CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF SRI LANKAN MALAYS

CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF SRI LANKAN MALAYS

by Tony .P. Miskin - Former Senior Lecturer, University of Moratuwa

6-7 Century Iconographical finds in West Java point to a connection between Java and Sri Lanka - Ref (i) Prof Kekulawala’s article in Kalyani-Vol.1. Oct 1982 p: 209 (ii) Pierre Dupont

1214 Kalanga Magha arrived with 24,000 Malay soldiers and took over the country. Ref: Fergusons Sri Lanka Directory 1985-88. 123rd Edition, p: 43

1235-1275 King Chanrabhanu, is said to have ruled the Jaffna kingdom during part of this period Ref : Daily News of 14th Nov 1983-Article by Henry.P Abeysekera, on “ Historical Basis for national unity

1247 King Chandrabhanu, a Malay King invaded Sri Lanka with a battalion of Malay Soldiers. Ref : Mrs G Dains paper presented at the World Malay symposium “ Duniya Melayu”- in 1985

1256 Magha the Malay Conqueror was driven out of Polonnaruwa with Pandya assistance. Ref: Fergusons Sri Lanka Directory 1985-88,123rd Edition p: 43

1505-1656 Malays beleived to have been brought to Ceylon by the Portuguese. Ref: (i) H.M. Said’s article on Ceylon Malays in 1926 Journal of Malaysian Branch of Royal Asiatic Society. (ii) John Crawford - History of Indian Archipelago

1640 The storming of Galle by Admiral Coster and Malay troops. Ref: E.Reimers Govt. Archivist- Jubilee book of the Colombo Malay Cricket Club

1657 Malays under Captain Raja Talella accompanied Rycklof Van Goers and took part in the capture of Mannar and Jaffna. Ref: (i) Ibid (ii) E.Reimers Govt archivist -p: 158 of Jubilee book of Colombo Malay Cricket club

1706 Susuna Mankurat Mas- Ex King of Java landed in Ceylon Ref: Page 160 of Jubilee book of Colombo Malay Cricket club

1708 Javanese Prince Pangeran Adipathi Amang Kurat 111, with family and retinue was banished to Ceylon. Ref: De Graf (1949 pp 238-241) for this event in Javanese History

1722-1723 Group of 44 Javanese including Princes and Chief’s sent to Ceylon. Ref: Article by CH Mantara- p: 166 of Jubilee Book of Colombo Malay Cricket Club.

1723 Chief Minister Danuraja was banished to Ceylon. Ref : Page 160 of Jubilee book of Colombo Malay Cricket club

1728 Arya Mankunegara, a brother of king Pakubuwana banished to Ceylon by the Dutch.

Ref: Dr Husseinmiya’s -Paper presented at the Naleemiah Institute of Islamic studies Beruwela in 1984- p: 10

1737 Death of Susuna Mankurat Mas in Colombo, and his family sent back to Java. Ref : Page 160 of Jubilee book of Colombo Malay Cricket club

1743 A Javanese Noble, Radini Adipati Nata kusuma was banished to Ceylon by the Dutch. Ref: Dr Husseinmiya’s Lost Cousins Page 45 (some historians gives this date as 1738)

1745 Susuna Kuning - King of Java surrenders himself to Dutch and is banished to Ceylon. Ref : Page 160 of Jubilee book of Colombo Malay Cricket club

1761 More troops sent to reinforce Malay troops in Ceylon.

1763 Formation of Malay company consisting of deportees and 31 slaves. Ref: Dutch Political comment of 1786

1765 Arrival of Malay battalion from Batavia led by Captain Baba Lye with the intention of capturing the Kandyan capital. Ref: Article “ History of Malay “ by F E Gooneratne p: 160 in Malay Jubilee book.

1767 Batara Gowa Amas Madina 11. the former King of Gowa was exiled to Ceylon by the Dutch. Ref: Dr Hussainmiya Lost Cousins p: 44

1783 Javanese Pandan Balie donates land in Wekanda, Colombo to build a Malay Mosque. The Mosque was built in 1786. Ref: CH Mantara, Jubilee Book of Colombo Malay Cricket Club (p: 167)

1795 The death of the King of Goa after 30yrs of life in exile in Ceylon. Ref: Dr Hussainmiya’s Lost Cousins (p: 44).

1798-1811 The appointment of a Malay Committee by Frederick North, the first British Governor of Ceylon to inquire into the grievances of the Indonesian Princes and Noblemen.

1803 Capt. Nouredeen, Commander of Malays, executed by the Kandyan King for refusal to sever his allegiance to the British, and enter the Kandyan King’s service. Ref: p: 163 of Jubilee Book of Colombo Malay Cricket Club

1813 Arrival of 413 men from Surabaya to join the Ceylon Malay Regiment during the governorship of Robert Brownrigg. Ref: Dr. Hussainmiya’s article “Exiles No Longer” in the publication Hemisphere

1816 Arrival of 228 of Javanese soldiers and thier families to Ceylon from Semmreng and Gresik in Java. Ref: Dr Hussainmiya’s Lost cousins (p: 61)

1834-1841 Migration of Malay’s to Ceylon. Total of 332 Malay’s migrated to Ceylon. Ref: Dr Hussainmiya’s Lost Cousins (p: 62).

1840 Setting up recruiting depots in Penang and later in Singapore for Malays from the Malay Peninsula for Permanent settlement in Ceylon. Ref: Dr Hussainmiya’s Lost Cousins (p: 12)

1869 Publishing of Alamat Lankapuri, a fortnightly Malay language paper by Baba Ounus Saldin in Colombo. Newspaper published in the Jawi Script. Ref: Dr. Hussainmiya’s article “Exiles No Longer” in the publication- Hemisphere

1872 Formation of Colombo Malay Cricket club. The first ever Malay sports club in Ceylon. Ref: Durham Saldin’s paper presented at World Malay Symposium of 1985, titled “Malay Organisations and Social Movements in Sri Lanka”

1873 The disbandment of the Ceylon Rifle regiment of Malays. Ref: CH Mantara’s article-Jubilee Book of Colombo Malay Cricket club

1922 Formation of all Ceylon Malay Association. The patron being his Highness the Sultan of Johore. The first President being Mr. MK Saldin. Ref: Jubilee Book of Colombo Malay Cricket Book of 1924

1924 Election of first Malay, Dr TB Jayah to the legislative council.

1924-1965 A Malay was nominated to the legislative Council / Parliament except in the year 1952. Among those nominated were :- Dr TB Jayah -1924, Mr M K Saldin - 1931-36, Dr. M F Drahman -1956-60, Mr Zahiere Lye- 1960-65, Ref: Dr Hussainmiya’s Lost Cousins p: 20-25

1985 Establishment of the Sri Lanka Malay Confederation abbreviated “ SLAMAC” in English. The Malay name being Konfederasi Rakjat Melayu Lankapuri abbreviated “KORAMEL” . SLAMAC consists of 23 Malay organisation and a Presidium of 6 Malays. Ref: Durham Saldins paper- “Malay Organisations and Social movements in Sri Lanka.

1985 The 2nd World Malay Symposium- “ Duniya Melayu 85 “ was held in Colombo from 4th-6th August 1985. The President of Sri Lanka, His Excellancy J R Jayawardene was the chief guest.

1987 Publication of the book “ Lost Cousins “ -the Malays of Sri Lanka by Dr Hussainmiya- a Sri Lankan Malay University Lecturer.

1989 Nomination of Mr MH Amit as a member of Parliament by the United National Party from the National list.

20 Century General - Malays play a more important role in the economic and social development of Sri Lanka. The Malays of today include Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Accountants, Architects, Company Directors, University Lecturers, Administrators etc.

Ref: Malay Directory , published in 1990 by the Sri Lanka Malay Association.





Note This is an extract of the Malay Directory, written by Tony. P. Miskin and published by the Sri Lanka Malay Association.