Funday Times

Gaveshaka continues on significant events in April
More events in April
First train to Kandy
On April 25, 1867 the first train arrived in Kandy from Colombo marking a significant event in the history of transport in Sri Lanka. It was the era when coffee cultivation has begun in the up-country. Coffee had to be brought down to Colombo to be shipped abroad. The only way to bring them down was by bullock carts. Work on the construction of a railway line from Colombo to Kandy was launched in 1858 mainly to meet the need for the transportation of coffee to Colombo.

The first stage of the railway line from Colombo to Ambepussa was completed in 1864 and the balance distance to Kandy took another four years to complete. The chief engineering triumphs of the line are seen after the foothills were reached at Rambukkana, 52 miles from Colombo. From Rambukkana the line rises 1,400 feet in the 13 miles to Kadugannawa. The laying of the track up to Kadugannawa did not pose any problems but the climb from Kadugannawa was no easy task. It necessitated the construction of ten tunnels within a short distance of 20 kilometres. The climb to this day is fascinating.

An early writer, H.W. Cave described the journey thus: At Rambukkana the ascent into the Kandyan mountains begins, and the landscape assumes an aspect of fascinating grandeur. If Ceylon presented no other spectacle of interest to the traveller, it would still be worth his while to visit Kandy if only to see the panorama that unfolds itself as the train moves upwards in its winding and intricate course on the scarped sides of the mountains overlooking the lovely Dekanda valley. An additional powerful engine is now attached to the rear of our train, and so sharp are the curves that it is frequently possible for the passenger seated in the train to see both engines.

At one moment, on the edge of a sheer precipice, we are gazing downward some thousand feet below; at another we are looking upwards at a mighty crag a thousand feet above; from the curves by which we climb the mountain sides fresh views appear at every turn; far reaching valleys edged by the soft blue ranges of distant mountains and filled with luxuriant masses of dense forest, relieved here and there by the green terraces of the rice fields; cascades of lovely flowering creepers, hanging in festoons from tree to tree and from crag to crag; above and below ravines and foaming waterfalls dashing their spray into mist as it falls into the verdurous abyss…….

When tea replaced coffee as the key plantation crop, there was a need to extend the railway to areas beyond Kandy. Thus the line was first extended up to Gampola and then Nawalapitiya in 1874, then to Hatton and Talawakelle in 1884 and to Nanu Oya in 1885. By 1920 the line had extended up to Badulla through Pattipola (at a height of 6,200 feet), past Haputale and Bandarawela. Another line was constructed from Kandy to Matale which was completed in 1890.

An educationist's birthday
April 8, 1893 saw the birth of the renowned educationist, P. de S Kularatne, best known for his service as Principal of Ananda College from 1918-43 covering a period of 25 years. Hailing from Ambalangoda, Patrick de Silva Kularatne had his early education at Richmond College, Galle and Wesley College, Colombo. Having won the government scholarship for Arts, he proceeded to London for higher studies and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree as well as a Bachelor of Science degree, and a LL.B.

Returning to Sri Lanka, he took to teaching as a profession and was appointed Principal of Ananda College, the leading Buddhist educational institution started in 1886 by Colonel Olcott. He laboured ceaselessly to raise the standard of the school and succeeded in making it the pride of the Buddhist public. While, being at Ananda, he was sent to Kandy to reorganise Dharmaraja Vidyalaya (1932-36) during which period Vice Principal L. H. Mettananda took over the reins.

He established a girls' school close to Ananda College, naming it Ananda Balika. He was also responsible for the establishment of at least three schools - Sri Sangharaja Vidyalaya - Panadura, Nalanda Vidyalaya - Colombo and Dharmapala Vidyalaya - Pannipitiya. He later served as general manager of the Buddhist Theosophical Society (BTS) which managed a large number of Buddhist schools in the island.

As a member of the Ceylon National Congress he moved a resolution for the establishment of a university and got it passed. He was President of the Congress from 1942-44. Taking to politics, he served as a member of the State Council having won a bye-election and was elected MP for Ambalangoda in the 1960 July general election. He was an active member of the All-Ceylon Buddhist Congress and was elected President in 1958.

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