The Establishment of British Power and Resistance in Sri Lanka

This set of flashcards covers the historical development of the British transport system, the stages of colonization in Sri Lanka, key diplomatic figures, and the major resistance struggles of 1818 and 1848.

Edward Barns

The British governor responsible for the construction of the Colombo - Kandy road during his time in office.

Henry Ward

The governor who started the process of laying railways in Sri Lanka.

August 1867

The date when a train service was started from Colombo to Kandy for the first time.

East India Trade Company

Established in December 1600 by a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth I by English businessmen for trade activities in Asia.

Ambon

A spice island fortress where, in 1623, the Dutch attacked and killed a group of English people, causing the British to withdraw focus from Southeast Asia to India.

Trincomalee harbour

A strategically important location facing the Bay of Bengal, valued by the British for naval security and protection from northeastern monsoon winds.

John Pybus

The first English messenger to visit the hill country in 1762 during the reign of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe.

Robert Andrews

The English messenger who visited King Rajadhirajasinghe in 1795 to discuss assistance in conquering Dutch-governed areas.

Kew letter

A letter sent by the Dutch Stadtholder William V from Kew Palace in 1795, instructing the Dutch to allow English troops into their Sri Lankan territories to prevent French capture.

Kachcheri

The name given to service centres established for assistant supervisors, known as collectors, under the Madras administration between 1796 and 1798.

Meuron commission

A committee headed by Brigadier General De Meuron which recommended replacing Madras tax officers with local officers and removing the coconut tree tax.

Fredric North

The first British governor appointed for the administrative and political affairs of Sri Lanka's coastal areas in 1798.

Dual administration

The system existing from 1798 to 1802 where the governor was responsible to the British crown while the Trade Company managed income collection.

Maha Adikaram

The title for the high-ranking administrative officer in the hill country kingdom, held by individuals like Pilimathalawe and Ehalepola.

John D'Oyly

A Cambridge graduate and civil servant who gained deep knowledge of local customs and established secret connections with aristocrats to facilitate the British takeover of Kandy.

Upcountry Treaty

A document signed on March 2, 1815, at the royal courts (Magul Maduwa), officially surrendering the Kandyan kingdom to the British.

Struggle for Freedom in 1818

The first major armed insurgency against British administration in the hill country, driven by the loss of the indigenous monarchy and cultural grievances.

Kappetipola Disawe

The leader sent to control the 1818 uprising who instead joined the rebels and was eventually executed by the British in November 1818.

Barron Land Act

A law imposed in 1840 that allowed the government to confiscate uncultivated lands if ownerhsip could not be proven for 30 years.

Colebrooke reforms

A series of administrative and economic changes started in 1833 that led to the discontinuation of Gam Sabha and the implementation of new taxation policies.

Sir Torrington

The governor who imposed new taxes in 1848, including taxes on guns, dogs, and bodies, which triggered a significant rebellion.

Gongalegoda Banda

A leader of the 1848 struggle who was coronated as king by rebels at the Dambulla temple.

Puran Appu

A prominent leader of the 1848 rebellion in Matale who was captured and sentenced to death by the British.