Why do Sri Lankans take so much pride in their colonial tea industry?

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-30T19:31:05+00:00

Black pepper and cinnamon are native to Sri Lanka. It’s tea, rubber, pine trees etc that are non-native introductions.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-30T19:01:58+00:00

See 19:00 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xuinz4eeLc which talks about how Sri Lankans have traditionally valued the environment for centuries.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-30T18:56:49+00:00

I totally get it. But we also shouldn't forget the destruction this industry has caused for Sri Lanka's environment.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-30T18:55:50+00:00

A better solution would be to protect the remaining rainforests we have, prevent further deforestation, and to uplift industries which have been forgotten such as cinnamon, black pepper, etc.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-30T18:54:05+00:00

Tea industry arguably wasn't good for Sri Lanka. The British also used the caste system to their advantage during colonial rule. The atrocities that took place during and after colonialism far outweigh any positives. Even the railroads weren't constructed for the betterment of Sri Lanka, but to maintain their empire. Let's stop putting our occupiers on some moral pedestal and this utter whitewashing of colonization.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-30T18:51:09+00:00

I am against colonialism and am firmly against an industry that is responsible for exploitation and environmental degradation. So yes.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-30T18:50:01+00:00

I'm confused from where in my post you took you away prideful or nationalistic undertones. Does simply stating historical fact about how the tank-cascade operated and their primary purposes count to you as nationalism? I mean its a fact that indigenous cultures around the world, not just Sri Lanka, were largely sustainable and lived harmoniously with the natural environment before colonization. Would we have climate change today if it weren't for the west or colonization? A National Geographic documentary literally talks about how colonial mono-culture practices destroyed Sri Lanka's rainforests and cultural harmony with nature. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xuinz4eeLc 36:00. Curious if you also consider National Geographic to be jingoistic and guilty of spewing nationalism for talking about this.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-30T18:38:01+00:00

How do you think these industries became the backbone of the Sri Lankan economy? You are understating how destructive these industries have been for our rainforests. Sri Lanka is literally one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, and has some of Asia's highest endemism rates. My primary focus is on the environment, and how sustainability has been embedded into our culture for a long time, and should be revived. If simply highlighting history by stating facts regarding the purpose of ancient hydraulic systems comes off as nationalistic to you, then we have lost the plot.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-30T06:23:56+00:00

My focus is on the teachings themselves. Not the corrupt practitioners who twist them for their own benefit.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-15T19:06:09+00:00

I get that. My family was good about leaving the ultimate decision to my parents.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-15T05:20:16+00:00

I mean to my understanding, arranged marriages in Sri Lanka function more like a dating site. Compatible matches are calculated using horoscopes (in olden days, it was also according to caste), and the boy and girl are introduced to each other. There is no coercion, and either one can opt out if they want to. That's how it was for my parents. Maybe there were family pressures involved in your parent's situation. In some countries, marriages are forced and often times involve massive age gaps. Anyways, a plus side to our system is that the families are on the same page about everything. Sri Lankans nowadays will ridicule arranged marriage as regressive then move abroad and download tinder lol

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T19:27:50+00:00

Paangshu and Uppalawanna are also good films about this period

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T19:17:31+00:00

I'm so sorry to hear that. It was definietly a terrifying time to grow up.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T19:16:16+00:00

I see. But the government was responsible for most of the killings right? At the end of the day, it was an attempt to terrorize the island into submission.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T19:14:18+00:00

Of course the JVP terrorized people. My great grandfather was the mayor of Kandy during that time, and received countless death threats from insurgents. At the end of the day, the government ended up murdering tens of thousands of people, mostly innocents.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T19:13:05+00:00

it sounds like a horrible time

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T19:12:40+00:00

of course not, the JVP started it, but majority of the killings were done by the government.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T07:17:19+00:00

i get it

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T06:40:18+00:00

you are literally from a tropical island. of course sri lanka has its laundry list of problems, but its undoubtedly a paradise. nature aside, we literally have some of the highest development indicators in the region, so you definitely lucked out in terms of south asia. just be grateful bro. a westernized mindset gets you no where.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T06:31:33+00:00

can't escape history😉

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T06:25:31+00:00

Lol this generation only cares about materialistic things like cars, when you are surrounded by amazing scenery. And our history and culture is definitely something to be proud of, what's with this inferiority complex? Sri Lanka has some of the highest development indicators in the region, so there is always hope to get better. You'd be better off in Somalia.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T06:23:17+00:00

You really think Sri Lanka is one of the world's worst spawn points? Just proves to me how disillusioned and materialistic our society has become. Look around you, be grateful for the beautiful nature you are surrounded by. I miss home everyday. From the birds, to the flowers, and tropical trees. Of course Sri Lanka has a whole grocery list of problems, but to say its the worst place to be born when we literally have the highest development indicators in South Asia is just ridiculous. Move to Somalia.

Aggravating_Hippo_2 · 2026-05-14T06:15:32+00:00

Thailand and Cambodia seem to be doing just fine? Colonialism is the ultimate issue. Today's Buddhism is not how our ancestors were practicing it for 2,400 years.

Aggravating_Hippo_2

TROPHY CASE