We have heard that mini carts have been used in the past, but we have never seen them. Perhaps there are some who have never heard of a mini cart.
In a world that has been gradually modernized, a mini-cart is now being replaced by a carriage.
It’s what we usually call a horse.These mini-carts were designed to be easy to carry across the narrow roads of the past.No matter how modernized Sri Lanka is, there are still areas where there are no roads to keep a mini cart or a mini box.
This story is about a corpse cart that you and I have never seen, as well as a differently designed cemetery in Sri Lanka.Matale McDoll Fort or present day Matale Public Cemetery, which is considered to be a fort of the Dutch period, has a very old coffin dating back more than 150 years and is still in good condition today.
However, the last time a corpse was transported in this cart was about 20 years ago, which is said to be the only corpse transported 50 years later.We contacted WP Rohan Nissanka Wijesena, who is on duty at the Matale Public Cemetery, for further information.
They noted that a special feature of the cemetery was that it was shaped like a cross.It is said that this mini cart which is currently found in the Matale Public Cemetery has been used to transport the body from the entrance to the cemetery to the graveyard.
Another special feature of this cemetery is that it is divided into nine parts.Those sections are named Pentecostal, Anklin (Church of England), Dodge, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist Salvation Army.Accordingly, it appears that there was a place in this cemetery for all religions and races that existed in the country at that time.
The total area of this cemetery is considered to be 17 acres of 02 rud.Also, this cemetery has the ability to bury anyone who dies from Dondra Point to Point Pedro and this is governed by the Cemeteries Ordinance.
They say that the wall around the cemetery was built during Dutch times.This is because it has historically been a Dutch fortress.
They further stated that the Dutch army remained in the fort and that it was later converted into a cemetery due to the British occupying the country and burying all their dead inside the fort.
However, it is the duty and responsibility of all of us to preserve this mini cart, which is the most important part here, for future generations.
It is also believed that our national heroes such as Gongalegoda Banda and Puran Appu stayed in this fort during the Matale Rebellion.
Another important factor that drives this mini-cart and the cemetery is religious reconciliation.This is explained by the fact that it has been divided into nine sections so that burial can be done by all, irrespective of race or religion.Accordingly, it is said that from that time onwards, everyone in this country, regardless of race or religion, has worked together with equality.
We hope that this letter will be brought to the attention of the Mayor of Matale as well as the Municipal Commissioner and that all authorities will pay attention to the preservation of this historic object.
