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BRITISH GOVERNANCE FROM 1815-1832 – By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando In 1815, the locals consented to hand over the Governance to the British to govern Ceylon. The social standards maintained during the 16, 17 and 18th centuries were challenged mainly by foreigners such as Solis, Portuguese and the Dutch. Some of the social norms were deep-seated in Sinhala traditions. However, from 1815 to 1918 British exerted much pressure so that Sinhalese could not counterattack or think of quashing it, and emotions died down. When Ceylon was at the peak of being an independent sovereign with the highest culture, the British did a tremendous skilful act in taking over an independent ruler. The question remained unresolved as to why the Sinhalese tolerated and remained quiet. However, collecting various economies and producing history is the central theme in compiling this book (author’s comment). Up to 1832, economic progress in Ceylon was the ...