Question

Answer the following question with the help of given points:

Write about the liberation (freedom) of colonies :

1. Maldives
2. Sri Lanka

Answer 1

1. Maldives: Portuguese entered Maldives in 1507. Since then Maldives began paying tribute to Portuguese in Goa. In 1573 the Portuguese rule was ended by Muhammad Thakuruphanu Al Azam from Malabar. After his accession as the Sultan of Maldives, he made a treaty with the Dutch and gave them the administrative responsibility of Maldives. From thereon, the Sultan of Maldives began to pay tribute to the Dutch in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Later, Maldives was taken over by the British. They built a naval base and a radio transmission centre in Maldives. They also took Indian labourers to work in the paddy fields in Maldives. Maldives became independent on 26th July 1965, by a treaty signed at Colombo.
2. Sri Lanka: The British ruled Sri Lanka (Ceylon) from 1798 to 1948. They took over Sri Lanka by defeating the Dutch and the Portuguese. There were uprisings in Sri Lanka against the British rule. The British plantation owners had taken many labourers from Tamil Nadu to work in coffee plantations. In Sri Lanka, the British dominated the production and markets of coffee, tea, rubber and coconut. They developed Colombo as an international port city. They also established colleges and universities in Sri Lanka and encouraged Buddhist Studies. Sri Lanka became independent in 1948.