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TV Times

Dinky: The tale of a donkey by Fr.Don Peter
By Susitha R. Fernando
In 1950s there was a rare type of pet at St' Joseph’s College Colombo. The pet was a donkey and its name was ‘Dinky’. Dinky from Mannar came to Colombo as a gift to the rector, Rev. Fr. W. L. A. Don Peter.

The story of 'Dinky' which was later written by Fr. Don Peter is being prepared to be made into a film by director Nanda Imbulgoda. The film is sponsored under the loan scheme given by the National Film Corporation (NFC). The official handing over of the story was held at ‘Piya Sevana’, Tewatte, Ragama, where Fr. Don Peter is residing at present.

‘There were a number of interesting stories relating to Dinky-the college pet at that time’, said Fr. Don Peter speaking at length about the story of Dinky that became an interesting idea to make into children's film.

Fulltime children's book writer Fr. Don Peter had written thirteen books and out of this three have already been booked to be made into films. Having obtained a BA honours in Sinhala language from the University of London and a degree on Missiology from the University of Propaganda Fide, Rome, Fr. Don Peter was appointed as the rector of the St' Joseph's College.

In 1956 he succeeded Fr. Peter Pillai, a scholar, educator and prolific writer."
‘Not long after I became the rector I got down a donkey from Mannar as a pet. I named it 'Dinky' and thought that it should become the pet of the rector, children and everybody in the college. In fact Dinky became the pet and it went about the college freely,’ said Fr. Don Peter narrating about the donkey-pet at St' Joseph's college.

‘The stories relating to Dinky were many. Once we had a headmasters conference with the participation of number of heads of leading schools at Bonjean Hall at St' Joseph's college. While the meeting was proceeding we heard some steps and thought that it must be one of the headmasters coming late for the conference’.

‘As all of us were waiting to welcome the headmaster and proceed with the meeting to our surprise and laughter it was not a headmaster but Dinky. One headmaster stood up andsaid 'Here is the Director of Education'. And another headmaster stood up and said 'No… No… here is the Minister of Education,’ said Fr. Don Peter humorously.

This was only one of the many stories relating to Dinky, Fr. Don Peter added.
When asked as to what made him write the story of Dinky, ‘One day while I was at my office Dinky came there and was leaning against the door in a reflective mood. This struck me with the idea of a donkey writing its own autobiography.". ‘However by that time I had realised that there was a lack of material to read in Sinhala for our children," he added.

The next problem for me was to find the money to print the book. And Cardinal Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Cooray allowed me to use my pension to print the book. Coming to Piya Sevana retiring from school service in 1996, Fr. Don Peter dedicated his full time to writing books for children. Some of the books that had become popular among children are 'Wanagatha Lamo', 'Holman Doopatha', 'Gatawara Mulawa', 'Wasana Mahal', 'Thekkapitiye Thathu', 'Sobadahamen Katha' and 'Saradielge Adipare' the last book written written by him.
‘My writing was encouraged with the meeting of Mr. S. Godage who was interested in my writing and generously took up the arduous job of publishing them’, said Fr. Don Peter with gratitude.

Speaking about his connection with the cinema the priest said Nanda Imbulgoda who had read the story long ago had found that it was interesting and full of pictures for a movie. He came up to me and said that he wanted Dinky to be made into a film to which I agreed happily . Two of his other books ‘Holman Doopatha’ and ‘Wanagatha Lamo’ too were selected by two other directors to be made into films.

Asked as to his wish Fr. Don Peter said "I am eighty nine now and as long as I live I would do this service for our children by writing books for children which is lacking in our literature". Fr. Don Peter-the priest and the writer
Born on September 25, 1916 in Kondagammulla, Negombo Fr. Don Peter studied at Maris Stella College Negombo.

The eldest in the family of four, one brother and two sisters Fr. Don Peter received M.A., M. Phil., and Ph.D. from the University of London and Ph.D. Colombo University. He is a member of Royal Academy of England. Fr. Don Peter served as rector at St' Joseph's College Colombo (1956-1961), St' Aloysius Seminary, Borella (1961-1971), Aquinas Higher Education Institute (1971-1974 and 1979-1989).

In addition to children's book Fr. Don Peter had written a large number of religious books both in English and Sinhala and he started ‘Daham Sarana Institute’ to publish books.

To appreciate his service to education Pope Paul IV had honoured him with a doctorate in 1967 and was given an award for his children's book 'Thekkapitiye Thathu" at the State Literary Festival in 1998.

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