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by Dr. Granville Fernando

One afternoon I was waiting near Chilaw's main roundabout. The town's four faced clock tower looked scenic and spectacular.

As I waited I could count no less than six lanes of traffic spilling long lines of vehicles on to the town. Some remained, while others whisked off and were soon gone out of sight.

As there was nothing much to do I just kept on waiting. Soon I was musing about this ancient town of Chilaw. Chilaw has a romantic history. Carrying with it a remarkable heritage it is also wrapped up in a colourful culture. The second most important capital of the North Western Province, the seat of a Bishop it lies in the hub of a prosperous planting district.

Situated in no less an important province - the Wayamba or North Western Province which is a veritable 'Garden of Eden' for the historian and the archaeologist. For in this region lies the place where Prince Vijaya landed and the ancient kingdoms of Panduwasnuara, Yapahuwa, Dambadeniya and Kurunegala or Hasthisailapura.

Chilaw is known as 'Halawatha' in Sinhala. Denham's Census Report of 1911 throws some interesting light on the origin of Chilaw.

It is said that King Kavan Tissa sent a number of persons to convey honey from Negombo 'Meegomuwa' in Sinhala to Anuradhapura. It was at this spot 'Halawatha' that the bees were shaken off their combs.

Chilaw in early times was not only a reputed sea port it was also famous for its pearl fisheries. According to some writers like Donald Ferguson, Chilaw is connected with the Tamil term 'Salapam' which means diving.

The original inhabitants of Chilaw were descendants of a group of people who came from India on military service. Originally from Northern India from such towns like Kanchipuram, Kaveripattannam and Killakarai they subsequently made their homes in the south.

According to the 'Mukkara Hatana' it happened during the reign of King Parakrama Bahu VI (1412-1467) the ruling monarch of Kotte. The Mukkuvars from India had landed off the Puttalam coast and were preparing to capture the land. King Parakrama Bahu summoned help from neighbouring India. A battalion of fighting men were sent across to Sri Lanka. They belonged to the Suriya clans. Those that settled in Chilaw belonged to the Mihindukulasuriya clan. It may be interesting to note that there are five sub clans in Chilaw. They are the Fernando, Perera, Peiris, Pinto and Costa. (The Karave of Ceylon by M. D. Raghavan).

A good percentage of the Chilawfolk still bear these identical surnames. They settled down not only in Chilaw but even at its twin sister Negombo especially at Duwa and Pitipana. Chilaw being in the maritime region came under European influence. Portuguese influence is well marked by the hundred per cent Roman Catholic indigenous population.

It may be interesting to note that the King of Kotte in recognition of the services of the Suriya clans also granted them a number of flags. Among these was a separate Karava Kodiya for Chilaw. (Sinhala Banners and Standards by E. W. Perera).

Culturally the people of Chilaw have been always active and in the forefront. Chilaw has been the home of the Sinhala Nadagama - the first form of Sinhala drama in Sri Lanka.

The first Sinhala Nadagama the 'Rajathun-kattuwa' or the Visit of the Magi was written by Mihindukulasuriya Gabriel Fernando according to that eminent historian the late Dr. Edmund Peiris Bishop Emeritus of Chilaw.

And the sea board town of Chilaw has kept on forging ahead. The Chilaw people are fortunate to have a beautiful statue of Mother Mary 'Protectress of the town' who stands sentinel warding off all disasters and calamities at the main entrance to the town.

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