Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Ceylon
The Sri Lankan author, Kumari Jayawardena, writing about the Coreas noted: 'Unconnected to the liquor trade but making their money on plantation ventures was the Corea Family of Chilaw, an influential goyigama group with a history going back to Portuguese rule when they were warriors to Sinhala kings.
During Dutch and British rule, members of the family were officials serving the state in various ways and rewarded with titles.Some members of the family took to the legal and medical professions, most notably the sons of Charles Edward Corea (a solicitor), who were active in local politics and in the Chilaw Association which campaigned against British land policies - especially the Waste Lands Ordinance, and for political reforms.
Muralidhar Reddy writing in The Hindu newspaper in India said: 'During his one and only extensive visit to Ceylon from 12 November – 2 December 1927, on the invitation of Ceylonese freedom fighter C.E.
He toured and spoke to the people of Chilaw and stayed for a few days in a Corea home called ‘Sigiriya’ in the heart of town.
Corea fought relentlessly for Swaraj and the British bureaucracy wilted under his elegant verbal thrusts and it was remarked that 'what Chilaw said today, Colombo thought on the morrow', chiefly owing to the influence of C.E.
She remembers when her younger sister Nan, attired in a blue half-saree, stepped out to garland the Mahatma, he embraced her and called her "Gandhi's little sweetheart".
Dates and goat's milk were served to the visitors at 'Sigiriya' and she remembers in particular, the Spinning Wheel Gandhi presented to her father, C.E.
Mahatma Gandhi also visited the schools established by the Buddhist theosophical society in Ceylon and addressed the students and teachers there.
During his speech at Mahinda College, Galle Gandhi stated that he was certain that the children of a nation who receive instructions in a tongue other than their own commit suicide.
"[11] While addressing the students at Ananda College, Colombo he spoke about his love to see the school children and noted that Ceylon is a ‘beautiful island.
[12] The staff, parents and children of Ananda College raised Rs 400.86 and presented the money to Mahatma Gandhi as a donation for his ‘Khadi Collection’.
[12] On 18 November 1927 Mahatma Gandhi addressed the students of Dharmaraja College, Kandy and among others he spoke on the habit of smoking and importance of becoming a nonsmoker.
