A professional remembered

A dramatist who did yeoman service in the cause of Sinhala drama deservedly gained recognition recently thanks to an initiative of the Tower Hall Foundation. Tribute was paid to him on his second death anniversary. He is Bandula Jayawardena who, apart from producing a number of dramas, served as head of the Sinhala Drama Panel of the Arts Council, chaired the panel of judges at the annual drama festival, was a high official in the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and wrote books and articles on theatre.

Bandula whom we used to see walking down from Marrs Hall in the early days of the Peradeniya campus, came under the influence of Dr. Ediriweera Sarachchandra.

Bandula, a keen student of Greek theatre, is best remembered for Bera Handa (1961) - a clever adaptation of a Sophocles play. It clearly demonstrated Bandula's creativity and critics hailed the acting of the two lead players Jayantha Karunaratne and Sasala Thilaka Ranasinghe. H. H. Bandara who had by then worked closely with Dr. Sarachchandra turned out a fine musical score. Vasantha Kumar's choreography added much colour.

Bandula started his theatre work with Goshaka Vastuva (1958) after being inspired by Sarachchandra's Rattaran. It was selected the Best Script at the 1958 State Drama Festival. The mid-sixties saw him quite busy producing three plays - Diyasena Nopamineema (1963), Swarnahansa (1965) and Bihivanu Bosathanani (1966). His busy schedule in the administrative service kept him away from producing plays until 1999 when in a historical drama, Swarnamali, he took a new look at the Saliya-Asokamala story. The play won third place at that year's Drama Festival.

His service to theatre

As for his contribution to theatre, many may not remember that he was the prime mover in building a theatre for the benefit of Sinhala dramatists when he was attached to the Cultural Affairs Department. The outcome was the John de Silva Theatre. He was instrumental in establishing a state dance ensemble under renowned dancer Panibharata, and a state musical troupe. He steered the stage lighting project whereby amateurs were trained in this vital aspect of theatre.

Even though as editor of the Buddhist Encyclopedia, he had his hands full, Bandula did a lot towards the progress of Sinhala theatre serving as Drama Panel chairman at that time.

Roopana was a pioneering journal on theatre started by him. He followed up with several other publications which served as useful guides for students of drama. He was regularly invited to deliver lectures at seminars and workshops.

A fitting tribute was paid to Bandula during his lifetime when under Parakrama Niriella's stewardship of the Drama Panel, a felicitation volume of the Panel journal, 'Abhinaya' was devoted to him and Iranganie Serasinghe.

At the recent Tower Hall Foundation tribute, Professor K. N. O. Dharmadasa discussed his contribution towards Sinhala theatre.