ABSTRACT
Power in the Rangama/Devideniya community during the baseline period was intimately linked with wealth and with birth status. The relationship between the 'rich' and the 'poor' in the Rangama/Devideniya community during the baseline period was an exclusively economic relationship. During the baseline period there was no security of tenure. Wealth was the sole basis of power in this community in the baseline period. The relationship between power and caste in the baseline period was exhausted by the power wielded by the high-caste Aracci and Vel Vidane. The nature of power in the Rangama/Devideniya community at the turn of the century resulted in a situation where the relationships embodied in the power hierarchy were in many ways replicated in the hierarchies of class and caste. The antiquated 'native headmen' system was retained primarily on account of its convenience to the ruling power. The British were scrupulous in observing caste etiquette in the administrative system.
