Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: History / Political Economy / Sri Lankan Studies

Book Review:
Asoka Bandarage's ''Colonialism in Sri Lanka'' is a significant scholarly contribution to the understanding of how British colonial rule transformed the island's economy, society, and politics. Focusing on the 19th century and the Kandyan highlands in particular, Bandarage offers a detailed analysis of the mechanisms and consequences of colonial penetration.

The book's great strength is its placement of Sri Lanka's experience within a broader theoretical framework. Bandarage engages with debates about development and underdevelopment in the third world, using the Sri Lankan case to test and illuminate larger arguments. This makes the book valuable not only for those interested in Sri Lanka but for anyone studying colonialism and its long-term effects.

The central focus is on the plantation economy—the introduction of coffee, tea, and rubber cultivation—and its impact on the Kandyan highlands. Bandarage examines how the British established political control, how land was appropriated, how labor was mobilized (including the importation of Tamil workers from South India), and how these changes transformed the social structure of the region. She also explores the ecological consequences and the resistance these changes provoked.

The book is thoroughly researched, drawing on colonial records, official reports, and secondary sources. Bandarage's analysis is nuanced, avoiding simple narratives of victimhood or progress. She acknowledges the complexity of colonial encounters while maintaining a clear critical perspective.

For students of Sri Lankan history, this book is essential reading. It covers a crucial period and region in detail not available elsewhere. For scholars of colonialism, it offers a valuable case study of how colonial power operated in a specific context. For general readers with a serious interest in Sri Lanka, it provides deep insight into the roots of contemporary challenges.

The book's publication in Sri Lanka, with a price of Rs. 750, makes it accessible to local readers. The cover design by P. Dampahana is simple but effective.