Abstract:
!\tier expelling the Portuguese from the coasts of Sri Lanka it was the Dutch who ruled
the Maritime Province. The Dutch were successful in the total expulsion of the
Portuguese in 1658 with the surrender of Jaffna (de Silva, 2005: 11 ). One of the principle
testimonies and living legacies of Dutch rule in Sri Lanka are its churches. Only three
Reformed Churches built during the heyday of the Dutch remain standing to the present
day (Brohier, 2001). They are the Dutch Reformed Church at Wolvendaal (also known as
Adirippm eediya Palliya), the Galle Dutch Reformed Church and the Matara Dutch
Reformed Church.
These churches arc line examples of Dutch architectural tradition executed by local
craftsmen. Although the deceased are traditionally buried in a cemetery adjoining the
church it is significant that these churches also entomb Dutch Gm crnors of Sri Lanka.
their kin and other notable families vvithin the church building itself (de Silva and
Beumer, 1988). Several tombstones found within the church are as paving for the
floor. In addition the remains of deceased persons were also placed within the walls of
the church. It was customary for the Dutch to bury the dead within the Church and they
appear to have carried on this tradition in Sri Lanka as well as Batavia (Modern day
Jakarta, Indonesia). Burial inside the church \\as reserved l(lr those who could pay the
highest sum and many Christians believed that burial within or near the church was a wa:
to be close to God (Sloan. 2002: ~n.
This paper hopes to discuss \ arious features of these tombstones especially as they reveal
several important clues of past life to archaeologists i.e. the carvings for instance suggest
the use of local craftsmen. and the motifs used on the tombstones also have different
symbolic meanings. Important families also have their coat of arms emblazoned on their
tombstones, which indicate a social hierarchy. Through the study of these tombstones we
may also better understand the attitude people had towards death, which is essential to
understand society as a whole.
