ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Vol. 41 - No 28
Funday Times- Our Heritage funday times logo

The birth of the 'Lion of Kotte'

A scholar, legal luminary and patriot born 131 years ago - on December 12, 1875 - is best known for his brave act in carrying a document to be presented to the British government hidden in his shoe. He is E. W. (Edmund Walter) Perera (1875-1953), who, at the height of the crisis over the declaration of Martial law following the riots of 1815, was in the forefront of the movement for constitutional reform.

pic
E.W. Perera

A group of Ceylonese patriots led by Sir James Peiris and Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan met at E. W. Perera's residence in Kotte to prepare a protest against the inhuman behaviour of the police on the instructions of the Governor and the high officials. Being at the height of the First World War, on the one hand it was risky to travel by sea and on the other the British government was preoccupied with the war. Yet they decided to take a chance and make representations to London.
E. W. Perera sought permission to travel, by indicating that he was going to do research at the British museum. Once permission was granted he had to be extremely careful about taking documents relating to the riots. This is how he describes the voyage: "...I was told to hurriedly get ready to go by ship. I didn't have even a week to organise everything. It was felt unsafe to take any documents other than those needed for the case. But we discussed in detail and decided on exactly how we should approach the problem.

At the last moment an old friend Henry de Mel gave me a printed copy with details of "shooting at sight". It contained the orders issued by the police. According to high officials in England, it was second only to the statement made by a German commander in Belgium. Just like the representative who took a document to the Batavian governing council against a governor in the 10th century, I also took this valuable document in my shoe."

He did not succeed in meeting the Secretary of State for the Colonies due to the latter's involvement with the war. Sir Ponnamabalam Ramanathan went over in 1916 and met British Members of Parliament and explained matters. After he returned, Sir D. B. Jayatilaka joined E. W. Perera. The end result was the recall of Governor Sir Robert Chalmers. He was succeeded by Sir John Anderson.

The 'Lion of Kotte', as Perera was hailed, was an uncompromising critic of the government of the day. As President of the National Congress he led its deputation before the Donoughmore Commission in1926/27. Sincere to his convictions, he opposed the granting of universal adult franchise and in later years he broke with his colleagues in the Congress.

The museum in Kotte is housed in his residence on the Pitakotte road.

 

Prince of Wales arrives

pic
Prince of Wales lays the foundation for the new breakwater

The visit of the Prince of Wales (he later became King Edward VIII) to Ceylon in December 1875 was a major event. While in Colombo, he laid the foundation stone for the new breakwater on December 8th. It was described as "a work of considerable utility and of considerable importance to the Eastern trade, as the largest vessels of the Peninsular and Oriental Company will be able to moor alongside the breakwater when finished.

The bearded Prince visited the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy and knighted Governor William Gregory in the Audience Hall of the Sinhala kings before returning home.

 

De Soysa maternity home opened

The De Soysa Maternity Home in Kynsey Road, Colombo is the foremost maternity hospital in the country. A generous gift from one of the greatest philanthropists in the country, Charles Henry de Soysa (1836-90), it was opened on December 13, 1879.

Along with the maternity hospital, he built the De Soysa Eye Hospital too. The Medical College buildings were also built and donated by him and these three remain symbols of his generosity. In addition to these, he built several schools including the Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales in Moratuwa, his home town.

 
Top to the page


Copyright 2006 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka.