In November 1927 Mahatma Gandhi, the 'Father of India,' paid a historic visit to Chilaw - on the west coast of Sri Lanka. This was Gandhi's first and only visit to Ceylon. He was invited to Chilaw by the famed freedom fighters of Sri Lanka, Charles Edgar Corea and his brother Victor Corea.The Corea Family are descendants of the King Dominicus Corea, also known as 'Edirille Rala,' who was crowned King of Kotte and King of Sitawaka in 1596. Both CECorea and Victor Corea had been in constant touch with Mahatma Gandhi during India's struggle for independence. They invited Gandhi to visit Ceylon in 1927. Gandhi travelled from India to Ceylon arriving in Colombo, the capital city on November 12, 1927. He accompanied by his wife Kasturba, C. Rajagopalachari, and the latter's daughter, Lakshmi. Also accompanying Mahatma Gandhi on his visit to Ceylon were his secretaries, Mahadev Desai and Pyarelal. Gandhi stayed in Ceylon for three weeks.He travelled the length and breadth of the co! untry. His visit caused a great deal of excitement. The people of Ceylon were calling for greater independence from the British who had ruled the country since 1815 having taken over the island from the Dutch.Gandhi was struck by the country's natural beauty. He noted it was "unsurpassed on the face of the earth". Gandhi described Ceylon as a "resplendent pendant" on the Indian necklace. Muralidhar Reddy writing in the Hindu newspaper in India said: 'During his one and only extensive visit to Ceylon ...
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