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| Saturday, 26 February 2005 |
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Tributes to the memory of T. B. Ilangaratne by Leel Gunasekera The Ilangaratne Memorial Scholarship Trust is holding its 8th annual sessions on February 27 at Tower Hall, Maradana. The 92nd birth anniversary of the late Tikiri Banda Ilangaratne falls
on this day. At 7 a.m. a simple ceremony would be held at the Ilangaratne
Memorial at Rotunda Gardens junction, R. A. de Mel Mawatha, Kollupitiya. Mahinda Rajapakse, Prime Minister, other leaders, members of the Ilangaratne family headed by Mr. Udaya Ilangaratne, members of the Board of Trustees, trade union leaders and public would pay floral tributes on this occasion. Ilangaratne was a trade union leader and political activist who unified the left movement of our country, playing a leading role to form the governments of late Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike. He was a Member of Parliament in three upcountry electorates and also Kolonnawa. He was a Minister in a number of governments and his contributions towards implementation of socialist policies were far-reaching and the beneficiaries were mostly to the common people. Ilangaratne played an equal if not more significant role in the literary and cultural fields. He was a well-known author. Having authored 61 novels, he carved a niche for himself as a writer who was inspired by the way of life of the rural folk of the Kandyan areas. Ilangaratne was a dramatist, a script writer and an actor in a few films. The Ilangaratne Memorial Scholarship Trust has as its objective to promote in the younger generations, the cultural values and principles which he indefatigably tried to promote. His life and contribution, family life etc are worthy of emulation specially at a time of socio-economic, political and cultural decadence in our country. The Trust has much to do and we are confident to make headway inspite of constraints. The scholarships awards ceremony will be held at the Tower Hall, Maradana at 9 a.m. under the patronage of Ven. Medagoda Sri Sumanatissa Nayaka Thera, Ven. Welamitiyawe Sri Kusaladamma Nayaka Thera, Ven. Kamburupitiye Nandaratana Nayake Thera, and Ven. Harispattuwe Ariyawansalalankara Nayake Thera. Twenty five students (recommended by the Education Dept.), who are clever but need financial support for A'Level studies, hailing from distant places, including an undergraduate girl from Matara now in the Sabaragamuwa University would receive the scholarships. The function would commence with a garlanding of the Ilangaratne portrait by Dharmadasa Wanniarachchci, Governor of the North Western Province and the singing of the Ilangaratne commemoration song by Visarada Anusha Malwatte and the girls of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo. The song is a composition of Leel Gunasekera. The programme consists of a lecture - 'Memories of Ilangaratne' by Dharmasiri Wijesinghe, Secretary to the Cabinet of Ministers, followed by keynote address by S. S. Wijeratne, Member, Constitutional Council. The meeting would be presided over by Leel Gunasekera, Executive Trustee. Vote of thanks would be proposed by Donald Ratnaweera, co-ordinating secretary, who is also the editor of the commemoration journal issued on the occasion annually. Mrs. Karuna de Silva Deputy Trustee co-ordinates the student welfare activities. |
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