Origins of the Welikala

I watched a feature sometime back on Rupavahini. It was about the Seethawaka Kingdom. The story is that two ladies had brought a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya to Seethawaka in a 'Weli Kalaya', hence the name. Not sure of the source, though.

Kollupitiya (Colpetty) is also where some Welikala's grew up.

Some history of Kollupitiya- by H.M.M. Herath

There was a time when Kollupitiya was known as Baradeniya. It was a beautiful rustic village with coconut gardens and cinnamon trees that grew wild and narrow cart-tracks which connected the few villas and homes here with the rest of the country.

For the purpose of postal services ‘Colombo 03’ consists of Kollupitiya.

How Baradeniya became Kollupitiya

The year was 1664 and the king was Rajasinghe II whose cruel acts embittered his subjects. Three Kandyan chiefs sought to slay the king and place his 12-year-old son on the throne. One of the conspirators was Udanuwara Ambanwela Appuhamy. When the plot failed, the king had two of the rebel leaders beheaded. However, instead of executing Abanwela Appuhamy, the most feared of the rebels, he handed him over to the Dutch to undergo what he thought would be a more brutal torture. Instead the Dutch set him free. Ambanwela Appuhamy took the Dutch name of Van Ry-cloff and built up a good relationship with the Dutch who gave him a large plot of land by the sea where he grew a coconut plantation which soon expanded over the ancestral farms of the natives who dared not complain. They could only retaliate by calling the plantation Kolla-ke-pitiya meaning 'Plundered land'. Today, there is still an area in Kollupitiya that is called Polwatte.

The footprints of Galle Face

Colombo 03 begins with Galle face south of Colombo Fort (Colombo 01). Originally a vast swamp, the Portuguese and Dutch used this piece of land as a strategic defense. It was the British who developed the Green into a leisure ground. The 19th century paintings of John Deschamps, show the Galle-Face esplanade with a high road running through the centre of it. Added later was a promenade by the sea and a driveway bordering the lake where the Dutch Military cemetery was. Deschamps describes it as forming not only the principal exercising ground of the garrison, but also the general promenade of the inhabitants of Colombo and its vicinity. “On foot, on horseback, or in carriages, people flocked to this salubrious setting to inhale the delicious breeze which is almost always to be found by the sea side of this part of the Island”. The Galle Face esplanade or Green was established by Governor Ward in 1859. An inscription reads "in the interest of the ladies and children of Colombo "

Cricket, football and polo were played on the Green. In 1829, horse racing was established under the auspices of Sir Edward Barnes. “Everyone enjoyed a day at the races: the vendors poured in from early noon, servants on leave spent their day there, as well as schoolboys who didn’t make it to school, palanquin carriages with shutters down and curtain drawn conveying Mohammedan ladies” and of course the European community”. A circular race stand was built by subscription. Initially it was a building of brick, coated with a plaster of chunam. Its conical roof was covered with an excellent thatch of kehjan (woven coconut leaves). From here a view of the whole course could be obtained. The race-balls were held here, the upper room being cool and airy for dancing; card-tables were placed in the verandahs, whilst the lower portion formed a good supper-room. Subsequently the roof was tiled. By the 1870s it had become a more substantial building and was known as the Colombo Club. This building still stands, even though maybe not in its original modest form, and is now the Crystal Ballroom of the Taj Samudra Hotel Colombo.

At one end of the green was the Galle Face Boarding House, forerunner of the present Galle Face Hotel, which was constructed in 1887. Today the green has lost much in its extent but after a long period of neglect has recently been restored back to the chief leisure ground of modern Colombo for people of all walks of life.

 A temple, a church, a school

Kollupitiya Walukarama Buddhist Temple is said to be the oldest temple in Colombo. It was founded in the 1800s by Ven. Panditha Valane Sri Siddhahatta Maha Nayake Thera, who was also the founder member of the Maha Sangha Saba of the Siyam Nikaya of the Kotte Chapter. The land for the construction of the temple was donated by a famous indigenous medicine physician of Kollupitiya, Arnolis Silva.

St. Andrew’ s Scots Kirk founded in 1842 as a Church of Scotland by Scots living in Ceylon, has today become the International Church in Colombo welcoming into its fellowship people of all nations and denominations of the Christian faith.

Jinaraja Kanista Vidyalaya down Dharmakirthi Ramya Road dates back to 1898. Then named "Jinaraja Buddhist English School" this was the oldest Buddhist English mixed school in Colombo. This school was established for boys and girls of Colombo managed by the Buddhist Theosophical Society, Colombo under the guidance of Col. Henry Steele Olcott.

A jeweller, a textile dealer, a baker, a grocer, an optician and a private hospital

Galle Face Court 1 was the first multi storey block of flats in Sri Lanka and the domed addition which followed as Galle Face Court 2 were both buildings that were initiated by the Macan Markar family as residential, business and real estate ventures. The dome housed an observatory. The road here was renamed Sir Macan Markar Mawatha on account of the contribution of the Macan Markar family towards industry, business, trading and politics in Sri Lanka.

More famous were the Macan Markar family for their gem and jewellery trade, which had, among its clientele, several members of the British nobility and Royalty including His Majesty King Edward VII (1875) as Prince of Wales and His Majesty King George V (1901) as the Duke of Cornwall and York. The world famous Cat’s Eye, weighing 105 Carats referred to as the Blue Giant of the Orient, a Blue Sapphire weighing 225 carats named the Wonder Star of Asia and a Star Sapphire weighing 225 carats are said to be in the possession of the firm.

Victory Silk Store was established in 1947 and is the oldest Textile shop in Kollupitiya. The founder, C Parsram, was a highly honored and respected Sindhi who had come to settle permanently in Ceylon from India in 1914. Parsram was the founder of member of the Sindhi Merchants Association of Ceylon and also held the prestigious position of its Presidency many times. He was also responsible for the establishment of the Ceylon Sindhi Community Center at Kollupitiya.

Perera & Sons originated with K. A. Charles Perera who came to Colombo from a village called Kodagoda near Galle. He arrived in Colombo in 1888, with only 50 cents. He began his career as a cook in colonial mansions and then joined the Grand Oriental Hotel as a kitchen helper where subsequently he took up the responsibility of the hotel’s bakery. Perera commenced his own bakery in 1902 by renting two houses at Steuart Place, Kollupitiya. Today Perera & Sons, are perhaps the largest bakers in the country.

Albert Edirisinghe Opticians is the very first optical firm dealing in eye testing and manufacture of spectacles in Kollupitiya, established in 1949. Albert Edirisinghe, hailed from Galle and originally joined the business of William Pedris & Company in 1936 where he worked in the optical section of the firm gaining valuable experience. After serving for almost 13 years, he started his own enterprise, which is today a very successful optical company in the country.

Durdans Hospital established in 1945 at Alfred Place, Kollupitiya, is one of the oldest private sector hospitals in the country. This was the home of Charles Pieris. It was begun as the Principal British Military Hospital in Sri Lanka.

Premasiri Stores originally limited to groceries, was established in 1952 by Premasiri a young entrepreneur. Within a short time, Premasiri Stores built up a regular clientele from among the local population and a sizeable foreign community of the area. They ventured into the direct imports of certain products to cater to the mixed clientele. A "Wine & Spirits" department was also added to the stores.

Temple Trees - where the rich and famous lived

The house and premises a little over six acres named the ‘De Brandery’, meaning the Distillery, is believed by some to have housed an excellent cellar, while others say the building was used to make spirits.

Many have been its famous occupants in the past. Frederick Baron Mylius (from 1805) a judge in the Ceylon Civil Service social reformer and anti-slavery activist, John Walbeoff (1830) head of the Cinnamon Department, George Winter who was a pioneer of sugar cultivation on a commercial scale and other enterprises in Ceylon like manufacturing coir rope and distilling arrack in Kalutara, C R Buller (1840) Government Agent of the Western Province, after whom Bullers Road (now Bauddhaloka Mawatha) was named, the Layard family, Dr Christopher Elliot (1848) the Principal Medical Officer in Ceylon who was also the proprietor and editor of the ‘Ceylon Observer’ English daily newspaper. It was during the occupancy of J P Green (1856), that the De Brandery was renamed as ‘Temple Trees’, so called after the two gnarled old temple trees growing in the front yard.

Temple Trees was purchased by the Government in November 1903, for the use of the Governor and other high ranking British government officials. After Independence was granted in 1948, it was declared the official residence of the Prime Minister. Today, it is the official residence of the President of Sri Lanka.

A mini zoo, a cattle farm, and Weliganna watte

A mini zoo had been in operation at "IXORA" Green Path. This was earlier owned by Hagen Bech who was the originator of the Dehiwela Zoo. The animals were later transferred to Dehiwela.

A cattle farm, referred to as 'Kiri Pattiya', had been in operation down Palm Grove Avenue. It is said that milk was distributed free to the people from beneath a huge tamarind tree that stood in this area.

Weli Ganna-watte (the garden where sand was taken from) was an area between the Kollupitiya Railway Station and Galle Face Hotel, to its North. It was a highly profitable illegal business and people used to come from all parts of Colombo to take away sea sand, using bullock carts. There used to be organized gangs who demanded 'kappan' (protection money) from the carters in order to guarantee them safe passage with their sand.

Thus is a brief description of what was Kollupitiya or Colombo 03. (Some of this information was obtained from a book titled Colonial Kollupitiya and its environs by H.M.M. Herath).

Viola Archchi's 92!

Viola Archchi is a legend! Loves to read and now parties at 92! Happy Birthday!!!!

Excerpts from Nissanka

The present harbour was a place where we all used to go and see bathe. It was called Closenberg. Used to see a lot of exotic fish as there were no  imports at that time. Bobby will be abble to tell you more.

Your father (Gihan) my father and  the Rev. used to have A-40 Cars. Vinnie had a Bug Fiat, used to gamble a lot. Bobby, JR'S son and Austin used to be class mates Boy they are over 70 now.

Priya was at Richmond college and got into the university and then joined Bank of Ceylon whare he met his wife who was a secatary there. Austin went to England and married a Swedish girl. Githa went and stayed with them in Sweden.

I visited them in 79 in Canada. he died a few years back. Marguerite went and stayed with Priya in Paris about 20 yrs. ago. Nirmala went to England at 21yrs to become a nurse. She ended up as a senior lecturer at the las vegas university on nursing.

Ranjan, Roshans husband was the grand son of Sir Charles De Soysa whose statue is at eye hospital junction, Liptons Circus. I married the daughter of the last Britisher who worked in Ceylon.

Innovative Welikalas - Narrated by Owen Welikala

This was a story narrated by my father, Owen Welikala.

This would have happened in the early 1930’. This was an era of economic recession and Ceylon (as we were known then) was a British colony.

My father who was keen on becoming a Planter was advised against that choice by his father, Rev D.L, since there was a global recession and coerced to take a career in Teaching. So, having commenced on the road to becoming a teacher at some stage had secured a job as a teacher.

One weekend he had decided to visit his parents and had bought some mangoes for them. His mode of transport had been a BSA Bantam and the mangoes were packed into a pannier bag and off he went. After a very bouncy and dusty ride of a couple of hours, he reached his parents home. For those of you who were born in the latter part of the 20^th Century, Ceylon did not have many carpeted roads, Highways and the comfort of air-conditioned cars.

Well, after all the formal greetings were over, my father had told the domestic helper that there was something he has brought his parents and to bring the pannier bag that was on the bike into the dining room. When the bag was brought in he had told the Helper to empty the bag onto the table.

OMG! What came out was not fresh mangoes.

The bouncy bike ride had pulped the mangoes till the juice was extracted and the skin and seed had separated.

So now you know who invented the 1^st juice-extractor, a WELIKALA!

Anecdotes courtesy a friend of the Welikala's

'Uncle Bertie andAunty Beryl were good friends of my parents and we often visited them at 5th Lane. One memory I have of their house was the long curtains covering thedoors.  There were marbles sewn into the hems to keep them weighted down'.

This was taken on 13September 1970 at my parent’s 25th wedding anniversary party.

The Reverend and Mrs. D.L Welikala Memorial Prize for Best Sinhala Essay (Middle School) - Trinity College, Kandy

Old Pictures

Pictures top to bottom;

1. Your great grand mother (Dilsiri Welikala's) in Ekala in 1950

2. Higurakgoda in the 50s Geetha, Gihan and Nissanka next to Uncle Berties Volks Vagen EN- 1444

3.Sirima as a Baby (Violets Daughter)

4. Nissanka Welikala Down Duplication Road

5. Nirmala Welikala at Bolgoda Lake

Mr. D G Welikala

The 1960s can be described as a decade which brought about revolutionary changes in the educational sphere in Sri Lanka . During this period, most of the better schools in the island which were privately managed came under state control. These schools which hitherto catered to the elite, now opened out to the masses. With the numbers of students increasing, the administration became difficult and unwieldy. As a result, standards began to deteriorate in most of the schools which were taken over. Richmond was an exception. While it expanded and progressed to suit the changing needs, it still maintained its traditional high standards. This was due in large measure to the astute leadership and administrative capability or Mr. D. G. Welikala, the first principal of Richmond under state management. Though he had no previous links with the school, he was quick to learn its traditions. Perhaps, he would have been acquainted with the culture of Richmond through his old principal at Ananda, Mr. P. de S. Kularatne, who was an illustrious old boy of Richmond. Mr. Welikala had his preliminary education at Ananda College , Colombo . After obtaining his B. Sc. ( London ), he served for some time on the staff of Maliyadeva college, Kurunegala, before being appointed as principal of Richmond . Mr. Welikala himself attributed two reasons for Richmond so successfully facing to the challenges of transition. Firstly, it fulfilled the government's objective by transforming itself from a missionary school serving a limited section of the population, to a government school, administered within the framework of government policy and catering to the wider public. Secondly, while it adapted to the changing social structure, the school never lost touch with its historical traditions and culture. One of the biggest problems which the school faced immediately after the take over was the provision of extra accommodation necessitated by the increased intake. Mr. Welikala displayed tremendous ability and efficiency by putting up a number of multi storeyed buildings in a very short span of time. He personally directed the construction of these buildings, and it stands to his credit that they were built in such a way so that the aesthetic beauty of the surroundings was unaffected. During this period the Methodist vernacular school on Richmond Hill merged with Richmond .Mr. Welikala introduced to Richmond the comprehensive school system which was prevalent in England at this time. Under this set up, the school became a centre for many activities not found in any other school in the island. Carpenters, masons and barbers were trained, and a farm was started with the aid of the Asia Foundation. A bakery too was installed in the school premises. The school curriculum itself was expanded. Commerce and technical subjects were started in the secondary section. Facilities for science education were considerably improved. A separate laboratory for the Advanced Level students and two other laboratories for the students in the 0. L. classes and the junior section were established. Laboratory Assistants too were appointed to each of these labs. Mr. Welikala was a great lover of art and aesthetics. During his period, an open air auditorium and an open air lab were constructed within the school premises, and many sculptures and monuments came up, beautifying the environment. The College farm functioned as a unit of this science section, providing practical training in such subjects as Botany and Agriculture. Richmond was in fact the first school in the island to include Agriculture in the school curriculum. The introduction of the Class Record Book was another innovation of Mr. Welikala, which was adopted in schools throughout the country. A record book maintained by a teacher at Richmond was even displayed in Parliament as an example. The then Minister of Education, Mr. Iriyagolla, commended Richmond on many occasions as an exemplary school, making evident the high position Richmond held during that period among all schools in the island. Another remarkable feature of the principalship of Mr, Welikala was that three teachers who served on his staff, later became principals of Richmond . They are Mr. S. Kariyawasam, Mr. B. Suriarachchi and Mr. S. llayperuma. Mr. Welikala death on 10th January 1994 was sad news to every one who was near and dear to the College. The funeral was attended by a large number of Richmondites bestowing full honors with the College flag on the occasion.

Extracted from Richmond Magazine(1876-1994)

Welikala Meetup - 9th October 2009

It was the first meetup I went for and it was certainly nice. Enjoy the pictures. Lets have the next meetup in 6 months time!

If you have more pictures do send it to me.