Governor's support for a University College

Governor Sir Robert Chalmers

Although the University College was not established until 1921, a movement calling for a national university had begun in the early part of the century. It received a boost after the arrival of Governor Sir Robert Chalmers in October 1913. A British civil servant, he was well versed in Pali and was a keen student of Buddhism. He translated Jathaka tales to English.

Being a scholar he was sympathetic to the cause of higher education and supported the idea of setting up a University College. Endorsing the recommendations made by a committee appointed by his predecessor, Sir Robert wrote to London that there was no doubt as to the necessity of establishing such an institution. "The step is necessary on purely educational grounds. For the attention of students in Ceylon has been too exclusively devoted to preparation for examinations and the value of higher studies carried on under able teachers has not been sufficiently realized," he wrote. He added in his memorandum: "In my judgment, the Ceylonese – whether Sinhalese or Tamil – possess a natural aptitude for culture on university lines and that, with the provision within the Colony of local opportunities for developing more fully this natural aptitude, I look forward confidently not merely to increased efficiency in the Public Service, but also to the enrichment of the general intellectual life of the Island."

Although he could not achieve his objective before he was recalled to London, due to the bungling by the administration following the Sinhala-Muslim riots of 1915, he had laid a solid foundation for the University College to be set up. (With the raging of World War I, the matter was put on hold and it was only in 1921 that the College was established).

As for Governor Chalmers, he was stampeded by the officer commanding the troops, Brigadier-General Malcolm to declare martial law after the riots in Gampola, which was followed by unjustified violence. Reports to the British government in London blamed the Governor on his action and he was recalled.

A Sinhala newspaper is born

Julius de Lanerolle

October 29, 1947 saw the birth of the Sinhala newspaper, 'Lankadeepa' from the Times of Ceylon group. Unlike today, there was only one other Sinhala newspaper – 'Dinamina' at the time. While 'Dinamina' was published by the Lake House group as a morning daily, 'Lankadeepa' was started as an evening newspaper. This was possibly because the English newspaper published by the group, 'Times of Ceylon' was released in the evening and it was logical from the point of view of distribution facilities that the Sinhala paper would also be an evening one.

It was a change of ownership of the Times group that paved the way for a Sinhala newspaper to be published. Having started the company to cater to the European interests, the European owners were not interested in a Sinhala newspaper. However, with the change of ownership in the mid 1940s, the picture changed.

A wealthy but simple businessman from Jaffna, Sangarapillai bought the newspaper group and when a proposal was made by the respected journalist of the day D. B. Dhanapala that they should start a newspaper in Sinhala, he agreed. The proposal received the support of K. C. Thangarajah, a newly appointed director.

A scholar of repute Julius de Lanerolle was invited to be Chief Editor, with Dhanapala taking a back seat managing the paper. The two of them along with the well-known monk-scholar from Vidyalankara Pirivena, Yakkaduve Hamuduruwo selected the name 'Lankadeepa.' The newspaper first came out as a tabloid, that is, half the size of the normal newspaper we are used to.

When Julius de Lanerolle moved out to take over as Editor-in-Chief of the Sinhala Dictionary (1950), Dhanapala became Chief Editor of ‘Lankadeepa.’

On May 1, 1949, the newspaper started publishing as a morning daily. The size was that of a normal newspaper.

The newspaper continued for 30 years until the closure of the company. It was re-started by the Wijeya Group of Newspapers and is today very popular among readers.