History
The Portuguese arrived in Galle South of Srilanka in the year 1505. They took control of the maritime province for well over a century. Batticaloa was occupied by the Portuguese in 1622.
About this period Batticaloa was part of the Kandyan Kingdom . Baticaloa was then called ‘Puliyanduwa'. But Batticaloa had another name ‘Mada Klapuwa'. The Portuguese gave another name ‘ Batecaloa' and it was later changed by the British as ‘Batticaloa'.
Agriculture and Fishing were the main occupation of the people of Batticaloa. The Portugese who occupied Batticaloa called Batticaloa District the ‘ Kingdom of Rice '. The British called Batticaloa the ‘Granary of the East'. The Portuguese built a small Fort in a small part of Puliyantivu by the edge of the Puliyantivu Island three miles in circumference adjacent to the mainland. The Fort was in a least visible place to prevent it from sudden attacks. It was surrounded by part of the lagoon.
The Dutch invaded Srilanka in 1639 and later captured Batticaloa from the Portuguese. The British captured Sri Lanka from the Dutch in 1803. The Portuguese, Dutch and British ships had sailors adjoining their countries. The Brughers are a mixture of large number of Europeans. The Burghers are a mixture of foreign nationalities who settled down in Srilanka.
Background
The majority of the Burghers are able craftsmen. They are gifted in skills which no one can dispute. They were expert master Carpenters, Blacksmiths, Tailors , Painters and Mechanics. They were able to poroduce articles noted in the town for its cheapness and high quality. They range from parts of heavy machinery to kitchen knives. There was practically nothing that was beyond the capabilities of these Blacksmiths.
• In Carpentry too the Burghers lead even today. The Burgher carpernter is often called upon to construct the roofs of houses, doors and windows. They produce work that cannot be matched by others. There were also gun smiths. They were much sought after for repairs of guns and other firearms. With the withdrawal of fire arms from the people, the gunsmiths were thrown out of employment.
• Until recent times, the Printing Press was ownded by the Burghers. Even in the only printing press managed by the clergy the workmen were all Burghers.
Social and cultural customs of the Burghers
The community maintains the tradition of their ancestors. But today it has a mixture of West and East. The ladies even today wear western clothes. The men wear shrits and trousers and the women frocks. At social functions the men wear shirt, tie and trousers and some wear coats as well. The women wear the latest frocks at social functions.
The community even today maintains the popular Lances and Kaffringha dances. No wedding or an important social function is complete without a dance and a meal to all invitees. At weddings too the western traditions are maintained. The bride groom in western attire and the bride in white long dress with bride's maids, best man, page boy and flower girls attend the church for the wedding ceremony.
After the service is over the inviteees proceed to the bride's residence for a day and night of merry making. But since of late, weddings are held in rented halls because of large number of invitees. After the bride and bridegroom arrive at the reception hall, the musicians take over with their music and dance. The first dance is performed by the Bride and Bridegroom accompanied by the bride's maid, best men, and the Bride's and bridegroom's parents. A liquor bar will be available for the invitees. The party ends with lunch or dinner.
On the folowing day the bridegroom provides lunch. He provides liquor and merriment continues till after lunch or dinner. On the 3 rd day after morning service the bride and bridegroom are received at the bridegroom's house for lunch. Here too music and dance goes on till lunch. Liquor is freely available.
The Burghers are all devout Christians. Over 96% of the families are Roman Catholics. There are many Burgher priests and Nuns serving the people of Trincomalee- Batticaloa Diocese.
There are Burghers in Batticaloa who speak Creole Portuguese even today. But living among the Tamils has made the language to be mixed with Tamil words as well. The Burgher Union in Batticaloa has a collection of Portuguese books, but the Burgher population can neither write nor read the present day Portuguese. The Burgher Union conducts its meeting in Creole Portuguese and English. But the minutes maintained in English.
The Burghers have never played an active role in Parliamentary Politics. In the past there were Burghers in the local government body. They had some say in the Municipal Council then. The Burghers have always been neutral and they never support one political party against another.
The Burgher families form only five percent of the population. The Tamils are the majority and the Muslims come second. Nobody sponsors to maintain the dignity and social and cultural traditions of the Burghers. Many of the youths are unemployed. Though educated they are forced to take up to the trade of their forefathers. A large number of Burgher families lived as s closely knit community 3 kilometers to the south of the Batticaloa town along the sea beach called ‘Dutch Bar'. The tidal waves Tsunami struck the Dutch Bar with such ferocity that the families lost their homes and their properties. 157 Burghers lost their lives. The details of the Burghers who were affected by the tidal wave Tsunami are given below:
Number of Burgher families affected by Tsunami 290
Number of families from Dutch Bar 191
Number of families from Sinna Upodai and Periya Uppodai 99
Number of families who lost their houses 220
Number of Deaths of Burghers 157
The Burgher Union
A Portuguese Burgher Union was formed in the 1920s to preserve and foster the cultural heritage and identity of the Portuguese Burgher Community. The Union could not make much progress owing to severe financial constraints. The members of the community are poor but they maintain the traditions and identity and some among them the language of the Portuguese. They speak Creole Portuguese. The traditions of the Burghers are still being maintained among the community. These are being followed at weddings and at important functions of the community. Over 80% of the families are impoverished and live below the poverty line. Almost all the Burghers are tradesmen over 90% are carpenters and a large numbers are master carpenters. The rest are mechanics, welders, Black smiths etc.
Immediately after Tsunami struck Batticaloa, the Burgher Union was able to help the affected families with their immediate needs and later helped in the construction of houses for Burghers and families with the help of Helvetas of Switzerland and shipping Company in Colombo .
The Union concentrates on the education of the children and the youths. The union is also involved in promoting the income level of the carpenters and others involved in different trades.
The Burgher Union
#31, St.Sebastian Street ,
Batticaloa,
Srilanka.
President's email : sonnyockersz@yahoo.com
Secretary's email: mignonneb@gmail.com |
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