01-04-2009, 10:20 PM
Source: http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.a...me=m3GntEw72ik=
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Kilinochchiâs past
The impending fall of the LTTE stronghold Kilinochchi to the Sri Lankan forces, has made D G A Perera recall how in the 13th century, a similar event with far reaching consequences occurred. The Sinhalese king Parakramabahu II had then driven the Indian invader, Magha, out of Kilinochchi and other parts of the Northeast, and regained the territory for the Sinhalese, Perera wrote in âThe Islandâ daily recently.
Magha from Kalinga had invaded Sri Lanka with a<b> âsavage forceâ of Keralite mercenaries in 1215.</b> He built 15 fortresses from Trincomalee in the east to Mannar in the west through Jaffna. One of his strongest fortresses was in Pulachchery, which Perera says is the modern Kilinochchi, as both Pulachchery and Kilinochchi mean âbird sanctuaryâ.
According to him, the âoriginalâ Sinhalese name for Kilinochchi was âGiraa Nochchiyaâ which means a sanctuary for parrots.
Ironically, Parakramabahu II had to take the help of the Cholas and Pandyas of Tamil Nadu to get rid of Magha and his Keralite hoardes.
Chandrabhanu II, an invader of Malay origin, who had taken Jaffna by then, also helped.
History seems to be repeating itself with Colombo seeking the help of New Delhi, other governments, and Karuna, to crush the LTTE.
Afro-Sri Lankans
Few know that in the fascinating ethnomosaic that is Sri Lanka, there is a community of Afro-Sri Lankans. They are the Kaffir of Puttalam and Batticaloa districts who stand out with their kinky hair. Historians say that they were brought by the Portuguese to Sri Lanka via Goa in the 16th century, converted to Catholicism, and made to work under very exploitative conditions.
The Dutch, who followed the Portuguese, used 4,000 of them to build the Colombo Fort. Sadly, even after five centuries today, the Kaffir are mainly manual labourers. Over the years, most have merged with the Sinhalese, and only about 215 families still retain their identity. Even these have no knowledge of their original tongue, Afro- Portuguese Creole. But amazingly, the Kaffirâs vigorous Afro-Portuguese musical and dance tradition has survived the ravages of time and cultural onslaughts.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I had read a book about Spice trade in the S.E.Asia, and it was mentioned that the Portuguese had used Malabar sharp shooters (archers) for many a battle in the Indonesia.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Kilinochchiâs past
The impending fall of the LTTE stronghold Kilinochchi to the Sri Lankan forces, has made D G A Perera recall how in the 13th century, a similar event with far reaching consequences occurred. The Sinhalese king Parakramabahu II had then driven the Indian invader, Magha, out of Kilinochchi and other parts of the Northeast, and regained the territory for the Sinhalese, Perera wrote in âThe Islandâ daily recently.
Magha from Kalinga had invaded Sri Lanka with a<b> âsavage forceâ of Keralite mercenaries in 1215.</b> He built 15 fortresses from Trincomalee in the east to Mannar in the west through Jaffna. One of his strongest fortresses was in Pulachchery, which Perera says is the modern Kilinochchi, as both Pulachchery and Kilinochchi mean âbird sanctuaryâ.
According to him, the âoriginalâ Sinhalese name for Kilinochchi was âGiraa Nochchiyaâ which means a sanctuary for parrots.
Ironically, Parakramabahu II had to take the help of the Cholas and Pandyas of Tamil Nadu to get rid of Magha and his Keralite hoardes.
Chandrabhanu II, an invader of Malay origin, who had taken Jaffna by then, also helped.
History seems to be repeating itself with Colombo seeking the help of New Delhi, other governments, and Karuna, to crush the LTTE.
Afro-Sri Lankans
Few know that in the fascinating ethnomosaic that is Sri Lanka, there is a community of Afro-Sri Lankans. They are the Kaffir of Puttalam and Batticaloa districts who stand out with their kinky hair. Historians say that they were brought by the Portuguese to Sri Lanka via Goa in the 16th century, converted to Catholicism, and made to work under very exploitative conditions.
The Dutch, who followed the Portuguese, used 4,000 of them to build the Colombo Fort. Sadly, even after five centuries today, the Kaffir are mainly manual labourers. Over the years, most have merged with the Sinhalese, and only about 215 families still retain their identity. Even these have no knowledge of their original tongue, Afro- Portuguese Creole. But amazingly, the Kaffirâs vigorous Afro-Portuguese musical and dance tradition has survived the ravages of time and cultural onslaughts.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I had read a book about Spice trade in the S.E.Asia, and it was mentioned that the Portuguese had used Malabar sharp shooters (archers) for many a battle in the Indonesia.