The Mahâ Dissâvas was a Great Officer in the
Amātya Mandalaya, or Sinhalese Council of State, in the
Sinhalese Kingdoms of monarchical
Sri Lanka
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 ...
. Like many of the existing high offices at the time it had combined legislative and judicial powers and functioned primarily equivalent to that of a
Provincial governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
. The office of Dissava was retained under the successive European
colonial
Colonial or The Colonial may refer to:
* Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colony (biology)
Architecture
* American colonial architecture
* French Colonial
* Spanish Colonial architecture
Automobiles
* Colonial (1920 au ...
powers, namely the
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire ( pt, Império Português), also known as the Portuguese Overseas (''Ultramar Português'') or the Portuguese Colonial Empire (''Império Colonial Português''), was composed of the overseas colonies, factories, and the l ...
, the
Dutch East India Company
The United East India Company ( nl, Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the VOC) was a chartered company established on the 20th March 1602 by the States General of the Netherlands amalgamating existing companies into the first joint-stock ...
and the
British Empire
The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...
. A Dissava was the
governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
a province known as a ''Disavanies''. With his province, the Dissava held both executive and judicial authority.
History
Kandyan kingdom
Persons were appointed to the title and office by the
King
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
during 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 ...
, these appointees headed the administration of a large province of the kingdom known as a ''Disavanies'' and was the king's personal representative, tax collector in that area. There were twenty one provinces of which twelve of the larger outlying provinces where 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.
As king's personal representative in a province they held much power, controlled the civil administration, taxation, judicial, law enforcement and military matters of the province. Many close relatives of the King being commonly appointed. They received a portion of the taxation as pay and also large land grants from the King, some being hereditary. Along with
Maha Adigar
The Mahâ Adigâr ( si, මහා අධිකාරම්) (also known as Adikārama, Adikār) was a Great Officer in the Amātya Mandalaya, or Sinhalese Council of State, in the Sinhala Kingdom, Sinhalese Kingdoms of monarchical Sri Lanka. The ...
s and a few others high officials of the kingdom they made up the
Radala
Radala refers to a small minority group in Sri Lanka in the former provinces of the Kingdom of Kandy, who are either descendants of chiefs and courtiers of the King of Kandy of Nayaks of Kandy or descendants of native headmen appointed by the ...
caste, 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.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
. Many were instrumental in the surrender of the Kandyan 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.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
and were signatories to the
Kandyan Convention in 1815.
;Ten Dissavas of the Kandyan Kingdom
* Dissava of Wellassa & Bintenna
* Dissava of
Matale
Matale ( Sinhala: මාතලේ, ta, மாத்தளை, translit=Māttaḷai) is the administrative capital city of the Matale District. It is the most urbanised and populated centre in the district. Matale is also the second largest muni ...
* Dissava of Uda-Palatha
* Dissava of Nuwara Kalawiya
* Dissava of Sath Korles
* Dissava of Thun Korles
* Dissava of
Sabaragamuwa
The Sabaragamuwa Province ( si, සබරගමුව පළාත ''Sabaragamuwa Paḷāta'', ta, சபரகமுவ மாகாணம் ''Sabaragamuwa Mākāṇam'') is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrati ...
* Dissava of Hathra Korles
* Dissava of
Uva
UVA most often refers to:
* Ultraviolet A, a type of ultraviolet radiation
* University of Virginia, a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Uva or UVA may also refer to:
Places
* Uva, Missouri, an unincorpora ...
* Dissava of Tamankaduwa
Colonial Sri Lanka
![Ehelepola, Molligoda and Kapuvatta with D'Oyly](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Ehelepola%2C_Molligoda_and_Kapuvatta_with_D%27Oyly.jpg)
The Portuguese continued the administrative units of Disavanis, which existed in the territories the Portuguese gained from former Sinhalese kingdoms. During the Portuguese rule there were four such disavanis. The civil, military and judicial administration of these units were carried out by a Dissava appointed by the
Portuguese Captain General in keeping with the tradition of the land. The Dissava led the
Lascarins
Lascarins ( si, ලස්කිරිඤ්ඤ, translit=laskiriñña'','' or Lascareen, Lascoreen and Lascarine) is a term used in Sri Lanka to identify indigenous soldiers who fought for the Portuguese during the Portuguese era (1505–1658) ...
which was the local militia in time of war. Initially both Sinhalese and Portuguese were appointed to this post, thereafter Portuguese were preferred. He was assisted in military functions by
Mudaliyars
Thuluva Vellalar (Thondamandala Tuluva Vellalar), also known as Agamudaya Mudaliars and Arcot Mudaliars, is a caste found in northern Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh and southern Karnataka, India. They were originally significant lando ...
,
Muhandiram
Muhandiram ( si, මුහන්දිරම්, ta, முகாந்திரம்) was a post in the native headmen system in the lower-country (coastal districts) of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) during the colonial era. It was awarded as a title o ...
s and
Arachchi
Arachchi ( si, ආරච්චි) was an influential post in the native headmen of Ceylon, native headmen system in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) during the colonial era. Appointed by the Government Agent (Sri Lanka), Government Agent, the holder had much co ...
s. In judicial functions he was assisted by
Basnayakas and
Mohottalas. Each Disavanis was divided into sub units called Korales. These were presided by a Korale Vidana, who was a
magistrate
The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...
and revenue collector.
The Dutch continued the system of administration of the Portuguese, but gradually reduced the power of the local headmen. The Dissavas were members of the Political Council of the Commendary the locality they belong to. Following the expansion of British rule into the provinces of the former Kandyan Kingdom in 1815, the British retained the office of Dissava reporting to a board consisting of the
British Resident
A resident minister, or resident for short, is a government official required to take up permanent residence in another country. A representative of his government, he officially has diplomatic functions which are often seen as a form of indir ...
in Kandy and two assistants.
Following the
Uva Rebellion
UVA most often refers to:
* Ultraviolet A, a type of ultraviolet radiation
* University of Virginia, a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Uva or UVA may also refer to:
Places
* Uva, Missouri, an unincorpora ...
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 o ...
,
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
Government Agents
Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence) from non-disclosed sources or divulging of the same without the permission of the holder of the information for a tangibl ...
took over the duties of the Dissava, with the remaining and newly appointed Dissavas being mere honorary titles appointing Kandyans loyal to the British Crown as
honors
Honour (or honor in American English) is the quality of being honorable.
Honor or Honour may also refer to:
People
* Honor (given name), a unisex given name
* Brian Honour (born 1964), English footballer and manager
* Gareth Honor (born 1979) ...
. After Ceylon suspended honors in 1956, these appointments were never made.
Notable appointees
*
Molligoda Maha Adigar
The Mahâ Adigâr ( si, මහා අධිකාරම්) (also known as Adikārama, Adikār) was a Great Officer in the Amātya Mandalaya, or Sinhalese Council of State, in the Sinhala Kingdom, Sinhalese Kingdoms of monarchical Sri Lanka. The ...
– Signatory to the
Kandyan Convention, 1st (Maha) Adikar & Dissawa of the Sath (Seven) Korles
*
Keppetipola Disawe
Rajapaksa Wickramasekera Mudiyanselage Bandaranayake Monarawila Keppetipola ( Sinhala:රාජපක්ෂ වික්රමසේකර මුදියන්සේලාගේ බණ්ඩාරනායක මොනරවිල කැප් ...
– Leader of the
Uva Rebellion
UVA most often refers to:
* Ultraviolet A, a type of ultraviolet radiation
* University of Virginia, a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Uva or UVA may also refer to:
Places
* Uva, Missouri, an unincorpora ...
of 1818
*Lewke Disawa – Disawe of Sathara korale
*Galagoda Disawe
*
P.B. Bulankulame Dissava
Sri Lanka: The Untold Story
/ref> – Ceylonese Cabinet Minister
* Barnes Ratwatte
Barnes Ratwatte (''known as Barnes Ratwatte Dissawa '') (1883 – 20 September 1957) was a Ceylonese colonial-era legislator and a headman. He was a member of the State Council and the Senate of Ceylon. He was appointed to the posts of Rate Maha ...
Dissawe Successor of S.D.N.Mahawalatenne Disawe – Rate Mahatmaya
Rate Mahatmaya was a traditional office and title from the Kandian Kingdom which became part of the British colonial administration within the Kandian and central region of Ceylon.
History
Persons were appointed to the title and office by the Ki ...
of Balangoda
Balangoda is a large 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 Sabaragamuw ...
* Harris Leuke Ratwatte
Wijewardena Seneviratne Panditha Abeykoon Bandaranayake Wahala Mudiyanselage Harris Leuke Ratwatte (known as ''Harris Leuke Ratwatte'') (1900–1964) was a Ceylonese legislator. He was a member of the State Council of Ceylon, Parliament and the S ...
Dissawe – Politician
* T. B. Poholiyadde Dissawe – Politician
*
See also
* Radala
Radala refers to a small minority group in Sri Lanka in the former provinces of the Kingdom of Kandy, who are either descendants of chiefs and courtiers of the King of Kandy of Nayaks of Kandy or descendants of native headmen appointed by the ...
* Sri Lankan titles
In the 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 award:
* National Honours are civil h ...
* Provincial Governors of Sri Lanka
References
Citations
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
{{Kandyan period topics
Officers of the Kingdom of Kandy
Titles in British Ceylon