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Tuesday, 6 November 2012 |
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The early years saw many new publications emerge, but very few survived for long. Within two decades of the first English newspaper, Sinhala and Tamil language newspapers also emerged. Today, dozens of newspapers in three languages cater to the 20 million Lankans many of who still read newspapers. In today's Wiz Quiz, we offer a glimpse of the rich and colourful history of newspapers in Sri Lanka, and some remarkable journalists and editors who left their mark. This is by no means comprehensive; consider it a small sampling. 1. Jaffna has had a long and critical journalistic tradition from 19th century, even when Ceylon was a British colony. In fact, the first known journalistic publication in local languages was a Tamil and English bimonthly which was started in 1840 (some records say 1841) by American Ceylon Mission and the Weslyan Church in Jaffna. What was this pioneering publication called?
2. Colombo is now the media hub in Sri Lanka: most of the country's print, broadcast and web media content is produced in the Colombo District. However, there have been other important cities during the history of newspapers, especially in the early years. The first Sinhala newspaper was published in 1860 in Galle. Not much is known about this pioneering effort. What was its name? 3. The oldest Sinhala language newspaper still in publication has been published without interruption for over 145 years. The newspaper was founded by John Fernando on June 7, 1866, and started out as a four-page broadsheet of Catholic Church news, put out by a team of eight people and one priest. Over the years, it has evolved into a national newspaper that highlights political, social and economic issues in Sri Lanka, but from a Christian perspective. What is this newspaper? 4. Martin Wickramasinghe (1890 - 1976) was one of the greatest Lankan authors and public intellectuals during the 20th century. Starting young, he wrote in both Sinhala and English with a prolific output across several genres such as short stories, novels, literary criticism, popular science and anthropology. During the early part of his career, he was also a journalist and served as editor of two national newspapers published by Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House). Which were these two newspapers? 5. During his illustrious career, he was a noted journalist, editor, author and government official. He served as editor of Daily News from 1931 to 1948, and became the first director of newly independent Ceylon's government Department of Information (1948-54). He then served as Ceylon's Ambassador to Rome and Athens. He wrote several books, including biographies of Ceylon's first Prime Minister D S Senanayake and Lake House founder D R Wijewardene. Among his other titles were British Governors of Ceylon, Ceylon of the Early Travellers and several guide books about Ceylon/Sri Lanka. Who was he?
While Dhanapala did all the planning and was the creative force behind the publishing venture, a well known scholar was the first editor of Lankadipa (from whom Dhanapala took over the editorship in 1949). Who was this first editor? 7. Who was he? He was a bilingual Lankan journalist who had the distinction of serving as editor of both Sinhala and English language newspapers at Lake House. He was editor of The Observer from 1960 to 1971, and founder editor of the evening Sinhala newspaper Janatha. In the 1970s, he worked for the Hong Kong based publications the Asian (a newspaper), and Far Eastern Economic Review (news weekly magazine), before moving to London. In 1979, he became founding editor of South, an innovative new magazine covering the developing world through its own eyes. The magazine flourished for a few years and continued even after his death in 1985. 8. Tarzie Vittachi (1921 - 1993) was one of the most colourful journalists and editors in post independence Ceylon. In 1952, at age 32, he became Editor of the Ceylon Observer -- the youngest Editor appointed to the oldest newspaper in Asia (founded in 1834).
As editor, he "called to public attention abuses in government and supported those who deserved the public trust." His column, written as 'Fly by night,' had a wide following. He wrote a controversial book that became a best seller giving a vivid account of the 1958 communal riots in Ceylon. It was an appeal to the leaders of all communities and at all levels to act with greater responsibility, which, alas, went unheeded. What was this book's title, which led to the writer's hasty exit from Ceylon? 9. Women journalists becoming editors of national newspapers is now a common and accepted practice, but this was not always the case. There was not a single woman newspaper editor during the first century of journalism in Ceylon/Sri Lanka. It took many decades for talented women to claim their rightful place in the world of journalism. Who became the first woman to edit a national newspaper in Sri Lanka, when she was appointed editor of the Sunday Times newspaper (in its earlier incarnation, under the now defunct Times of Ceylon group)? She later served as Sri Lanka correspondent for Inter Press Service (IPS) the developing world's news agency, the Indian Express newspaper, and the Japanese news agency Kyodo. 10. Journalist and editor D B Dhanapala is perhaps best remembered for his witty and lively biographies of newsmakers of the day - some of these have been collected in his book, Among Those Present. One of Dhanapala's journalistic disciples, himself bilingual, blazed new trails in writing similarly engaging pen sketches of movers and shakers of the day in Sinhala. As Features Editor and Editor of Riviresa Sunday newspaper, he wrote a series of profiles under the theme 'Kawuda Me' (Who is This?), which became highly popular and set a new trend in journalistic biography in Sinhala. Who was this versatile journalist, editor, creative writer and broadcaster? 11. Who was he? He was an accomplished and versatile journalist by day, award winning creative writer of short stories and poems by night.
In the 1970s, he showed his talent as Features Editor of Silumina and News Editor of Ceylon Daily News, but it was at the newly launched Sunday Divaina (started in 1981) that he truly excelled. He ushered in a new phase in Sinhala journalism with his witty columns like Ukussa and Seeyage Kolama and created a weekly newspaper that balanced news and features in a refreshing and innovative manner. He is best remembered today for his trail-blazing columns, written in a variety of styles and pseudonyms. Who was he? 12. Much of Sri Lanka's newspaper history, especially during its first century, is obscure. Even the National Archives does not contain a full collection of some early publications (as publishers had not sent copies for preservation). A scholar Buddhist monk, who was Chief Incumbent of the Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena in Ratmalana, did extensive research in public and private collections across Sri Lanka and compiled a nine-volume history of newspapers in Sri Lanka. Who was he? 13. Born in 1951, he was a self-taught film editor and had worked with some of the film directors in Sri Lanka for three decades. He edited several iconic movies and won multiple awards as best editor. His film credits include Ganga Addara, Maya, Yahalu Yaheli, Sagara Jalaya Madi Henduwa Oba Handa (all directed by Sumitra Peries), Karumakkarayo, Mahagedara and Viragaya (all directed by Tissa Abeysekara) and Anantha Rathriya and Pavuru Walalu (both directed by Prasanna Vithanage). Who is this editor who died on October 19 , 2012? 14. The first ever rugby international game was played at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, in March 1871. The final score was one goal to nil, as tries were not counted in the results at the time. The winning team scored two tries, and the match winning conversion, while the losing team England scored one try. Which nation's team won? 15. Who won the gold medals in the 400 meter hurdles in both 1976 and 1984 Olympics while being unbeaten in 107 consecutive finals and 122 consecutive races from 1977 to 1987? In May 2009, the University of Massachusetts in Boston awarded him an honorary doctorate for his efforts to maintain the integrity of Olympic sports and for his use of sports as a tool for positive social change. Last week’s answers1. The Quarrymen
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6. D B Dhanapala (1905 - 1971) was a transformative figure in Lankan
journalism. After excelling as an English language journalist, he
instilled new vigour to Sinhala journalism with innovative thinking
through the 'Lankadipa' Sinhala newspaper launched in October 1947. It
is now recognized as the first Sinhala daily that was not a mere
translation of an English newspaper but produced its own original
content. 
