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Thursday, 14 February 2013

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If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him. - John F. Kennedy


Respect your mother tongue

Dear children,

I have talked to you about the importance of learning and using one’s mother language earlier too. International Mother Language Day falls on February 21. This year’s Mother Language Day will be celebrated under the theme “The Book.”

The intention of observing International Mother Language Day is to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. February 21 was declared as the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO in 1999 and ever since it has been observed annually in February. As UNESCO says it is vital to have a day dedicated for mother languages in order to promote the dissemination of mother tongues and a fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

For most of us, Sinhala is the mother tongue, for others it is Tamil. However since English is an international language which links the world, many of us have given priority to learn English. There are children who cannot write in their own language. Even more shamefully there are children who cannot converse in their mother tongue whether it is Tamil or Sinhala. Unfortunately there are groups who consider it a privileged not to know their mother tongue.

Such misguided notions cannot be justified. Even if you study completely in English medium at schools, you have to allocate a great deal of time to learn Sinhala/Tamil. Both languages have a vast literature which should not ignored.

You should always feel proud of your mother tongue in the same way you are proud of your parents, siblings and country!

Bye for now,


Great Minds:

Father of Free Education: C W W Kannangara

Everyone has the right to education. Education should be free, at least at the first stages. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. So said the declaration of human rights of the United Nations in 1948.

But already in Sri Lanka, the great visionary leader, Dr. C W W Kannangara had identified these needs. From the day he became the first Minister of Education of Sri Lanka in 1931, he worked towards creating a new system in which education would be free from kindergarten to university to every child in the country. By October 1945, three years before the UN made its declaration, Dr. Kannangara’s hard work was rewarded when the Sri Lankan government agreed to provide an education free of charge to all students in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Kannanagara also established a series of central schools (Madhya Maha Vidhyala), modeled on Royal College, Colombo, at locations outside major cities so that students living in the villages too would get the same opportunities as the students in Colombo to acquire a good education. In 1941 there were only three central schools in the country; by 1945 the number had increased to 35, and by 1950 there were 50 such schools spread all over the country.

During his 16 year period as Minister of Education, he also upgraded ancient pirivenas, (the educational establishments for Buddhist monks), and established the University of Ceylon, the first University in Sri Lanka.

Further, Dr. Kannangara took steps to abolish the prevailing school system, where English was taught to students whose parents were rich enough to send them to English-language schools and Sinhala was taught to the students whose parents could not afford to pay the high school fees required for an English education. While he laid emphasis on teaching Swabasha (the native languages) in schools, he also advised that students should learn English to compete in the modern world.

Born on October 13, 1884, in the rural village called Randombe, situated close to Ambalangoda, Christopher William Wijekoon Kannangara, was the son of the Deputy Fiscal Officer in the Balapitiya Courts, John Daniel Wijekoon Kannangara and Emily Wijesinghe. He had his primary education at the Wesleyan Missionary School in Randombe, where he excelled in his studies often winning many prizes at the annual prize givings.

At one of the prize givings, the Chief Guest was the Principal of Richmond College, Galle, Rev. J H Darrel who noticed that Kannangara won most of the available prizes. “Son, you may have to hire a bullock cart to take home the books you collected at this prize giving” said Rev. Darrel to the young student. Observing his intelligence and wishing to give him the great opportunities which were not available in the village school Rev. Darrel had given this promising student a chance to sit for a Richmond College Foundation scholarship exam. Excelling in Mathematics in the exam, he won the scholarship, receiving an award for free board and lodging at Richmond College.

At Richmond College too, he continued to bag most of the prizes at the prize giving ceremonies, and when he sat for the Cambridge Senior Examination scored the highest marks in Mathematics and Arithmetic among the countries that belonged to the British empire. He also captained the college cricket team and the athletics team, played football, participated in school drama competitions and was a member of the school’s debating team.

After leaving school, he taught Mathematics first at Richmond College and then at Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa and Wesley College, Colombo. While teaching he studied law, passing out as an Attorney at law in 1910.He set up his first law practice in Galle the same year. In 1922 he married Edith de Alwis Edrisinha.

In appreciation of his services rendered to education, Dr. Kannangara was conferred an honorary doctorate by the University of Ceylon, at its first ever convocation in 1946.

After serving as the Ambassador to Indonesia, from 1950 to 1952, he was re-elected to parliament and served as the Minister of Housing and Local Government before retiring from active politics in 1956. Dr. Kannangara passed away on September 23, 1969.

The only way we can show our gratitude to Dr. Kannangara for opening the doors of free education for all of us, would be by making the best use of the education system he introduced. And by learning with our “head, heart and hands,” for he believed it is only then, that we would become complete, well-rounded personalities.


Little Stars to shine on Saturday

Derana TV’s enthralling children’s reality programme Derana Little Star Season five will hold its Grand Finals at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Colombo, on February 16 at 6.30 pm.

The event is aimed at enhancing and showcasing the diverse artistic talents of tiny tots. Many children from various parts of the island have already exhibited their dancing, singing and acting talents to the world via the programme which will close its fifth successful chapter this Saturday.




 


Painful regret

Painful regret
Sharp sorrow
Hate filled tears
Run down her face,
Who is this girl
Who looks so sullen,
With the eyes that are red,
Like the blood on her wrists.
Painful regret
sharp sorrow
Rage fills her features,
Hurt fills her heart,
Who is this girl
with a fearful past,
and eyes of blue
Like the bruises that cover her.
Painful regret
Sharp sorrow
Scorn seeps through her veins
She is the one who is
never understood,
Who is this girl?
Without an unbroken bone
Who is being crushed by the
silent white noise,
As pale as the full moon in the sky.
Painful regret
Sharp sorrow
Flows through my body as I look
in the mirror
Who is this girl?
Everyone asks
The one who hallucinates that
she’s been abused,
But it is just a figment of her
imagination,they say,
But they don’t know what its
like to be me,
The pain I will endure
throughout my life
Paying the price for a stolen life.




Shrek (2001) will be screened on February 16 at 3.30pm
at the American Centre, No 44, Galle Road, Colombo 3.
(Running Time: 90 minutes) An ogre, in order to regain his
swamp, travels along with an annoying donkey in order to
bring a princess to a scheming lord, wishing himself King.
Please contact the American Centre at amcentersl@
state.gov or at (011) 2498100 with any inquiries.


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