Rate Mahatmaya was a traditional office and

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...

from the Kandian Kingdom which became part of the British colonial administration within the Kandian and central region 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 ...

.Dissava. There was no time limit for the officer holder as he held the post at the pleasure of the King, which meant throughout his life, if not incurred the displeasure of the King. It was not hereditary, although members of the same family have been appointed. They were members of the Radala Cast, who were referred to as the ''Chieftains of Kandy'' by the British. Many were instrumental in the surrender of the Kandian Kingdom to the British. Following the expansion of British rule into the provinces of the former Kandian Kingdom in 1815, the British retained the office of Rate Mahatmaya appointing Kandians loyal to the British Crown. Following the Uva Rebellion in 1818 and changers to the administrative divisions of the island with the creation of

Districts A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municipa ...

, British Government Agents (GA) took over the duties of the Dissava, with Rate Mahatmaya becoming a subordinate to the local Government Agents and Assistant Government Agents. During the British administration a Rate Mahatmaya would head a revenue district, a

Korale A Korale or Corale was formerly a revenue district in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). During the British colonial administration, a low country korale was under the purview of a Mudaliyar while an upcountry korale came under the purview of a post that was i ...

and would e the Kandian equivalent to a Mudaliyar in the lower country or the coastal regions. New appointments were stopped in the 1931 after the abolition of the native department, while current holders retained their posts until their retirement while transferable District Revenue Officers were appointed as replacements. The last Rate Mahatmaya to retire was in the late 1950s.

Notable appointees

* Punchi Banda Nugawela Dissava - Rate Mahatmaya of Sarasiyapattuwa * Barnes Ratwatte DissavaSuccessor of S.D.N Mhawalatenne - Rate Mahatmaya of Balangoda * William Ellawala - Rate Mahatmaya *

S. N. W. Hulugalle Semasinghe Navaratne Wanninaake Hulugalle (known as ''S. N. W. Hulugalle Adigar'' until 1915) was a Ceylonese colonial-era legislator and a headmen. He was representative of the Kandyans in the Legislative Council of Ceylon. He was appointed to an ...

- Rate Mahatmaya * Maduwanwela Maha Disawe *

P. B. Elangasinha Punchi Banda Elangasinha, Rate Mahatmaya ( si, පුංචි බණ්ඩා ඉලන්ගසිංහ; 6 April 1888 – 22 September 1960) was a Sri Lankan notary public, traditional eye doctor, astrologist and musicologist. Best known for wr ...

- co-creator of the

Sri Lanka Matha "" (; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා මාතා, translit=Śrī Laṁkā Mātā; ta, ஸ்ரீ லங்கா தாயே, translit=Srī Laṅkā Tāyē) is the national anthem of Sri Lanka. "Sri Lanka Matha" was composed by Ananda Sam ...

References

External links

A vignette of British Justice in Colonial Ceylon
Officers of the Kingdom of Kandy Titles in British Ceylon Defunct government positions in Sri Lanka {{SriLanka-stub

Notable appointees

See also

References

External links