Walauwa Explained

Popplace:Sri Lanka
Langs:Sinhala language
Rels:Predominantly: Theravada Buddhism
Related:Sinhalese people, South Asian ethnic groups

Walauwa or walawwa is the name given to a feudal/colonial manor house in Sri Lanka of a native headmen. It also refers to the feudal social systems that existed during the colonial era.

The term walauwa is derived from the Tamil word valavu, which denotes a compound or garden, and by implication, a large house with aristocratic connotations. The pinnacle of walauwas in the Sinhala social stratum is the wasala walauwa. Wasala is derived from the Tamil vaasal, which means an entrance. In the Sinhalese social hierarchy, a wasala walawa would typically be the ancestral residence of a mudaliyar.

Walauwas vary in style, elegance and uniqueness depending upon the financial resources of the individual families and in the village or area's social structure. Most walauwas tend to incorporate aspects of traditional pre-colonial Ceylonese architecture, as well as Dutch and later colonial influences. A walauwa usually consisted of a cluster of buildings linked by verandahs, with an internal courtyard (medamidula), which separated the private life of the family from the headman's public duties.

The walauwa were traditionally associated with the homes of the courtiers (radala), members of the royal court in Kandy. It was displaced by their colonial equivalents following the dissolution of the Kingdom of Kandy by the British.[1] [2]

Kandyan Walauwas

There were 18 main walauwas in the Kandyan Kingdom of Ceylon. These were (in alphabetical order):[3]

Other Prominent Walauwas in Kandyan Kingdom

Sathara Korale Walauwas (Kegalle District)

The Sathara Korale of Ceylon had 30 main walauwas, according to the Sathara Korale Viththi Grantha. They are listed alphabetically after each other. 

Sath Korale Walauwas (Kurunegala District)

Prominent Low-Country Walauwas

There have been a number of other prominent, well known walauwas in the southern areas of Ceylon, outside the Kandyan Kingdom. These walauwas comprised a mix of Sri Lankan, Portuguese, Dutch and English architecture.

North Western Walauwa's

Decline and current states

The word "Walauwa" may not have a Sinhalese origin, it is unclear whether it was a Sinhalese word from the beginning, but this word may have been adapted from the Tamil word "Walaw". In Sinhalese, it gives a plural sound rather than the singular word "Walaw" which means "Mansion". The typical Sinhala term is 'Maha Gedhara'. The English word of "Walauwa" is, "Manor" or "Manor-House",and it's a large house with lands. The Walauwas and its owners were supported by the larger lands and estates they possessed. These were either land grants from Kings (since the beginning of the Sinhalese Kingdom until the Kandyan era) or government service (during the Colonial era) or acquired by successful enterprise and passed down though generations. Their owners were the landed elites of Ceylon, as such they gained a status of power and wealth. A notable feature of many of these walauwas, especially Kandyan walauwas was an interior open space/garden known as the medamidula'. There is another theory about Walauwas. "Walavum" means a place where a judgement is given. Those people who occupied the Walauwas had the authority to pass judgement over people with the authority provided by a Royal decree either Sinhala or English. The older walauwas were neither tiled (roof), very large or highly ornate as the king had placed certain restrictions and laws. Many of the walauwas beyond the jurisdiction of the king or after the fall of the Kandyan kingdom sprang up to be large and ornate, displaying architectural influences from beyond Sri Lanka and south India. Mansions replaced the walauwas in the urban areas towards the latter part of the nineteenth century. Though they were referred to as walauwas by the public, the owners usually referred to them with modern names. There are many large mansions of more recent origin which are not walauwas both in the Kandyan and the Low Country areas. This however has changed in the years after independence with the rise of a powerful middle class based on profession and enterprise. The elites held much power within the political cycles. The most significant change occurred in the 1970s with the socialist style land reforms that were bought into place. This limited private land ownership to fifty acres, and private home ownership to two houses. Most families sold off their lands or had them taken over by the government. They retained their Walauwas, yet over the years found it hard to maintain them, resulting in many falling into a dilapidated state, while some were razed to the ground such as the Maha Kappina Walauwa, and Ragama Walauwa which were constructed in the 16th century. Some were bought for state use or others have now been converted into hotels and Shopping complex such as the Ratwatte Walauwa, Rajamanthri Walauwa and the Nugawela Walauwa.

See also

References

1. ^ Seneviratna, Anuradha; Polk, Benjiman (1992). Buddhist Monastic Architecture in Sri Lanka: The Woodland Shrine. Abhinav Publications. p. 110. .

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sri Lanka - Decline Of The Sinhalese Kingdom . Countrystudies.us . 26 November 2019.
  2. Book: Colonial Modernities: Building, Dwelling and Architecture in British India and Ceylon. Scriver, Peter. Prakash, Vikramaditya. Routledge. 2007. 206–207. 9781134150267.
  3. Sri Lanka Walauwa Directory by Dr Mirando Obeysekara (Samanthi Book Publishers)
  4. http://sundaytimes.lk/060625/plus/plus6.0.html Carried on the wings of love
  5. King Wimaladharmasuriya of Kandy by Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando, pages 133, 174
  6. http://trinitylk.com/2012/08/tribute-to-the-life-of-denzil-kobbekaduwa/ Tribute to the life of a friend and a hero: Lt. General Denzil L. Kobbekaduwa
  7. http://www.island.lk/2006/05/28/features5.html Iddamalgoda Kumarihamy
  8. The Duke of Edinburgh in Ceylon: A book of elephant and elk sport, by John Capper and Vincent Brooks, pp.34,35&91 (British Library, Historical Print Editions)
  9. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060129/plus/2.html Architectural marvel of the Maduwanwela Dissawa era
  10. http://www.lankadeepa.lk/index.php/articles/235222 ලෝකයේ පළමු අගමැතිනිය බිහිකළ මහවලතැන්න වලව්ව
  11. Web site: Welivita waththe walauwa in Tumpane. JPG.
  12. https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2006/12/10/imp06.asp Saga of Nilame and Kumarihamy by Lakmal Welabada
  13. https://books.google.com/books?id=FVuurI2HbnMC&dq=siribara+kuda+manike&pg=PA193 The Date of Buddha's Death and Ceylon Chronology
  14. Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon, by Arnold Wright, pp.667-9 (Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company)
  15. Web site: Amarasiri walawwa pics on flickr. 17 November 2010 .
  16. Web site: In politics he had no malice, Sunday Observer(Sri Lanka), Retrieved on 29 June 2014.
  17. http://www.nation.lk/edition/fine/item/11832-%E2%80%98enthusiast%E2%80%99s-guide%E2%80%99-to-unique-sri-lankan-real-estate.html ‘Enthusiast’s guide’ to unique Sri Lankan real estate
  18. News: Of men of yore and a stately home. Sadanandan. Renuka. The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka), Retrieved on 29 July 2012.
  19. https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/01/18/fea16.html Now a showcase of fabulous mansions
  20. http://infolanka.com/org/srilanka/people/81.htm 112th death anniversary of C. H. de Soysa, patriot and philanthropist unequalled
  21. Web site: Bethme walawwa.
  22. http://www.island.lk/2006/04/23/features9.html Vivienne - The making of a rebel
  23. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/gen3001.html Senanayake Family
  24. http://www.nation.lk/2008/11/02/newsfe3.htm Tracing the background of one of the most families in Sri Lanka
  25. Web site: Chevalier walawwa on Google photos.
  26. Web site: Sebastianite Awards of Excellence, Daily News (Sri Lanka), Retrieved on 05 July 2014.
  27. Web site: closenberg guide.
  28. http://defonseka.com/hist_closenberg02.htm The Perera-Abeywardena family
  29. https://books.google.com/books?id=glUwAQAAIAAJ&q=andrado The chieftains of Ceylon
  30. http://www.defonseka.com/AD_danderado.htm D' Anderado Families
  31. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/gen1001.html Nilaperumal aka Kalukapuge
  32. Web site: Ihala Walawwa, guide.
  33. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/gen1001.html Jayasinghe Maha Mudali aka Ralahamy
  34. Web site: Obeysekere Maha Walawwa.
  35. http://defonseka.com/ancestry_manueldias_andrady.htm The case of Manuel Dias Andrady
  36. https://books.google.com/books?id=sjJPZ-TUQzQC&q=Dias&pg=PA661 Description of the Great and Most Famous Isle of Ceylon
  37. http://defonseka.com/ancestry_defonseka.htm The Varnakula Addittya Arasanilaitta De Fonseka family of Kalutara
  38. Web site: Family #1001 Bandaranaike . 2024-01-17 . www.worldgenweb.org.
  39. http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/ehelepola.htm Ehelapola the great
  40. http://www.island.lk/2001/03/04/featur02.html Philanthropist and Patriot; Charles Henry de Soysa
  41. http://archives.dailynews.lk/2013/05/14/fea22.asp The Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges - Moratuwa: The seeming endlessness of the Soysa legacy
  42. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/gen3126.html De Saram Family
  43. https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/07/11/letters.html#let01 Is G. L. playing Puran Appu or Moratu Saman?
  44. https://books.google.com/books?id=glUwAQAAIAAJ&q=kataragama The chieftains of Ceylon
  45. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/gen3164.html Wickremasuriya Family

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