Vidane Arachchi
Encyclopedia
Vidane Arachchi or Vidane was the post of village policemen
in British Ceylon
. Under the regulation No. 6 of 1806, the Government Agent
of the district appointed a Vidane to each village, for prevention and detection of crime in rural area. Appointments were made to locals, usually from families loyal to the British Crown.
The post was created by the Dutch as the lower tier of the public administration system modified by the British until it was gradually replaced with the formation and expansion of the Ceylon Police Force.
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
in British Ceylon
British Ceylon
British Ceylon refers to British rule prior to 1948 of the island territory now known as Sri Lanka.-From the Dutch to the British:Before the beginning of the Dutch governance, the island of Ceylon was divided between the Portuguese Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy, who were in the midst of a war for...
. Under the regulation No. 6 of 1806, the Government Agent
Government Agent (Sri Lanka)
A Government Agent or a District Secretary is a Sri Lankan civil servant of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service appointed by the central government to govern a certain district of the country. The GA is the administrative head of public services in the District. As Sri Lanka has 25 districts,...
of the district appointed a Vidane to each village, for prevention and detection of crime in rural area. Appointments were made to locals, usually from families loyal to the British Crown.
The post was created by the Dutch as the lower tier of the public administration system modified by the British until it was gradually replaced with the formation and expansion of the Ceylon Police Force.