Chilaw

Chilaw භලාවත சிலாபம்
—  Town and Urban Council  —
Chilaw භලාවත சிலாபம் Location in Sri Lanka
Coordinates: 7°35′N 79°48′E / 7.583°N 79.8°E / 7.583; 79.8
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	North Western Province
District	Puttalam District
Time zone	+5.30

Chilaw (භලාවත/Halāvata in Sinhala and சிலாபம் /Cilāpam in Tamil) is a western seaboard town on the island of Sri Lanka.It is a bustling town with a famous fishmarket and beach. In the last few years several hotel developments have emerged in order to cater to the needs of tourists.

Chilaw is a famous pearling, and fishing town on the west coast of Sri Lanka.

Thousands of pilgrims, visitors and tourists flock to Chilaw to attend the annual Munneswaram Festival at the well known Munneswaram Temple in the town.

Mahatma Gandhi, visited Chilaw in November 1927.

Munneswaram Temple

Tourists visit the well known Hindu temple located in Munneswaram, situated in the historic Demala Pattuva ("Tamil division") region in the Puttalam District. Every year people flock to Chilaw to observe the Munneswaram Festival. Traders sell various hand painted animals made out of clay such as the deer, money box tills and 'raban' (traditional hand drums) from stalls all over the town, during the Munneswaram Festival.

The main festivals celebrated at the temple include Navarathri and Sivarathri. The former is a nine-day long festival in honour of the presiding Goddess, while the latter is an over-night observation in honour of Lord Shiva. In addition to these two Hindu festivals, the temple has a festival of its own, the Munneswaram festival, a four-week long event attended by Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics, and Muslims.

Shirley Corea was MP for Chilaw and was the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 1967-1970.

The visit of Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi, the 'Father of India,' visited Chilaw in November 1927 on his first and only journey to Ceylon. This was a historic visit - Gandhi was invited to Chilaw by the famed freedom fighters, Charles Edgar Corea ^[1] and his brother Victor Corea^[2] who lived in the town, the brothers founded the Chilaw Association and the Ceylon National Congress and campaigned hard for the independence of Ceylon. The Corea Family have had a strong link with Chilaw. There is a saying in Sri Lanka that Chilaw is well known for the three 'C's' - Crabs, Coconuts and Coreas.

The historic town of Chilaw.

Mahatma Gandhi stayed in Chilaw for a few days with the Corea Family in the iconic house called 'Sigiriya' in the heart of the town in November 1927.

Sri Lankan author Kumari Jayawardena, writing about the Coreas said: 'Unconnected to the liquor trade but making their money on plantation ventures was the Corea Family of Chilaw, an influential goyigama group with a history going back to Portuguese rule when they were warriors to Sinhala kings. During Dutch and British rule, members of the family were officials serving the state in various ways and rewarded with titles.Some members of the family took to the legal and medical professions, most notably the sons of Charles Edward Corea (a solicitor), who were active in local politics and in the Chilaw Association which campaigned against British land policies - especially the Waste Lands Ordinance, and for political reforms. The most active of Corea's sons was C.E.(Charles Edgar) who spoke up for peasant rights and was militant in his stand against the government. He was President of the Ceylon National Congress in 1924. C.E.Corea's brother, Alfred Ernest, was a doctor and the youngest Victor Corea was a lawyer who achieved fame for leading a campaign (and going to jail) in 1922 to protest the Poll Tax on all males; he was the first President of the Ceylon Labour Union led by A.E.Goonesinha and was active in th Ceylon Labour Party. While being professionals and political activists, the Coreas were also important landowners. '^[3]

During his visit to Chilaw, Mahatma Gandhi was accorded a warm welcome by the people of Chilaw. He stayed for several days in a Corea home called 'Sigiriya,' the house was situated in the town and it was the central hub of the key visit.^[4] According to an article in the 'Sunday Observer' in Sri Lanka: 'When Mahatma Gandhi came to Ceylon he visited Chilaw to attend a banquet that was hosted by the Coreas at "Sigiriya" the house that belonged to Victor Corea's sister and husband. Here, Mahatma Gandhi presented a colour poster under the headline Fighters for Swaraj that featured all the national heroes of India each in oval shaped bust size photographs to Victor Corea as his photograph too was included in the poster amongst the political giants of India. This alone was a glowing tribute to the campaign for freedom, initiated by Victor Corea that was somewhat similar to the campaign conducted in India. '^[5]

Famous sons of Chilaw

Some of the sons of Chilaw have gone on to represent the town with distinction in the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Srikuradas Charles Shirley Corea was a distinguished parliamentarian, MP for Chilaw and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Ceylon from 1967-1970.^[6] Harindra Corea was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister of the Government of Sri Lanka in the 1990s and was also the member of parliament for Chilaw.^[7]

A well known son of Chilaw, Dr.Granville Fernando in his article 'Hail Chilaw, my Home town!' noted: 'Chilaw is known as 'Halawatha' in Sinhala.Chilaw in early times was not only a reputed sea port it was also famous for its pearl fisheries. According to some writers like Donald Ferguson, Chilaw is connected with the Tamil term 'Salapam' which means diving. ' ^[8]

The writer, poet and musician, Herschel Pandithasekera who also went under the name of 'Gallinago,' lived in Chilaw .He was well known for a song he had composed titled: 'I Love Chilaw.' Pandithasekera always played the ukelele instrument when he sang his composition.^[9]

Marians Cricket Club

Chilaw is the home of a well known cricket club in Sri Lanka called the 'Marians Cricket Club.' They play their home games at Colombo Cricket Club Ground. The club has won the one day Tournament in 2005 Sri Lankan first class competition. They have been successful in limited overs cricket, Chilaw reached the final of the International 20:20 Club Championship in 2005.

St.Mary's College

One of the oldest English educational institutions of Ceylon, the College was first established as St.Mary's English School in Jetty Street, Chilaw. It was situated in the premises of late G.S Perera. In 1905 St. Mary's English School was shifted to the Queen Victoria memorial hall which was situated near the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Chilaw. St.Mary’s College was handed over to the Government of Sri Lanka on 8 October 1962. On 1 January 1963 the entire property of Mr.Henry de Costa’s donation, together with annexed land and the Brothers’ building was vested in the Government.^[10]

See also

• Charles Edgar Corea
• Victor Corea
• Srikuradas Charles Shirley Corea
• Harindra Corea
• Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Chilaw, Sri Lanka
• Munneswaram temple
• Chilaw Marians Cricket Club
• List of political families in Sri Lanka
• Edirimanne Corea Family Union

References

1. ^ "C.E.Corea, President of the Ceylon National Congress in 1924 - the Handbook of the Ceylon National Congress". http://www.printsasia.com/book/The-Hand-Book-of-the-Ceylon-National-Congress-9-9-928-S-W-R-D-Bandaranaike. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
2. ^ "Chilaw to honour C. E. Victor S. Corea, Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka". http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/06/10/fea11.asp. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
3. ^ "Kumari Jayawardena in her book 'Nobodies to Somebodies - The Rise of the Colonial Bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka,' writes about the Coreas on page 194 (Sanjiva Books)". http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20090628/review.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
4. ^ "Gandhi at Sigiriya - article in the Daily News, Sri Lanka". http://chilaw-and-gandhi.tripod.com/id3.html. Retrieved 2011-07-09. 
5. ^ "Reference to Mahatma Gandhi staying in a Corea Family home in Chilaw in 1927 in the Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka". http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/01/29/fea30.html. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
6. ^ "Speakers - Shirley Corea - Handbook of the Parliament of Sri Lanka". http://www.parliament.lk/handbook_of_parliament/speakers.jsp. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
7. ^ "Harindra Corea MP for Chilaw on the Sri Lanka Political Portal - General Election of 1977". http://www.politics.amazon.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=458:sri-lankan-parliamentary-election-1977&catid=575:elections&Itemid=6. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
8. ^ "Granville Fernando's article was titled: 'Hail Chilaw!My Home town!'". http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/6b0cb/15cd65/#ixzz1TuLJBlNG. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
9. ^ "Herschel Pandithasekera composed a song called 'I Love Chilaw.'". http://chilaw-and-gandhi.tripod.com/id2.html. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
10. ^ "St. Mary's College, Chilaw". http://smcobacmb.org/history.html. Retrieved 2011-08-03. 

Bibliography

• The Mahavamsa - History of Sri Lanka, The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka
• Ceylon and the Portuguese, 1505-1658 By P.E. Peiris (1920)
• Great Sinhalese Men and Women of History - Edirille Bandara (Domingos Corea) By John M. Senaveratna, (1937)
• A History of Sri Lanka By Professor K.M.De Silva (1981)
• Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries and Resources By A.W. Wright, Asian Educational Services,India; New Ed edition (15 Dec 2007)

Maps

• Detailed map of Chilaw and Sri Lanka

Coordinates: 7°35′N 79°48′E / 7.583°N 79.8°E / 7.583; 79.8