Green, clean grass of home

By Randi Goonetilleke and Ruwanthi Herat Gunaratne

Galle Face Green was reborn on September 23. And Colombo folks, young and old are back on the Green. But will the people maintain Galle Face Green? The UDA is taking no chances. The task of maintaining the grounds has been given to private companies. It's been little over a month since Galle Face Green was re-opened, but already visitors strew their garbage all over the grounds. "So far, every morning the clean-up crew has collected at least one garbage bag full of bottles," said Mr. D. Hettiarachchi, Deputy Director, Landscape and Environment of the UDA. 

The new look Galle Face: can it stay clean? Pic by M. A. Pushpakumara

Ariyasena and Company have undertaken a one-year contract to maintain the grounds; while the public toilets are to be maintained by Abans. And for the first time, there are toilets for disabled persons. For entertainment, there is a stage which can be rented for different purposes and a podium, intended to be a 'speaker's corner' of sorts where every citizen is free to express his or her thoughts. There is also a 24-hour security service in place. The UDA is also developing other recreational areas. Two well-maintained children's playgrounds at Havelock Road and Rajagiriya were initially established by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and the UDA and are now maintained by private companies.

But not all the city's parks are so well looked after. The Parliament grounds, another popular recreational area for residents of Sri Jayewardhanapura Kotte, Battaramulla and Pelawatte are a marshy mess, a veritable breeding ground for mosquitoes. Despite its enviable backdrop, with the Diyawanna Oya and the Parliamnet building providing a scenic picture, the ground is ill-maintained, with uncut grass and strewn litter. Mr. Hettiarachchi says the maintenance of this ground had been given to the Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha, but since adequate measures had not been taken, the UDA has once again stepped in and is in the process of planning a picture-perfect Parliament grounds. Colombo's residents can only hope they will continue to keep up the good work.

A scandal in British Ceylon

By Paul Brown

This man was no ordinary guest but the famous Major-General Sir Hector Macdonald, KCB, DSO, ADC, one of England's greatest military heroes and commander of the British armed forces on the island of Ceylon. Hector Macdonald's career was a remarkable one. He was born in 1853 to poor parents in Dingwall in Scotland. After a very basic education he was apprenticed to a draper and later worked in a warehouse in Inverness. But looking for excitement, he decided to join the Highland Rifle Volunteers. In 1870 he enlisted in the 92nd Regiment of Foot, the Gordon Highlanders. And Macdonald knew that he had found his niche. He was posted to India, promoted to corporal in 1872 and two years later, was made a sergeant.

In 1879 he got his first opportunity for active service. The Residency in Kabul had been over-run and it was decided to send a punitive expedition under Sir Frederick Roberts. An advance party which included Macdonald found itself in a narrow canyon being fired at from above. As the officer in charge had been killed Macdonald took control and forced the Afghans to retreat. Sir Frederick was deeply impressed by Macdonald's actions. After recapturing Kabul and restoring order Sir Frederick called the young Macdonald and asked him what he would prefer, a commission or to be awarded the Victoria Cross, England's highest military decoration. Modest as always Macdonald took the commission. Soon he was given his sword from his fellow officers and received their praises for his outstanding bravery.

Over the next decade Macdonald took part in some of the most significant military operations of the time. He was with Colonel Roberts on the famous forced march to Kandahar. At the disastrous battle of Majuba, 'Fighting Mac' as he was starting to be called, again distinguished himself. He was taken prisoner but the Boer general, Joubert, was so impressed by his courage that on his release his sword was returned to him. In 1881 Macdonald was made a full lieutenant and sent to Egypt to establish a new police force and later to reorganise the Egyptian Army.

In 1891 he was awarded The Distinguished Service Order for his part in the battle of Toski and was promoted to major. In 1898 there was trouble in the Sudan and Macdonald, now a lieutenant-colonel, was about to come to the peak of his career.

He was the hero of the hour and was personally thanked by Parliament, presented with a magnificent sword by the City of London, promoted to full colonel, made a Companion of the Order of the Bath and appointed ADC to the Queen. Later for his services in the Boer War he was knighted. But Sir Hector was not popular with everyone. The fact was, he was homosexual. 

In 1902 Macdonald was appointed commander of the army in Ceylon. At first things went well but gradually rumours about him began to circulate. It was noticed that he had more than the usual number of young male servants. Then an officer arrived from Egypt and mentioned that similar things had been noticed when Macdonald was there. In a colony like Ceylon where there was little to do, rumours like this were eagerly listened to and just as eagerly believed. Some sniggered but others took a much more serious view of the matter. To the Victorians homosexuality was bad enough but sexual intimacy between the races was even worse. Early in 1903, accusations against Macdonald were made to Governor Ridgeway. He asked to see Macdonald who vehemently denied the charges and also pointed out that while homosexuality was a criminal offence in England it had not at the time been criminalized in Ceylon. However Macdonald knew that his life in the colony would be hell unless he cleared his name and so much to the Governor's relief he decided to go to London to consult with his superiors at the War Office. If he hoped for support he was bitterly disappointed. Long buried resentments of Macdonald's working class background and jealousy of his rapid rise through the ranks now surfaced and senior officers gave him little sympathy.

He asked for and was granted an audience with the king. Edward VII declined to help Macdonald in any way. Soon after he left for Ceylon stopping in Paris on the way. When word reached the island that Macdonald was returning, Governor Ridgeway was in a fluster. Macdonald was replaced as commander of the army and the court was made ready for his arrival. 

Back in Paris Macdonald was resting at the Hotel Regina when one morning he picked up a copy of the New York Herald. What he saw staggered him. News of his replacement, the charges against him and the pending court martial were on the front page. He knew that the end had come, that bigotry, narrow-mindedness and spite had triumphed. He put the paper down, went back to his room and shot himself in the head. 

The problem of what to do about Macdonald was over, but now the problem of what to do with his body arose. On the one hand a soldier of such distinction deserved a funeral with full military honours, on the other few wanted to attend the funeral of one accused of committing what was sometimes called the 'unspeakable crime'. Rarely have the English been so ungrateful to one who had served them so well. As it happened Lady Macdonald, (who until that time nobody even knew existed), claimed her husband's body and announced that she wanted to have a private funeral. It seems that Macdonald had married this woman in 1884 but had lived apart from her ever since. 

In Colombo the six commissioners who were appointed to investigate his death came to the conclusion that, "there is not visible the slightest particle of truth in the foundation of any crime." Nonetheless important documents concerning him mysteriously disappeared while others in the War Office are even today 'not available'. In 1907 the people of Scotland paid for a memorial tower to Sir Hector Macdonald and it stands there today, overlooking his birth-place.