inspiring writer. He led the movement for the revival of Buddhist education in the country and the ushering of a spiritual and national renaissance. He reigned supreme in the Great Debate of Sri Lanka, now known as ‘Panadura Wadaya’.
Operating from Deepaduttaramaya at Kotahena, he published books and distributed tens of thousands of leaflets to propagate the teachings of the Buddha. He accepted the challenge from Christian missionaries and took part in five public debates held in different parts of the country and emerging victorious. The historic debates are identified by the places where they were held – Waragoda (1865), Udammita (1866), Gampola (1871), Baddegama (1871) and Panadura (1871).
His writings attracted the attention of the advanced West and it was his influence through his writings that brought Colonel Henry Steele Olcott and Madam Blavatsky to Sri Lanka in search of Buddhism.
They became part and parcel of the national revivalist movement and Colonel Olcott’s contribution to Buddhist education through the establishment of educational institutions like Ananda College in Colombo, Mahinda College in Galle and Dharmaraja College in Kandy was greatly appreciated.
Then there was the dynamic leader Anagarika Dharmapala (1864 – 1903), the campaigner in the cause of Buddhist resurgence who travelled the length and breadth of the country in a bullock cart, inspiring the people with hard-hitting speeches to work for the development of the country and towards achieving independence.
Meanwhile, on the political front, other leaders started campaigning for more responsibility in governing the country with the aim of reaching the goal of becoming an independent nation.
The political struggle for independence was led by Mahamanya D.s.senanayake and the Sinhala Leaders as well as the Tamil and Muslim Leaders of the country.
The freedom that was lost 200 years ago in 1815, was finally won back on February 4, 1948.
Though Sri Lanka won her freedom, the country remained a dominion for the next 24 years, before it was fully given its republic status in 1972. And in the present, Sri Lanka stands out proudly as a united, independent nation with diverse citizens from many religions, speaking different languages, from different cultures, but yet again, Sri Lankans.