history ai 2 Flashcards
When did British rule in Sri Lanka commence?
1796
Which areas did the British capture first in Sri Lanka?
Coastal areas under Dutch rule
In what year did the British capture the Kandyan Kingdom?
1815
How long did the British rule Sri Lanka?
133 years
when did the portuguese come to india?
when did the portuguese come to sri lanka?
What were the main reasons for British interest in Sri Lanka?
- Importance of location
- Importance of Trincomalee harbour
- importance our country had in Trade activities
What strategic advantage did Sri Lanka offer to the British?
*Protection of their territories in India
*to maintain dominance in naval power
*is a center along the eastern and the western trade routes
Why was Trincomalee harbour important to the British?
- Natural harbour
- Protection from cyclones
- Strategic in naval battles
What valuable resources did Sri Lanka provide to the British? (importance in trade activities)
- Cinnamon
- Spices (pepper, clove, cardamom)
- Elephants
- Pearls and gems
- to make sri lanka a market for the goods produced by the british
What was the relationship between the Kandyan Kingdom and the British before 1796?
Kandyan Kingdom sought support from the English against the Dutch
Who was John Pybus and who did he meet?
An English emissary who visited King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe in 1762
What was the Kew letter?
A letter granting the English the coastal areas of Sri Lanka under Dutch rule
What led to the riot against the English East India Company in 1797?
- New taxes imposed
- Removal of local tax collectors
- Payment of taxes in cash
What was the Meuron Commission?
A commission appointed to investigate the riot in 1797
What was the dual control system?
Administration where trade was handled by the East India Company and political affairs by the British government
What caused the failure of the dual control system?
Lack of cooperation between the governor and Trade Company officers
What happened in 1802 regarding the British rule in Sri Lanka?
Full administration was taken over by the British government
What were the reasons for the English’s invasion of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1803?
- Kandyan King seen as a threat
- Desire to control the land routes
- Fear of support for French
What was the outcome of the first invasion of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1803?
Devastating defeat for the English
Who succeeded Governor Frederick North and adopted a strategic policy towards Kandy?
Thomas Maitland
Who was John D’Oyly?
A skilled officer employed by Maitland to collect intelligence on the Kandyan kingdom
What was a key feature of Maitland’s strategy towards the Kandyan Kingdom?
Escalation of internal disputes within the kingdom
Who was John D’Oyly?
An efficient young officer who learned Sinhala and worked as a government translator.
What role did D’Oyly play in the Kandyan kingdom?
He collected intelligence information and built relationships with Kandyan leaders.
Which Kandyan leaders did D’Oyly establish relationships with?
- Pilimathalawwa
- Meegasthenna
- Ehelepola
- Molligoda
What was a significant outcome of D’Oyly’s intelligence work?
The English disclosed military secrets of the Kandyan kingdom.
What marked the deterioration of the political situation in the Kandyan kingdom?
The internal power struggle during the reign of King Sri Vickrama Rajasinghe.
What caused disputes between King Sri Vickrama Rajasinghe and the high-ranking nobles?
The king’s measures to limit the power of the aristocrats.
What punishment did King Sri Vickrama Rajasinghe impose on Pilimathalawwe Maha Adhikaram?
Death penalty.
What did the king do to some aristocrats that caused disputes?
Assigned their duties to his Nayakkar relatives.
What was the king’s relationship with the Bhikkus?
He imposed death penalties on some Bhikkus and did not obtain their concurrence for modernization activities.
What was the public’s reaction to King Sri Vickrama Rajasinghe’s behavior?
People distanced themselves from the king due to his cruel actions.
What event marked the invasion of the Kandyan kingdom in 1815?
The English army entered Kandy without facing difficulty.
Who was Robert Brownrigg?
The Governor of Ceylon who exploited the conflict in the Kandyan kingdom for the English invasion.
What happened to King Sri Vickrama Rajasinghe after his capture?
He was deported to Vellore, India, where he died.
What was the Kandyan Convention?
An agreement signed on March 2, 1815, between the English and the Kandyan chiefs.
What does Clause 2 of the Kandyan Convention state?
King Sri Vickrama Rajasinghe was ousted from the throne.
What is stated in Clause 5 of the Kandyan Convention?
Buddhism and the rights of Bhikkus and temples would be protected.
What immediate cause led to the 1818 freedom struggle?
The appointment of a Muslim named Hadji Marikkar as Muhandiram in a predominantly Sinhalese area.
Who was Monarawila Keppetipola?
The in-charge of the Uva Dissawa who joined the rebellion against the British.
What were some significant leaders of the 1818 freedom struggle?
- Keppetipola Nilame
- Madugalle Dissawa
- Kivulegedara Mohottala
- Butewe Rate Rala
- Kohukumbure Rala
What guerrilla tactic did the Sinhala army use during the 1818 struggle?
They secretly took out the Sacred Tooth Relic from the Temple.
What was one reason for the failure of the 1818 freedom struggle?
The struggle had not been properly organized.
What happened to leaders like Keppetipola after the struggle?
They were convicted and beheaded.
What significant change occurred after the British established power in the Kandyan kingdom?
The powers and privileges of Kandyan chiefs were abolished.
What was the second freedom struggle of 1848 about?
It was an uprising against British rule aimed at establishing a native king.
What was the second freedom struggle in Sri Lanka called?
The second freedom struggle of 1848
Who led the second freedom struggle of 1848?
Common men from among the local population
What significant reforms contributed to the eruption of the 1848 struggle?
Constitutional reforms of Colebrooke
What was the impact of the Lands Act introduced in 1840?
Acquisition of lands without verified ownership led to loss of traditional lands
How did the British prioritize development under the Colebrooke reforms?
Focus on plantations over traditional agriculture
What social issue arose from British rule in the Kandyan areas?
Neglect of Buddhism and opening of liquor shops
What were some of the new taxes imposed by Lord Torrington?
- Stamp duty
- Dog tax
- Boat tax
- Gun tax
- Cart tax
- Poll-tax
- Shop tax
What sparked the protests against British taxation in 1848?
Opposition to new taxes, especially the poll-tax, dog tax, and gun tax
Who led the protest against the new taxes in July 1848?
Madugalle, Rate Mahattaya of Dumbara
What was the outcome of the protests in terms of rebellion?
Developed into a rebellion against British rule, centered in Matale
Who were some leaders of the 1848 freedom struggle?
- Gongalegoda Banda (Sri Wickrama Sarvasiddhi)
- Puranappu (Francisco)
- Dingirala
What was the fate of the leaders of the 1848 struggle?
Many were convicted and executed; Gongalegoda Banda was whipped and expelled
What was the result of the struggle after it ended?
Committee formed to investigate causes; some taxes repealed and revised
What did the Colebrooke Commission aim to achieve?
Identify reforms to increase income and develop the economy
What economic system existed in Sri Lanka before British rule?
Rural agriculture-based self-sufficient economy
What was the first cash crop cultivated under British rule?
Coffee
What caused the decline of coffee cultivation after 1848?
- Competition from Southeast Asian coffee
- World economic crisis
- Fungal disease (Hemileia Vastatrix)
What crop was introduced as an alternative to coffee after its decline?
Cinchona and cocoa
Who first tested tea cultivation in Sri Lanka?
James Tailor
What year did tea cultivation in Sri Lanka begin to expand significantly?
By 1890, it spread to about 220,000 acres
What factors contributed to the success of tea cultivation in Sri Lanka?
- Suitable climatic conditions
- High demand in the market
- Development of transportation
- Availability of cheap labor
- Low production costs
How was coconut cultivation developed under British rule?
Expanded as an export crop
What was the purpose of the government policy of selling lands?
To create estates for plantations by acquiring traditional lands
What was the historical significance of coconut cultivation during British rule in Sri Lanka?
Coconut cultivation was developed as an export crop under British rule, expanding significantly by 1910 to about 850,000 acres.
Which areas in Sri Lanka were central to coconut cultivation by 1910?
Kurunegala, Gampaha, and Chilaw.
What forms of coconut products were exported from Sri Lanka?
- Coconut oil
- Copra
- Poonac
When did rubber cultivation begin in Sri Lanka?
Rubber cultivation began in 1877 when rubber plants were brought from Kew Gardens.
What factors contributed to the rapid expansion of rubber cultivation in Sri Lanka?
- Big demand in the USA
- Increased price of rubber after World War I
- Growth of the automobile industry in Europe
- Suitable soil and climatic conditions
What was a major consequence of the Lands Act introduced in 1840?
Many agricultural lands were acquired by the government, leading to the collapse of local agriculture.
What was one of the key recommendations of the Colebrook Commission in 1833?
The establishment of an estate economy, which led to the decline of local agriculture.
How did the British government’s neglect of irrigation systems affect agriculture?
The neglect led to the deterioration of essential irrigation systems, impacting agricultural productivity.
What was the outcome of abolishing compulsory labor service for irrigation maintenance?
Agricultural activities could not be continued effectively.
What actions did British governors take to address the decline in local agriculture after 1850?
They renovated irrigation systems and focused on farmer welfare.
Which governor appointed a committee to assess irrigation work conditions?
Governor Henry Ward.
What significant event in the irrigation sector occurred in 1900?
The establishment of the Department of Irrigation by Governor West Ridgeway.
What were the objectives of the cooperative society movement founded in 1911?
- Providing loans to farmers at low rates
- Reducing farmers’ debt burden
- Improving farmer welfare
- Strengthening the rural economy
What was the impact of World War I on the agricultural policies of the British rulers in Sri Lanka?
It highlighted the importance of developing local agriculture due to difficulties in food imports.
What did the Donoughmore reforms of 1931 change regarding agriculture?
Sri Lankan Ministers were appointed to ministries including Agriculture, increasing attention to rural needs.
Fill in the blank: The British rulers adopted a policy of giving priority to _______ cultivations, neglecting traditional agriculture.
[estate]
True or False: The coconut research institute was established in Lunuwila.
True.
