Padikara Mudali Nanayakkara Rajawasala Appuhamilage Don Arthur de Silva Wijesingha Siriwardana of Richmond Castle Kalutara (1889-1947)

Muhandiram ( si, මුහන්දිරම්, ta, முகாந்திரம்) was a post in the native headmen system in the lower-country (coastal districts) 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 ...

(Sri Lanka) during the colonial era. It was awarded as a title of honor until suspension of Ceylonese honours in 1956.

History

The post originated from the

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

colonial administration in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different

castes Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...

from the coastal areas. The post continued throughout 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 ...

administration and the British colonial administration until the abolition of the native department in the 1930s.

Ranks of the British Muhandirams

Muhandirams had several classes: ;Awarded as an honor (titular) *Muhandiram of the Governor's Gate (titular) - awarded as an Honor *Muhandiram (titular) - awarded as an Honor *Vidane Muhandirams (titular) - awarded as an Honor *Veda Muhandirams (titular) - awarded as an honor for native physicians *Guru Muhandirams (titular) - awarded as an honor for native teachers ;Official *Muhandiram of the atapattu - in charge of a jurisdiction of a district *Muhandiram of the korale - in charge of a jurisdiction of a korale ;Ex-offico posts attached to other public departments or ceremonial roles *Gravets muhandiram - jurisdiction of a town and gravets *Basnayaka muhandiram - command of a Lascoreen Guard *Liyana muhandiram - head of the clerks *Madige muhandiram - regional transportation representative for the governor ;Singular appointments *Padikara muhandiram *Mohotti muhandiram *Dadayakkare muhandiram

List of prominent Muhandirams

Official

Madige Muhandiram

* Madige Muhandiram M. K. Abdul Hameed of Kurunegala *Madige Muhandiram Galagaha Vidanalagegedara Seyed Mohamed Lebbe Marikar (1840-1939) of Kandy *Madige Muhandiram Mohammed Salie of Kotiyakumbura *Madige Muhandiram Haji Marikkar Travala (d:1817) of Wellassa - Killed by rebels during the

Great Rebellion of 1817–18 Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great ...

Awarded as an honor (titular)

Muhandiram of the Governor's Gate

*Gate Muhandiram Arnold Paul Goonewardene of Kalutara *Gate Muhandiram Peter Thomas de Saram Wirasinghe Siriwardena (1853-1910) of Mount Lavinia

Muhandiram

* Padikara Muhandiram

Don Pedris Francis Abeywickrama Keerthisena Chandradasa Abeywickrama (20 December 1933 – 18 August 1987) was a Sri Lankan politician and a member of the parliament. Abeywickrama was the son of Padikara Muhandiram Don Pedris Francis Abeywickrama and Catharina Abeywickrama ...

(1886-1966) of

Morawaka Morawaka ( si, මොරවක) is a small town in the Matara District, Southern Province of Sri Lanka, a centre of Ceylon tea plantations and rice paddies. Additionally, Morawaka is said to have gem resources. Located at an elevation of , a ...

Korale. Writer and Poet. *Muhandiram Tuan Kitchil AbuCassim Burah * Muhandiram

James Alfred Corea Mohandiram James Alfred Corea (23 November 1871 - 11 July 1915) was a Ceylonese colonial-era headman. He was the Muhandiram of Madampe an area in the Chilaw District of Sri Lanka. Early life James Alfred Corea was born on 23 November 1871 ...

(1871 - ?) of Madampe *Muhandiram

Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana Muhandiram Lansage Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana (19 November 1809 – 24 January 1890) was a Sri Lankan businessman, a philanthropist and a pioneer of the Buddhist revival movement. He was the grandfather of Anagarika Dharmapala. He owned ext ...

(1809–1890) *Muhandiram Auwakkar Isse of Sammanthurai * Muhandiram T. Sathasiva Iyer (1882 - 1950) *Muhandiram M. K. Mahmood Lebbe alias Thalama of Ibbagamuwa. (1910-1981) * Muhandiram Ibra Lebbe Sulaiman Lebbe (1893 - 1964) of Kurikotuwa Maddeketiya Korale * Muhandiram Don Justin Peter Senarathna (1899-1985) *Muhandiram Brahmanawatte Mawathage Lloyd Seneviratne - Founding Chairman of Dehiwela Mt Lavinia Council

References

*{{cite web, title= Village notables in colonial Ceylon - The Village Headman was the uncrowned king of the village. He was appointed by the Government Agent from a traditional leading family in the area, in order to ensure that he received customary respect from villagers , url= http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=177002 British Ceylon period British Ceylon Defunct government positions in Sri Lanka