Salagama
Encyclopedia
Salagama is the name of a caste
in Sri Lanka
. The community was traditionally associated with the cultivation and management of cinnamon
, and also as soldiers,and are found mostly in Southern coastal areas, especially in the villages around Rathgama
(Rajgama), Boossa and Balapitiya in Galle
district.
', or 'Shali-Gramam' b. which is currently known as "Chandigar" in India, Capital city of Punjab but the moor community in beruwala believes that they came from "Saliya Mangalam or Saliya Pattanam from Kerala, However, it is more likely that the name 'Salagama' derived from 'Sallaggama', a village, which was granted as a fief to the Totagamuwa vihara, on the banks of the river forming the limits of that monastery's lands. Earlier, Parakramabahu I
is mentioned having built a bridge here. An even earlier mention of Salaggama is in the context of king Aggabodhi III, but this may be a different village,so it is difficult to ascertain whether the name salagama, derived from shaligramam, or sallagama.
origin and were brought across the sea from Malabar
(i.e. Kerala
) by ship. However, since they would 'lose caste' if they touched the water, they had to be carried ashore by moors on their heads,which is depicted in their flag.
According to the history mentioned, a Sinhala King Vathhimi Buvenekabahu had a problem of being crowned by Sinhalese Brahmins as he was not a pure Sinhalese. Thus, the King had to obtain the services of a Muslim nobleman "Periya Mudali Marikkar" from Beruwala to bring down "high caste" Brahmins from India for the coronation ceremony. This was carried out by Marrikkar, who was richly rewarded by the King, being given a bronze plaque giving the details of his noble deed and also several villages for his upkeep and benefit.
on the Tamil Nadu
side as opposed to Kerala by Muslim
merchants about 1250, but a section of the salagamas, were forced to become cinnamon
peelers by the King of Kotte
in 1406. They were consequently considered to be on inferior, even though they were people with superior birth social status
. This is a separate caste called 'halawa' caste that the Dutch Governor refers to, they reside in the middle of the country. They are not the same as Salagama.
Queyroz mentions that there was a belief at that time (17th century) that the Chaleaz were descended form 12,000 foreigners brought over by conquest, who peopled the Dolosdas-Korale. This is a reference to Gajabahu legend, which is used as an ancestral myth by many castes.
According to this tradition, the ancestral Salagamas arrived in Sri Lanka from Kerala in several waves after accepting migration invitations from several Sinhala Kings, during various periods.
The most important ancestors were the seven Saligrama Brahmins -including their chief Nambudiri or Namadiri, Weerasinghe, Edirimuni etc.- who attended the coronation ceremony of King Vijayabahu I (1055–1110). The King gave the seven noble Brahmins, the responsibility of managing his cinnamon plantations, situated in the western and southern part of the island. The book VIJAYABAHU 900 written by Mr. G.H.De Zoysa in 1988, highlighting the origins of the Salagama caste and presentation of the thesis that Vijayabahu I King of Srilanka,(1055–1110) whose 900th coronation anniversary fell on 1988, as a Patron of the Salagama caste.
The second wave of Namboodiris arrived in Srilanka, when the Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka refused to perform the rituals associated with the coronation ceremony of Prince Wathhimi(Galey Bandara Deyyo) (the son of King Bhuvenaka Bahu I (1272–1284)), his mother, whose name was "Fathima", and hailed from the village of "Aswedduma" in the Kurunegala district, was a Muslim and was the only non-buddhist member of the King's harem, the prince was sent to live amongst his maternal relatives at Beruwala, for his safety, by the King, and was greatly influenced by Islam, his maternal grandfather even named him "Ismail
", but the King preferred the name "Wathhimi Bandara", when the King died, Prince Wathhimi was the only son the King had, and as a consequence was eligible to be the King, the buddhist monks were worried, about the princes inclination towards islam, and refused to perform the rituals for the coronation ceremony, and as a consequence, the prince sent a Muslim nobleman from beruwala, to bring Brahmins from Kerala, as the Muslim nobleman was unable to persuade any Brahmin to come over to Srilanka,he had to hatch a plan to kidnap them, and finally succeeded in getting a group of 8 Namboodiri Brahmins, from the village of Shaligramam in Kerala, to come on board the ship for a gambling game, and as the legend goes, while the Brahmins were fully concentrating, with the game of gambling, the ship started to sail towards Beruwala, without the Brahmins noticing the ship's movements,when it reached the shores of Beruwala,the Brahmins realised they were tricked,and refused to disembark, the King's soldiers who were waiting to receive them shot one of the Brahmins with an arrow, so as to force them to disembark, and as a result one of the Brahmins died and his body fell overboard, the remaining 7 still refused to disembark, as Brahmins their culture imposed a rule that,after crossing the sea to go to another country,their feet should not touch water or they risked losing their caste status, subsequently the remaining 7 were persuaded to disembark, and were brought ashore, upon the shoulders of Moor men,they were received by the Prince with great honours, the Brahmins subsequently wanted to return to Kerala after performing the ceremony, but the King, who was pleased with them, wanted them to stay on in Sri Lanka, and offered them royal maidens in marriage at the royal courts.(The names of the 7 Brahmins & the royal princesses who married them at the royal courts are the following,Kappina,Nambudiri,Weerasinghe,Weerakkody,Idirimuni,Walimuni,& Edirisinghe,were the 7 Brahmins & ,Thedathisami,Kombisami,Maniksami,Pabalisami,Nimalsami,Ransami,& Dillisami were the 7 princesses, Wishvayehi Obath Mamath,Page 287,C.DE.Zoysa Gunaratne,1975(but suggests that these 7 Brahmins mentioned,would have been the main ancestors of the Salagama's who may have come for the coronation ceremony of King Vijayabahu 1,& married at the royal courts at Polonnaruwa,rather than for the coronation ceremony of Prince Wathhimi), CEYLON NATIONAL REVIEW (Vol 1) 1906 Page 72, The Nambudiri flag of the Salagamas vividly illustrates the arrival of the Brahmins at Beruwala. They assimilated well into the Sinhalese community and their descendants formed the Salagama caste, along with "Agampadi"Mercenary Soldiers who came from Kerala & Tamil Nadu.
continued the tradition of using Salagamas as cinnamon planters, who had to provide cinnamon as a tax. Queyroz mentions 'Chaleaz' as among the 'high castes' and that they prepared Cinnamon for the 'great tax'. As cinnamon consumption grew, so too did the demands on the Salagamas, who were charged with providing an annual tribute which grew sixfold during the period of Portuguese control alone. During this era, many Salagamas adopted Portuguese names as their last names, such as de Silva (or Silva, Zylva), de Zoysa, Abrew, Thabrew, Mendis, etc.
When the Dutch East India Company
(VOC) took over the coastal areas, it re-organised cinnamon cultivation on modern capitalist
lines, with plantation
s located within the boundaries of VOC rule, mainly in the Galle
district. The Salagamas were converted from a feudal caste into a modern proletariat
.
| The Dutch demand for cinnamon was more intense than that of the Portuguese, and by the era of British
| control mortality rates among Salagamas had increased sharply. It became common practice for cinnamon peelers' children | to be registered under the names of other castes in order to spare them a life of ever-growing misery.
The importance of cinnamon as a commodity
gave those associated with its production importance in the eyes of the colonial power. Under the Dutch, some of the more influential members, such as chiefs, gained economic power and were able to buy land, thus gaining greater status.
The census
of 1824 identified the Salagamas as about 7.5% of the coastal Sinhalese
population. However, they were concentrated in the Galle district, where about half of them lived and where they made up almost 20% of the population.
(higher ordination, as distinct from samanera
or novice
ordination) had become extinct in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist order had become extinct three times during the preceding five hundred years and was re-established in the reigns of Vimala Dharma Suriya I (1591–1604) and Vimala Dharma Suriya II (1687–1707) as well. These re-establishments were short lived. On the initiative of Ven. Weliwita Saranankara (1698–1778) the Thai monk Upali Thera visited Kandy during the reign of king Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747–1782) and once again reestablished the Buddhist order in Sri Lanka in 1753. It was called the Siyam Nikaya after the "Kingdom of Siam".
It is said that in 1764, merely a decade after the re-establishment of the Buddhist order in Sri Lanka by reverend Upali, a group within the newly created Siyam Nikaya conspired and succeeded in restricting the Nikaya's higher ordination only to the Govigama
caste. This was a period when Buddhist Vinaya
rules had been virtually abandoned and some members of the Buddhist Sangha in the Kandyan Kingdom privately held land, had wives and children, resided in the private homes and were called Ganinnanses. It was a period when the traditional nobility of the Kandyan Kingdom was decimated by continuous wars with the Dutch rulers of the Maritime Provinces. In the maritime provinces too a new order was replacing the old. Mandarampura Puvata, a text from the Kandyan perid, narrates the above radical changes to the monastic order and shows that it was not a unanimous decision by the body of the sangha. It says that thirty two ‘senior’ members of the Sangha who opposed this change were banished to Jaffna
by the leaders of the reform. However, Queyroz mentions that in the 17th century no-one save appuhamies (gentlemen) and their relatives could be a monk, which suggests that casteism in the Buddhist order was of greater antiquity.
The Govigama exclusivity of the Sangha was challenged by other castes who, without the patronage of the King of Kandy or of the British
, held their own upasampada
ceremony at Totagamuwa Vihara in 1772. Another was held at Tangalle in 1798. Neither of these ceremonies were approved by the Siam Nikaya
which claimed that these were not | in accordance with the Vinaya
rules.
Hoping to rectify this situation, wealthy laymen from the maritime provinces financed an expedition to Burma to found a new monastic lineage. In 1799, Ambagahapitiye Gnanavimala Thera a monk from the Salagama caste
, from Balapitiya
on the south western coast of Sri Lanka, departed for Burma with a group of novices to seek a new succession of Higher ordination. The first bhikkhu
was ordained in Burma in 1800 by the sangharaja
of Burma in Amarapura
, his party having been welcomed to Burma by King Bodawpaya
.
The initial mission returned to Sri Lanka in 1803. Soon after their return to the island they established a udakhupkhepa sima (a flotilla of boats moved together to form a platform on the water) on the Maduganga river
, Balapitiya
and, under the most senior Burmese
monk who accompanied them, held an upasampada ceremony on Vesak
Full Moon Day. The new fraternity came to be known as the Amarapura Nikaya
and was soon granted recognition by the colonial British government.
The Amarapura Nikaya was of pivotal importance in the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 19th century. The Salagamas, who became overwhelmingly Buddhist, were in the vanguard of this movement.
movement of Anagarika Dharmapala
(who was not from the Salagama community)
. The key issues around which this movement emerged were anti-casteism and anti-colonialism.
The same areas were in the vanguard of the independence struggle
and became hotbeds of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
and of the Communist Party
. These areas were at the forefront of the Hartal
of 1953.
However, in modern times there is a simple twofold division between the Hewapanne and the Kurundukara. The former are of higher status, including landowners in their ranks,the "Kurundukara's" enjoyed a high status in Sinhala society,before being punished by the King of Kotte in 1406 and downgraded to a lower status,who also imposed cinnamon as a tax, at one stage the tax exceeded their manpower, and became virtually unbearable, and it took a heavy toll in their mortality rate, some of them were subsequently forced to change their names to other castes to escape it.
miners until the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 swept away their villages. The coral-lime
kilns gave employment to many more.
The Railway made access to employment in Colombo and other urban centres very much easier, and the caste became a very important part of the working class. Its higher echelons became notable in the engineering profession, mainly due to the influence of Sir Cyril de Zoysa
, who owned the South Western Omnibus Company (see Ceylon Transport Board
) and the Associated Motorways Group, and other businessmen in the motor trade.
He was one of the greatest Philanthropists Sri Lanka ever produced, he gave away land, buildings, and funds, to numerous Orphanages, hospitals, schools, social service bodies, temples, hermitages, without any fanfare or publicity,
he notably established the first Tuberculosis sanatorium in Kandana, late President Hon.R. Premadasa, stated that during Sir. Ernest De Silva's lifetime,if there was a buddhist temple or a school that he did not help, it was not in Srilanka, When he died, the then Prime Minister,Hon.S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike thanked the late Philanthropist, for his service towards his motherland, and adding that he was a true gentleman,in every sense of the word, his mansion is currently used as the Prime Ministers office, Sir Ernest made contributions to Sri Lankan life, by founding the Bank of Ceylon, and was its first Chairman.
Donated more than 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of land in 1895, and financially helped to put up Ananda College
,which is one of the finest schools in Asia today, which had produced many great individuals who had served Sri Lanka.
Donated his land to put up Musaeus College
Gifted a large potion of his inheritance to put up the Colombo General Hospital and the Medical College
, in 1865 and 1875 respectively, which helped many sick people, and also produced world renowned doctors.
Donated his house at Colombo 7, (While still living) to the Colombo Medical College Library, (WIJERAMA HOUSE).
Sir. Cyril was a renowned entrpreneur, he launched,a bus service,as a precursor,to the multiplicity of business he founded,he was also the founder of A.M.W.(associated motor ways), which was one of the largest conglomerates of Ceylon,when his business enterprises began to flourish, he utilised, a good part of his income,for religious, cultural, and educational activities,his extensive service, towards buddhism was enormous,many a buddhist shrine,site, and institution, has benefited through his generosity,notably the Kalutara Bodhi Trust, and the "Kiri Vehera" restoration work, he also helped to build the colombo (Y.M.B.A.), education was yet another field that received his concerned attention, he donated numerous lands, for school buildings, Sir Cyril served Srilanka as the President of the Senate for eight years, in recognition of his contribution to society, he was conferred, the British Imperial Honour of a Knight hood.
A renowned poet who enriched the Sinhala language with his famous poems,(Allegiyawannegey Louis Mendis Appuhamy is a member of the salagama community, and is a native of Mutwal, he is a descendant from the illustrious poet Allegiyawannagey mobabbala).:EXTRAIT from Twentieth Century Impressions Of Ceylon(page 625).
*But according to the Sinhala English dictionary "Muni "is defined as "Sage",or Hermit, & in the Sanskrit English dictionary, the main definition for "Muni" is Saint,& the other sub definitions are Sage,Seer, Ascetic,& Hermit(esp.one who has taken the vow of silence) & in addition, the two salagama names Yagamuni,& Jagamuni (Sage connected to the performing of yaga rituals)have absolutely no affinity to the word "Leader" ,foreman,or Chargehand,furthermore these are names that are used only by Brahmins in India, even today, & it is highly unlikely the Dutch granting honorific titles, or surnames, to cinnamon peelers,or to manuel laboures,even if these titles were given they would have chosen another term instead of "Muni"which does not correspond with the job they were engaged in,& cinnamon peelers are only one section of salagamas,out of four,which are namely "Panavidakara"(Messengers),"Hewapanne"(Soldiers),"Kurundukara(Cinnamon workers),& "Uliyakkara"(Palinquin bearers),and the suffix "Muni" is found in all four sub castes, but on the other hand, it is quite possible that honorific titles being granted to some, Salagamas like the Salagama sub castes "Panavidakara"(Messengers)or"Hewapanne"(soldiers),who would have been working for the Dutch army or the Dutch government.
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. The community was traditionally associated with the cultivation and management of cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
, and also as soldiers,and are found mostly in Southern coastal areas, especially in the villages around Rathgama
Rathgama
Rathgama is a small coastal town situated in Galle District, Southern Province of Sri Lanka.-See also:*List of towns in Southern Province, Sri Lanka...
(Rajgama), Boossa and Balapitiya in Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
district.
Etymology
Salagama people believe that their ancestors arrived in Sri Lanka, from a village named 'Sali-GramamSaligramam
Saligramam is a residential locality situated in the western part of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. Saligramam is surrounded by Vadapalani in the East Virugambakkam in the West, KK Nagar in the South and Koyambedu in the north. Saligramam was having the Majority of Film Studios...
', or 'Shali-Gramam' b. which is currently known as "Chandigar" in India, Capital city of Punjab but the moor community in beruwala believes that they came from "Saliya Mangalam or Saliya Pattanam from Kerala, However, it is more likely that the name 'Salagama' derived from 'Sallaggama', a village, which was granted as a fief to the Totagamuwa vihara, on the banks of the river forming the limits of that monastery's lands. Earlier, Parakramabahu I
Parâkramabâhu I
Parākramabāhu I was king of Sri Lanka from 1153 to 1186. During his reign from his capital Polonnaruwa, he unified the three sub kingdoms of the island, becoming one of the last monarchs in Sri Lankan history to do so...
is mentioned having built a bridge here. An even earlier mention of Salaggama is in the context of king Aggabodhi III, but this may be a different village,so it is difficult to ascertain whether the name salagama, derived from shaligramam, or sallagama.
Origin
The Salagama have a belief, that they originated from saligrama Brahmins. According to this belief Saliyas were of BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
origin and were brought across the sea from Malabar
Malabar Coast
The Malabar Coast is a long and narrow coastline on the south-western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing mountain...
(i.e. Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
) by ship. However, since they would 'lose caste' if they touched the water, they had to be carried ashore by moors on their heads,which is depicted in their flag.
According to the history mentioned, a Sinhala King Vathhimi Buvenekabahu had a problem of being crowned by Sinhalese Brahmins as he was not a pure Sinhalese. Thus, the King had to obtain the services of a Muslim nobleman "Periya Mudali Marikkar" from Beruwala to bring down "high caste" Brahmins from India for the coronation ceremony. This was carried out by Marrikkar, who was richly rewarded by the King, being given a bronze plaque giving the details of his noble deed and also several villages for his upkeep and benefit.
Kerala origins
According to Jan Schreuder, an 18th century Dutch Governor of Ceylon, the Salagamas were weavers who were brought over from the Coromandel coastCoromandel Coast
The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent between Cape Comorin and False Divi Point...
on the Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
side as opposed to Kerala by Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
merchants about 1250, but a section of the salagamas, were forced to become cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
peelers by the King of Kotte
Kotte
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte , also known as Sri Jayawardenapura or Kotte කෝට්ටේ, is the administrative capital of Sri Lanka. It is located beyond the eastern suburbs of the commercial capital Colombo and is often called New Capital Territory...
in 1406. They were consequently considered to be on inferior, even though they were people with superior birth social status
Social status
In sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society . It may also refer to a rank or position that one holds in a group, for example son or daughter, playmate, pupil, etc....
. This is a separate caste called 'halawa' caste that the Dutch Governor refers to, they reside in the middle of the country. They are not the same as Salagama.
Queyroz mentions that there was a belief at that time (17th century) that the Chaleaz were descended form 12,000 foreigners brought over by conquest, who peopled the Dolosdas-Korale. This is a reference to Gajabahu legend, which is used as an ancestral myth by many castes.
Nambudiri
Salagamas also believe that their ancestors were Namboodiri Brahmins who migrated to Sri Lanka. Their community has a flag, which is the Nambudiri Flag which they frame, and hang in their homes. They have family names which commence with Namediri or Nanediri [the sinhala version of Namboodiri, in which Nam or Nan means 'Name' in the Sinhala language], family names ending with the suffix Muni (Sage), [e.g. Edirimuni, Demuni or Deymuni, Nammuni,Wettemuni, Walimuni or Walaimuni, Jagamuni, Yagamuni (Sage who performs yaga), Rammuni(Sage of lord Ram)] and family names such as Wijerama (the conquering Rama), Weerakkodi (Weerakkodai), etc. (one of their main ancestors, who came for the coronation ceremony,of king Vijayabahu, had the suffix "Muni" added to his name, was a Nambudiri Brahmin named Edirimuni,)According to this tradition, the ancestral Salagamas arrived in Sri Lanka from Kerala in several waves after accepting migration invitations from several Sinhala Kings, during various periods.
The most important ancestors were the seven Saligrama Brahmins -including their chief Nambudiri or Namadiri, Weerasinghe, Edirimuni etc.- who attended the coronation ceremony of King Vijayabahu I (1055–1110). The King gave the seven noble Brahmins, the responsibility of managing his cinnamon plantations, situated in the western and southern part of the island. The book VIJAYABAHU 900 written by Mr. G.H.De Zoysa in 1988, highlighting the origins of the Salagama caste and presentation of the thesis that Vijayabahu I King of Srilanka,(1055–1110) whose 900th coronation anniversary fell on 1988, as a Patron of the Salagama caste.
The second wave of Namboodiris arrived in Srilanka, when the Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka refused to perform the rituals associated with the coronation ceremony of Prince Wathhimi(Galey Bandara Deyyo) (the son of King Bhuvenaka Bahu I (1272–1284)), his mother, whose name was "Fathima", and hailed from the village of "Aswedduma" in the Kurunegala district, was a Muslim and was the only non-buddhist member of the King's harem, the prince was sent to live amongst his maternal relatives at Beruwala, for his safety, by the King, and was greatly influenced by Islam, his maternal grandfather even named him "Ismail
Ismail
Ismail may refer to:*Ismail , people with the name*Ishmael, the English name of Ismail*Ismael Village, in Sangcharak District at Sar-e Pol Province of Afghanistan...
", but the King preferred the name "Wathhimi Bandara", when the King died, Prince Wathhimi was the only son the King had, and as a consequence was eligible to be the King, the buddhist monks were worried, about the princes inclination towards islam, and refused to perform the rituals for the coronation ceremony, and as a consequence, the prince sent a Muslim nobleman from beruwala, to bring Brahmins from Kerala, as the Muslim nobleman was unable to persuade any Brahmin to come over to Srilanka,he had to hatch a plan to kidnap them, and finally succeeded in getting a group of 8 Namboodiri Brahmins, from the village of Shaligramam in Kerala, to come on board the ship for a gambling game, and as the legend goes, while the Brahmins were fully concentrating, with the game of gambling, the ship started to sail towards Beruwala, without the Brahmins noticing the ship's movements,when it reached the shores of Beruwala,the Brahmins realised they were tricked,and refused to disembark, the King's soldiers who were waiting to receive them shot one of the Brahmins with an arrow, so as to force them to disembark, and as a result one of the Brahmins died and his body fell overboard, the remaining 7 still refused to disembark, as Brahmins their culture imposed a rule that,after crossing the sea to go to another country,their feet should not touch water or they risked losing their caste status, subsequently the remaining 7 were persuaded to disembark, and were brought ashore, upon the shoulders of Moor men,they were received by the Prince with great honours, the Brahmins subsequently wanted to return to Kerala after performing the ceremony, but the King, who was pleased with them, wanted them to stay on in Sri Lanka, and offered them royal maidens in marriage at the royal courts.(The names of the 7 Brahmins & the royal princesses who married them at the royal courts are the following,Kappina,Nambudiri,Weerasinghe,Weerakkody,Idirimuni,Walimuni,& Edirisinghe,were the 7 Brahmins & ,Thedathisami,Kombisami,Maniksami,Pabalisami,Nimalsami,Ransami,& Dillisami were the 7 princesses, Wishvayehi Obath Mamath,Page 287,C.DE.Zoysa Gunaratne,1975(but suggests that these 7 Brahmins mentioned,would have been the main ancestors of the Salagama's who may have come for the coronation ceremony of King Vijayabahu 1,& married at the royal courts at Polonnaruwa,rather than for the coronation ceremony of Prince Wathhimi), CEYLON NATIONAL REVIEW (Vol 1) 1906 Page 72, The Nambudiri flag of the Salagamas vividly illustrates the arrival of the Brahmins at Beruwala. They assimilated well into the Sinhalese community and their descendants formed the Salagama caste, along with "Agampadi"Mercenary Soldiers who came from Kerala & Tamil Nadu.
Colonial period
The PortuguesePortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
continued the tradition of using Salagamas as cinnamon planters, who had to provide cinnamon as a tax. Queyroz mentions 'Chaleaz' as among the 'high castes' and that they prepared Cinnamon for the 'great tax'. As cinnamon consumption grew, so too did the demands on the Salagamas, who were charged with providing an annual tribute which grew sixfold during the period of Portuguese control alone. During this era, many Salagamas adopted Portuguese names as their last names, such as de Silva (or Silva, Zylva), de Zoysa, Abrew, Thabrew, Mendis, etc.
When the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
(VOC) took over the coastal areas, it re-organised cinnamon cultivation on modern capitalist
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
lines, with plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s located within the boundaries of VOC rule, mainly in the Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
district. The Salagamas were converted from a feudal caste into a modern proletariat
Proletariat
The proletariat is a term used to identify a lower social class, usually the working class; a member of such a class is proletarian...
.
| The Dutch demand for cinnamon was more intense than that of the Portuguese, and by the era of British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
| control mortality rates among Salagamas had increased sharply. It became common practice for cinnamon peelers' children | to be registered under the names of other castes in order to spare them a life of ever-growing misery.
The importance of cinnamon as a commodity
Commodity
In economics, a commodity is the generic term for any marketable item produced to satisfy wants or needs. Economic commodities comprise goods and services....
gave those associated with its production importance in the eyes of the colonial power. Under the Dutch, some of the more influential members, such as chiefs, gained economic power and were able to buy land, thus gaining greater status.
The census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 1824 identified the Salagamas as about 7.5% of the coastal Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
population. However, they were concentrated in the Galle district, where about half of them lived and where they made up almost 20% of the population.
Buddhist revival
By the mid 18th century, upasampadaUpasampada
Upasampadā literally means "approaching or nearing the ascetic tradition." In more common parlance it specifically refers to the rite of ordination by which one undertakes the Buddhist monastic life....
(higher ordination, as distinct from samanera
Samanera
A samanera ) may be translated as novice monk in a Buddhist context. The literal meaning is 'small samana', that is, small renunciate where 'small' has the meaning of boy or girl. In the Vinaya monastic discipline, a man under the age of 20 cannot ordain as a bhikkhu, but can ordain as a samanera...
or novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
ordination) had become extinct in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist order had become extinct three times during the preceding five hundred years and was re-established in the reigns of Vimala Dharma Suriya I (1591–1604) and Vimala Dharma Suriya II (1687–1707) as well. These re-establishments were short lived. On the initiative of Ven. Weliwita Saranankara (1698–1778) the Thai monk Upali Thera visited Kandy during the reign of king Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747–1782) and once again reestablished the Buddhist order in Sri Lanka in 1753. It was called the Siyam Nikaya after the "Kingdom of Siam".
It is said that in 1764, merely a decade after the re-establishment of the Buddhist order in Sri Lanka by reverend Upali, a group within the newly created Siyam Nikaya conspired and succeeded in restricting the Nikaya's higher ordination only to the Govigama
Govigama
Govi, Govigama, Goigama, Goygama, Goyigama, Goviyo is the most influential and the dominant Caste in Sri Lanka and certainly comes as the leading cast in the hierarchy of cast system in Sri Lanka.The term Govi denotes farmer.From time immemorial the Govigama have been the landlords and have been...
caste. This was a period when Buddhist Vinaya
Vinaya
The Vinaya is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha, based in the canonical texts called Vinaya Pitaka. The teachings of the Buddha, or Buddhadharma can be divided into two broad categories: 'Dharma' or doctrine, and 'Vinaya', or discipline...
rules had been virtually abandoned and some members of the Buddhist Sangha in the Kandyan Kingdom privately held land, had wives and children, resided in the private homes and were called Ganinnanses. It was a period when the traditional nobility of the Kandyan Kingdom was decimated by continuous wars with the Dutch rulers of the Maritime Provinces. In the maritime provinces too a new order was replacing the old. Mandarampura Puvata, a text from the Kandyan perid, narrates the above radical changes to the monastic order and shows that it was not a unanimous decision by the body of the sangha. It says that thirty two ‘senior’ members of the Sangha who opposed this change were banished to Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
by the leaders of the reform. However, Queyroz mentions that in the 17th century no-one save appuhamies (gentlemen) and their relatives could be a monk, which suggests that casteism in the Buddhist order was of greater antiquity.
The Govigama exclusivity of the Sangha was challenged by other castes who, without the patronage of the King of Kandy or of the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
, held their own upasampada
Upasampada
Upasampadā literally means "approaching or nearing the ascetic tradition." In more common parlance it specifically refers to the rite of ordination by which one undertakes the Buddhist monastic life....
ceremony at Totagamuwa Vihara in 1772. Another was held at Tangalle in 1798. Neither of these ceremonies were approved by the Siam Nikaya
Siam Nikaya
The Siam Nikaya is a monastic order within Sri Lanka, founded by Upali Thera and located predominantly around the city of Kandy. It is so named because it originated within Thailand...
which claimed that these were not | in accordance with the Vinaya
Vinaya
The Vinaya is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha, based in the canonical texts called Vinaya Pitaka. The teachings of the Buddha, or Buddhadharma can be divided into two broad categories: 'Dharma' or doctrine, and 'Vinaya', or discipline...
rules.
Hoping to rectify this situation, wealthy laymen from the maritime provinces financed an expedition to Burma to found a new monastic lineage. In 1799, Ambagahapitiye Gnanavimala Thera a monk from the Salagama caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
, from Balapitiya
Balapitiya
Balapitiya is a coastal area in south west Sri Lanka. It is located in the Southern Province in Sri Lanka. Situated 80 km South of Colombo, it is about a two-hour drive from the capital. It is the nearest city to the Maduganga River....
on the south western coast of Sri Lanka, departed for Burma with a group of novices to seek a new succession of Higher ordination. The first bhikkhu
Bhikkhu
A Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
was ordained in Burma in 1800 by the sangharaja
Sangharaja
Sangharaja is the title given in many Theravada Buddhist countries to a senior monk who is the titular head either of a monastic fraternity , or of the Sangha throughout the country...
of Burma in Amarapura
Amarapura
Amarapura is a former capital of Myanmar, and now a township of Mandalay. Amarapura is bounded by the Ayeyarwady river in the west, Chanmyathazi township in the north, and the city of Innwa in the south...
, his party having been welcomed to Burma by King Bodawpaya
Bodawpaya
Bodawpaya was the sixth king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma. Born Maung Shwe Waing and later Badon Min, he was the fourth son of Alaungpaya, founder of the dynasty and the Third Burmese Empire. He was proclaimed king after deposing his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung, son of his oldest brother...
.
The initial mission returned to Sri Lanka in 1803. Soon after their return to the island they established a udakhupkhepa sima (a flotilla of boats moved together to form a platform on the water) on the Maduganga river
Maduganga River
The Maduganga river is a shallow water body in south-west Sri Lanka, which enters the sea at Balapitiya.The Buddhist Amarapura Nikaya sect had its first upasampada on a fleet of boats anchored upon it in 1803...
, Balapitiya
Balapitiya
Balapitiya is a coastal area in south west Sri Lanka. It is located in the Southern Province in Sri Lanka. Situated 80 km South of Colombo, it is about a two-hour drive from the capital. It is the nearest city to the Maduganga River....
and, under the most senior Burmese
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
monk who accompanied them, held an upasampada ceremony on Vesak
Vesak
Vesākha is a holiday observed traditionally by Buddhists in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the South East Asian countries of Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, and Indonesia...
Full Moon Day. The new fraternity came to be known as the Amarapura Nikaya
Amarapura Nikaya
The Amarapura Nikaya is a Sri Lankan monastic fraternity founded in 1800. It is named after the city of Amarapura, Myanmar , the former capital of the Burmese kingdom...
and was soon granted recognition by the colonial British government.
The Amarapura Nikaya was of pivotal importance in the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 19th century. The Salagamas, who became overwhelmingly Buddhist, were in the vanguard of this movement.
Catholics
A large section of the Salagamas became Catholics during the Portuguese period, especially near Mutwal, and Ragama. (The famous poet Alagiyawanne Mukaweti's descendents are Catholics from mutwal)Modern radicalism
The traditional Salagama areas around Balapitiya, Ratgama , Hikkaduwa and Boossa were centres of the pan-Sinhalese populistPopulism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
movement of Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala was a leading figure of Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was one of the founding contributors of Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalism and Protestant Buddhism...
(who was not from the Salagama community)
. The key issues around which this movement emerged were anti-casteism and anti-colonialism.
The same areas were in the vanguard of the independence struggle
Sri Lanka Independence Struggle
The Sri Lankan independence movement was a peaceful political movement which aimed at achieving independence & self rule for Ceylon from the British Empire. It was initiated around the turn of the 20th century lead mostly by the educated middle class and ultimately was successful when February 4,...
and became hotbeds of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Lanka Sama Samaja Party
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is a Trotskyist political party in Sri Lanka....
and of the Communist Party
Communist Party of Sri Lanka
The Communist Party of Sri Lanka is a communist political party in Sri Lanka. At the last legislative elections, on 2 April 2004, the party was part of the United People's Freedom Alliance that won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats....
. These areas were at the forefront of the Hartal
Hartal 1953
Hartal 1953 was a country-wide demonstration, commonly known as a hartal, held in Ceylon on August 12, 1953. It was organized to protest of the policies and actions of the incumbent United National Party government, and resulted in the resignation of the Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake...
of 1953.
Sub-castes
Traditionally, the Salagama were divided into four sub-castes:- Panividakara ('Special messengers') or - headmen (equal to Mohottalas)
- Hewapanne ('soldiers' & military officers) - militia
- Kurundukara (Kurunthukarar in TamilTamil languageTamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
means ('cinnamon workers'). - Uliyakkara- Palanquin bearers and fan bearers)
However, in modern times there is a simple twofold division between the Hewapanne and the Kurundukara. The former are of higher status, including landowners in their ranks,the "Kurundukara's" enjoyed a high status in Sinhala society,before being punished by the King of Kotte in 1406 and downgraded to a lower status,who also imposed cinnamon as a tax, at one stage the tax exceeded their manpower, and became virtually unbearable, and it took a heavy toll in their mortality rate, some of them were subsequently forced to change their names to other castes to escape it.
Occupations
Today, the Salagama predominance in cinnamon cultivation has declined, the higher status gained by the caste leading to its members abandoning their traditional occupation. Many Salagamas in the Hikkaduwa area became coralCoral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
miners until the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 swept away their villages. The coral-lime
Lime (mineral)
Lime is a general term for calcium-containing inorganic materials, in which carbonates, oxides and hydroxides predominate. Strictly speaking, lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. It is also the name for a single mineral of the CaO composition, occurring very rarely...
kilns gave employment to many more.
The Railway made access to employment in Colombo and other urban centres very much easier, and the caste became a very important part of the working class. Its higher echelons became notable in the engineering profession, mainly due to the influence of Sir Cyril de Zoysa
Cyril de Zoysa
Sir Cyril de Zoysa was a Sri Lankan industrialist, Senator and a philanthropist. The President of the Senate of Ceylon from 1960 to 1965, he was a leader in the Buddhist revival movement in Ceylon in the 20th century...
, who owned the South Western Omnibus Company (see Ceylon Transport Board
Ceylon Transport Board
The Sri Lanka Transport Board is a bus service provider in Sri Lanka.Between 1958 and 1978, the Ceylon Transport Board was the nationalised enterprise which handled all public bus transport in Sri Lanka. At its peak, it was the largest omnibus company in the world - with about 7,000 buses and...
) and the Associated Motorways Group, and other businessmen in the motor trade.
Salagama Philanthropists Intellectuals & Poets
- SIR ERNEST DE SILVAErnest de SilvaSir Ernest de Silva was a Sri Lankan business magnate, banker, barrister and public figure, considered to be the most prominent Sri Lankan philanthropist of the 20th century...
He was one of the greatest Philanthropists Sri Lanka ever produced, he gave away land, buildings, and funds, to numerous Orphanages, hospitals, schools, social service bodies, temples, hermitages, without any fanfare or publicity,
he notably established the first Tuberculosis sanatorium in Kandana, late President Hon.R. Premadasa, stated that during Sir. Ernest De Silva's lifetime,if there was a buddhist temple or a school that he did not help, it was not in Srilanka, When he died, the then Prime Minister,Hon.S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike thanked the late Philanthropist, for his service towards his motherland, and adding that he was a true gentleman,in every sense of the word, his mansion is currently used as the Prime Ministers office, Sir Ernest made contributions to Sri Lankan life, by founding the Bank of Ceylon, and was its first Chairman.
- GATE MUDALIYAR TUDOR RAJAPAKSE
Donated more than 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of land in 1895, and financially helped to put up Ananda College
Ananda College
Ananda College , Colombo which is considered as the leading National school in Sri Lanka, was established on November 1, 1886, by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott...
,which is one of the finest schools in Asia today, which had produced many great individuals who had served Sri Lanka.
- MR.PETER DE ABREW RAJAPAKSE
Donated his land to put up Musaeus College
Musaeus College
Musaeus College is a private girls' school in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and was named for Mrs Marie Musaeus Higgins , its Principal from 1895 to 1926. Musaeus College is now a leading academic institution with more 4,000 girls from ages 3 to 18, and is managed by a board of trustees...
- SAMSON DE ABREW RAJAPAKSE (Mudaliyar of the Governors gate),
Gifted a large potion of his inheritance to put up the Colombo General Hospital and the Medical College
Medical college
A Medical College is a trade association that brings together practitioners of a particular geographical area . In common law countries often are grouped by medical specialties ....
, in 1865 and 1875 respectively, which helped many sick people, and also produced world renowned doctors.
- DR.E.M.WIJERAMA (The first president of the Ceylon college of Physicians)
Donated his house at Colombo 7, (While still living) to the Colombo Medical College Library, (WIJERAMA HOUSE).
- SIR. CYRIL DE ZOYSACyril de ZoysaSir Cyril de Zoysa was a Sri Lankan industrialist, Senator and a philanthropist. The President of the Senate of Ceylon from 1960 to 1965, he was a leader in the Buddhist revival movement in Ceylon in the 20th century...
Sir. Cyril was a renowned entrpreneur, he launched,a bus service,as a precursor,to the multiplicity of business he founded,he was also the founder of A.M.W.(associated motor ways), which was one of the largest conglomerates of Ceylon,when his business enterprises began to flourish, he utilised, a good part of his income,for religious, cultural, and educational activities,his extensive service, towards buddhism was enormous,many a buddhist shrine,site, and institution, has benefited through his generosity,notably the Kalutara Bodhi Trust, and the "Kiri Vehera" restoration work, he also helped to build the colombo (Y.M.B.A.), education was yet another field that received his concerned attention, he donated numerous lands, for school buildings, Sir Cyril served Srilanka as the President of the Senate for eight years, in recognition of his contribution to society, he was conferred, the British Imperial Honour of a Knight hood.
- ALAGIYAWANNA MUKAWETI
A renowned poet who enriched the Sinhala language with his famous poems,(Allegiyawannegey Louis Mendis Appuhamy is a member of the salagama community, and is a native of Mutwal, he is a descendant from the illustrious poet Allegiyawannagey mobabbala).:EXTRAIT from Twentieth Century Impressions Of Ceylon(page 625).
Unsubstantiated Myths
- The similarity of Salagamas family names such as Nambudiri or Nambodiri to Brahmin caste names in Kerala has been taken to confirm the belief that they are descendants of high caste Indians. To strengthen the argument further, many salagamas having the name "muni" at the end of the family name, such as Hondamuni, Edirimuni etc., 'muni' is said to be the Indian and Sinhala term used for Brahmins. In fact most surnames were granted by the Dutch as honorifics, so this argument does not apply. 'Muni' actually means 'leader' and it may apply to foremen and chargehands,who were employed as cinnomon peelers,or manuel laboures,who were working for the Dutch.
*But according to the Sinhala English dictionary "Muni "is defined as "Sage",or Hermit, & in the Sanskrit English dictionary, the main definition for "Muni" is Saint,& the other sub definitions are Sage,Seer, Ascetic,& Hermit(esp.one who has taken the vow of silence) & in addition, the two salagama names Yagamuni,& Jagamuni (Sage connected to the performing of yaga rituals)have absolutely no affinity to the word "Leader" ,foreman,or Chargehand,furthermore these are names that are used only by Brahmins in India, even today, & it is highly unlikely the Dutch granting honorific titles, or surnames, to cinnamon peelers,or to manuel laboures,even if these titles were given they would have chosen another term instead of "Muni"which does not correspond with the job they were engaged in,& cinnamon peelers are only one section of salagamas,out of four,which are namely "Panavidakara"(Messengers),"Hewapanne"(Soldiers),"Kurundukara(Cinnamon workers),& "Uliyakkara"(Palinquin bearers),and the suffix "Muni" is found in all four sub castes, but on the other hand, it is quite possible that honorific titles being granted to some, Salagamas like the Salagama sub castes "Panavidakara"(Messengers)or"Hewapanne"(soldiers),who would have been working for the Dutch army or the Dutch government.
- The community was traditionally land owners associated with the management and plantation of cinnamon. In fact only the elite were associated with management. In pre-colonial times ownership was vested with the King, and in Colonial times with the Portuguese crown and subsequently the Dutch East India Company. Dr Colvin R de Silva proudly declared the caste to be the 'first Proletarian Caste' in Sri Lanka *The earliest mentioning about Shali-Grama Brhamins goes back to King Vijaya's Era. Upatissa, the chief advisor or purohita of King Vijaya was a Shali Grama Brahamin, who later ruled the country for a short period after Vijaya. Later in the history, Seven Brahamins were brought from Shali-Grama for the coronation of King Wathhimi Bandara around 12 th Century. There still exists the Flag of Salagama clan which depicts this incident. The modern Salagama clan are descendants of these seven Brahamins who were considered to be high caste. They were later offered high ranking positions in under the Sinhala King. Since in that society, Brahamins were considered as superior to Kshathriyans (rulers), the King was reluctant to punish any member of seven Brahamins at that time. There was one incident about the youungest brahamins, for which a minor punishment was required. At that point, King requested the oldest Brahamin to decide the punishment.Not all their decedents could serve as ministers. Others did different occupations available at that time,though this legend has come down amongst the Salagama community for many generations,it is totally unsubstantiated.
- Although some people claim that there is not substantial evidence to establish the origins of the Salagama community, yet there are material facts available at the Colombo Museum,and at the Galle Kachcheriya and many other government institutions,& about the arrival of seven Brahmins for the coronation ceremony of King Vijayabahu is not only mentioned, even their seven names have been cited in Ceylon History, & one of the names mentioned is "Edirimuni",which is a name which contains the suffix "Muni",(Ediri+Muni), & King Wathhimi's coronation, had been mentioned even in the Mahawamsa. It is a confirmed fact, that seven Brahamins some of them, having names ending with the suffix 'Muni', arrived in Sri Lanka from a village called Shaligramam, in India for the coronation ceremony of King Wathhimi, they arrived at a port in Beruwala Sri Lanka in the west coast. These names like Obina Muni, Garumuni, Karuna Muni, Wali Muni, Jaya Muni still exists as the family names of Salagama People,a copy of the copper plate given by the King to "Periya Mudali Marikkar,& to his group granting them certain things,for having brought the brahmins, written in ancient Tamil,(with the Sinhala translation), appears in the book titled VISHVAYE OBATH MAMATH,& in the same context is a book written by MR.G.H. De Zoysa in 1988, titled VIJAYABAHU 900,which highlights the origins of the Salagama caste & the presentation of the thesis, of King Vijayabahu I, whose 900th coronation anniversary fell on 1988, as a Patron of the Salagama caste,the Namboodiri Brahmins even today have a great reputation for rituals, & Veda mantra chantings, of which the secrets,they have preserved for many generations, perhaps the first time Shali Grama Brahamins were brought to Srilanka was, for the coronation of King Vijaya, the first Sinhala King who was crowned by a Shali Grama Brahamin called Upatissa, and hence, King Wathimi's corronation has to be valid.