Abstract:
The 19th century has been an era of remarkable change in socio-political, economic and cultural activities in Sri-Lanka. Some of these social changes were influenced to a certain extent by the ideas of the British officials and non- ’officials in the colonial government in Sri-Lanka. It is important to note that the criticisms they made on the long rooted social and other local institutions in the country were very helpful to create a favourable background for the new reforms introduced in this era