Anonymous participant in the Sri Lankan Planters (SLP) Official FB page, 8 June 2026 , where the title reads : “The Untold Story of Mahaiyawa Cemetery”
A silent colonial history resting beside the busy streets of Kandy …For anyone entering the city of Kandy, Mahaiyawa is more than just a name or a location. It is a bustling area known for heavy traffic, a railway crossing, and constant activity. However, just a few steps away from the busy road lies one of the most significant chapters of Kandy’s history, resting quietly and largely forgotten. This is the story of the Mahaiyawa Public Cemetery and the history buried within it.
The Story After the Garrison Cemetery
As many know, the British Garrison Cemetery near the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy was the principal burial ground for colonial rulers. However, by around 1873, it had become full, and new burials were largely discontinued except for a few special cases involving relatives with prior burial rights.
Afterward, Mahaiyawa Cemetery became the main burial ground for deceased British nationals, dignitaries, and ordinary residents of Kandy. It was more than just a cemetery—it became a reflection of the social transformation of Kandy during the late nineteenth century.
The Final Journey of the Father of Tea
One of the most valuable and moving memorials in Mahaiyawa belongs to James Taylor, widely regarded as the Father of Sri Lanka’s Tea Industry. Taylor died of dysentery on 2 May 1892 at Loolecondera Estate. His body was brought to Kandy in a remarkable and respectful manner.
A group of 24 estate workers, who deeply admired him, carried his coffin on their shoulders all the way from Loolecondera to Mahaiyawa—a distance of approximately 18 miles. Dividing themselves into two teams and taking turns every four miles, they completed the difficult journey out of devotion to the man they affectionately called the “Tea Master.”
Even today, his tomb in the older section of Mahaiyawa bears the inscription: “Pioneer of Cinchona and Tea Cultivation in Ceylon.”
Although many visitors are unaware of it, the man who transformed Sri Lanka’s economy rests quietly in Mahaiyawa.
Hidden Memories of War
Kandy’s well-known Commonwealth War Cemetery is located in Pitakanda. However, Mahaiyawa Public Cemetery also contains graves of soldiers and officers connected to the World Wars. According to records from the Kabristan Archives, several British servicemen who died during the First and Second World Wars, including individuals such as James Alexander Crass, were buried here. For this reason, Mahaiyawa is also an important part of Sri Lanka’s military and wartime heritage.
Art, Heritage, and Social Prestige
Another distinctive feature of Mahaiyawa is its diversity. Burghers, British residents, and members of prominent Sinhalese families all rest side by side. The cemetery also contains documented graves associated with the family of the renowned artist George Keyt. Marble tombstones belonging to old families, Victorian-style crosses, and angel sculptures can still be seen today, slowly weathering with time while reminding visitors of the grandeur of Kandy’s colonial-era society.
A Forgotten World Beyond the Wall
Although many of us pass Mahaiyawa almost every day, we often forget that beyond its walls lies an entirely different world. Great figures like James Taylor, unnamed war heroes, and ordinary men and women who helped build Kandy now rest there in silence.
The next time you pass through Mahaiyawa, take a moment to remember this history. Our present has been built upon the lives and contributions of those who came before us.
Note: The content of this article is based on historical sources and documented records….. Reproduced from another source. Credit to the original author.
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