Among our senior administrators there have been several with a flair for creativity. Some of them have been writing books at a regular pace. Leel Gunasekera, Tisa Devendra, S. G. Punchihewa, Sunil Sarath Perera are among the prominent writers. Stanley Kirinde was an outstanding painter. Most of them continue to write in their retirement and occasionally we meet when they launch their books.
Leel Gunasekera has the distinction of winning the State Literary Award for his first novel 'Pethsama' (Petition) way back in 1961. He was at that time an energetic Government Agent (he was a member of the then prestigious Ceylon Civil Service prior to the setting up of the Administrative Service) and based the novel on his experiences as a top level provincial public official. He has written two more novels - 'Athsna' & 'Mang nethi da', and a collection of short stories - 'Ira handa kodiyata adhipathi pedese'. He has also been interested in children's literature and has released at least half a dozen children's books.
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The latest in his effort is a somewhat different type of book for children. Titled 'Guru Poojawa' (Homage to Teachers) it features a number of Sri Lankan patriots who were eternally grateful to their teachers. "The book was written with the intention of encouraging the younger generation to emulate the national figures," Leel says. He has studied how the talent of these characters developed under the guidance of their teachers.
Sir Baron (D B ) Jayatilaka, for example, studied under Ratmalane Dhammarama Nayaka Thera, head of the Vidyalankara Pirivena-Kelaniya before joining Wesley College. Yet he never forgot the place where he started. He regularly visited the Pirivena whenever time permitted.
When Sir D. B. returned to Sri Lanka after his studies at Oxford University, he was felicitated by the Pirivena. In his speech he said: "The main reason why I am being recognised at international level was not because I was well versed in English, Latin, Greek and French but because of the discipline I acquired at the Pirivena and the rudiments of English, Pali and Sanskrit I learnt here."
The active politician who was called the 'unofficial Prime Minister' when he was head of the Board of Ministers in the State Council days, was due to take train to Dhanushkodi to assume duties as Sri Lanka's special commissioner in India. Even on his way he stopped by at Vidyalankara Pirivena.
Dr. C. W. W. Kanangara's talent was spotted by Fr. G. H. Darrel, Principal of Richmond College when he came as chief guest of the prize giving at Weslyan school-Randombe where the young boy was studying. Fr. Darrel saw a boy collecting nine prizes at a stretch and wanted him sent up for the Foundation Scholarship which was awarded to a talented student in the South. Dr. C. W. W. had an illustrious school career and ended up as a teacher, lawyer, people's representative and finally as Minister of Education remembered to this day as the Father of Free Education. He promoted the award of scholarships to rural students. He is being remembered with the erection of at least two statues - one at his home town Matugama and the other opposite Isurupaya - headquarters of the Education Ministry.
A boy of five was to be admitted to the lower kindergarten at St John's College-Panadura. He was interviewed by the principal Cyril Jansz who decided to put him into standard three straightaway. He found the boy so intelligent. "He will one day win recognition not only in Sri Lanka but at international level too," principal Jansz remarked. The boy - George Peiris, second son of Malamulle Veda Arachchi - later Professor Gunapala Malalasekera never failed to refer to his principal in his speeches.
Anagarika Dharmapala entered the Order in the latter stages of his life. He took the name Siri Devamitta Dharmapala as a mark of respect to his teacher, Heiyantuduwe Sri Devamitta Thera who taught at the Vidyodaya Pirivena.
The first task of Chief Justice G. P. A. Silva, an old Anandian after the swearing-in ceremony was to visit his principal P. de S. Kularatne who was then in total retirement, accompany him to college and pay his obeisance in front of all the students.
There are tales about several others in the book which Leel hopes would inspire present children to remember their teachers.
Leel, meanwhile, is interested in promoting a literature on Gerontology. Incidentally, his thesis for his PhD a few years back was 'Social change and problems of older persons in Si Lanka - Strategies to meet the challenges'. |
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