Muhandiram (, ) was a post in the native headmen system in the lower-country (coastal districts) of

Ceylon Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

(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 the

Dutch East India Company The United East India Company ( ; VOC ), commonly known as the Dutch East India Company, was a chartered company, chartered trading company and one of the first joint-stock companies in the world. Established on 20 March 1602 by the States Ge ...

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 muhandiram

List of prominent Muhandirams

Official

Madige Muhandiram

*Madige Muhandiram Haji Marikkar Travala (d:1817) of Wellassa - Killed by rebels during the Great Rebellion of 1817–18 *Madige Muhandiram Galagaha Vidanalagegedara Seyed Mohamed Lebbe Marikar (1840-1939) of Kandy * Madige Muhandiram M. K. Abdul Hameed of Kurunegala *Madige Muhandiram Mohammed Salie of Kotiyakumbura

Awarded as an honor (titular)

Muhandiram of the Governor's Gate

*Gate Muhandiram Don William Adrian Dias Bandaranaike of Malwana (1776) *Gate Muhandiram Arnold Paul Goonewardene of Kalutara *Gate Muhandiram Peter Thomas de Saram Wirasinghe Siriwardena (1853-1910) of Mount Lavinia

Muhandiram

*Muhandiram Wickrema Arachchige Don Thomas Wickremasinghe *Muhandiram Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana (1809–1890) *Muhandiram Auwakkar Isse of Sammanthurai *Muhandiram James Alfred Corea (1871-????) of Madampe *Muhandiram T. Sathasiva Iyer (1882-1950) *Padikara Muhandiram Don Pedris Francis Abeywickrama (1886-1966) of

Morawaka Morawaka () 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 the intersection of ...

Korale. Writer and Poet. *Muhandiram Tuan Kitchil AbuCassim Burah *Muhandiram Ibra Lebbe Sulaiman Lebbe (1893-1964) of Kurikotuwa Maddeketiya Korale *Muhandiram Don Justin Peter Senarathna (1899-1985) *Muhandiram M. K. Mahmood Lebbe alias Thalama of Ibbagamuwa. (1910-1981) *Muhandiram Brahmanawatte Mawathage Lloyd Seneviratne - Founding Chairman of Dehiwela Mt Lavinia Council

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 Defunct government positions in Sri Lanka