The Millennium Countdown

The Sunday Times begins the Millennium countdown

The end of a millennium may spawn millennial anxieties, and other maladies such as the Y2k. But, nevertheless, the last century was an important one, even for us Sri Lankans on this serendipitous isle, away from all the Euro - American brouhaha and pizzazz concerning the dawn of the new millennium. Which is why the Sunday Times decided to launch the new millennium competition.

Who were the most important Sri Lankans of the 20th Century, in the fields of Politics, Arts, Sciences, and Public Endeavour?

We invite readers to vote in earnest for the Sri Lankans of the 20th century by filling the form that appears elsewhere on this page.( You can pick in any of the categories above named, but please state the category in brackets; see form below.) This is however, more than just an effort to pick the people of the century. We hope to open these pages for a discourse on the important events of the century for Sri Lanka – and of course important events worldwide that impinged on Sri Lankan life. For starters, we suggest below, some of the most important Sri Lankans ( and some non Sri Lankan's who had an impact on Sri Lankan life.) But readers are welcome to make their own suggestions outside the list.

As said earlier, the millennial feeling in this part of the world is neither as acute or as compelling as it is in the Western world, which follows the Gregorian calendar in, shall we say, its letter and spirit. But, we too follow the Gregorian calendar, though in spirit we may not be so close to the spirit that the Gregorian calendar embodies.

Nevertheless, we cannot be totally numb to the landmark turn of the century. And, more than all, before we know it, the event will be upon us, in less than another five months. Milestones are milestones, and if the milestone of the turn of the century, if not the turn of the millennium, should at least for purposes of record be seen as a conspicuous event – then we have reason enough to find out who made the major contributions in this century. Here is our list then , not in any ranking of merit or any chronological or other particular order. It's just a jumble of names – need we say of very great historical import?

It would be a good idea to write , briefly in around 200 to 700 words, the reasons for picking the persons you named as "the Sri Lankans of the century." Your pick may be from the individuals named in our list , or of any other persons who have figured, in your view , prominently in Sri Lankan life in the past hundred years. ( You can pick four persons for the four categories above named.)

You need to 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
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

Sunday Times Millennium Countdown

Sri Lankan of the century competition

Name: ________________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________

Telephone Number: ______________________________________________

I vote for 1................................ (Politics) 2....................... (Arts). 3...................... (Sciences) 4........................... (Public Endeavour) as the Sri Lankans of the century. You can pick for one category only, or for all categories. (The last encompasses people who don't fall into any of the first three categories. ) You can pick from the list or make your choice outside the list. State here as briefly as possible your reasons for your choices as the Sri Lankans of the century. Or please attach separate essay stating your reasons. Please write 'Millennium Countdown' at the top left hand corner of the envelope.

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