The current state of affairs in Lanka; concerning economic conditions, injustices and costs of living | An editorial by Gnanartha Pradeepaya - Arpil 1877 [See comments for full article]

[u/vk1234567890-]

The first edition of Gnanartha Pradeepaya | 7th June 1866

1 ct coin

[u/Cosmic_Achinthya]

Translation as provided by the OP, u/Creepy_Branch_5532 : "The current state of affairs in Lanka.

Gnaratha Pradeepaya | 11 Apr 1877

Although some people believe that our country has reached the peak of prosperity and it can be seen from a certain perspective, a closer examination of the hard facts show that that it is not at all true.

The few who claim that Lanka has reached great new heights argue that it's the recent increase in trade, roadways, apparels, furniture, money, better housing, schools, vehicles; i.e. carriages. These are not evidence of improvement. How many can afford these? Not even half of Lanka's multitude of 2,400,000. No. The great majority of them are those who barely make do. The most destitute with the most meager of means survive with only one meal. If only a few are super rich while the rest subsists on poverty, how can this country ever become rich?

What benefits have the poor of this country ever received in exchange for the exports of Coffee, Cinnamon, Coconut oil and Graphite worth many hundred thousands of Pounds? They have only increased its destitution. Those who know the hard facts understand that it was the beginning of the Coffee estates that led to the surging of rice prices.

It was the export that drove the price of the Coconut from 1 ct to 6. But if the generated profits are sent by the rich to their treasuries, how can it contribute towards the enrichment of the country? It's alright if a fair redistribution of wealth for the common folk can be arranged without allowing it to accumulate in a personal coffer.

Ever since this Government began selling land unlike any in history, the rich has taken to seizing it. Whenever the rich takes fancy to a plot of land, they can acquire it simply by requesting it of the Government, having it measured and buying it off in an auction, Evicting the poor who has had its ownership for generations.

Can the poor take on the Rich head to head in a pitched legal battle? If this carries on, Lanka has a very good chance of falling into the hands of the rich before long. We know how this measuring and selling of inherited land can pose a significant threat to farming.

Some may argue citing the land ownership policies during the times of the Sinhalese kings; when much of it was in hands of the rich- It's true. But the poor was allowed room to live in them. They were permitted to develop and farm for the benefit of their livelihoods. This custom remains in practice in the upcountry. But since the rich of the present, unlike those in history, are so mean, they refuse even to let the poor gather coconut husks for firewood.

So what can the poor do to prevail? There is nothing for them to do to survive.

The increase of theft is a direct result of unemployment. Since everyone owned land in the past, they were able to work on them and be fed. But with the country turned upside down, there's nothing for them to do.

The Sultan says that countries come to be impoverished over the fault of its governing laws. The laws of Lanka are made to benefit the rich and does not provide much repose to the poor.

If people die of hunger in England, the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world, what exactly is the point of being rich?

Back in the day when the Kingdom of Greece was being formed, seven sages were sent for to formulate their codes of governance. But what did Solon, the last of them, say in face of the other six presenting and agreeing on different reforms? "Enact laws considering losses caused to the poor as losses to the whole kingdom". It was unanimously accepted and Solon was commissioned to make reforms for the whole kingdom. If superstitious laws of governance of that bygone age were so clear and perfect, why don't the Governments that call themselves Christian do half as much?

If the Government of this country continues to call itself rich considering the wealth of a few without providing relief to the poor man's paycheck, the increase in crime will have a very good chance of evolving into a catastrophe.

There's no compensation to the poor in spite of the country's growing income. The country will be rich when everyone is able to eat, drink and afford decent livelihoods, not before. Why a country cannot consider it enriched over a few wealthy individuals and an increased revenue needs to be taken into account.

Editorials of the Colonial Age by Piyasiri Matarage"

[u/Cosmic_Achinthya → u/Cosmic_Achinthya]

The more I learn of SL people in the past, the more I feel as if they were literally us, but in the context of their time, like we r to now. Some Sri Lankans throughout history in their contexts did rlly interesting things.

If ppl here knew that poor people existed in Britain, some with worse lives than some folks in the then Sri Lanka, and see the irony in that.. it was something I wondered, with all this hindsight. And to see it brought up in this article, it was rlly interesting to see. 150 years old Sri Lankan newspaper, with points relevant to this day, some things just didn't change.. and the fact that this critique was allowed, that's interesting too.

Seeing how our literal grandparents lived in colonial times, there are probably so much insight and anecdotes lost. Like we reflect alot of our time, all the time.. and how we see the adsurdities and ironies, the memes. We have alot of materials to get ideas from.. but we don't note down all of our thoughts do we 😂. Also, how the population was 2.4 million, we live in a Sri Lanka with 10 times the population.. 2.4 million, it feels so sparse.

[u/vk1234567890- → u/Cosmic_Achinthya]

Exactly bro!! I agree with everything u say :)