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A chance for young talent
The George Keyt Foundation presents the "Young Contemporaries Exhibition 2002' the 9th in this series of exhibitions which it initiated in early 1990 to discover artists from many parts of the country. Nearly 90 artists have responded this year, over seventy percent first timers.

The artists have to be 'young' in the world of art - below 40 years at the beginning of the year of exhibition.

The exhibition will be at the East Gallery of the National Art Gallery at Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha from June 11 to 16 from 10.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Admission as always is free.

Kala Korner by Dee Cee
Professor teaches the 'hodiya' To learn the 'hodiya' from a learned professor is indeed a rare privilege. We all sat at the Public Library auditorium last Tuesday and let Prof. J. B. Disanayaka teach us the Sinhala alphabet.

His mode of teaching was totally different to how we were taught the first letters (in my case at a Sinhala school). Not that it is much different today , except that in place of the letters we learnt, they teach letters through words like 'Amma' and 'Jambu'.

J.B. used three leading singers to help in the teaching - Nanda Malini, Rohana Weerasinghe and Luxman Wijesekera. J.B.'s aim was to show how the more difficult letters, particularly those which represent sounds in words derived from Sanskrit and Pali or sounds that have lost their distinct identity, can be taught in a manner the children would remember rather than merely telling them what those letters were.
The 'class' was meant to launch J.B's latest creation, 'Akuru Mihira 2' - a new style 'Hodi Potha'. In the first 'Akuru Mihira', he presented the alphabet with a musical touch to the little compositions he created to teach the letters. He does the same in 'Akuru Mihira 2'. When the musical trio illustrated the somewhat jaw-breaking words singing J.B.'s creations, they sounded so rhythmic and pleasing to the ear.

As Kelaniya University don Dr. Ashoka Premaratne pointed out, 'J.B's effort has cultural and linguistic value. The whole book is based on a Buddhist theme. Words which convey incidents from the Buddha's life or places of worship in Anuradhapura are cleverly presented to make the little reader respond and remember the letters, their pronunciations and how to write them.

Illustrator Nirupama Mahagamasekera, the undergraduate daughter of the well-known Mahagama Sekera, has contributed interesting drawings, which liven up the book. 'Akuru Mihira 1' was illustrated by renowned children's book illustrator Sybil Wettasinghe.

The launch was a meaningful one. I wished though, that there were children present. J.B. should think of a repeat performance exclusively for children. Publisher Godage is sure to cooperate.

Dual launch
Tuesday's, in fact, was a dual launch. Continuing his most readable and authoritative series on Sinhala folk language, J.B. had written 'Udarata Sinhalaya', the language spoken in the up-country. Starting with 'Sinhala Jana Vahara' written in 1976, he has looked into different aspects of the Sinhala language at regular intervals.

When he announced this was the last in the series, there were many raised eyebrows. Professor Tissa Kariyawasam, who presided, suggested he move over to doing research on Tamil spoken in different parts of the country.

J.B. from his young days has been observing the differences in the language spoken in his home. His mother hailing from the Hatara Korale called her father 'appuchchi'. The father, however, born in a village in Udunuwara used the term 'appachchi'. J.B. was intrigued. In 'Udarata Sinhalaya', J.B. covers the language spoken in Kotmale, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Dumbara, Upper Uva and Hatara Korale.

The concise guide to the Anglo-Sri Lankan lexicon -II by Richard Boyle
World of mineralogical words
It is not surprising that one of the largest categories among the words that comprise the Anglo-Sri Lankan lexicon is gems and minerals. After all, Sri Lanka was once known as the 'Island of Gems' and 'The Land of the Hyacinth and Ruby'. No less than 20 entries in the second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED2) concern gems and minerals that are acknowledged as being exclusively or closely associated with Sri Lanka. Some are synonyms of others on the list, admittedly. Nevertheless, it is an impressive collection, which includes such exotic names as cinnamon-stone, jargon, and salamstone. Only one, tourmaline, bears a name derived from Sinhala, although another may be included in the forthcoming OED3. Date of first usage is provided in brackets.

Alphabetically, we start with baddeleyite (1894). (Alexandrite should be first, but the OED2 does not acknowledge its Sri Lankan origin.) According to the dictionary baddeleyite is "A mineral, chiefly of zirconia, found in Ceylon and Brazil, and used as a refractory material." It is named after Joseph Baddeley, "by whom," as the 1894 illustrative quotation in the entry reveals, "the interesting dense minerals of Rukwana have been brought to the notice of the mineralogical world." Baddeleyite is not to be found in mainstream English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka.

candite (1844). "A variety of Spinel, dark green or brown to black, found in Ceylon." No illustrative quotations from English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka are given. However, Tennent (1859[1977]:I. 30) writes: "Spinel of extremely beautiful colours is found in the bed of the Mahawelli-ganga at Kandy, and from the locality it has obtained the name of Candite."

Four synonyms, three being former names of the island, are recorded in the OED2 - ceylanite (1803), ceylonite (1803), pleonaste (1804), and zeilanite (1851). No illustrative quotations from English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka are given. However, Davy (1821:29) comments "The fine sapphire-blue Ceylanite, I have found at Nalandi and nowhere else," while Bennett (1843:329) lists "Ceylonite" and Gordon Cumming (1892[1901]:317) "pleonaste."

cat's eye (1599). "A precious stone, a variety of chalcedonic quartz, very hard and transparent, which, when cut en cabochon, displays, on being held to the light, a peculiar floating lustre, resembling the contracted pupil of a cat's eye, supposed to be caused by small fibres of asbestos. The finest come from Ceylon and Malabar." No illustrative quotations from English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka are given. The earliest of many is by Percival (1803:354): "The cat's eye is a species of opal, and receives its name from a white sparkling ray in the centre, which still meets the eye whichever way you turn it."

cinnamon-stone (1805). This is a translation of the Sinhala term, kurundu-gal. "A name given to various brown and yellow kinds of garnet, especially to a cinnamon-coloured variety from Ceylon." No illustrative quotations from English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka are given. There are many, however, the earliest of which is by Cordiner (1807[1983]:9): "The cinnamon stone is a garnet, which derives its name from the resemblance which its colour bears to the oil of the cinnamon." A later reference by Walters (1892:274) reads: "Ceylon is, I believe, the only country in which is found the variety of garnet called Jacinth, hyacinth, cinnamon stone, or essonite. It is orange-red in colour, and is found in considerable quantities and of large size in the rocky mountainous strata."

geikelite (1892). "A titanate of magnesium . . . known only as brownish or bluish black rolled pebbles from Ceylon." This is named after the geologist Sir Archibald Geikie. There are no references in English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka.

jargon, jargoon (1769). "A translucent, colourless, or smoky variety of the mineral zircon, found in Sri Lanka." The earliest reference in English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka is by Bertolacci (1817[1983]:118): "The finer kind is a coloured gargoon. Of this latter stone, perfectly colourless, great numbers are found in the district of Matara, and are known in Ceylon by the name of Matara diamonds." A later reference by Gordon Cumming (1892[1901]:320) reads: "The white or grey jargoon, which is commonly known as the Ceylon or Matara diamond."

The synonym Matura diamond (1880) is recorded. I have found an earlier reference, or antedating, by Percival (1803:352): "The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond of Ceylon or Matura are not by any means so valuable as those of Golconda or the Brazils." Woolf (1914:127) refers to both names: "Among the less valuable gem-stones, Ceylon is noted for its zircons. These are also known as jargoons, hyacinths or jacinths, and they range through a number of colours . . . the white stones have generally been fired and are commonly known as Matara diamonds."

moss-agate (1798). "A popular name for a variety of agate containing brown or black moss-like dendritic forms." The earliest reference reads: "Milk white Moss agate, traversed with brownish particles; from Ceylon."

ruby spar (1796). The definition is provided by the sole illustrative quotation: "The stone imported from Ceylon, called ruby spar, is an iridescent spinel ruby." While ruby is common in English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka, ruby star is not.

salamstone (1816). "A blue variety of sapphire from Sri Lanka (Ceylon)." Again, while blue sapphire is common in English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka, salamstone is not.

saphir d'eau (1820). "A translucent blue variety of cordierite occurring in Sri Lanka." An illustrative quotation dated 1925 is pertinent: "Ceylon is the most important locality, and the gems from that country have sometimes been called saphir d'eau or water-sapphire."

The synonym water-sapphire (1883) is recorded. An illustrative quotation dated 1850 is pertinent: "It (Iolite) is also called Cordierite and Water sapphire, the latter name being given by jewellers to a variety from Ceylon, which presents different colours in two directions." However, the earliest reference in English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka is by Cordiner (1807[1983]:9): " . . . white or water sapphire."

serendibite (1904). "A borosilicate of aluminium, calcium, and magnesium, found as bluish triclinic crystals in which iron often replaces some of the aluminium and magnesium." The 1904 quotation reveals that Ananda Coomaraswamy discovered this mineral: "Coomara-Swamy gave an account of the mode of occurrence and characters of 'serendibite,' a new boro-silicate from Ceylon."

sinhalite (1952). This is the most recent addition to the Anglo-Sri Lankan lexicon. "A borate of aluminium and magnesium (usually also containing iron) which forms pale yellow to deep brown orthorhombic crystals resembling olivine and frequently of gem quality." The 1952 quotation states: "For this new mineral the name sinhalite is proposed, from Sinhala, the Sanskrit name for Ceylon."

spinel (1807). "The typical species of a group of minerals, which are compounds of sesquioxides with protoxides, and crystallize in the isometric pattern." An 1842 quotation notes: "Spinell is found in Ceylon and Siam in isolated and rolled crystals in the beds of rivers." The earliest reference in literature pertaining to Sri Lanka is by Davy (1821:23): "Spinell is relatively rare."

thorianite (1904). "A mineral consisting chiefly of the oxides of thorium and uranium and other rare metals found in 1904 in the south-west of Ceylon, in small brownish black crystals having a resinous lustre."

tourmaline (1759). "A brittle pyro-electric mineral, occurring on crystals, also massive, compact and columnar, originally obtained from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)." The word is derived from the Sinhala toramalli, or "mixed," although the OED2 omits this information. No references from English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka are given. The earliest is by Percival (1803:353): "The red tourmalin appears transparent only when it is held up against the light; it then presents a pale red hue. The blue tourmalin is simply a slightly coloured quartz. The green tourmalin, or chrysoprase, is of a beautiful transparent grass colour, and much esteemed. The yellow or topaz tourmalin generally resembles amber, although it is sometimes found of a deeper colour. It is seldom larger than a pea, but it looks very beautiful when set in rings."

Alphabetically, the last on the list is water-spinel (1883). "A colourless variety of spinel." The 1883 quotation reads: "Water-spinel, colourless; from Ceylon." The gem with a Sinhala name that may be included in the OED3 is padparadscha (1847). Historical evidence is rare, but contemporary evidence is easier to find. For instance, "The very rare pinkish orange padparadscha sapphire is found mainly in Sri Lanka" (1997), and "The padparadscha is the most prized of the fancy, non-blue sapphires. Padparadscha is a Sinhalese word derived from the Sanskrit padmaraga, meaning lotus flower" (1998).

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