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Old Mutwal, Elie House and Lorenz-By Avishka Mario Senewiratne   Elie House, water colour by Andrew Nicholl avishkamario@gmail.com Source:Island The history of this most historic and valuable abode Elie House dates back to the days of Philip Anstruther, the Colonial Secretary of Ceylon from 1833 to 1845. Anstruther was a capable Civil Servant, who won the popularity of both the home Government and the inhabitants of Ceylon. Capt. James MacDonald Henderson states in his book The Rebellion in Ceylon, “Had this gentleman [Anstruther] but retained his appointment of Colonial Secretary, there is every reason to believe that the rebellion of 1848, with its long train of miseries and misfortunes, would never have occurred”. Due to his physical defect, Anstruther was widely called the “one-armed Rajah” by the English and as “Ath-Kota-Rajuruwoo” by the Sinhalese. During his tenure, Anstruther lived in the mansion of Elie House in Mutuwal. He had purchased this property of three and a ...