Wahumpura
Encyclopedia
Wahumpura, also known as Dewa
or Dewage, is a Second influential and the significant Sri Lankan caste predominantly from the Sabaragamuwa Province
, North Western province
(Whayaba province), Western province
and North Central province. The traditional occupation of this caste was the cultivation of rice paddies. In addition they were the confectioners of Sri Lanka’s past and functioned as a trusted military reserve
of the Sinhalese Kings
. Their bravery was highly admired by Sinhalese Kings, including King Dutugamunu.
people of pre-historic era of the island.
The documented history of the island begins with the arrival of Prince Vijaya, it is stated that the island was inhabited by three tribes during this time Dewa, Nagas
and Yakkas. Also According to the Mahavansa, Gautama Buddha meet the Dewa at Mahiyangana.[4] Buddha gave Sumana Saman (A leader of the Dewa) a few hairs from his head, which were placed in a golden urn and enshrined in a sapphire stupa. A buddhist monk called Sarabhu is then said to have deposited Buddha's ashes in this Stupa. This stupa is now called the "Mahiyangana Stupa" and can be found in Anuradhapura museum.[5] Sumana Saman was a leader of the Dewa who came from the central hills of Sri Lanka.[4] Some Sri Lankan Buddhists worship him as deity.[2] He is said to be the guardian of Adam's peak.
[6]It has been stated that community descent from the attendants of Mahinda
, the son of the Indian emperor Ashoka
, who came to Sri Lanka as a Buddhist missionary in the third century B.C.
, a Sri Lankan town with a large Wahumpura population, derives its name from the Portuguese word for such traditional candy Rapadura.
In times of war, the Sinhalese Kings, who did not maintain standing armies relied on volunteers from this community in forming armies to counter invaders. This community has escaped the British
period consolidation of several cultivator communities as one Govigama
caste and exists as an independent, economically and politically influential caste.
During the colonial period many of this community moved to the coastal provinces to engage in trade and businesses, leaving tradition vocations that were limited by feudal law. Though successful trade, they established themselves as a prominent merchants in the southern and western maritime provinces. Several members of this caste emerged as successful entrepreneurs in the British colonial market economy and were recognized as members of the local elite. They were involved in the freedom movement, early political reforms.
of the island. According to that Dewa is the second largest cast of Sri Lanka. Predominantly Buddhist, the community has not converted to Christianity as had other casts during the colonial period.
Predominant in the Sabaragamuwa
, North Western province
(Whayaba province) and Western provinces
, members of this community have archived prominence, as professionals, businessmen and politicians. Much of people of this cast remain engaged in cultivation in their traditional areas. Although a large community they still remain under represented in parliament, yet retain an influential say in modern Sri Lankan politics.
Dewa people of Sri Lanka
According to the Mahavamsa and Ramayana they lived among the Naga, Yakkha and Raskha.They ousted their arch enemies the Raskha from Sri Lanka, with the help of Lord Vishnu.They were then subsequently conquered by King Ravana of the Raskha...
or Dewage, is a Second influential and the significant Sri Lankan caste predominantly from the Sabaragamuwa Province
Sabaragamuwa Province
Sabaragamuwa, is a province of Sri Lanka, and contains two main cities: Ratnapura and Kegalle. Sabaragamuwa University is in Belihuloya. It is named after its former indigenous inhabitants, namely the Sabara, an indic term for hunter gatherer tribes, a term seldom used in ancient Sri...
, North Western province
North Western Province, Sri Lanka
North Western Province is a province of Sri Lanka. The districts of Kurunegala and Puttalam formulate Wayamba. Its capital is Kurunegala, which has a population of 28,571. The province is known mainly for its numerous coconut plantations. Other main towns in this province are Chilaw and Puttalam...
(Whayaba province), Western province
Western Province, Sri Lanka
The Western Province is the most densely populated province of Sri Lanka. It is home to the legislative capital Sri Jayawardenapura as well to Colombo, the nation's administrative and business center.-Districts:Basnahira is divided into 3 districts:...
and North Central province. The traditional occupation of this caste was the cultivation of rice paddies. In addition they were the confectioners of Sri Lanka’s past and functioned as a trusted military reserve
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
of the Sinhalese Kings
Kings
Kings may refer to:*Kings: The Sovereign Heads of states and/or nations*One of several works known as the "Book of Kings":**The Books of Kings part of the Bible, divided into two parts**The Shahnama, an 11th century epic Persian poem...
. Their bravery was highly admired by Sinhalese Kings, including King Dutugamunu.
Origins
It has been claimed that the origins of the community is linked to the DewaDewa people of Sri Lanka
According to the Mahavamsa and Ramayana they lived among the Naga, Yakkha and Raskha.They ousted their arch enemies the Raskha from Sri Lanka, with the help of Lord Vishnu.They were then subsequently conquered by King Ravana of the Raskha...
people of pre-historic era of the island.
The documented history of the island begins with the arrival of Prince Vijaya, it is stated that the island was inhabited by three tribes during this time Dewa, Nagas
Naga people of Sri Lanka
The Nāka people were the aboriginal inhabitants of Sri Lanka who ruled Nagadeepa or Nāka Nadu - the coastal districts of mostly Western and Northern Ceylon, particularly the Jaffna peninsula from the 6th century BCE to 3rd century CE...
and Yakkas. Also According to the Mahavansa, Gautama Buddha meet the Dewa at Mahiyangana.[4] Buddha gave Sumana Saman (A leader of the Dewa) a few hairs from his head, which were placed in a golden urn and enshrined in a sapphire stupa. A buddhist monk called Sarabhu is then said to have deposited Buddha's ashes in this Stupa. This stupa is now called the "Mahiyangana Stupa" and can be found in Anuradhapura museum.[5] Sumana Saman was a leader of the Dewa who came from the central hills of Sri Lanka.[4] Some Sri Lankan Buddhists worship him as deity.[2] He is said to be the guardian of Adam's peak.
[6]It has been stated that community descent from the attendants of Mahinda
Mahinda
Mahinda was a Buddhist monk depicted in Buddhist sources as bringing Buddhism to Sri Lanka. He was the son of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka.- Historical Sources :...
, the son of the Indian emperor Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
, who came to Sri Lanka as a Buddhist missionary in the third century B.C.
Traditional status
As with most other occupational castes in Sri Lanka, the traditional occupation of this caste was agriculture. In addition, they were the confectioners of Sri Lanka’s past. They provided jaggery, a sweet confection made from palm sap. RatnapuraRatnapura
- Floods :The town of Ratnapura is situated in the flooding plain of the river Kalu. The town experiences regular floods usually in the month of May. There is no large dam across the Kalu, so this leaves the city at the mercy of nature's forces every year. Several proposals have been made to reduce...
, a Sri Lankan town with a large Wahumpura population, derives its name from the Portuguese word for such traditional candy Rapadura.
In times of war, the Sinhalese Kings, who did not maintain standing armies relied on volunteers from this community in forming armies to counter invaders. This community has escaped the British
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
period consolidation of several cultivator communities as one 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 and exists as an independent, economically and politically influential caste.
During the colonial period many of this community moved to the coastal provinces to engage in trade and businesses, leaving tradition vocations that were limited by feudal law. Though successful trade, they established themselves as a prominent merchants in the southern and western maritime provinces. Several members of this caste emerged as successful entrepreneurs in the British colonial market economy and were recognized as members of the local elite. They were involved in the freedom movement, early political reforms.
Current status
Considered to be one of the largest of the Sinhalese casts, it has been estimated that this community makes up close to 30% of the Sinhalese populationSinhalese 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...
of the island. According to that Dewa is the second largest cast of Sri Lanka. Predominantly Buddhist, the community has not converted to Christianity as had other casts during the colonial period.
Predominant in the Sabaragamuwa
Sabaragamuwa Province
Sabaragamuwa, is a province of Sri Lanka, and contains two main cities: Ratnapura and Kegalle. Sabaragamuwa University is in Belihuloya. It is named after its former indigenous inhabitants, namely the Sabara, an indic term for hunter gatherer tribes, a term seldom used in ancient Sri...
, North Western province
North Western Province, Sri Lanka
North Western Province is a province of Sri Lanka. The districts of Kurunegala and Puttalam formulate Wayamba. Its capital is Kurunegala, which has a population of 28,571. The province is known mainly for its numerous coconut plantations. Other main towns in this province are Chilaw and Puttalam...
(Whayaba province) and Western provinces
Western Province, Sri Lanka
The Western Province is the most densely populated province of Sri Lanka. It is home to the legislative capital Sri Jayawardenapura as well to Colombo, the nation's administrative and business center.-Districts:Basnahira is divided into 3 districts:...
, members of this community have archived prominence, as professionals, businessmen and politicians. Much of people of this cast remain engaged in cultivation in their traditional areas. Although a large community they still remain under represented in parliament, yet retain an influential say in modern Sri Lankan politics.
A few prominent members of the community
- God of Sumana saman(Saman Deviyo),as folk lore
- King of Pandukabhaya,as folk lore
- PussadewaTen Giant WarriorsMuch is written of the great war between Sinhala King Dutugemunu and a South Indian Invader, Tamil King Elara for the City of Anuradhapura, and the central role played by Dutugemunu’s Ten Giant Warriors or the great warriors – the dasa maha yodha...
, a senior military leader to King Dutugamunu's army, who saved kings life from an arrow which released from Balluka's bow. Balluka was a brother of Deegajanthu, who was the head of King Elaras army, 161 BC to 137 BC - KanchadewaTen Giant WarriorsMuch is written of the great war between Sinhala King Dutugemunu and a South Indian Invader, Tamil King Elara for the City of Anuradhapura, and the central role played by Dutugemunu’s Ten Giant Warriors or the great warriors – the dasa maha yodha...
- a senior military leader to King Dutugamunu's army, 161 BC to 137 BC - KaladewaTen Giant WarriorsMuch is written of the great war between Sinhala King Dutugemunu and a South Indian Invader, Tamil King Elara for the City of Anuradhapura, and the central role played by Dutugemunu’s Ten Giant Warriors or the great warriors – the dasa maha yodha...
- a senior military leader to King Dutugamunu's army, 161 BC to 137 BC - Gongalegoda BandaGongalegoda BandaWansapurna Dewage David alias Gongale Goda Banda was the leader of the 1848 Rebellion, pretender to the throne of Kandy and a National Hero of Sri Lanka.-Early life:...
- freedom fighter, the leader of the 1848 Matale RebellionMatale RebellionThe Matale Rebellion, also known as the Rebellion of 1848 took place in Ceylon against the British colonial government under Governor Lord Torrington, 7th Viscount Torrington. It marked a transition from the classic feudal form of anti-colonial revolt to modern independence struggles...
and pretender to the throne of Kandy - Captain Edward Henry PedrisHenry PedrisCaptain Duenuge Edward Henry Pedris CTG was a militia officer and a prominent socialite in colonial Ceylon who was executed by British officials for alleged incitement of racial riots in 1915, which were proven false...
- prominent figure executed by the British - Cyril MathewCyril MathewKaluwadewage Cyril Mathew was a Sri Lankan politician and a writer.Mathew belonged to the United National Party and was a minister in the cabinet of President J.R. Jayewardene in the 1977s and 1980s. Mathew was the author of the book Sinhalese! Rise to Protect Buddhism, which urged Sinhalese to...
- Former Cabinet Minister - Nanda Mathew - Former Cabinet Minister and Governor of the Uva ProvinceUva ProvinceUva is Sri Lanka's second least populated province, with 1,187,335 people, created in 1896. It consists of two districts: Badulla බදුල්ල பதுளை and Moneragala මොනරාගල மொனராகல. The provincial capital is Badulla. Uva is bordered by Eastern, Southern and Central provinces...
- H. N. S. Karunatillake - Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri LankaCentral Bank of Sri LankaThe Central Bank of Sri Lanka is the monetary authority of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1950, two years after independence. The founder governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was John Exter, while the minister of finance at the time was J.R...
http://www.cbsl.lk/cbsl/notice.html - S W Alawatuwala - Former MP of Kurunegala District
- Kala Suri Arisen Ahubudu
- Hon. Kumara Dewapura - Director of Group of Tri Star
- Champika Premadasa - MP of Kegalle district
- K D Lalkanth - MP of Anuradapura district