Sir Baron Jayatilaka:

Outstanding Buddhist leader

Rajah KURUPPU

Sunday February 13 is the 143rd birth anniversary of the first President of the Colombo YMBA, Sir Baron Jayatilaka. Apart from his association with the Colombo YMBA, Sir Baron was a leading national figure as a statesman, educationalist and scholar in oriental languages and Buddhism.

Sir Baron Jayatilaka

Graduating from the University of Calcutta in 1896, Sir Baron proceeded to the UK and obtained a First Class Degree from Jesus College, Oxford, in 1913 and a Master Degree from the same University a few years later.

He was also admitted as a Barrister-at-Law of Lincolns Inn and later took oaths as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Ceylon.

Soon after the establishment of the Colombo YMBA in January 1898, Sir Baron was invited to be its first President, a position he held without interruption until his death in 1944, a period of 46 years.

A noteworthy deficiency for the Association in the first quarter of the 20th century was the lack of a suitable headquarters' building. In 1924, a suitable building in Borella, become available but the funds of the Association fell far short of the sale price.

Sir Baron persuaded his friend, FR Senanayake, a well known national leader of the country and a man of considerable means and convinced him of the need to purchase this building. Together, they succeeded in reducing the selling price from Rs 125,000 to Rs 75,000 a princely sum at that time. However, the Association had only Rs 5,000 for this purpose but at the earnest request of Sir Baron, FR Senanayake agreed to provide two of his own deeds worth over Rs 200,000 as security to purchase the property on payment of only Rs 5,000 with the balance to be treated as a loan on interest.

Thus, the sustained efforts of Sir Baron and the security provided a considerable risk by FR Senanayake enabled to Colombo YMBA to establish its Headquarters in Borella, which continues to perform that role to this day. The loan was settled by the Association within a reasonable period. Thus, came to an end the fruitful life of a great Buddhist teacher and leader, well known oriental scholar, able educationist and a dedicated Statesman. A man of impeccable integrally, his sincerity of purpose in his endeavors for Buddhism and the country was acknowledged by both supporters and opponents.

The Colombo YMBA has been commemorating this event annually with a public Buddhist lecture since 1968. This year it will be delivered by Retired Public Trustee and former Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Myanmar U Mapa on 'Review Education from Buddhist Perspective in the Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Year'.