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THE TRAVII
J. R. SINNATA
(Deputy Surveyor General
 

LS OF WANNI
MBY B.Sc. (LoNDON) Reid)

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Dedicated to King Pararajasekeram, Chieftains Pandara Wanniya, and, Kapitipola, who were captured and executed, and Princess Maria Sembatte, who was captured and dethroned and
died in captivity.

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P R E F A C E
In this work I have included some articles written by me from time to time bearing on some historical and geographical matters pertaining to the Tamil people and their lands which they have inhabited over the centuries so as to acquaint them, however briefly, with the vicissitudes of fortunes which have affected their life, their birthrights and now their territories, after about four centuries of foreign interference, and rule in their interests (foreign) first by the Portuguese, then by the Dutch and finally the British, who left the shores of this island about 30 years ago voluntarily vn
And also of the fierce resistance offered and the heavy price they have paid in defence not only of their territories but equally, or, even more so, on behalf of the Sinhalese also, and, their territories, attested not only by Portuguese, Dutch and British but also by Sinhalese historians.
Colombo, 5th August, 1978 J. R. SINNATA MBY

THE TRAVAILS OF WANNI (12-4-68)
One would have thought that with the regaining of Independence in their own right, as much as the Sinhalese theirs, with the voluntary withdrawal of the British Services, terminating about 450 years of foreign domination in Sri Lanka, the travails of the people of Wanni Country have come to an end.
But their position appears to be the same or even werse than the worst oppression suffered by them during foreign occupationThe story now unfolding of the atrocities perpetrated on utterly helpless men women and children and even babes in arms, only shows that they have been left utterly defenceless.
Little do people realise that it was these virile people, who offered the fiercest resistance to the foreign powers and were the last to be subdued, who are now being trampled by the very people in whose defence they lost their independence and their King and Kingdom, when they went to their assistance in their hour of distress.
The following extracts from writings of recognised and erudite historians and scholars are of much relevance and interest in this context.
When the Portugese endeavoured to conquer the Kandyan Kingdom with the aid of the Christians and low country Sinhalese it was the Tamils who went to their assistance.
Abeysinghe in his book “Portugese Rule in Ceylon” says “while the Portugese were receiving reinforcements from Goa and other sources, Wimaladharmasuriya was not fighting a lone war. Assistance for him came from the Nayak of Madura and the King of Meliapuur. Their aid took the from of contingents of Vadugai troops, who, according to Portugese writers, were some of the best fighting men in India at the time. The two east coast rulers of South India helped Kandy not only because of political sympathies,
but also because of the trade relations that existed between their territories and Kandy.

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Their aid reached Kandy through the Ports of Mannar, Puttalam and Trincomalee and through the Kindom of Jaffna. That the King of Jaffna should have afforded transit rights to troops going to the aid of Kandy is a significant point. The ruler at the time was Pararasasekeram, who had been set up on the throne by the Portugese in 1591. Yet he allowed help to pess through his territory and even, it was alleged, negotiated and procured aid from India for his brother monarch. He continued to do so until his death in 1615,'
Commenting gn the assistance sent by Vigergy pf India ta the Portugese in Ceylon, Abeysinghe aays, “Towards the end af the year 1602 or at the beginning of 1603, he sent a force of 300 Indian Christians and 340 Portugese to the Island, thus bringing the total force available for the conquest of Kandy to about 80 Portugese, soldiers, 12 000 Sinhalese Lassarins and the Indian Christians. He also planned to send two suall vessels with eighty soldiers te patrol the eastern waters of Ceylon so as to prevent Vimaladharma. suriya receiving reinforcements of Vadugai troops from the Nayaks of East Coast of South India.
An Officer of the Ceylon Rifles referring to the execution of the King says in his book on Ceylon “in 1604 the Raia was again chastised for assisting the King of Kandy and the Portugese according to Faria might have taken possession of his deminions only they were not at that time in a position to do so. but it was subsequently accomplished in 1617, when the Governor of Ceylon, Constantine de Saa, hearing that Raja was corresponding with the King of Kandy, hid him captured, and sent to Goa, where he was deposed and executed '' ... '
Tennent the erudite historian and who was a member of the British Civil Service has this to say of these fiercely independent and sovereign people.
{:The Portugese after the sapture of Jaffnapatam became the nominal sovereigns of the Wanni, but their dominion never extended beyond the sea coast, and they exercised no actual control ever its restless Caieftains and their fallowers. The Dutch as the successers pf Pertugal affected to assert a right af suplemacy; but were only able ta enforce their anaual tribute af slephants by a frequent resort to arms,

In 1782 these continud conflicts were brought to an apparent issue by a combined and vigorous effort of the Dutch who routed the forces of the Wanny: his at all points and reduced their country to at least the outward semblance of submission.
In is characteristic of the spirit of th's peop'e that the Dutch met nowhere a mole deermired resistance thin from one of the native Princesses, the Wannichee Maria Sembatte whom they we e obliged to carry away prisoner and detain in eptivity in th; fort of Colombo.''
After the transfer of the sovere'gnty of Ceylon to the British, the excesses and turbu ence of this part of he country still continued. In 1803, on the occasion of our first hostilities wih the King of Kandy, Pandar Wanny, h, an influential chef on the bode is of the Ne erakalawa District, undertook to expel the English from his country and succeeded in occupying Cottiar, on the bay of Trincomalee
He drove out the garrison at Moee ivoe and seized the fort; which had been left in charge of a British Officer and a few sepoys; they escaped in fishers bolt to Jaffn, while he insurge its carried
away some use ess cannon hit still lie buries in a rice field near the Padvil tank.
The attempt was of course followed by no permanent success; the insurgents were speedily dislodged; the fort retaken and the power of the Chefs of the Vinny was finally and elfectually extinguished. Their last descendant and representative was an old lady, wh), in 1948, resided near the fort of Jaffna and enjoyed a small he reditary state, the remnant of her ancestral home levers, (“Manual of North Central Province', p. 8) says “The Kandyans attacked all the British maritime territory from Hambantota to Mullaitivu The Dissava of Nuwarakalawiya with Pandara Vanniyar and the people of the Jaffna Vanni, attacked the latter fort '.
The Dissva (Governor) of Nuwarakal wiya was very probably a descendant of the Tamil Governor who governed at Anuradhapura during Knox's time. levers has also pointed out that the province of Nuwarakalawiya is hereditary in the family of Kumarasingh a and his brother It is of interest to note in this conte vt that in 175 AD, Rajadi Raja Sinha Devi gave Nuwaragam Pattuwa in Nuwara Kalawiya to Nuwaraveve Suriyukumara Vanniasinha Mudaliya, in
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3) SS

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recognition of h's fidelity and faithful performance of Rajakariya. He was apparent y the Tamil Gove nor refered to above whom Knox met about 1678 AD when ec pig from Kandy through Anuradhapura. (Dr. P. E. Pie is - “Sinhala and Pat io's '', p451, Note 45 Knox “Ceylon', p256 edited by Saparamadu)
Regarding the reference to “Jaffna Vanni' it is of interest to note that the Batticaloa are a bordering on Hambantota District was ruled by Wanniars referred to by Badeus as Kings based on the greater autonomy he d by them according to Saparamadu who edited Baldeus's work (p55, foot note)
It is hoped that early steps will be taken to erect monuments in memory of the last king of Jaffna and P. ndara Wannyah who were executed and Princess Sembatte who died in captivity

THE TRAVAILS OF WANNI (10-5-78)
Reference my article oThe Travails of Wanni' of 12-4, 1978, the following further historical references are of relevance and interest.
The name Maria Sembatte, the Wann ‘chee who resisted the Dutch, is of interest. When the king of Jaffna was forced to flee the Queen and her family came under the protection of the Portugese. De Queyroz, (Conquest of Ceylon), referring to this subject says “Our men found good spoil and some women of quality whom the Viceroy entrusted to Louis de Mele de Silva and to D Antoniede Noronha, who treated them all with honour.........
They adopted the Catholic faith. It is probable that this Wannichee is a descendant of this Royal Family. I believe the King's daughters were the first Nuns of Ceylon according to records, as far as, I can remember.
The Hindu Temple at Tiru-koneswaram which was dismantled by the Portugese was first visited by General AZvedo and his army. The following extract from “Jesuits of Ceylon' (Ceylon Antiquary, Vol. 2, Pll), refers to this temp'e and the King of Jaffna under whose jurisdiction the tempe fell, as follows, “The army finally reached the famous temple of Trincomalee, a massive structure of singular workmanship. It was of great height and was built of blackish granite on a rock projecting into the sea. Intent on building a fort on th's rock, the General summoned the King of Jaffnapalam, but as he delayed to come, the Gene al marched to Jaffna and made it clear to the King that he intended to build a fort there.'
Regarding the erection of monuments referred to by me in my last article I must point out that the King of Jaffna and Pandara Wannyah fought and died not only for their people. and country but also the Sinhalese. In fact the immediate cause
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of their being captured and hanged was due to the support given by them to the Kandyans during Portugese rule and again during the British rule, on the occasion of their first hostilities with the King of Kandy. It is hoped that all the citizens of Sri Lanka will contribute towards the cost of the erection of these monumentS. * ・
It is of interest to note in this context thal many Hindu temples have been damaged and it would appear that even the Holy of Holies have been desecrated by even the armed guardians of the peace during the August uprising.
This has been so even in Kandyan districts where protection had been assured by the Kandyan Conventien not only to Vihares but Devales also, (K. M. de Silva, Ceylon Historical Journal, Vol. 10, P 91), and where specific reference is made to the religion of the Buddha and the Agama.
In this context what Geiger has pointed out in his work “Culture of Ceylon, Mediaeval Times, is of considerable significance . 救 MX
“In the Mahawamsa we shall see below frequently............ controversies are reported between different Buddhist Sects, but hardly any serious conflict between Brahaminism and Buddhism up to the begining of the modern era...... I think the study of the Mahawamsa even which is compiled by Buddhist priests, shows us how fallacious it is entirely to separate Buddhism from Brahamanas......... we know moreover that Brahamanas and Samanas............... were equally supported by the ruler and it is a Buddhist priest by whom this is acknowledged.'
In this context it is of interest to note that Buddhism coexisted with Hinduism in South India for many centuries as can be inferred from what B.C. Law. Fellow, Calcutta University, (South India as a Centre of Pali Buddhism) has pointed out, that, Pali Buddhism had its home in South India and continued as such till as late as the 12th Century A. D- and also, that, (Indological Studies), that at the time of the Muslim Conquest, (that means about 8th Century A. D.) Buddhism received its final blow and monks fled from North India to various countries which included South India. . . .
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The monument for the King of Jaffna should be sited at Nallur at the place where the King's palace stood and which he set fire to with his own hands before he left Jaffna, and that of Pandara Wannyah at the site where he was hanged and where I believe the officer who had the painful duty of having him executed erected a stone to mark the spot, and, that of Princess Maria Sembatte at Mannar.
It is also of interest to note in this context that a statue has already been erected for Kappitipola, whose ancestors were full blooded Tamilians, (Ralph Pieris, “Sinhale Social Organisation”,) , by the Kandyans, and, occording to levers who was Government Agent, Kegalle, the ruins of the Hindu temples where they worshipped were extant in his time. Probably they are still extant He led a rebellion in 1817 and all but succeeded but foiled particularly by the effective assistance received by the British from one of the Chiefs (Dr. P. E. Pieris, “Sinhale and Patriots).
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THE TRAVAILS OF WANNI (8-678)
In view of some inquiries I have had in respect of my articles pertaining to above subject of 12 4, 1978 and 10/5/1978 the following historical references regarding matters touched on these articles are of relevance and interest -
Tamils have lived not only in Tamil areas but even in
Sinhalese areas and in their own right from the dawn of recorded history to modern times and have held positions from the highest level as Kings, Queens Princes, Prime Ministers, Adigars, Chiefs, Sanskrit and Pali Scholars, Buddhist missionaries, Army Commanders, Soldiers, even in guarding the Tooth Relic where the King's power resides.
In fact in Knox's time the Governor at Anuradhapura was a Tamil for the reason that the area was populated by Tamils, but today the Government Agent of Jaffna, an exclusively Tamil country, is a Sinhalese.
Knox, -(Ceylon- 1818 Edition P134 - 135) says “To Anarodgburre therefore we came......... It is a vast plain ......... This is encompassed round with woods and small towns among them on every s de, inhabited by Malabars, a distinct people from the Chingulays ........” Being entered into this town (Anuradhapura) We stae ourselves under a tree......... The people......... being originally Malabars, though subjects of Candy. Nor could they understand the Chingulay language......... they brought us before their Governor. He not speaking Chingulais spoke to us by an interpreter ... ...' Apparently this fact weighed with the Colebroke Commission when they included Nuwara Kalawa in the Northern Province in 1833, see map appearing in Dr. G. C. Mendis's work pertaining to the Colebroke Commission.
Jeyarajan has pointed out (History of the Evolution of the Sinhalese Alphabet) hat, bilingualism (Tamil and is irh a'e se) has prevailed in the Sinhalese country from an ancient period of time till modern times, a clear indication that Tamils lived in Sinhala country and also in their own right.

In fact what better evidence of the fact that the Tamils were living in Sinhalese areas in their own right than that even their traditional laws and customs (The sawalamai) prevailed in North Western Province according to Sir Alexander Jahnston, Second Chief Justice of Ceylon, quoted by Dr H. W. Tambiah (Laws of Thesawalamai) and further more even deeds were written in Tamil,
When Buddhism was finally expelled from North India at the time of the Muslim conquest the fact that the Brahmin priests (Aryan) who had also penetrated into South India and Sri Lanka did not favour Buddhism helped and in fact Buddhism finally left South India when the Muslims penetrated into South India about the 13th Century A. D. i. e. about 6 centuries after Buddhism was dead in North India.
In this context the following reference by Spiers (“Tamil Culture' July 1957, Vol 6 No. 3 p 193, is of interest, Distinctive form of Buddhism was taken to China by South Indian Bodhidharma in 600 AD. Buddhists, Jains and even Brahmins, hunted from North India, came South for refuge.
Historical References
Regarding the last representative of the Wanni Chiefs who resided at Jaffna according to Tennent,
C. S. Navaratnam “Vanni and the Vanniyas
There is a tradition that the last representative and descendant was visited by a British Governor when he visited Jaffna. Orientalist, (Monthly Literary Registrar, 1893 Note at P4), says she may have been Ponnar Vannichchiyar of the Panankamam Chief's family whom Mr. Dyke met at Mullativu in 1842, (Diary 22nd August 1842).
Mu'ler quoted by Geiger (Pali Literature and Ianguage p4) Kalinga home of Pali Oldest settlements (in Ceylon) from opposite mainland.
BC Law - Indolog cal Studies Pt. II - P 178 -
" ' South India played important part in 4th and 5th centuries in expansion of Buddhism in Burma.
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Walker Hindu World Vol. 2 By 1309 Muslims took Madura.
S. Dutt. Buddhist Monks & Monasteries
History records two devastations on an extensive scale of Northern India one by Mihirakula in the Western Sector early part of sixth century and again the eastern sector round the turn of the 13th century. .
Great monastic universities wiped out in 12th century by Muslim invaders of Bengal and Bihar
Moor Islamic Cultural Home Souvenir (Foot Notes 11 & 25 PP 22 & 23)
Tamil is home language of the great majority of Ceylon Muslims and protocols and Kadutams written in the Tamil (not Sinhalese) language.
Studies in Ceyloa Church History By Peter - P43
The first Ceylonese nuns the two princesses daughters of Pararajasekaram.
Sinhala & Patriots - Dr. P. E. Pieris - PS30 Note 10
Certificate to Chief given by Colonel Hardy, Sir R. Brownrigg whose medal was conferred for prompt and effectual aid during late rebellion in sending out population of district to carry provisions to Kandy and proceeded himself there, -
Dutch Power in Ceylon By P. E. Pieris-p 59
Coster (Dutch Commandant) requested written agreement in Sinhalese and Malabar language - addressed to all the Governors and ruling chiefs. -
Ceylon Antiquary, Vol. 2 1916 - 1917 P21
A squadron of Portugese soldiers with 4 or 5 thousand
Sinhalese Lascoryns scoured the island punishing rebels. (Freedom
Fighters),
Fr, Perera - Historical Sketches
Portugese obliterated monuments of native religion and Nestorian Churches. .
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Goda kumbure - Oriental and African Studies Vol. II
Tamil language and its literature were studied in the colleges of mediaeval Ceylon.
Several popular plays owe their origin to South India. A great number of Sanskrit words have come to Sinhalese through a Dravidian medium.
Malalasekera (Pali Literature)
Tamils of South India then as now earnest students of Sanskrit Literature and their existance in the island helped much in encouraging study of Sanskrit in Ceylon.
Tamil literature largely responsible for much of the Sinhalese literature. ܗܝ --
Intimate relations existed between the Tamils of the Dekkan and the Sinhalese settlers from quite an early period.
Intimate intercourse and consanguinity were established from the remotest times.
Paranavitana (Art and Culture of the Sinhalese)
The earliest type of the Buddha image known in Ceylon is that of the Andhra School.
There is epigraphical as well as literary evidence to indicate that a brisk intercourse existed between Buddhists of Ceylon and their co-religionists in the Kistan Valley.
Codrington - Ceylon Coins & Currency Considerable number of deeds in Kurunegala and Puttalam Districts in Tamil.
Dr. P. E. Pieris - Sinhala and Patriets
P. 7 - King's relations not acceptable as a result of local marriage. Therefore a Royal Prince from Madura or some other Indian State has to be invited. Royal Dynasty which supplied Vijaya with his wife was destroyed by Muslims and in 1420 a Hindu Dynasty that of the Nayaks was again established
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P 432. Note 23 - A Sinhalese cannot be King of Ceylon, that is, every person born of a Sinhalese father or mother is excluded from the Throne,
P 7. The King had no son and his kinsfolk, even if otherwise suitable were not generally acceptable The Sinhalese families tracting descent from Kings, had as a result of local marriages, ceased to belong to the Royal caste which alone could demand and receive the prostrations of a subject.
P. M. Jeyarajan - Evolution of the Sinhala Alphabet - p65
Wijetunge mentions a curious fact of Sri Lanka history “The failure of the Nayaks rulers of Kandy to produce children by their Indian wives was conspicous of their rule here, but their attempts in this direction were more successful with their Sinhalese wives. The children of the latter were however not considered eligible to succeed to the throne and succession always passed to the brothers or relatives of their Indian brides' (Ceylon University Review Vol. XVI Nos 3 & 4 PP 125. - 130).
Mahawamsa - (Geiger Ch: 7 VV 46 - 51) When they had founded settlements in the land the ministers all came together and spoke this to the Prince: “Sire, consent to be consecrated as King. But, inspite of their demand the Prince refused the consecration, unless a maiden of a noble house were consecrated as a queen (at the same time).
But the minisers whose minds were eagerly bent upon the consecrating of their lord, and who although the means were difficult, had overcome all anxious fears about the matter, sent people, entrusted with many precious gifts, jewels, pearls and so forth. to the city of Madhura in southern (India), to woo the daughter of the Pandu King for their lord, devoted (as they were) to their ruler, and they also (sent to woo) the daughters of others for the ministers and retainers.
When the messengers were quickly come by ship to the city of Madhura they laid the gifts and letter before the king.
Mahawamsa – Pali Edn – (Geiger, ch 7. VV 46-51) Niva setva janapadam sabbe "Macca samecca tam avocum rajatanayam. “Samarajje 'bhisecaya’. Itti vutto rajaputto na ichchi abhisecanam vina khattiyakannaya abhisekam mahasiva. Atthamacca

samino te abhiseke kataradara dukkaresu pik'eee u tadatthabhirutatiga pannakar e mah usare mani mutta dike bá, hu gahapayitva pahesum dakkhinam Ma dhuram puram Pandurajassa dhitattham amaccanam. janass ca. Sigh m na. Vaya gantvana dutate Madhuram puram pannakkare ce lekam ca tassa ranno adassayum.
Hindu Temptes prior to Buddhist edifices in Anuradhapura
Malalasekera (Pali Literature of Ceylon) Halls for Brahmins... built by Pandukabhaya where Abhayagiri now stands.
Harischandra (Sacred Ctty, Anuradhapura) Abhayagiri dagoba stands on the site of a Hindu tempe.
Famous Buddhist Mission ries
The well known Buddhist monks and missionaries of Ceylon Sanghamitta, Buddh datta, Dharmapala, Vajrabodhi, were Tamilians (Pandyans or C holians) and not Sinhalese.
Author of Pali Grammar “Rupas 'ddhi”, Budhapiya Thero, and Buddh gosa, were also Cholians. and Bodhid arma who took the Lhayana School of Buddhism to China is also a South Indian.
(Dutt, ''Buddhist Monks & Monasteries of India', BC Law, “South 1 ndia as a centre of Puli Buddhi m', L harmartna Thero “Buddhi m in South India', Geiger “ Culture of Ceylon in Mediaeval Times”.)
sRI LANKAA SURVEY EDITED BY K. M. DE SILVA
(A cooperative enterprise by a group of Sri Lanka scholars all af whom are or have been on the academic staff of the Uuiversity of Sri Lanka at Perad niya )
PP 50-51 “For ten years from 1581 - 1591 there was no independent kingdom of Kandy - Only the Tamil Kingdom of the north remained outside the sphere of control of the ruler on Sitavaka, if not his influence '...............
“În this island they (Portuge e) had two objectives to comp'ete the proce s of control over Jaffna kingdom, and to su jugate the Kandyan Kingdom. The first was the much easier propolition and by 1619 they had annexed it. In so doing they brought to an end he independent existence of a Tamil Kingdom in Sri Lanka ” ...............
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THE TRAVILS OF WANNI (28-6-78)
Reference my artic'e 3 cf 12-4-78, 10-5-78; & 8-6-78 and reference the matters pertaining to Aryanism, Caste, Immigration of various Castes to Sri Lanka from South India, and figh, of Buddhism from India, appearing in the Daily News of 26-6-78 & 28-6-78 the following historical references are of re ev.nce and interes;
Arunchalam (Census, 901).
“Few terms are now-a-days so often used in political writings as that cf “nationality, though the e is far from being ge. eral unde “standing as to what a nationality is. The me nings attached to he word at various times have been important factors in the world's history The he ory of nation lity, for which Hegal stood sponsor, his hid far-reaching offect in this century. The State should, according to this view, be national, and the nation shou'd be a unit comprising individua's spe kang the same language and of he same racial origin. Heterogenous elements should be absorbed, but if they could not be reduced to the national type, hev sh ou'd be eliminated. This theory seizing on the minds of he youths of Germany led to the unification of Germany in 1870 and his 'ed in yers la er to the deporabe excesses of antisemtism from wh ch which England alone of Europe.n countries is free.
To this theey also we owe the pretensions of the Russian Empire to at east a presidency over all slavonic communities. The drift of modern thought is to understand nationality as an aggretation of persons belived or presumed to belong to the same stock and h vong a common languge, v h tracter and political institution. Whatever the proper meaning of the term be, in Ceylon for at least half a century cert in nationalities or races h ve been officially recognized and this classification his been adoped for census purposes.
Speaking generally the Sinha"ese inhabit the hilly zone and the fertile and wet southern and westesn' rovinces and in the sparcely populated regions of the North Central Province and Uva. The indigenous Tamils occupy the Northern Coasts and their real centre is the dense'y populated peninsula of Jaffna which is nearest to India and where they live almost
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to the exclusion of every other race. Mannar and Puttalam are Tamil Districts and there is a large admixture of Tamil blood and speech in the Sinhalese Districts of Chilaw and Negombo"
B. C. Law (Indological Studies)
Brahminism, (Religious belief of Aryan Hindus, Brit: Encyclo:), and Muslim conquest dealt final blow to Buddhism and monks fled with manuscripts to Nepal, Tibet, Burma, Kambuja, Orissa and South India.
Rice (Director of Public Instruction, Mysore, Madra
Journal of Science, 1878)
“Greeks were favourable to Buddhism which owed its success in India most likely to the support of the non-Aryan population.’’
G. C. Mendis (the Early History of Ceylon P9)
“At the time the Aryans entered India, the Dravidians occupied not only South India but also greater part of North India ...... There is evidence to prove that in the early centuries ef Christian Era, Dravidians helped to form the Sinhalese
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faCe... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ralph Pireris ('Sinhalese Social Organisation,' P. 100 Foot Note 37)
“The foreign origin of Halagama people is shown in the fact that although long domiciled in the country they continued to pay Uliyam payable by foreigners for the privilege of residence in the country
Navaratnam (History of Hinduism in Ceylon P 184)
Codrington has expressed the view that “the two most important minority Castes in Sinhala low Country undoubtedly of Tamil or at least South Indian descent.'
Dr. P. E Fieris, (History of Ceylga -- Partugese Era P138)
... if The Karawa Colonists frem Sguth India, who has in course, eccupied the see board ef the island, where the fishing industry was almost exclusively in their hands. The Feadiness
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with which the Caste welcomed Christianity whether in South India, or the Tamil or. Sinhalese speaking Districts of Ceylon is very remarkable. ......... Early in 1556, in one of the out-bursts of enthusiasam . . . . seventy thousand headed by their Chief or Patebenda took refuge within the fold of the Church,'
Rajasingham (Mirror 15.1268) “ According to Dr. Pieris’s translation, (Portugese Tombos), hundreds of people in the villages on the coast from Puttalam to Tennavare (Dondre) bore Tamil names e-g. in Galle are the following names : − −
Thevarasa, Peruma, Eliaperuma Aracha, Pavallacedi, Periya Peruma, Vilipilli, Xan-muka, Paratape, etc,”
G. C. Mendis (The Early History of Ceylon, P8)
He has pointed out Dravidian helped to form the Sinhalese Race and came form earliest times and adoped Sinhalese Language as some of them still do in coastal districts.
Bryce Ryan, (Quoted "By Ariyapala 'Society in Mediavel Ceylon' P 286.)
“Coastal Castes undoubtedly have unitary and tribal or Caste origins in India and were Sinhalised as bodies rather than as individuals . . . . ...'
Induruwe Pannatissa (Times Week Ender, 18-3-69)
Has pointed out the Sinhalese in the Maritime Provinces came from Madras and whose descendants have names such as de Silva, de Soysa & so on.
Reimers (JRASCB, 1930, Vol. 31 P 446)
“The names of Salagama Caste show a marked European influence, due to the importance of the Cinnamon industry in Portugese and Dutch times and the nearness of that community to their European masters.'
Dutch Governor General, (1655 - 1665, Memoirs , - of Dutch Governors)
Referring to subjects brought from India he pointed out that they should be treated with gentleness and kindness and taught his (Governors's) Religion (Christianity) in accordance with the
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formula drawn up in the Malabar Language. They were settled in Raygam, Halpitty, Hinne Korales etc. These subjects were employed on the Cinnamon plantation which extended along the coast from Chillaw to Tangalla (Map, Lands, Maps & Surverys, Brothier and Paulusz.) − -
Paranavitana, (Ceylon Literary Register, Vol 1 3rd Series, P 49)
Referring to an inscription pertaining to committees entrusted with administration of a Village, Village forests and waste land has said, “How these committees were selected we do not know but an analogous case may be cited from South India with which Ceylon is closely connected as regards its political and social institutions...............'
Oldenberg (Vinniya Pittikam.)
He has pointed out that the Version of Tripitaka preserved in Ceylon and its dialect Pali brought to the Island from the Peninsula of South India probably Andhra and Kalinga Country or one of the adjacent Kingdomss of South India seems to have most claim to having been the medium for transplanting Buddhist Literature to Ceylon'.
Ralph Pieris (Sinhala Social Organisation)
It is sometimes supposed that the surviving jungle villages of the Sinhalese Dry Zone are relics of an antique Aryan Social Order which, in the Central Highlands, had been contaminated by the Dravidian impact of Kandyan times. The theory is not borne out by facts, for the Dravidian “influence' long antedated the wet Zone civilisation, under Vijayabahu I (Reg. A. D. 1056 - 1111), “Sinhalese'Civilisation was still in the melting pot, and for
certain royal edicts, Tamil and Sinhalese scripts were used side by side ............

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