8th June 1997

International schools: creating a new elite

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Addressed to

The Editor,

The Sunday Times,

47. W.A. D. Ramanayake Mawatha, Colombo 2

The subject that you have chosen, Inter national Schools, is both topical and controversial. The latest available Central Bank

Report has rightly called for a monitoring of all these Schools. I welcome this very much. One of the daily papers had an editorial on this subject. A Letter to the Editor has appeared as a response to the Editorial.

International Schools are the new feature in the history of Education in our country. They were certainly here before 1977. However, the so called open economy of 1977 and thereafter created the ethos, for these schools to begin.

The reasons for parents to send their children to these schools range from Government Schools refusing to take their children, to the need for English Education and foreign study.

So these schools have to be seen in the context of the Nation and its policy on Education. Unfortunately in our country, the policy keeps on changing with the change of Government. Therefore, although there is no evident clear cut policy of Education for the Nation, it is necessary that these International schools are checked so that they do not produce children whose values are alien to the values that ought to be cultivated in our homes, schools and places of worship.

There was a time when students of Sociology were of the opinion that the private schools in our country were producing a New Class of persons. Aren’t the International Schools also doing that?

Apart from the foreigners who go to these schools, the Sri Lankans are certainly those who can find the money to go to these schools. So this certainly creates a new elite. Moreover, if these schools are not monitored, one does not know whether all these schools give our Sri Lankan students, the basic minimum in education. It is also clear that these students since they are prepared for foreign education, may not come back to our country. We lose them, in the global employment market. If a child for whatever reason does not want to serve his or her own country, what values will he or she have?

However, what worries me most is what I see at least some of these students doing while being in their school uniforms. As a student at Trinity College, Kandy, I would have never gone to a cafe and smoked while in my uniform. This I see happening. Some persons with new values of discipline may not consider, this a crime but, for me this is symbolic of our new society.

Therefore, the pertinent question is whether International Schools are producing men and women with new values who can contribute to the betterment of the Sri Lankan society. I really wonder, of course, this is the combined effort of the home, the school, the place of worship and the society. I am therefore very glad that the Central Bank has advocated the monitoring of all International Schools.

- The Very Rev. Sydney Knight

It is Beatles time again

With three more Grammys in their kitty and knighthood for Paul McCartney, it is time to talk of the Beatles once more. The mid- Nineties saw Paul, George and Ringo reunite to work on the Beatles’ Anthology series of music and video. Anthology 1, released in 1995 proved to be a major commercial success. Their reunion songs "Free as a bird" and "Real love" were met with enthusiasm by the fans. The Beatles they proved, could send the cash registers, ringing anytime. So it was with anything they did albums, singles, movies - just anything.

Cashing in on the revived interest is Harper Perennial, a division of HarperCollins publishers, which has brought out two publications - Roy Carr’s "Beatles At The Movies" and a quiz book on the Beatles by Brandon Toropov which goes by the title "Who was Eleanor Rigby..." Containing no less than 909 questions and answers on the Fab Four, the latter will no doubt be a valuable treasure for all those Beatles’ people and quiz masters who would like to improve their B.Q. or Beatles Quotient.

From questions about the Beatles’ album releases, their studio techniques, their fateful years and tours to testing your knowledge of the covers and sleeves of various Beatles albums and who said what and when - the book tells you all you know and did not know about the lovable mop tops who stormed the world of rock and roll in the Sixties.

Even to the casual listener, the book provides instant familiarity in much the same way instant recipes of food do. At double the price, Roy Carr’s book on "Beatles At The Movies", embellished with 200 beautifully reproduced photographs, is a feast for the eyes. As many as 100 photographs in the book have never been published before, claims the author. The text is a fairly detailed account of the behind-the-scenes happenings of the films the Beatles made as also the films they did not make. Exclusive interviews with Paul McCartney and Richard Lester provide insiders view.

Bud Ornstein’s offer to make films with the Beatles was obviously inspired by their saleability. "Producing a Beatles movie was merely a means to an end obtaining its accompanying soundtrack album was the prime object..." Although films was very much in their agenda, the Beatles had reached a position where they could do it at their own terms. Their choice of Richard Lester as the director for "A Hard Day’s Night" could not have been better. Carr devotes an entire chapter on Richard Lester who, film buffs would know, was the man behind the 11 minute "The Running, Jumping And Standing Still Film" which was nominated for an Academy Award.

"A Hard Day’s Night" was released in 1964 at the height of Beatlemania and was quickly followed by "Help" in 1965. While these two films as well as their last movie "Let It Be" have been much talked about, Carr’s book also deals with "The Yellow Teddybears", "A Talent for Loving", "Shades of a Personality", Joe Orton’s " Up Against It", "Lord of the Rings" and "The Three Musketeers" - films that were never made. "The Yellow Teddybears" which came before "A Hard Day’s Night" was turned down by the Beatles due to copyright problems.

"A Talent for Loving" was based on a real life incident concerning a 1,400 mile overland horse race that took place in 1871. Anyway the shooting was cancelled with a press statement on weather not being reliable in Spain (where the film was to be shot). Although Carr is doubtful about the truth in this, he throws no further light on the matter. Also discussed is "Shades of a Personality" which was rumoured to be directed by Michaelangelo Antonioni.

Also brought up in the book are the Beatles’ individual forays into films. There is the controversial "How I Won The War", a film starring John Lennon and directed by Richard Lester; "The Family Way" for which McCartney had composed the basic themes; "Candy" in which Ringo Starr plays a role along with veterans like Marlon Brando and Richard Burton and "Wonderwall", a film which had a musical score by George Harrison.

There was 52-episode TV cartoon series made on the Beatles in the Sixties. Some of the episodes were created by independent teams of Australian and Canadian animators who were provided with sketches, guidelines and comments with which to work. Some of this, reproduced in the book, make hilarious reading. Then there is McCartney speaking on "Magical Mystery Tour" a film that the Beatles produced and directed. The film was not a success and definitely a dip in their career graph as George Martin put it. Looking back however, McCartney considers it to be "quite a little classic for its time".

So here are the Beatles - at the movies under Carr’s favourable light. The book scores heavily on its design, although I could not help noticing that the quote on page 48 begins somewhere mid-sentence without the quotation marks and no mention of the person who has said it. A small printing error, no doubt.-The Times

The looting of the King’s property and the hunt for

treasure

By the time the British reached Kandy, the capital of the King, all his treasure had been removed and hidden. The King had a way of secreting his treasure when he had to abandon his capital and this was not the first instance when he had to do so. Some of his treasure was hidden close by and some were removed to far off places like Sabaragamuwa and hidden there. In this instance before his departure some items were buried close to the palace and some items were packed in boxes and hidden elsewhere. Two large bells, one belonging to the Temple were dumped in the Lake, the day before he left Kandy. Less valuable items were left where they were .

On arrival in Kandy the soldiers and campfollowers began looking for treasure. They appropriated for themselves whatever they could lay hands on. This took place so blatantly that

Ehelapola was compelled to bring this to the notice of Governor Brownrigg. Brownrigg straight away declared "Our army is not come here to look after property and will not do so." But before long he was made to feel that it was necessary for him to cry halt to this looting. He had besides to look for the Imperial jewels.

But by the time the British acted several persons had removed the King’s property. The Tamby Mudaliyar had carried off to Madampe 3 boxes. These were taken charge by the Collector who was later ordered to send them to the Prize Agent at Colombo. It was later found that these were removed with the knowledge of his Commanding Officer.

The King’s carriage was found abandoned at Puddalgoda in Teldeniya, 16 miles away from Kandy. Some villagers brought out from a cave close by 12 boxes and were guarding them. These contained guns, frames and parts of the carriage and other items. This was about 15 days after the capture of the King. A Mudaliyar from Colombo accompanied by 10 or 12 persons, some of whom were Malabars came there and took away 4 of these boxes. The Mudaliyar wore a white jacket with silver buttons and had in his hand a small sword in a silver sheath. He was identified as Don Juan Aratchi of the Governor’s Gate. Later another person came on horseback and removed some boxes to Teldeniya. By the May 15 the King’s carriage was stripped of valuable items, including two pieces of Gold, two silver pineapples, two golden balls, ornaments of the top of the carriage and two Kandyan Cloths. Some valuable parts of the carriage were sent out of the country. In 1816 in the case The King vs Edward Taylor of the Bombay Department, the Defendant admitted "having exported from Colombo worked gold, to wit a front pannel of the State Carriage of the late King of Kandy weighing eight hundred six and a half pagodas of the alloy of Star Pagoda Gold." He however denied that its value was Rix Dollars 6250-93 fanams.

In December 1815 on the way to Kandy, the Tamby Mudaliyar came across some treasure which he listed and handed over to Wattarantenne Nilame of Harispattu. The duplicate list was handed over at Colombo. Wattala Vidan pointed out to D’Oyly large quantity of money hidden in two caves. And Abdul,the Malay helped the Government to trace some of the King’s property valued at RD 50000 to RD 60000 and received a reward of RD 500. He was soon after made the Constable of Katukelle. All the articles which came into the hands of D’Oyly were properly listed and accounted for.

The State Jewellery still eluded them. It was learnt from Millewe that Ehelapola would know where these were. D’Oyly received directions to work on Ehelapola and recover them. Very soon in November 1816 the Dissawe of Uva produced the Sword of State, its sheath and the Crown. The possession of these Imperial jewels enhanced the claims of the Britishers.

In the search for treasure it became necessary to search houses on information. Tennekumbura Lekam’s house was searched on three occasions on the information given by a Sinhalese man who had shaved his head to look like a Moorman. On seeing him Tennekumbura was so annoyed that he threatened to teach him a good lesson if he came there again.

Hidden treasure from time to time came to light at different places.

Precious Stones

Besides people were coming across precious stones in several places. During the time of the Kandyan King it was an offence to search for or traffic in precious stones. In January 1816 a rock of Amethyst crystal was found at Erawwawela in Udunuwara. A moorman was prepared to pay RD 2500 for the exclusive privilege of digging for these. The Government however decided to get the villagers to dig for these under its supervision. There was another place at Kurugoda in Harispattu where precious stones were found. Here a man offered RD 1000 for the exclusive privilege of digging for these.

A man named Samsay Lebbe Kassey Lebbe of Colombo was detected in the act of removing uncut precious stones recently dug at Hettimulla. Don Simon de Silva Munasinghe Appu was detected with precious stones at Nivitigala.

In the end the Government had to step in to check these depredations and exercise some control and increase the revenue by this means.

Administration

The British decided to administer the Kandyan Provinces separately, giving due place and emphasis to the practices which prevailed during the time of the Kandyan Kings. A knowledgeable person like John D’Oyly was appointed Resident at Kandy. The bigger towns had Agents of Revenue to handle the Administration and to hear cases. In Kandy there was a Sitting Magistrate to decide minor offences. The Chiefs met at the Audience Hall and heard cases involving caste and custom. The most serious cases came for trial before the Judicial Commissioner. There was also a Revenue Commissioner. The Resident with the two Commissioners formed the Board of Commissioners at least thrice a week to promptly handle matters which came up. In the course of time methods and practices tried out in the Maritime Provinces, which were not repugnant to the people of the Kandyan Provinces were gradually introduced.

For some time the administrative machinery functioned smoothly. But before long the native Chiefs found that they were being made use of by the new Administration. While the power and influence of the new administrators grew, their power and influence was on the wane. The British found that the Chiefs besides providing information regarding custom and usages were of no great use. Their judgement in cases was not so sound as that of the Sitting Magistrate. In the case where Batticoloa traders were assaulted the Chiefs acquitted the accused where the Sitting Magistrate would have convicted them. In executive functions, too, they lagged behind the Britishers. For instance in the apprehension of Orukema the Collector of Magampattu and his men were more effective than the 2nd Adigar and his men.

The Chiefs began to react. They started by absenting themselves from meetings. Their places had to be taken by Chiefs of a lower order who had not even the right to sit on chairs. The British countered this by issuing permits to these Chiefs to sit on chairs. A permit issued read "We the said Lieutenant Governor do hereby grant to Pilima Talawe Wijesundera Rajapakse Bandaranaike Mudianse our leave to sit on a chair in the Audience Hal1'’. In Uva Sawers found that those who supported the British were being harassed in various ways by the Dissawe and his henchmen.

They made the people understand that to support them was not the best way to win his favour and help. Sawers reported, "I am sorry that so many instances have occurred of the people who have rendered themselves most useful to the English being most severely treated by the Dissawe as to lead to the supposition that the allegations made by the sufferers are but too true viz that showing attendance to us is not the way to obtain his favour and protection and the patronage of the Mohottale." This had to be countered by a benevolent form of Government. The British were adopting a more helpful and sympathetic attitude to the populace.

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