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Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara father of free education

by W. T. A. Leslie Fernando

On September 23, 2001, we commemorate the 32nd death anniversary of Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara, known as the Father of Free Education in Sri Lanka. Dr. Kannangara passed away on September 23, 1969 exactly 25 years after presenting that significant and far reaching piece of legislation the free education scheme. He was also one of those patriots who led the national movement in the first half of the 20th century and prepared the ground for the achievement of Independence for our country.

Christopher William Wijekoon Kannangara was born on October 13, 1884 at Randombe in Ambalangoda. His father was John Daniel Wijekoon Kannangara, a native of Loolbadde in the Pas Yodun Korale in the Kalutara District. His mother was Emaly Wijesinghe of Weerabadu Walawwa, Wavala, Hikkaduwa. As his father was Deputy Fiscal of Balapitiya they lived at Randombe at the time of the birth of Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara.

Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara had his early education at Weslyan High School, Ambalangoda. He was a child when his father lost his job. This was a big blow to the family of six children who had to struggle hard for their daily sustenance. But Kannangara was courageous from the begining. At the age of 12, he wrested the much coveted Foundation scholarship and entered Richmond College, Galle.

Richmond at that time was meant for the rich and the poor boy Kannangara had undergo many difficulties and suffer embarrassment. Perhaps experiences in his young days might have induced Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara to fight so gallantly for free education in his later years for the benefit of the poor children.

Although poor in wealth, young Kannangara was rich in talent. He was often the first in class and excelled in sports in the field. He carried away the largest number of prizes at prize givings. In 1903 he passed the Cambridge Senior examination placed in the first division obtaining highest marks for arithmetic among the students of the British Commonwealth.

After leaving school, he taught for some time at Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa and then Wesley College, Colombo. Sir Oliver Gunatilleke a former Governor General in Sri Lanka was a pupil of his at Wesley. While teaching at Colombo, he attended the Law College and passed out as a lawyer in 1910.

He commenced his practice in Galle and earned a reputation as a lawyer of honesty, integrity and hardwork. Soon he commanded an extensive and lucrative practice. He cleverly defended without remuneration those innocent people in the area who were arrested during the unfortunate riots of 1915.

Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara entered the national arena as an active member of the Temperance movement initiated by patriots like F. R. Senanayake, Sir Baron Jayatilleke, Arthur V. Dias and Piyadasa Sirisena. In 1930's he followed P. de S. Kularatne, G. P. Malalasekera and others who introduced cloth and banian" as the national dress and discarded Western attire. Since then throughout his career until his death Dr. Kannangara appeared in the national costume.

Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara was a founder member of the Ceylon National Congress formed in 1918 with the aim of obtaining independence for Sri Lanka. In 1924 he was elected to the Legislative Council to represent Galle District.

In 1930 Dr. Kannangara became the President of the Ceylon National Congress. In 1931 he was elected to State Council as the member for Galle. He was re-elected to State Council in 1936 - this time as the member for Matugama. He was the Minister of Education in the State Council from 1931 to 1947.

During his term of office from 1931 to 1947 far reaching changes were brought about in the sphere of education. Free mid-day meal for school children, improvement of Pirivena education, establishment of the University at Peradeniya and introduction of Central Schools were all implemented during the term of Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara. The greatest contribution of Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara undoubtedly was the Free Education Scheme.

Higher education at that time which was in English was the exclusive preserve of the rich. University education was beyond the reach of even those with an average income. The poor had to be satisfied at most with secondary education. It was in this situation that on the initiative taken by A. Ratnaike the member for Dumbara in the State Council, the special committee on education headed by Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara recommended free education.

Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara introduced the Education Bill that contained the Free Education Scheme on May 30, 1944 in one of the longest speeches in the country's legislature. When he concluded his speech on the adjourned day on June 02, 1994 he sat down under a thunderous applause.

M. S. Aney the Indian government representative who had listened to the whole speech from the distinguished visitors gallery immediately rushed to the downstairs, took Kannangara by both hands and said to him "You would have been worshipped as a God, had you been in India".

Nevertheless Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara had to face severe opposition for the Free Education Scheme from the vested interests. They did everything possible to sabotage free education well backed by the national press. Dr C. W. W. Kannangara anticipated such opposition and he was ready to meet them. Some critics of free education suggested scholarships to poor students selected by a competitive examination. This would have been mere patch work to maintain the status quo. The affluent with money, influence and better English could have easily outrivalled the poor in various fields. Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara and other sponsors of free education were too clever to be trapped in that manner.

Some others queried why free education should be extended to the rich. Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara who had to undergo many difficulties and suffer harassment as a poor student explained that he did not what to have class distinction in education and create second class students.

There were also some others who lamented that there would be no youth to pluck the yield in their estates. That was the very type of inequality of opportunity that the free education scheme aimed to eliminate.

Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara and his supporters carried out a vigorous and sensational campaign all over the country for free education. They went round the country, held meetings, answered all the arguments levelled against the free education scheme and dispelled its critics.

They vociferously explained the benefits of free education to the masses and generated a strong public opinion in its favour. Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara then won over the members of that august assembly and saw the Free Education Scheme passed in the State Council.

The Free Education Scheme also called "The Pearl of Great Price" brought about a social revolution in Sri Lanka. It opened wide the doors of higher education to the poor. Education was made free from kindergarten to the University.

Along with free education more and more Central schools were opened all over the country, with a greater concentration on rural areas. Scholarships from the 5th standard up to the University providing free board and lodging besides free education were endowed on poor talented children selected by a competitive examination.

Thus the way was prepared for those poor but clever children who earlier had only a bleak future to reap the benefits of higher education. The parents of those offspring who could not afford higher education for their clever children shed tears of joy when the free education scheme was implemented.

Today as a result of free education, there are University Dons, administrative officers, doctors, engineers, accountants, architects, judges and lawyers who hail from among the poor and humble citizens in this country.

To the surprise of many Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara lost his seat at the parliamentary elections in 1947, held two years after he introduced the free education scheme. Yet he took the defeat like a gentleman and never grumbled about it.

In the 1952 general elections Dr. C. W. W. Kannagara was returned to parliament as the member for Agalawatte. He served as the Minister of Local Government from 1952 to 1956. He did not seek re-election at the 1956 general elections and gracefully retired from politics.

Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara who was 60 years old when he introduced the free education scheme, lived long till the age of 85 and was able to see the fruits of his remarkable endeavour and take pride of his achievement.

However free education is not free from criticism. Some attribute unemployment among the educated, excess of arts graduates, terrorism and host of other evils to free education. However the education Bill of Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara had solutions to those eventualities. After his defeat in 1947 apart from free education other proposals of this plan were not implemented.

Nevertheless Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara introduced free education at a time when higher education was the prerogative of the rich, where there was a dearth of educated people in Sri Lanka so much so that some administrative officers, doctors, engineers and even qualified teachers had to be obtained from abroad. It was left to his successors to make use of talents made available by free education and channel them to meet the needs of the country.

Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara was born poor and he died poor. In his long political career he never used his position to amass wealth. In his last years he had to be even assisted by a special grant from the State. But in another sense he died rich - rich in his service to humanity.

He is enshrined with gratitude in the hearts of thousands of us who have benefitted by free education. As long as free education lasts in our country, Dr C. W. W. Kannangara would be venerated by the people in Sri Lanka.

Dr C. W. W. Kannangara is a great statesman worthy of emulation by the present and future generations.

(The writers is a former High Court Judge).

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