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| Friday, 4 June 2004 |
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Tribute to a film director Podu Jana Cinemave Purogamiya When Lester James Peries launched Rekhava marking the beginning of local cinema in 1956, K.A.W. Perera wrote the dialogues for the film. Then he made his own film Senasuma Kothanada in 1966 after working as co-director in Pirimiyek Nisa and Suhada Sohoyuro. Thereafter, he has directed 26 films. The book tells us that K.A.W. Perera made popular films with a difference. Although his films had ingredients such as songs, dances, fights and comic scenes, they were overshadowed by a story that depicted some important element of human life. In a way, the theme of his films appeared to be social justice. Meanwhile, some of his films such as Senasuma Kothanda, Lasanda and Bangali Walalu exuded a vision of life tempered by Buddhism. Surprisingly Lasanda bagged the coveted international Catholic award for the best film. Dharmasiri Gamage's book shows that K.A.W. Perera was not only a veteran film director but also a good dialogue writer and a scriptwriter. In fact, he should have been given an award for writing the script for a complicated novel like Hingana Kolla. Dharmasiri Gamage's book is a tribute to a film director who made the Sinhala cinema popular among the masses. The neatly produced pictures found at the end of the book enhance its value. - R.S. Karunaratne. ############### Wonderful animal world Animal Kingdom 01 - Mammals Children who pursue their studies in English have access to sufficient reading material be they on the subjects in their school syllabi or as leisure reading. These wide windows to the world are often shut for children destined to follow classes in the Sinhala medium. However, book markets are flooded with colourful attractively printed books ranging from encyclopedias, fact books and numerous other light reading material in English on any subject you can think of. Among them there are many books on animal world of which any child is curious to know, which a Sinhala medium student can only be satisfied with turning the pages to look at the colourful pictures. This is one of the many mournful factors which the Sinhala medium students especially in the periphery face. They are denied both the langauge proficiency and knowledge; until these less privileged young people acquire proficiency in English they should be provided with interesting additional reading material in Sinhala other than the other light fiction which are sufficiently available which help them build their knowledge banks. Elaine Pranathi de Silva, an English medium teacher in a reputed international school has undertaken to contribute in this much needed task. She has written a series of neat little books on the Animal Kingdom, the first of which is available in the book stores now. In the foreword to the Animal Kingdom I the writer says: "The books available in English on this subject easily outnumber the books in Sinhala; even among the English books, one finds more books such as encyclopedias fact finders and hard scientific material written in heavy jargon, and not simple, knowledge providing books written aiming young readers. "So, I started writing this series on animals explaining their biology, behaviour and lifestyle presenting facts in a simple language as possible - where I felt necessary, I have included the English equivalents to the English scientific terms so that the child may be familiar with them, which will be useful in his higher studies. In fact how many children are there in this country who do not get a chance to visit our Dehiwela Zoological gardens. For such little kids who are keen to explore the animal world these books will be at least a little prop." So, we can see her noble thought as a teacher behind her work, which is seen through in her manner of presentation. The language is grammatically correct and simple; analyses the hard scientific terms. The pictures of animals strewn all over the pages amidst text help child to visualize the animals in their environment. Reading this wonderful book is like walking in a zoological garden with your zoology teacher. A valuable additional reading material and a good gift for a child. - Malini Govinnage. ############### Essential book for Dhamma education Guide to the Study of Theravada Buddhism (Book One) The Colombo YMBA established in 1896 led to the formation of YMBA movement in Burma (Myanmar) to resist the British rulers' decree to Burmese devotees and other visitors to enter Buddhist Pagodas (Vihara) with their footwear on. The YMBA movement has been conducting Dhamma Examinations both in the English and Sinhala mediums for over seven or eight decades. The Dhamma English medium examinations are held in three segments Junior (Parts 1 and 2); Senior (Parts 1 and 2) and Diploma. The examinations are held both in Sri Lanka and other Buddhist countries of Theravada Buddhism. In Sri Lanka only around six or seven Sunday Dhamma schools conduct classes for the English medium Dhamma examinations which are held annually in August. In the Central Province classes are held at Sri Bodhirajaramaya, Sri Sugatha Dhamma School, Galewatte, Buwelikade, Kandy and the Buddhist Cultural Centre at Wattarantenna, Kandy. The other schools function in Colombo. There was a long felt need for guide books covering the syllabi of the examination, leading to the non-commencement of English Dhamma classes in Dhamma schools and for other students who would wish to engage in self-studies and sit the examinations as private candidates. In order to bridge this gap and to enable teachers to teach and the students to study, Colombo YMBA, has planned the publication of five guide books for the five Dhamma (English Medium) examination. In April the Colombo YMBA, published the first book for the Junior Part One examination, which is to be held on August 22. The guide book covers both sections of the examination, Dhamma and Abhidhamma. The Dhamma syllabus covers important events in the life of the Buddha from Birth to Englightenment; 24 Great Qualities of the Buddha, The Dhamma and the Sangha; history, reasons and the achievements of the First Three Theravada Buddhist Councils held in India; introduction to the Tripitaka, classification of the books of the Sutta Pitaka and commentaries; different types of Dana and Sila, ten kusala kammas, dasa punyakriya, dasa kusala and akusala; Mahamangala and Karaniya Metta Suttas by heart in English interpretations of all stanzas; Dhammapada stanzas 1,2,3,4,5,13,14,15,21 and 37 in English translations. The Abhiddhama syllabus includes, history of Ahidhamma, classifications of the texts of Abhidhamma Pitaka and their commentaries; distinctions between Suttas and Abhidhamma, Paramasacca and Sammuti sacca and the four Paramatthas; classification of cittas into 89 or 121 segments. The Dhamma section is authored by Nemsiri Mutukumarana. The Abhidhamma section has been authored by Panduka Mahanama. The publication is useful not only to students and teachers but also to English educated local Buddhists. It should be in every Pothgula of a pirivena and vihara, school, university and public library. This is also ideal for International schools of Sri Lanka to commence English medium classes for their Buddhist students to prepare them to sit the Colombo YMBA annually held English medium Dhamma examinations. - Rohan Jayetilleke |
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