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Muhandiram ( si, මුහන්දිරම්, ta, முகாந்திரம்) was a post in the native headmen system in the lower-country (coastal districts) of
Muhandiram ( si, මුහන්දිරම්, ta, முகாந்திரம்) was a post in the native headmen system in the lower-country (coastal districts) of Ceylon
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
(Sri Lanka) during the colonial era. It was awarded as a title of honor until suspension of Ceylonese honours in 1956.
History
The post originated from the Portuguese colonial administration in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes from the coastal areas. The post continued throughout theDutch East India Company
The United East India Company ( nl, Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the VOC) was a chartered company established on the 20th March 1602 by the States General of the Netherlands amalgamating existing companies into the first joint-stock ...
administration and the British colonial administration until the abolition of the native department in the 1930s.
Ranks of the British Muhandirams
Muhandirams had several classes: ;Awarded as an honor (titular) *Muhandiram of the Governor's Gate (titular) - awarded as an Honor *Muhandiram (titular) - awarded as an Honor *Vidane Muhandirams (titular) - awarded as an Honor *Veda Muhandirams (titular) - awarded as an honor for native physicians *Guru Muhandirams (titular) - awarded as an honor for native teachers ;Official *Muhandiram of the atapattu - in charge of a jurisdiction of a district *Muhandiram of the korale - in charge of a jurisdiction of a korale ;Ex-offico posts attached to other public departments or ceremonial roles *Gravets muhandiram - jurisdiction of a town and gravets *Basnayaka muhandiram - command of a Lascoreen Guard *Liyana muhandiram - head of the clerks *Madige muhandiram - regional transportation representative for the governor ;Singular appointments *Padikara muhandiram *Mohotti muhandiram *Dadayakkare muhandiramList of prominent Muhandirams
Official
Madige Muhandiram
* Madige Muhandiram M. K. Abdul Hameed of Kurunegala *Madige Muhandiram Galagaha Vidanalagegedara Seyed Mohamed Lebbe Marikar (1840-1939) of Kandy *Madige Muhandiram Mohammed Salie of Kotiyakumbura *Madige Muhandiram Haji Marikkar Travala (d:1817) of Wellassa - Killed by rebels during the Great Rebellion of 1817–18Awarded as an honor (titular)
Muhandiram of the Governor's Gate
*Gate Muhandiram Arnold Paul Goonewardene of Kalutara *Gate Muhandiram Peter Thomas de Saram Wirasinghe Siriwardena (1853-1910) of Mount LaviniaMuhandiram
* Padikara MuhandiramDon Pedris Francis Abeywickrama
Keerthisena Chandradasa Abeywickrama (20 December 1933 – 18 August 1987) was a Sri Lankan politician and a member of the parliament.
Abeywickrama was the son of Padikara Muhandiram Don Pedris Francis Abeywickrama and Catharina Abeywickrama ...
(1886-1966) of Morawaka
Morawaka ( si, මොරවක) is a small town in the Matara District, Southern Province of Sri Lanka, a centre of Ceylon tea plantations and rice paddies. Additionally, Morawaka is said to have gem resources.
Located at an elevation of , at ...
Korale. Writer and Poet.
*Muhandiram Tuan Kitchil AbuCassim Burah
* Muhandiram James Alfred Corea (1871 - ?) of Madampe
*Muhandiram Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana (1809–1890)
*Muhandiram Auwakkar Isse of Sammanthurai
* Muhandiram T. Sathasiva Iyer (1882 - 1950)
*Muhandiram M. K. Mahmood Lebbe alias Thalama of Ibbagamuwa. (1910-1981)
* Muhandiram Ibra Lebbe Sulaiman Lebbe (1893 - 1964) of Kurikotuwa Maddeketiya Korale
* Muhandiram Don Justin Peter Senarathna (1899-1985)
*Muhandiram Brahmanawatte Mawathage Lloyd Seneviratne - Founding Chairman of Dehiwela Mt Lavinia Council
See also
*Native headmen of Ceylon
Native headmen system was an integral part of the administration of the island of Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka) under the successive European colonial powers, namely the Portuguese Empire, the Dutch East India Company and the British Empire. N ...
* Mudaliyar
* Arachchi
*Walauwa
Walauwa or walawwa is the name given to a feudal/ colonial manor house in Sri Lanka of a native headmen. It also refers to the feudal social systems that existed during the colonial era.
The term walauwa is derived from the Tamil word ''vala ...
* Kastane
References
*{{cite web, title= Village notables in colonial Ceylon - The Village Headman was the uncrowned king of the village. He was appointed by the Government Agent from a traditional leading family in the area, in order to ensure that he received customary respect from villagers , url= http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=177002 British Ceylon period British Ceylon Defunct government positions in Sri Lanka