7 Things the Brits gave Sri Lanka

Every year on the 4th of Feb, Sri Lankan's celebrate a 'supposed' Independence Day. It's nothing much really, just one more public holiday in the Lankan calendar (which already has about 30! - yes, Sri Lanka only has 11 months of work for the year!)

A lot of us grumble saying that we would probably be better off if the Suddha's* never left. So here's a small list of random things that came into being as a result of the British Colonisation of Sri Lanka.

(Now don't be stupid - of course this list excludes the obvious pros and cons of colonialism - stuff you learn't in school :-p)


1. CRICKET - Yes, I truly believe this was the most important thing the English gave Sri Lanka. If not for the '96 World Cup and the other achievements thereafter, Sri Lanka would be even more insignificant than it is currently. Also it's the only thing that we can kick England's (or for that matter anyone's) ass at!

2. Pants - Imagine wearing sarong to work - pretty darn chilled out noh? But well, anyone who wears a sarong to sleep-in, know why we only wear it to sleep in!

3. Full Suits -  In the same breath of relief that we say point number 2 - a full suit in a country blessed with a 30 degree heat in most parts?? Why do weddings have to be such complicated affairs? Before the Brits turned up, weddings were occasions where the Bride and Groom actually enjoyed - rather than curse the entire day!

Tram Cars in Colombo

4. Electricity - The Brits wanted to build a tramcar operation. Don't be surprised, just like we haven't built a kilometer more of rail tracks, once they went, we didn't follow up on this. Still for all, this was how Sri Lanka got electricity. So don't complain too much about power cuts.

5. Christianity - ok lets just say just Christmas? Two more holidays* added to the calendar and a country with a majority not even believing in the religion, has an excuse to party!

6. An accent free English - How often do we make fun of the Indian accent? Lol.. true yarr? (sorry, cant help it) haha.. Apparently Sri Lankans speak a very pure form of English. No cockney, no geordie, no dropping the r's, southwest, midlands or anything. "We speak the 'Queen's English' son!"

7. End of the Monarch system - Well I don't need to say much, at least after so many years I think today we've managed to work around this one! ;-)

The Last King of Ceylon..?

*Suddha - (Sinhala) dir.: White one. An informal term used for white people/ foreigners.
*Two more holidays - as a result of Christianity being a nationally accepted religion Christmas Day and Good Friday are Public Holidays.

Categories: British Influence in Sri Lanka, Ceylon, Colonisation, Independence Day, KUrUtu, Sri Lanka