Education is made free in all schools

'Father of Free Education' Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara

October 1 is a significant day for all young ones. That's the day when free education was introduced in Sri Lanka. That was 62 years ago. Those were the days when the State Council was the legislature in the country. Amidst a lot of opposition, the then Minister of Education Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara was able to push through this epoch-making piece of legislation.

Free education meant that students did not have to pay fees for their studies from primary through secondary education right up to the end of studies in the university. This was a revolutionary idea at the time when fees were being levied in schools which claimed to give a better education, particularly the ones where English was taught. It was the colonial days and schools teaching in Sinhala and Tamil did not charge fees. Most of the schools where the medium of instruction was English were run by Roman Catholic and Christian denominational bodies. Those who studied in English had the distinct advantage in getting employment since the official language was English during the colonial era.

After the introduction of free education, no school was allowed to charge fees. The denominational schools which were charging fees were given the option of ceasing to charge fees and accept a grant from the government or running the schools by levying fees but with no assistance from the State. A few elite schools run mostly by Christian church bodies opted out of the scheme and decided to charge fees. However, they had to conform to the policy laid down by the Ministry of Education which stated that students should be taught in their mother tongue – Sinhala or Tamil.

Free education coupled with other educational reforms including the change of the medium of instruction to the child's mother tongue gave the rural child an opportunity to display their talents. It also raised the rate of literacy to high levels not seen in other developing countries. Adult literacy rose from 65% to 78% between 1945 and 1971. It later rose to the 90s.

The 'Father of Free Education,' C. W. W. Kannagara (1884-1969) was elected a member of the first State Council in 1931 to represent Galle. He was then chosen as chairman of the Executive Committee on Education thus joining the Board of Ministers in charge of the subject. After he won the 1936 election to the second State Council, he was once again elected to head the Committee on Education. Then he initiated sweeping changes in the educational system.

Sri Lankan takes over Archaeology Department

In the 1920s, a self-taught village schoolmaster teaching at Udugampola Bilingual School won a scholarship to study archaeology in India. He came back and joined the Archaeological Department as an Epigraphical Assistant in 1926. He obtained a PhD from the University of Leyden in 1936. Four years later, on October 1, 1940, he became the first Sri Lankan Commissioner of Archaeology. His name was Senerat Paranavitana (1896-1972).

His work in deciphering and interpreting ancient inscriptions found in the ancient kingdoms in Sri Lanka has been recognised as of very high quality. Due to his devotion and keen interest, remarkable achievements were recorded in the Department in relation to excavations in Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Kotte, Dedigama and other ruined cities. His knowledge of the history of Sri Lanka, his skill and bold outlook made the Department render a great service.

Visitors at the mirror wall, Sigiriya, where stanzas were written by vistors in the ancient times

Among the ancient monuments, Sigiriya was of special interest to Dr. Paranavitana who, in a provocative lecture to the Royal Asiatic Society theorised that it was the abode of a God-King. He deciphered over 350 stanzas written on the wall and published 'Sigiri Graffiti' (1956). Among other highly acclaimed publications are 'The Stupa in Ceylon' (1946) and 'Art & Architecture of Ceylon: The Polonnaruwa Period' (1954).

After retirement, Dr. Paranavitana was appointed Professor of Archaeology at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya (1957-61). He was co-editor of two parts of the University of Ceylon's 'History of Ceylon.' 'A Concise History of Ceylon' (1961) compiled by Nicholas and Paranavitana is a handy publication on the country's history.