The Kandy News Online Edition
September / October 2005
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EDITORIAL

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Kandy Heritage

Several municipal councilors across party lines have questioned the legitimacy of considering some of the most prominent colonial buildings of the Kandy city such as the Queen's Hotel and the Bogambara Prison as a part of our architectural heritage. As the proceedings of the last KMC meeting reported elsewhere in this edition of The Kandy News reveal the comments were varied. One member even questioned the need to preserve the Bogambara Prison building claiming that it only signified the subjugation of Sri Lankans to colonial yoke. Others were somewhat less radical but generally criticized what they felt was the excessive concern of the Kandy World Heritage City Committee to preserve buildings that were colonial in style and lacked indigenous features.
This is an issue on which everybody is entitled to an opinion. Individual preference can vary as to what is good architecture worth preserving and what is not. In the case of Kandy this issue is further complicated by the fact that land is in short supply for expansion. Thus tension between the developers on one side and the conservationists on the other is all the more acute. Having said that the Kandy public must decide what is wroth preserving and what is not. This newspaper is of the opinion that the views expressed by some of the municipal councilors need serious scrutiny before we agree to follow their counsel.

Whether we like it or not the history of Kandy includes 133 years of British colonial rule. The British left their stamp on the city and that includes several prominent buildings. It is also worth remembering that they were built with the labour of Kandy people using resources extracted from Sri Lanka. In that sense although the British may have built them the legitimate owners are Sri Lankans. The issue then is whether we should also attach a special significance to the colonial architecture in our city. Our answer is an emphatic yes.

It is over fifty years since we gained independence from the British. The post war generation (Chandrika Kumaratunga et al) has been ruling this country since the early 1990s and the post 1956 generation is now gradually taking over the reins of the country from them. We as a nation and community now need no longer be embarrassed by our colonial past. We must have the self-confidence to look at the colonial period of our history in perspective simply as one relatively short, albeit important phase of a much longer history of 2500 years. We would argue that we must preserve the colonial architecture not only for its intrinsic architectural value but also to show our future generations the nature of the colonial regime we have had.

Thus instead of demolishing the Bogambara prison in toto as one municipal councilor reportedly has proposed we should get rid of the less consequential buildings and preserve the more important part to create a museum that illustrates the freedom struggle of our ancestors. This could also be an ideal location to house some of the colonial statues and sculptures that were unceremoniously removed from their perches in the 1960s in a flush of exuberant nationalism. After all South Africa's great freedom fighter Nelson Mandela has not demolished the Roban Island prison that for him carries such bitter memories. Instead he has preserved it for posterity and even accompanies foreign dignitaries on tours to show the prison where he spent a good part of his life.

Moving beyond architecture some have questioned the entire concept of World Heritage City as it applies to Kandy and elsewhere. It has been suggested that it is a “western” paradigm that UNESCO is imposing on us. It has also been reported that UNESCO was reviewing the status of Kandy as a World Heritage City. In such a context it is useful to have a broad public discourse on the future of Kandy as a World Heritage City. We welcome our readers to write to us.

First experience of Kandy's Perahera
Jennie Clayton

Perhaps the most spectacular thing about the procession is that it just keeps on coming! Just when you think there can't possibly be any more adorned elephants, torch bearers, bands of musicians or troops of dancers, more come into view. From around the corner appear yet more elephant-shaped glittering lights, more bearers of brightly-coloured Buddhist flags, and truly astonishing numbers of traditionally-dressed dancers, moving to the rhythmic banging of drums.

I feel very lucky to have been in Kandy to experience the extraordinary show, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of a city proudly displaying its colourful past. The only disappointment for me was the very obvious lack of women and girls throughout the parade, with the exception of towards the very end. I would have preferred to see the traditions adapted for the 21st century. Nevertheless, Kandy's Perahera provided masses of onlookers, not least me, with a wonderful spectacle of days gone by.

The author who is British is a linguist and communications specialist. She is on a visit to Kandy to trace the footsteps of her grandfather who was stationed in Kandy as a member of the British army during World War II. For the past three months she has been researching at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Kandy.

Central Province Chamber Proposals for New Car Park

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Central Province (CCICP) has come up with a series of proposals to make the new municipal car park work smoothly to the advantage of all stakeholders including the motorists, Kandy town business people, and the KMC.
These proposals have been presented in a letter from Chamber President Mr. Dudley D W. Jayasekera addressed to the Sinhala Welenda Peramuna (SWP -Sinhalese Business Front). Mr. Jayasekera was responding to a letter that the SWP had written to the Chamber expressing the concern of some members of the Kandy town shop owners that the prohibition of street parking in a section of the town may harm their businesses. Mr. Jayasekera's letter has also been copied to the Deputy Mayor of Kandy L B Aluvihare requesting the Council to consider implementation of the proposals.

The Chamber wants the KMC to have a continuous shuttle bus service linking the city and the car park. Those who park in the car park would be entitled to a free ride on the shuttle while others will have to pay. Businessmen and shopkeepers in the town should be given a reduced rate for parking. The number of vehicles that any given business could park at the reduced rate should be proportional to the annual rates (taxes) that the business pays to the KMC.

Entrance to the car park

The Chamber wants vendors to be banned from the car park. It also proposes several other ides including improved security and communication in the car park.