histoy G-10 E

revolution. Accordingly, we consider that the
transformations, which took place in this country
during the British ruling, occurred due to this
novel thinking. Though there was a traditional
system of king’s ruling until the Kandyan
kingdom was surrendered, that ruling system
ended after Sri Lanka became a colony. This
country received a parliamentary government
system due to governmental reforms introduced
by the English. During the British rule, the
then existed provincial ruling of this country
too underwent a change. They introduced a
new administrative system and a class of new
administrative officers instead of the traditional
leaders such as Adikarams, Disawes, Mohottalas,
and Koralas in the Kandyan kingdom. Further,
the ancient legal system which existed in this
country too went into disuse. During the Dutch
ruling, the Roman and Dutch law had also been
introduced to this country. During the British
ruling, they established a legal system, which
accorded with the fundamentals of the European
legal system, and a court system for justice in
this country.

Economic Changes

The cities close to the Mediterranean Sea such
as Venice, Genova, and Constantinople were
prominent in the European trade affairs during
the mediaeval period. However, after the
Renaissance the countries close to the Atlantic
sea such as Portugal, Spain, France, Holland and
England were more important in the European
trade affairs.

With the arrival of European nations to this
country, direct trade relations started between
Sri Lanka and Europe. The Dutch cultivated
cinnamon in this country aiming at trading
and the British cultivated trade items such as
coffee, cocoa, cinchona, tea and rubber. As
this country got accustomed to a commercial
economic pattern under the Europeans, the
rural self sufficient economy, which had existed
so far in this country, collapsed. Due to the

economic reforms implemented by the English,

there started an import and export economy

in the country. As a result, even food items

were imported to Sri Lanka. Apart from this,

spreading the usage of money, starting a railway

and a road system, beginning of trade cities such

as Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee and a new

middle class which earned money from the new

means are examples for other transformations

which took place economically in this country.

Social and Cultural Transformations

The introduction of the printing industry to Sri

Lanka was another effect of the Renaissance to

this country. Though the printing industry was

first introduced to this country by the Dutch,

it became more popular during the British

ruling. With the advancement of the printing,

due to publication of books, magazines and

newspapers, the knowledge of the society

increased. Through that, this country inherited

the European thinking as well as its literature.

Some Sri Lankans migrated to European

countries for education and returned to the

country. In this way too Sri Lanka acquired the

Western thinking.

Europeans came to Sri Lanka in a period in

which the unity of Christianity in Europe

had collapsed. The religious revolution which

took place in 1517 in Europe was the cause for

that. The Portuguese propagated the Roman

Catholic religion around coastal areas in this

country and the Dutch propagated their cult

in this country. Through this the religious sects

in Europe were propagated in this country. The

European education system was propagated in

this country due to the education which was

implemented in this country during the Dutch

and the British ruling; further, as the Europeans

constructed churches and other buildings in this

country, Sri Lanka received the architecture then

practised in Europe.