The Mural in the Auditorium

The Mural adorning the walls of the auditorium depicts the saga of a country whose sovereignty and independence were lost and subsequently regained. It tells the story of a few Kandyan Chiefs who conspired with the British to dethrone their King who was a Nayakkar of Indian origin and thereby retain power among themselves. By the time they realised their folly it was too late, for they had signed the Kandyan Convention and ceded the Kingdom over to the British. The aftermath of the cession was an angry resurgence and revolt by some national minded courageous men who ultimately paid with their lives.

After over a hundred years the revolt never really ended, this time not by arms and impulsive men, but by intelectual prowess of great patriotic men who pushed forward with a resolute determination and finally succeeded in regarding the lost sovereignty and independence and handed Sri Lanka over to their successors who fashioned the country to be equal among other intelectual nations of the world.

The mural begins, on the left wall, with the meeting of Gen. Macdowall by Pilimatalawe Dissawa on 12th March 1810. The second frame illustrates a discussion Sir John D' Oyly had with the Chief Ehelepola, Chief Molligoda and Adigar of Kapuwatte. The third frame depicts an instance inflamed by emotions of nationalism. 2nd March 1815 was the date fixed to sign the Kandyan Convention at the Magul Maduwa - the King's Court. Before even reading out the convention an English soldier hoisted the English flag - the Union Jack. This was an illegal gesture since the convention had not been signed at the moment. Enraged by this insolence Ven. Wariyapola Sumangala leapt to the flag staff, pulled the flag down and trampled it demanding "Who ordered you to do this. You have no right to hoist this flag yet!" The soldier with his sword drawn was about to strike the Thera when Sir John D' Oyly intervened, restrained the soldier and apologised to the monk.

The next frame illustrates, having dethroned the Nayakkar King, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, and ceding the Kandyan Kingdom to King George III of Great Britain, the signing (with conditions) of the Kandyan Convention on 2nd of March 1815 by

Robert Brownrigg as the Commander-in-Chief of the King of England
and on behalf of the Kandyan People :-
Chief Ehelepola
Chief Adigar Molligoda
Second Adigar Pilimatalawwe
Dissawe of Four Korales, Pilimatalawwe Junior
Dissawe of Uva, Monerawila
Dissawe of Matale, Ratwatta
Molligoda Junior the Dissawe of Three Korales
Dullewa, Dissawa of Walapane
Dissawa of Wellassa and Bintenna and Galagama
Dissawa of Tamankaduwa
Galagoda, Dissawa of Nuwara Kalawiya

The Sinhala Chiefs sought the help of the British with the intention of crowning a Sinhala Buddhist as King. But their plans collapsed amidst the crafty machinations of Governor Brownrigg designed to firmly establish the British reign in Sri Lanka. Thus by signing the Convention the Sinhalese finally had to cede the Kandyan Kingdom which had been an independent, sovereign state for two thousand three hundred and fifty seven years.

The first struggle for liberation known as the 1817 Kandyan revolt led by Sinhalese hero Keppetipola is depicted in the next frame. The struggle failed and Keppetipola who was convicted as the man who initiated and organized the revolt was sentenced to death by decapitation. He was accordingly executed near the Bogambara tank.

In 1848 when the people of Matale and Seven Korales rose up against the rule of the British empire it was Gongalegoda Banda who led them. The British who suppressed the uprising took into custody Gongalegoda Banda the Leader and Kudapola Thero who assisted him and sentenced them to death. The first phase ends here, which was the armed struggle for liberation.

The mural on the right-side begins with the images of the Leaders who guided an anarchial, divided and helpless nation to raise its head again. When the foreigners were leading the country, nation and religion to ruination it was Anagarika Dharmapala who generated in minds of the Sinhalese the love for the nation and the religion. In 1886 Colonel Olcott and Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera helped him to spread Buddhism. It was the cultural struggle launched by Dharmapala and other Buddhist leaders which laid the foundation for the background to gain independence in 1948. This mural consists of 18 frames and leads to the independent Sri Lanka of today.

Colonel Olcott and his wife, who came to Sri Lanka founded the Parama Vignana Buddhist Society. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala, Migettuwatte Gunananda Theras supported Colonel Olcott in founding Buddhist schools for Buddhist Children. He was the pioneer who designed the Buddhist flag with its shades acceptable to everybody. Gunananda Thera had delivered more than 5000 sermons including Liyanagemulla, Gampola and Panadura demolishing Christian arguments and thereby enlivening the Buddhist sentiments in the people.

The second frame depicts one of the most tragical events in recent history. William Henry Pedris was arrested on the false allegation of leading the 1915 revolt against the government and shot dead in public on 7th July 1915. This incident gave birth to the political reformation activities of Ceylon Reform League by Ponnambalam Arunachalam joining hands with F. R. Senanayake's Lanka Mahajana Sabhawa.

Frame 3 gives the portraits of the Pioneers of Ceylon National Congress
namely,
W.A. de Silva, Sir D. B. Jayatillake
Sir James Peiris, Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam
E.W. Perera, E. W. Jayewardene
D. R. Wijewardene, F. R. Senanayake
S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, T. B. Jayah
Walisinghe Harischandra, John de Silva

Frame 4 depicts a symbol of Appreciation by a grateful Nation
On a tour of England Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan made several speeches, seminars etc requesting a Westminster type government to Sri Lanka. He explained the correct position of the 1915 revolt to the Secretaries and Members of Parliament and the representatives of the Queen of England. On his return to the island on 17th February 1916 he was given a warm welcome by the leaders of Sri Lanka. As a mark of recognition of the service to the country the people of Sri Lanka led by Sinhalese Leaders placed him on a cart and pulled the cart along the streets of Colombo. The leaders so gathered included F.R. Senanayake, A. E. Gunasinghe, A.W.P. Jayatillaka, E.W. Perera and P. N. Jayanethi.

Frame 5 Universal Franchise in 1931

The most significant feature of the Donoughmore Constitution in 1931 was the grant of Universal Franchise to the Sri Lankans. As a result every person over the age of 21 was entitled to vote. Prior to 1931 only a few selected males had this right. Since it was an era where the intellectual prowess was still premature the voter indicated his option by marking a cross against the symbol of the candidate of his preference.

Frame 6 shows the First State Council Building .

In 1912, Sir Henry Mc cullum having pointed out the necessity for a State Council Building, a site was selected at Galle Face, Colombo and plans were approved in June 1920. The new State Council Building was ceremonially declared open by Sir Herbert Stanley, Governor of the Legislative Council. In this building met the State Council from 1931-1941, the House of Representatives from 1947-1972 and the National State Assembly from 1971-1978. In September 1978 after the new constitution coming into force it became the House of Parliament.

Frame 7 shows the The First State Council established under the Donoughmore Constitution. The council had 50 elected members, 8 appointed members and a cabinet of Ministers.

Frame 8 portrays:
Sir D B Jayatillake who was the Leader of the House of the State Council
The Sooriyamal Movement
J. R. Jayewardene in discussion with Sri Javaharlal Nehru

Frame 9 With the introduction of the Soulbury Constitution the first House of Representatives was elected in August/September 1947. The frame shows the first cabinet of Ministers.

Frame 10 Portrays the first Governor of Ceylon Lord Soulbury and the first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake.

Frame 11 signifies the dawn of independence in 1948, the peasant colonisation movement and the origin of the Colombo Plan.

Frame 12 Portrays Dudly Senanayake, Sir John Kotelawala and C.W.W. Kannangara

Frame 13 signifies the Bandaranaike era,
: S.W.R.D. Banradanaike, Prime Minister
: Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike, World's first Lady Prime Minister
: The Non Aligned Summit Conference at the Bandaranaike Memorial
International Conference Hall
: The new State Emblem of the Democratic Socialist Republic of
Sri Lanka

Frame 14 Portrays the first Executive President of Sri Lanka,
His Excellency J. R. Jayewardene

Frame 15 shows the new Parliament Building in Jayewardenepura Kotte and the Mahaweli Project

Frame 16 Portrays President Jayewardene and Gamini Dissanayake Minister of Mahaweli Development

Frame 17 Portrays President Ranasinghe Premadasa and his Udagam Movement

Frame 18 Portrays the first Lady Executive President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Banaranaike Kumarathunge and the Sudu Nelum Movement

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