The Millennium Countdown

• Who is the Sri Lankan of the Century?
• Rohana Wijeweera
• Anagarika Dharmapala

Who is the Sri Lankan of the Century?

pick, the persons who in your view have made the most lasting contribution to Sri Lankan life in the last hundred years. Most lasting could mean the most prominently impacting or the most remembered contribution, though it may not necessarily be the most "valuable".

One person is entitled to send in one voting form, and your votes will count towards the nominations for the Sri Lankans of the Century, as the Millennium Countdown winds down. The Sunday Times will also be pleased to publish the best articulated and argued presentation that gives the best reasons for the choice of "Sri Lankan of the Century."

The list

S . W . R . D . Bandaranaike.
D. S. Senanayake.
Anagarika Dharmapala.
Dudley Senanayake.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
Rohana Wijeweera.
Ivor Jennings.
Senarath Paranavithana.
Ediriweera Sarachchandra
E. W. Adhikaram
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Ananda Coomaraswamy
Canon R. S. de Saram
Rev. W. S. Senior
C. W. W. Kannangara
Cyril Ponnamperuma
Duncan White
Munidasa Kumaratunge
Miggetuwatte Gunananda
Geoffrey Bawa
Henry Colbrooke
Marie Meauseaus Higgins
G. W. Wimalasurendra
D R Wijewardene
Upali Wijewardene
Arjuna Ranatunge
Sanath Jayasuriya
S. J. V. Chelvanayakam
J. R. Jayewardene
Christy Weeramantry
Colvin R. de Silva
N. M. Perera
Philip Gunawardene
Martin Wickremesinghe
Lester James Peiris
Lionel Wendt
Solius Mendis
A. C. G. S. Amarasekera
L. T. P Manjusri
A. N. S. Kulasinghe
P. R. Anthonis
Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ponnambalam-Ramanathan
C. P. de Silva
Piyadasa Sirisena
J. B. Makuloluwa
A. Bala Tampoe
Saumyamoorthi Thondaman
Hector Kobbekaduwa
W. D. Amaradeva
Sunil Shantha
L. E. Blaze
Arthur.C.Clarke
Ananda Samarakoon
Chithrasena
Vajira
D.B. Dhanapala
Dr.A.T. Ariyaratne
Dr. Gamini Corea
Iranganie Serasinghe
Jayantha Dhanapala
Mohideen Baig
Neelan Tiruchelvam
Rev. Marcelline Jayakody
Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya
G.P. Wickremarachchi

Responses

Rohana Wijeweera

I vote for Rohana Wijeweera in the field of politics.

He was the first politician who understood the 'National problem' in Sri Lanka, correctly. He analysed National problem historically, and also he wrote a book called "fou< B,dï wr.,hg úi³u l=ulao? in Sinhala. (what is the solution to Tamil Eelam struggle). He enumerated two reasons behind the National problem. One is Democracy or the lack of it and other one is equality. Democratic rights of the people have been violated by narrow- minded politicians who ruled the country throughout the past half century and they developed the National problem.

Rohana Wijeweera sacrificed his life for building a new society that will treat every- body equally.

He introduced a political party and political culture to serve the people of the country voluntarily.

Nimal Liyanagamage

Anagarika Dharmapala

I name the Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala as the 'Sri Lankan of the Century'.

As regards policies he shaped the minds of the people for political independence as no one else did during the century. He revived national pride and values and shunned the imported western culture and values.

Regarding arts - education, specially Buddhist education, was actually started by him with the help of Col. Olcott and Annie Besant. The Buddhist Theosophical Society and the Maha Bodhi Society were started by him.

So many schools were started by the Maha Bodhi Society. It was a most lasting and remembered contribution to Sri Lankan education, culture, customs and manners that was contributed by him or anyone during the century.

He started the restoration of the Buddha Gaya Chaitya and fought to get the ownership to Buddhists from the Hindu Maharajahs. It was a relentless fight and he persuaded the Indian Govt. to restore the ownership to the Maha Bodhi Society that he established in India. The Maha Bodhi Society has done a valuable service in India and Sri Lanka.

As public endeavour he started the spinning and the wearing of homespun cloth in the villages of Sri Lanka long before Mahatma Gandhi of India was born. This gave a big impetus to the manufacture of cloth and in addition created national values.

I do not think anyone else in Sri Lanka during the century under reference has done so much for the nation in so many fields. He is the Sri Lankan of the Century.

V.K.B. Ramanayaka.,

Colombo 3.

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