Sri Lanka, British colony – Regular issues, 1/2 Cent – 1940

Description

The British arrived in Sri Lanka in 1796 and gradually established their control over the island, displacing local kingdoms and consolidating their authority. In 1802, Amiens”s treaty between Britain and France officially granted British control over Sri Lanka, which was known as Ceylon at that time. Under the British domain, significant changes were implemented in the political, economic and social structure of Sri Lanka. A colonial administration system was established with British governors and officials. The island became an important colony producing crops such as tea, coffee, rubber and coconut, which led to changes in the land tenure system and a greater dependence on plantations. British colonization also had an impact on Cingalesa and Tamil society. Western education was introduced and schools and universities were established. In addition, the migration of Indian workers, mainly tamile, was promoted to work on plantations. As the twentieth century advanced, the demands of independence and autonomy by political leaders and the nationalist movement in Sri Lanka increased. The National Congress of Ceilán, led by figures such as D. S. Senanayake, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and Don Stephen Senanayake, advocated independence and self -governance. Finally, in 1948, Sri Lanka achieved his peaceful independence from British domain and became a sovereign state. However, the inheritance of British colonization, including the administrative structure, the justice system and the planting economy, continued to influence the policy and society of Sri Lanka.