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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 their generation, official position, military rank, professional or academic qualification, or nobility. In some languages, titles may be ins ...
from the
Kandian Kingdom which became part of the British colonial administration within the
Kandian and central region 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, ...
.
[Dissava
The Mahâ Dissâvas was a Great Officer in the Amātya Mandalaya, or Sinhalese Council of State, in the Sinhalese Kingdoms of monarchical Sri Lanka. Like many of the existing high offices at the time it had combined legislative and judicial ...]
. 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
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
. Many were instrumental in the surrender of the Kandian Kingdom to the
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
.
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
UVA most often refers to:
* Ultraviolet A, a wavelength of light
* University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Uva, UVA and UvA may also refer to:
Arts and media
* Uva, a fictional academy in the ''Pokémon Scarlet'' and '' ...
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 counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...
,
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
Government Agents
Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering, as a subfield of the intelligence field, is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence). A person who commits espionage on a mission-specific contract is called an ''e ...
(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 and would e the Kandian equivalent to a
Mudaliyar
Thuluva Vellalar, also known as Agamudi Mudaliar or Arcot Mudaliars, is a caste found in northern Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh and southern Karnataka. They were an elite and dominant land-owning community.
Etymology
The earliest occu ...
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
The Mahâ Dissâvas was a Great Officer in the Amātya Mandalaya, or Sinhalese Council of State, in the Sinhalese Kingdoms of monarchical Sri Lanka. Like many of the existing high offices at the time it had combined legislative and judicial ...
- Rate Mahatmaya of Sarasiyapattuwa
*
Barnes Ratwatte Dissava
The Mahâ Dissâvas was a Great Officer in the Amātya Mandalaya, or Sinhalese Council of State, in the Sinhalese Kingdoms of monarchical Sri Lanka. Like many of the existing high offices at the time it had combined legislative and judicial ...
Successor of S.D.N Mhawalatenne - Rate Mahatmaya of
Balangoda
Balangoda is a town in Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an urban council located away from Colombo and from Ratnapura on Colombo - Batticaloa Highway(A4). It is one of the largest towns of the Sabaragamuwa Pro ...
*
William Ellawala - Rate Mahatmaya
*
S. N. W. Hulugalle - Rate Mahatmaya
*
Maduwanwela Maha Disawe
*
P. B. Elangasinha - co-creator of the
Sri Lanka Matha
The "Sri Lanka Matha" (; ; ) is the national anthem of Sri Lanka. "Sri Lanka Matha" was composed by Ananda Samarakoon and was originally titled "Namo Namo Matha" ("Salute! Salute! Motherland").
"Sri Lanka Matha" was first performed at an offici ...
See also
*
Native headmen of Ceylon
The native headmen system was an integral part of the administration of the island of Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka) under the successive European Colonialism, colonial powers, namely the Portuguese Empire, the Dutch East India Company and the B ...
*
Walauwa
Walauwa or walawwa is the name given to a feudal/Colony, colonial manor house in Sri Lanka of a Native headmen of Ceylon, native headmen. It also refers to the feudal social systems that existed during the colonial era.
The term walauwa is derive ...
*
Sri Lankan titles
In the Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, individuals are recognized for personal bravery, achievement, or service with the with national honours. The national honours consists of several types of awards:
* National Honours ...
*
Sri Lankan honours system
References
External links
A vignette of British Justice in Colonial Ceylon
Officers of the Kingdom of Kandy
Titles in British Ceylon
Native headmen of Ceylon
{{SriLanka-stub