I found a copy of this world map published in time for her Golden Jubilee. I found it at the website of the Cornell University Library in a category labelled PERSUASIVE CARTOGRAPHY: The PJ Mode Collection. (You should be able to open it in a new window by clicking. You may enjoy taking a closer look at the excellent image.)
Imperial Federation Map of the World
Showing the Extent of the British Empire in 1886
If one zooms in, he/she can clearly see the importance of Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, although a speck compared to India to the north. British administrators in Ceylon, as a commemoration for Victoria's 50 years on the throne, erected a tiny post at the end of a highway. Jubilee post sits about a half kilometer from where I'm typing this in Nuguegoda.
The post is pretty much ignored now and the stone has been painted an unimpressive white. One errant bus could easily demolish it. It is a bit sad that it garners so little attention being such an important historical, world marker.
Therefore, perhaps it's fitting that as I tried to snap a photo today in Nugegoda, a 3-wheel rounded the circle at breakneck speed and blocked my view of the Jubilee Post.
