A.W. Dharmapala - pioneer broadcaster

A.W. Dharmapala, an engineer and a quiet unassuming gentleman with unimpeachable integrity, rendered service to Sri Lanka for 42 years (1922 - 1964). He was one of the pioneers of Ceylon radio broadcasting from its earliest experimental stages in 1923. He worked with E. Harper (Chief Engineer, Department of Posts and Telecommunications) and Shillitoe (assistant chief engineer) to construct a 0.5 kw radio transmitter using radio equipment from the captured World War I German submarine UB61. With this equipment, they made their first experimental broadcasts in 1923, broadcasting gramophone music from a small room in the Central Telegraph Department.

Dharmapala and his staff conducted the first public demonstration of broadcasting on June 27, 1924, when Sir William Henry Manning, the Governor of Ceylon, made an address to the Engineering Association of Ceylon. On December 16, 1925, just three years after the inauguration of the BBC in England, Ceylon became the first British Colony in South East Asia to commence regular official broadcasting.

Broadcasting career

From 1926, in addition to his engineering duties, Dharmapala was a part-time English announcer. In 1929, his was the first Sinhala voice to be heard over the air waves, using the words ‘Colombin Katha Karami’ or ‘This is Colombo Calling’. At Dharmapala's request the words ‘Guvan Viduliya’ were coined by Sir D. B. Jayatileka (editor of the Sinhala-English dictionary), and were first used by Dharmapala in his broadcasting. Over four decades of service, his patriotism to his country and dedication to his broadcasting career, involved him in the many episodes that have made the country's history.

Dharmapala pioneered outside broadcasting. His work enabled broadcasting of important events such as the inauguration of the State Council; the presentation in Kandy of the Regalia by HRH the Duke of Gloucester; the local Coronation celebrations; and the swearing-in ceremony of Governor, Sir Andrew Caldecott. With limited equipment, he also made it possible to broadcast music and orchestra performances, and many sporting events, including polo matches, boat races and horse racing from the Havelock and Nuwareliya race courses.

In 1938, D. P. Jayasekara (Telecommunications Engineer) suggested to the chief telecommunications engineer Shillitoe, that the Kandy procession be broadcast live using the Colombo-Kandy telephone trunk lines.

Dharmapala and his OBC staff were responsible for broadcasting this event. Dharmapala monitored the Perahera from a vantage point on the balcony of Queens Hotel Kandy overlooking the route of the Perahera for the transmission of the OBC.

Microphones suspended above the street picked up the Perahera sounds. These sounds together with the commentary of F. A. E. Price (Elkaduwa planter and broadcasting enthusiast) were broadcast widely. The Kandy Esala procession (Perahera) goes back to the 4th century AD in honour of the sacred tooth relic of the Gauthama Buddha. This procession takes place every year in August on Esala full moon day.

Foreign dignitaries

In November 1939, Dharmapala conducted the first broadcast from a remote location in Sri Lanka, broadcasting from Anuradhapura during the crowning of the pinnacle at Ruwanwelisaya Dagaba.

He enabled regular relays from temples, churches, kovils and mosques.

The first mobile broadcasting station was assembled by Dharmapala as an entirely voluntary activity for the Lanka Buddha Mandalaya.

Dharmapala masterminded the efficient broadcasting of a very important state ceremony, the Buddha Jayanthi celebration in Sri Lanka in 1956 (marking the 2500th anniversary of the Buddha's Parinibbana). He also executed the broadcasting of the Independence celebrations and opening of the first Parliament in 1948, the state funeral of Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake in 1952, the Royal Food and Agriculture Exhibition in 1956 and the General Election of 1960.

His understanding and tact helped him, as the engineer in charge of operations and outside broadcasts, to meet with the many foreign dignitaries who visited Sri Lanka.

They included Queen Elizabeth II in 1954, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, the Chinese Prime Minister Chou En-Lai, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Indian President Rajendra Prasad, Japanese Prime Minister Nobu Suka Kishi and the Director General of the BBC Sir Ian Jacob.

Collection of antiques

He was awarded a Coronation Medal in 1953 by Queen Elizabeth II for his service to broadcasting and Sri Lanka. He also received written commendations from the Postmaster General, Governor Generals and Director Generals of Broadcasting. He retired as an engineer of operations and outside broadcasting.

Dharmapala was also a connoisseur of antique furniture and art work and had a very rare collection of antiques. From a young age, his hobby was collecting antique furniture, porcelain, pottery, books and metal objects which he restored and preserved.

He was a pioneer member of the YMBA and his enthusiasm for Buddhism is maintained by his daughter Swarna Dharmapala Abeysiri, who has done multiple Buddhist meritorious acts in his memory. He is remembered by his children as a devoted husband and dedicated father.