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Communication:
A message with a purpose
Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
Communication modes in Sinhala writing:
A retrospective survey
Author: A.V. Suraweera
Pages: 194
Godage International
Publishers (Pvt) Ltd.
Price: Rs.950
Studying the modes of communication had always been a topic of
interest to man for it is the means of forming new paths to interaction
and thereby paving way for a whole set of new ideas and discoveries.
Studying the process of communication form its early period to the turn
it had taken today, it is noted that the means and methods of
corresponding had come a long way.
Early forms of writing still remain a mystery to most of us and man
is still striving to make sense out of the boldly scrawled strange
letterings he had come across in ancient ruins of cities around the
globe.
 Those
who are interested in the topic of Sinhala writing from its early rock
carvings to the more recent wordings on scriptures will no doubt find
Prof. A.V. Suraweera's book centering on the topic of Sinhala writing
helpful in upgrading their knowledge.
The book deals with all forms of Sinhala writings on any kind of
material - from stones to paper. The authors had taken a more
sociological angle in his research, gathering that all the writings form
had been intended to put across a message to the general public.
Prof. Suraweera had ventured on several main streams: early modes of
communication, communication on stone, communication through literature,
education and learning process to bring an in-depth study of the
subject.
He had gathered that even poetry and prose were used as a tool for
good governance for ever since the early age it had been considered a
duty of the monarch to patronise his literary men as well as the
educational and religious institutions and in turn the poets and
literati of the age glorifies the image of the governor of the state.
Apart from the Sinhala and its translation, the author had also
included the transliteration in Roman script. In addition,
'Communication Modes in Sinhala Writing' comprises several pictures of
the ancient writing to drive home the point which the author had been
elaborating.
Having studied at the Government English School, Gampaha and Royal
College, Colombo, Suraweera emerged with a B.A. Special Degree in
Sinhala at the University of Ceylon in 1954 before following it up with
his Masters and Ph. D. He enrolled at Vidyodaya University (now know as
the University of Sri Jayawardenepura) as a lecturer in Sinhala and
served for more then three decades until his resignation as a senior
professor.
He was bestowed with the honorary titles of professor emeritus in
Sinhala and D. Lit. and he was also the founder of the programme in
Writer-ship and Communication and the first editor of the Vidyodaya
Research Journal.
He had served as guest professor, School of Orient and African
Studies, University of London for one year. He is employed as the
chancellor of the University of Rajarata and the chairman of the
National Education commission, Sri Lanka.
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