IN THIS ISSUE
- Bracegirdle as a David taking on the British Plantation Goliath
- Feature Article of the Month - The Merry Men of Uva by Hugh Karunanayake
- Memoirs of the Month - Don Edwin Balasuriya by Dyan Seneviratne
- Photo Album of the Month - Diyagama West Estate, Agarapatna
- Contributor Photo Album of the Month - Ralph Wickremeratne
- Planter Profiles of the Month - Sarath Sirisena & Wajira Karunathilleke
- Down Memory Lane - from the Salgado Album
- Historical Events in 1913
- Tea Radio by Dilmah
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Mark Bracegirdle beside Colvin R. de Silva and other Trotskyite leaders at Horana in 1937.
BRACEGIRDLE AS A DAVID TAKING ON THE BRITISH PLANTATION GOLIATH
As Sri Lanka approaches its 74th Anniversary of Independence on 4th February, through this piece by Bernard VanCuylenberg, we look back at a significant set of events revolving around the plantations in the 1930s, which contributed to the end of British Colonial Rule of Ceylon, a little over a decade later. Click HERE to read the full article.
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FEATURE ARTICLE OF THE MONTH
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THE MERRY MEN OF UVA
By Hugh Karunanayake
The plantation economy of Sri Lanka which sustained and developed the country through two and a half centuries of British rule, depended to a great extent on tea production. Tea was introduced during the latter half of the 19th Century following the decimation of the coffee industry by leaf disease, and was most productive in the mid to high grown areas mainly in the Central Province. The Uva district large enough to be a separate province, was considered part of the Central Province and had its Government Agent based in Kandy. The Uva Rebellion of 1818 just 3 years after the Kandyan Convention was signed, was a considerable uprising against the newly established British rule but was doomed to failure. The bow and arrows of the rebels were no match to the fire power of the British and the rebellion resulted in the slaughter of many a valiant rebel and the destruction of the Uva area. Every male over the age of 18 was pursued, shot, their homes burnt, their cattle slaughtered, and their paddy fields destroyed. Click HERE to read the full article. |
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Don Edwin Balasooriya
The Visionary Planter with an Indomitable Spirit
By Dyan Seneviratne
My brother Sene and I became professional plantation managers – commonly known as simply: ‘Tea Planters’ – a career certainly not for the chicken-hearted – it was tough and above all warranted much fore-planning and meticulous implementation with an eye for detail. To get a giant work-force of 2500 to 3500 to – leave alone to listen to you – to get them to do what you wanted them to do was not child’s play. But we did it! We are indeed proud of our record of doubling yields, setting up vast tracts of ‘New Plantings’ successfully in midst of highly politicized Trade Unions, for example…
But what or who gave us that thought of ever becoming Tea Planters? It was our maternal Grandfather – the great Don Edwin Balasooriya – a planter in the true sense of the word. He made his mark as a Planter in the well known Sabaragamuwa’s Mid Country estate town of Balangoda in the mid to late 1920s and the early 1930s. Click HERE to read the full article.
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Diyagama West Estate, Agarapatna
Manager's Bungalow & Factory - Click HERE to view the album.
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CONTRIBUTOR PHOTO ALBUM OF THE MONTH
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Ralph Wickremeratne
Click HERE to view the album
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PLANTER PROFILES OF THE MONTH
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(L-R) Sarath Sirisena & Wajira Karunathilleke
Click on respective photo to view profile
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From the Salgado Album
(L-R) Mrs. Salgado (Gamini's mother), Jayasiri Perera, Gamini Salgado, Ken Christoffelsz & CQ Perera (Gamini's cousin), at Yoxford Estate, Talawakelle c.1947. Photo courtesy of Iromi Salgado.
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HISTORICAL EVENTS IN 1913
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In Ceylon, the "Planters Gazette" was started and the Talawakelle-Lindula and Agarapatna Telephone exchange was linked up.
Elsewhere in the world:
- The city of Canberra, the center of the Australian Capital Territory, becomes the official capital of the Commonwealth of Australia.
- Joseph Stalin is arrested by the Russian secret police, the Okhrana, in Petrograd, and exiled to Siberia.
- The House of Romanov celebrates the 300th anniversary of its succession to the throne, amidst an outpouring of monarchist sentiment in Russia.
- Raja Harishchandra, the first full-length Indian feature film, is released, marking the beginning of the Indian film industry.
- Harry Brearley invents stainless steel in Sheffield.
- Italy returns the Mona Lisa to France.
- The value of world trade reaches roughly $38 billion.
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The world’s first tea inspired radio station
Tea Radio has developed a global audience reaching over 90 countries worldwide; with the promise of ‘music inspired by tea’, and features news and views on tea, tea gastronomy and more, amidst the music of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.
Stay updated on the latest tips and trends in the world of tea right here. Download the Tea Radio app on the Google play store or the Apple app store, or stream music inspired by Tea on www.tearadio.com.
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