Muhandiram

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

History

The post originated from the Portuguese colonial administration in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes form 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.

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

Muhandirams 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
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

Madige Muhandiram
  • Madige Muhandiram M. K. Abdul Hameed of Kurunegala
  • Madige Muhandiram Galagaha Vidanalagegedara Seyed Mohamed Lebbe Marikar (1840-1939) of Kandy[6]
  • 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 [7][8]

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 [9]

Muhandiram
  • Padikara Muhandiram Don Pedris Francis Abeywickrama (1886-1966) of Morawaka Korale. Writer and Poet.[10]
  • Muhandiram Tuan Kitchil AbuCassim Burah [11]
  • Muhandiram James Alfred Corea (1871 - ?) of Madampe
  • Muhandiram Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana (1809–1890)
  • Muhandiram Auwakkar Isse of Sammanthurai [12]
  • 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

See also

References
  1. Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: The Native Headman System
  2. The Chieftains of Ceylon, J. C. Van Sanden
  3. Murders and other crimes
  4. Under the Bo Tree; Studies in Caste, Kinship, and Marriage in the Interior
  5. Electoral Allegiance in Sri Lanka
  6. "Family #209 Galagaha Vidanalagegedara Seyed Mohamed Lebbe Marikar Madige Muhandiram (1840-1939) of Kandy". Sri Lankan Muslim Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  7. "Family # 219 AhmeduLebbe Kariapper Family".
  8. Buddhist Extremists and Muslim Minorities
  9. "De Saram Family # 3126 De Saram".
  10. Wimalaratne, K. D. G (1994). Personalities, Sri Lanka: A Biographical Study (15th-20th Century), 1490-1990 A.D., A-Z. ISBN 9559287001.
  11. "Family # 245 Raden Singha Noori".
  12. Ceylon (1853). "Proclamation 4th june 1804".
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