VENERABLE WARIYAPOLA HENRY STEEL OLCOTT

SRI SUMANGALA THERA lcott is probably the only major contributor to

(1795) the nineteenth- n 1818, a rebellion started in century Sinhalese the uplands of the country O Buddhist revival against the British rule. who was actually born and With the outbreak of I raised in the Protestant Chris- this rebellion, the tian tradition, though he had Venerable Thera removed the already left Protestantism for Relic of the tooth of Buddha Spiritualism long before he became from the in a Buddhist. His childhood Protestant- , and went into hiding in (1832 – 1907)

ism is a reason that many scholars have Hanguranketa. He later handed it referred to the Buddhist modernism he infl uenced over to Keppetipola Disawe, who was as Protestant . leading the rebellion. The possession of the Tooth VENERABLE MIGETTUWATTE VENERABLE HIKKADUWE The American-born military offi cer, journalist, lawyer and the co- Relic was traditionally regarded as a symbol of the right to rule the founder and fi rst President of the Theosophical Society is considered country, and the acquisition of it was a large morale boost to the GUNANANDA THERA SRI SUMANGALA THERA a notable hero in the struggle of ’s independence and a pio- rebels, who intensified their activities after that. However, the Brit- neer of the present religious, national and cultural revival. ish captured Venerable Sri Sumangala Thera in November 1818 and recovered the Tooth Relic, which they ceremonially brought into he Venerable Thera was Kandy again. The rebellion ended soon after this. Venerable Sri Su- he Christian missionaries the chairman of mangala Thera was convicted for treason and imprisoned in . were propagating the ‘Colombo PONNAMBALAM RAMANATHAN Some accounts say that he was released on 13 April 1821 by order the religion TCommit- of the then Governor of Ceylon. Tthrough the tee’ which onnambalam Ramana- pamphlets originally designed the (1823 –1890) than founded the and the books. Rev- Buddhist fl ag in 1885. National Reform GONGALEGODA BANDA erend D J Gogerly of He was also a pioneer PAssociation the Wesleyan mission in Buddhist newspaper in 1907. He e was seen at the Da- published Christian journalism in Sri Lanka. contested the 1911 legis- lada Maligawa Pragnapthi in 1849. The paper Lankaloka was lative council election as just before Venerable Gunana- started by him and after- a candidate for the Edu- Hthe 1848 nda Thera replied with wards he assisted the local cated Ceylonese seat and Rebellion Durlabdi Vinodini in 1862 Buddhist community to publish was elected to the Leg- broke out. Gongalegoda for Buddhists. Venerable papers such as Sarasavisandaresa and Sinhala Baud- islative Council, defeating Banda led the protest Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera dhaya. physician Marcus Fernando. march regarding unjus- wrote Christiani Vada Mardanaya and Samyak He was well honoured and awarded many titles by Sri Ramanathan was responsible for tifi able taxes which was Darshanaya in 1862-63. Soon after, publications were replaced by Lankans as well as the people of many other countries the release of the Sinhalese leaders (1809 –1849) held on July 6, 1848, near public debates. in the East and the West. Reputed and renowned insti- who had been arrested following the 1915

the Kandy Kachchery. This The Baddegama debate originated from an argument arising (1827-1911) tutions in Ireland, Italy, Hungary and Germany also Ceylonese riots, travelling to the UK to make their case. rebellion was the fi rst ma- between a young monk and a Christian priest in the temple of bestowed felicitation degrees on him. He was re-elected at the 1916 legislative council election, jor uprising against the British Baddegama. Gunananda Thera and many other monks including defeating Justus Sextus Wijesinghe Jayewardene.

Bulatgama Dhammalankara, Sri Sumanatissa, Kahawe Nanana- (1851 –1930) since the Uva Rebellion in 1818. The anti-colonial movement on the island in 1848 was led by leaders nda, Hikkaduwe Sumangala, Weligama Sri Sumangala, Pothuwila such as Gongalegoda Banda, , Dingi Rala who were Gunaratana participated in the debate. The debate was not held VENERABLE RATMALANE PONNAMBALAM ARUNACHALAM supported by many of the local people. face-to-face. This is because if the manner of the behaviour of the Christian debaters had led to confl icts, the Buddhists, as the ma- SRI DHARMALOKA THERA runachalam got involved in jority, would naturally be blamed. Considering the situation the politics during his uni- PURAN APPU two parties agreed to carry out the debate in writing. Originally he Venerable Thera was an educa- versity days. He agi- the text were composed in Baddegama, though later writings tated for political were carried out in Galle. The Waragoda debate was also held in tionist and revivalist of Sri Lankan A e rose from among the Buddhism. He was reputed reform whilst still common people 1865. for his knowledge working in the civil service. In re- and he dared A third debate was conducted in Udanwita in Hathara korele T tirement Arunachalam became of Pali, Sanskrit to challenge present day Kegalle District. H and Buddhist Philosophy. involved in politics, founding the might of The Creator, the Redeemer and the Eternal heaven were the He was the founder of the Ceylon National Association British imperialism at its debating topics. The debate was carried out on February 1, 1866. Vidyalankara Pirivena, and the Ceylon Reform League, peak of power and glory John Edwards Hunupola (Hunupola nilame) represented the Chris- Peliyagoda, which was of which he was chairman, in 1917. during the Victorian era. tian side; he was a former Buddhist monk and Christian convert. granted the Univer- He was one of the founders of the On July 7, 1848, about As agreed before the debate Gunananda Thera published the Ceylon National Congress (CNC) in 1919 and (1812 -1848) sity status later by the a century before Ceylon summary of the debate. government in 1959, served as its fi rst president from 1919 to 1920. Arunachalam left gained Independence, Puran In response Hunupola Nilame also published his own version of and presently known as the CNC in 1921 following disputes about communal representation in the Appu led an attack on . a summary. Gunananda Thera issued more publications to coun- University of Kelaniya. Legislative Council, which Arunachalam opposed, and the connivance of This was successful. However, the ter the Hunupola nilame's summary. There are no records of the Sri Dharmaloka College in Sinhalese politicians which resulted in no Tamils being elected from Western other leaders who attacked Liyanagemulla debate, the only known fact being that it was held Kelaniya is named after him. Province at the 1921 legislative council election. (1828 – 1885) (1828 –1885) and Wariyapola failed. in 1866. (1853 –1924) He founded the Ceylon Tamil League in 1923.