Arachchi

An arachchi (Sinhalese: ආරච්චි) was an influential post in the Sri Lankan administration system.

History

The post was in existence before the colonial rule of Sri Lanka (Ceylon).[1] After the coastal areas were taken over by the colonial rulers, i.e. the Portuguese, Dutch and finally the British, they retained the post in their administration system.

During the British administration official and titular appointments were made (both in up country and low country) by the government agent of the district. Appointments were non-transferable and usually hereditary, made to locals, usually from wealthy influential families loyal to the British Crown. This was an influential post, as the holder had much control over the people of the area and had limited police powers since he was responsible to keep the peace, carry out revenue collection and assist in judicial functions. This became part of the Native Department of the British Government of Ceylon.

Several vidanes came under the supervision of an arachchi. The post of vidane was replaced with the post of grama niladhari in the 1970s.

Following the formation of the State Council of Ceylon, one of its members, H. W. Amarasuriya, called for an inquiry into the headman system. A commission was formed made up of retired civil servants and lawyers headed by H.M. Wedderburn. The commission reported on reforming the headman system or replacing it with transferable district revenue officers. In March the headman system was abolished as an administrative system, with the titles of mudaliyar (mudali - මුදලි) and muhandiram retained by the government to be awarded as honors. This practice remained until the suspension of Celonese honors in 1956. The minor headman positions were retained, surviving well into the 1970s when the post of vidane was replaced with the transferable post of grama niladhari (village officer).

Ranks of the British arachchies

British appointed arachchies had several classes;[2]

Official
Awarded as an honor (titular)
Ex-offico

List of prominent arachchies

Official
Awarded as an honor (titular)

See also

References and external links

  1. ↑ "Family #3114 Ehelepola - The village of the origin of the Ehelepola family is situated in Udugoda-Udasiya Pattu of Matale North. In fact Ehelepola is not only a village by itself but a cluster of villages (Wasama) under the control of a single Arachchi or Headman". Sri Lankan Sinhala Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  2. ↑ Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: The Native Headman System
  3. ↑ "Family #3086 Don David Rajapaksa Vidane-Arachchi of Ihala Valikada Korale, Giruvapattuva". Sri Lankan Sinhala Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  4. ↑ "Family #3069 Don Jakolis Rupasinghe Gunawardena Vidane Arachchi of Boralugoda". Sri Lankan Sinhala Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  5. ↑ "Philip Gunawardena - an illustrious statesman".
  6. ↑ "Family #214 Mathicham Muhammedh Vidane of Negombo". Sri Lankan Muslim Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  7. ↑ "Family #3190 Wijesinghe". Sri Lankan Sinhala Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  8. ↑ "Family # 137 Village Headman Saifu Kandu". Sri Lankan Muslim Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  9. ↑ "Family # 3126 De Saram". Sri Lankan Sinhala Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  10. ↑ "Family #344 Galagaha Vidanalage Gedara Ismail Marikkar Grama Arachchi of Mawanella". Sri Lankan Muslim Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  11. ↑ "Family #215 Peace Officer Unus Ibunu of Nelundeniya". Sri Lankan Muslim Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
  12. ↑ "Family #052 Pawalkodi Mohideen Sahib". Sri Lankan Muslim Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
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