Muhandiram (Sinhala: මුහන්දිරම්, Tamil: 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 of honor until suspension of Ceylonese honours in 1956.
The Lascoreen Guard of Padikara Muhandiram Arthur Silva Wijeyasinghe Siriwardena
The post originated from the Portuguese colonial administration in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes from the coastal areas. The post continued throughout the Dutch East India Company administration and the British colonial administration until the abolition of the native department in the 1930s.[1] It was awarded as a title of honor until the suspension of Celonese honors in 1956.[citation needed]
During the British administration official and titular appointments were made by the government agent of the district to a korale which was a revenue district; a muhandiram had several vidane arachchies that may come under his supervision. He would report to the mudaliyar of the korale or atapattu (district) and was subordinate to the assistant government agents and other civil servants. Appointments were non-transferable and usually hereditary, made to locals, usually from wealthy influential families loyal to the British Crown. This was an influential post, as the holder had much control over the populace of a korale and wielded quasi-judicial powers since he was responsible for keeping the peace, carrying out revenue collection and assisting in judicial functions.[2][3][4][5]
Their uniform was similar to that of the mudaliyars, with a long black tunic buttoned up to the neck with golden loops and buttons, a gold lave sword belt and decorated sword.[1]
^"CEYLON GOVERNMENT GAZETTE" (PDF). National Archives of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
^"Family #209 Galagaha Vidanalagegedara Seyed Mohamed Lebbe Marikar Madige Muhandiram (1840-1939) of Kandy". Sri Lankan Muslim Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
"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".
January 06, 2023
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Muhandiram Sinhala ම හන ද රම Tamil ம க ந த ரம 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 of honor until suspension of Ceylonese honours in 1956 The Lascoreen Guard of Padikara Muhandiram Arthur Silva Wijeyasinghe Siriwardena Contents 1 History 2 Ranks of the British Muhandirams 3 List of prominent Muhandirams 3 1 Official 3 1 1 Madige Muhandiram 3 2 Awarded as an honor titular 3 2 1 Muhandiram of the Governor s Gate 3 2 2 Muhandiram 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory EditThe post originated from the Portuguese colonial administration in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes from the coastal areas The post continued throughout the Dutch East India Company administration and the British colonial administration until the abolition of the native department in the 1930s 1 It was awarded as a title of honor until the suspension of Celonese honors in 1956 citation needed During the British administration official and titular appointments were made by the government agent of the district to a korale which was a revenue district a muhandiram had several vidane arachchies that may come under his supervision He would report to the mudaliyar of the korale or atapattu district and was subordinate to the assistant government agents and other civil servants Appointments were non transferable and usually hereditary made to locals usually from wealthy influential families loyal to the British Crown This was an influential post as the holder had much control over the populace of a korale and wielded quasi judicial powers since he was responsible for keeping the peace carrying out revenue collection and assisting in judicial functions 2 3 4 5 Their uniform was similar to that of the mudaliyars with a long black tunic buttoned up to the neck with golden loops and buttons a gold lave sword belt and decorated sword 1 Ranks of the British Muhandirams EditMuhandirams had several classes 1 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 6 Veda Muhandirams titular awarded as an honor for native physicians Guru Muhandirams titular awarded as an honor for native teachersOfficialMuhandiram of the atapattu in charge of a jurisdiction of a district Muhandiram of the korale in charge of a jurisdiction of a koraleEx offico posts attached to other public departments or ceremonial rolesGravets 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 governorSingular appointmentsPadikara muhandiram Mohotti muhandiram Dadayakkare muhandiramList of prominent Muhandirams EditOfficial Edit Madige Muhandiram Edit Madige Muhandiram M K Abdul Hameed of Kurunegala Madige Muhandiram Galagaha Vidanalagegedara Seyed Mohamed Lebbe Marikar 1840 1939 of Kandy 7 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 8 9 Awarded as an honor titular Edit Muhandiram of the Governor s Gate Edit Gate Muhandiram Arnold Paul Goonewardene of Kalutara Gate Muhandiram Peter Thomas de Saram Wirasinghe Siriwardena 1853 1910 of Mount Lavinia 10 Muhandiram Edit Padikara Muhandiram Don Pedris Francis Abeywickrama 1886 1966 of Morawaka Korale Writer and Poet 11 Muhandiram Tuan Kitchil AbuCassim Burah 12 Muhandiram James Alfred Corea 1871 of Madampe Muhandiram Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana 1809 1890 Muhandiram Auwakkar Isse of Sammanthurai 13 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 CouncilSee also EditNative headmen of Ceylon Mudaliyar Arachchi Walauwa KastaneReferences Edit a b c Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon The Native Headman System The Chieftains of Ceylon J C Van Sanden Murders and other crimes Under the Bo Tree Studies in Caste Kinship and Marriage in the Interior Electoral Allegiance in Sri Lanka CEYLON GOVERNMENT GAZETTE PDF National Archives of Sri Lanka Retrieved 14 July 2021 Family 209 Galagaha Vidanalagegedara Seyed Mohamed Lebbe Marikar Madige Muhandiram 1840 1939 of Kandy Sri Lankan Muslim Family Genealogy rootsweb Family 219 AhmeduLebbe Kariapper Family Buddhist Extremists and Muslim Minorities De Saram Family 3126 De Saram Wimalaratne K D G 1994 Personalities Sri Lanka A Biographical Study 15th 20th Century 1490 1990 A D A Z ISBN 9559287001 Family 245 Raden Singha Noori Ceylon 1853 Proclamation 4th june 1804 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Muhandiram amp oldid 1107033948, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
