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Doing justice to Slave Island- by P.K Balachandran Source:Dailymirror “THE VICTORIAN STYLE SLAVE ISLAND RAILWAY STATION” Last week, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena ordered the authorities to officially rename “Slave Island” as “Kompagngna Veediya”. Though already known as Kompanna Veediya, a formal change was considered appropriate as Sri Lanka is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its independence from colonial rule. The term Slave Island was a relic of Portuguese rule (1597 to 1658) when the area housed black African slaves called Kaffirs whom the Portuguese brought from Mozambique. The change of name also helps recognize Slave Island’s multifaceted history and character. It did begin as an abode of slaves, but during Dutch rule (1658-1796), it had ceased to be so, asserts historian Prof. B.A. Hussainmiya. “It was populated largely by Malay soldiers who were recruited by the Dutch to defend their possessions in Ceylon,” he said. Slave Island housed the famed ...