Walauwa or walawwa is the name given to a

feudal Feudalism, also known as the feudal system, was a combination of legal, economic, military, cultural, and political customs that flourished in Middle Ages, medieval Europe from the 9th to 15th centuries. Broadly defined, it was a way of struc ...

/ colonial

manor house A manor house was historically the main residence of the lord of the manor. The house formed the administrative centre of a manor in the European feudal system; within its great hall were usually held the lord's manorial courts, communal mea ...

Sri Lanka 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, ...

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 Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...

word ''valavu'', which denotes a compound or garden, and by implication, a large house with aristocratic connotations. The pinnacle of walauwas in the Sinhala social stratum is the ''wasala walauwa''. Wasala is derived from the word ''Wasasathana'', meaning residence. In the Sinhalese social hierarchy, a wasala walawa would typically be the ancestral residence of 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 ...

. Walauwas vary in style, elegance and uniqueness depending upon the financial resources of the individual families and in the village or area's social structure. Most walauwas tend to incorporate aspects of traditional pre-colonial Ceylonese architecture, as well as Dutch and later colonial influences. A walauwa usually consisted of a cluster of buildings linked by

veranda A veranda (also spelled verandah in Australian and New Zealand English) is a roofed, open-air hallway or porch, attached to the outside of a building. A veranda is often partly enclosed by a railing and frequently extends across the front an ...

hs, with an internal courtyard (''medamidula''), which separated the private life of the family from the headman's public duties. The walauwa were traditionally associated with the homes of the

courtier A courtier () is a person who attends the royal court of a monarch or other royalty. The earliest historical examples of courtiers were part of the retinues of rulers. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the officia ...

s (''radala''), members of the royal court in

Kandy Kandy (, ; , ) is a major city located in the Central Province, Sri Lanka, Central Province of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy from 1469 to 1818, under the Kingdom of Kandy. The city is situated in the midst of ...

. It was displaced by their colonial equivalents following the dissolution of the

Kingdom of Kandy The Kingdom of Kandy was a monarchy on the Sri Lanka, island of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in the late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century. Initially a client kingdom ...

by the British.

Kandyan Walauwas

There were 19 main walauwas in the

Kandyan Kingdom The Kingdom of Kandy was a monarchy on the island of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in the late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century. Initially a client kingdom of the Kin ...

of Ceylon. These were (in alphabetical order):Sri Lanka Walauwa Directory by Dr Mirando Obeysekara (Samanthi Book Publishers) * Arapola Walauwa (demolished) * Dehigama Walauwa (demolished - Central Finance Building) * Dullewe Walauwa (part of Queen's Hotel) * Dunuwila Walauwa (currently Kandy Town Hall) * Ehelepola Walauwa (fmr Bogambara Remand Centre) * Allepola Walauwa * Eravwawala Walauwa * Galpotthawela Walauwa * Kapuwatte Walauwa * Mampitiya Walauwa (Royal Bar and Hotel) * Meegasthenna Walauwa * Moladanda Walauwa * Madugalle Walauwa (demolished) * Molligoda Walauwa (demolished) * Nugawela Walauwa ( The Manor House) * Pilamathalawa Walauwa (President's House) * Ratwatte Walauwa (Chandra Silk House)

Other Prominent Walauwas in Kandyan Kingdom

Giragama Walauwa Kandy After Renovation - II

* Angunawela Walauwa, Peradeniya * Deldeniya Walauwa, Yatinuwara * Elapatha Walauwa, RathnapuraIddamalgoda Kumarihamy
by Sepala Ilangakoon, Sunday Island features, Retrieved on 05 July 2014The Duke of Edinburgh in Ceylon: A book of elephant and elk sport, by John Capper and Vincent Brooks, pp.34,35&91 (British Library, Historical Print Editions) * Maduwanwela Walawwa, Kolonne * Mahawelatenne Walauwa, Balangodaලෝකයේ පළමු අගමැතිනිය බිහිකළ මහවලතැන්න වලව්ව
Lankadeepa (Sri Lanka), Retrieved on 25 June 2014 *Welivita waththe walauwa, Tumpa
Saga of Nilame and Kumarihamy by Lakmal Welabada
Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka), Retrieved on 10 December 2006. *Paranagama walauwa, Paranagama, wettewa, Galagedara *Ranwala Walauwa, Niyangoda *Elapatha Walauwa, Rathnapura *Amunugama Walauwa, Kobbekaduwa *Thambagamuwa Walauwa, Ata Kalan Koralaya, Ratnapura

Sathara Korale Walauwas (Kegalle District)

There were 30 main walauwas in the Sathara Korale of Ceylon according to the Sathara Korale Viththi Grantha. There were in alphabetical order; * Aludeniya Walauwa * Aluth Nuwara Walauwa * Araupala Walauwa * Asmadala Walauwa * Arrachchi Walauwa * Athurupana Walauwa * Baminiwaththa Walauwa * Dodamthale Walauwa * Edanduwawa Walauwa * Mapitigama Mahawaththa Walauwa, Meedeniya, Kegalle * Halagiriya Walauwa * Handagama Walauwa * Harigala Walauwa * Kadigamuwa Walauwa * Kappagoda Walauwa * Kempitiya Walauwa * Keppetipola Walauwa * Kotagama Walauwa * Kumbal Oluwa Walauwa * Kumbaldiwela Walauwa * Leuke Walauwa * Madana Walauwa * Mahanthegama Walauwa * Makadawara Meddewatte Walauwa * Molligoda Walauwa * Malpandeniya Walauwa (Sriwardene Walauwa) * Nawa Uhangoda Walauwa * Polgasdeniya Walauwa * Rankothdiwela WalauwaThe Date of Buddha's Death and Ceylon Chronology
By John M. Senaveratna, p. 193 (Asian Educational Services, India) Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon, by Arnold Wright, pp. 667-9 (Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company) * Udaththavan Walauwa * Valimanne Walauwa * Walgama Walauwa * Athurupane Walauwa Meepitiya Kegalle

Sath Korale Walauwas (Kurunegala District)

* Kaudumunna walawwa (Belonged to a relative of Ehelepola Adigar) * Bogollagama Walauwa * Katupitiya Walauwa * Gopallawa Walauwa * Dangolle Walauwa, Boyagane * Palipana Walauwa * Balalla Walauwa * Moragollagama Walauwa * Rekawa Walauwa * Ralapanawa Walauwa * Moonemalle Walauwa * Sirigala Walauwa * Galabada Walauwa * Dodamkumbura Walauwa * Singhagiriya Walawa * Welagedara Walauwa * Weththewé Walauwa * Gajamadaara Walauwa * Peragasela Koralé Walauwa * Galwarama Walauwa * Mahagedara Walauwa * Ihala Walauwa (boyawalana) * Wele Walauwa (boyawalana) * Boyawalana Walauwa * Monnekulamé Walauwa * Kalalpitiyé Walauwa * Galgomuwé Walauwa * Madhurawé Walauwa * Rathmale Walauwa * Wadigamangawa Walauwa * Wewelwala Walauwa * Godawita Walauwa * Kadurugashena Tennakoon Walauwa * Hunukumbure Walauwa * Udugama Walauwa * Athapaththuwe Walauwa * Gajamadaara Walauwa * Wedande Walauwa, Demataluwa

Prominent Colombo Walauwas built in early 1800's

* Wasala Walauwa (Belonged to the Tillekeratne Abeyesekere family. Notable occupants were Gate Mudaliyars Don Johannes Tillekeratne Abeyesekere and his son John Abraham Tillekeratne Abeyesekere, Colombo Mudaliyar at the time of his death in 1911) * Atapattu Walauwa, Kotahena (Belonged to Senewiratne Perera Wijegoonewardene. Notable occupant was Mudaliyar Henry Aloysius Senewiratne Perera Wijegoonewardena, Atapattu Muadaliya Colombo) * Malwatte Walauwa, Grandpass (Belonged to Gomis Abeyasinghe Weerakoon family. Notable occupants were Mudaliyars Simon Gomis Abeyasinghe Weerakoon and his son Gerard Gomis Wijayesinghe Weerakoon, Basnayake Mudaliyar)

Prominent Low-Country Walauwas

There have been a number of other prominent, well known walauwas in the southern areas of Ceylon, outside the

. These walauwas comprised a mix of Sri Lankan, Portuguese, Dutch and English architecture. * Amarasuriya Walauwa, Unawatuna * Atapattu Walawwa,

Galle Galle (, ; , ) (formerly ) is a major city on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, south of Colombo. Galle is the provincial capital and largest city of Southern Province, Sri Lanka and is the capital of Galle District. Galle was known as ''Gi ...

‘Enthusiast’s guide’ to unique Sri Lankan real estate
The Nation (Sri Lanka), 07 July 2014 * Bagatale Walauwa, Colombo 3 * Bethme Walawwa, Wehalla * Boralugoda Walawwa * Bothale Walawwa, Mirigama * Chevaliar Walauwa, Moratuwa * Closenberg Walauwa, Galle * Gandhara WalauwaThe chieftains of Ceylon
by J. C. Van Sanden, pp.9, 31 & 78 (Navrang) * Horagolla Walauwa, Atthanagalla * Ihala Walauwa, Kotte * Jayasinghe Walauwa, Ekala * Kataluwa Atadahewatte, Obeyesekere Maha Walawwa * Kalutara Maha Walauwa * Kandawala Waluwa, Ratmalana * Kotalawala Walawwa * Maha Kappina Walauwa, Balapitiya * Mahawelatenne Walauwa, Balangoda * Mandiyagoda Rathnasinghe Walauwa, Beliatta * Moratuwa Walauwa *Matara Maha Walauwa *Nakulugamuwa Walawwa, Beliatta * Obeyesekere Walawa, Colombo 7 * Pahala Walauwa, Barrack Street, Hambantota *Pattikara wasala walauwa, wadduwa *Punchi Kachcheriya walauwa, Pothupitiya * Ratnagiri Walawwa, Boralesgamuwa *

Regina Walauwa College House is the administrative center of the University of Colombo, situated in the Cinnamon Gardens suburb of Colombo, it is a national heritage site.Wickremasuriya Family
Sri Lanka Sinhalese Family Genealogy, Retrieved on 09 July 2014

Decline and current states

The word "Walauwa" may not have a Sinhalese origin, it is unclear whether it was a Sinhalese word from the beginning, but this word may have been adapted from the Tamil word "Walaw". In Sinhalese, it gives a plural sound rather than the singular word "Walaw" which means "Mansion". The typical Sinhala term is 'Maha Gedhara'. The English word of "Walauwa" is, "Manor" or "Manor-House", and it's a large house with lands. The Walauwas and its owners were supported by the larger lands and estates they possessed. These were either land grants from Kings (since the beginning of the Sinhalese Kingdom until the Kandyan era) or government service (during the Colonial era) or acquired by successful enterprise and passed down though generations. Their owners were the landed elites of Ceylon, as such they gained a status of power and wealth. A notable feature of many of these walauwas, especially Kandyan walauwas was an interior open space/garden known as the medamidula'''. There is another theory about Walauwas. "Walavum" means a place where a judgement is given. Those people who occupied the Walauwas had the authority to pass judgement over people with the authority provided by a Royal decree either Sinhala or English. The older walauwas were neither tiled (roof), very large or highly ornate as the king had placed certain restrictions and laws. Many of the walauwas beyond the jurisdiction of the king or after the fall of the Kandyan kingdom sprang up to be large and ornate, displaying architectural influences from beyond Sri Lanka and south India. Mansions replaced the walauwas in the urban areas towards the latter part of the nineteenth century. Though they were referred to as walauwas by the public, the owners usually referred to them with modern names. There are many large mansions of more recent origin which are not walauwas both in the Kandyan and the Low Country areas. This however has changed in the years after independence with the rise of a powerful middle class based on profession and enterprise. The elites held much power within the political cycles. The most significant change occurred in the 1970s with the socialist style land reforms that were bought into place. This limited private land ownership to fifty acres, and private home ownership to two houses. Most families sold off their lands or had them taken over by the government. They retained their Walauwas, yet over the years found it hard to maintain them, resulting in many falling into a dilapidated state, while some were razed to the ground such as the Maha Kappina Walauwa, and Ragama Walauwa which were constructed in the 16th century. Some were bought for state use or others have now been converted into hotels and Shopping complex such as the Ratwatte Walauwa, Rajamanthri Walauwa and the Nugawela Walauwa.

References

1. ^ Seneviratna, Anuradha; Polk, Benjiman (1992). Buddhist Monastic Architecture in Sri Lanka: The Woodland Shrine. Abhinav Publications. p. 110. .

External links

All about Walavvas
{{coord missing, Sri Lanka Architecture of the Kingdom of Kandy Houses in Sri Lanka Manor houses in Sri Lanka