II Wednesday 29th April 2009

Jennings was formerly a lecturer at the university. Radical undergraduates London School of Economics and from Peradeniya were among the lead- Political Science and Visiting Professor ing insurgents in two failed insurrec- Just a few years after at the University of British Columbia. tions, firstly in 1971 and again in the His vision was to recreate a Cambridge late 1980s. Many of the intervening Jennings left, sweep- in the East – a single residential uni- years have been characterised by insta- ing changes were versity on British lines educating a bility, unrest and frequent disruptions highly select group of young men and in the academic programme, while made to the island’s women in the English tongue who political interference frequently educational system. would take their place as legislators, encroached on the running of univer- administrators and professionals in the sity affairs. Following popular service of a little bit of England in Despite the upheavals, the universi- demand, the govern- Asia. ty has shown a remarkable degree of Under his tenure, the new campus at resilience. Peradeniya continues to ment imposed changes Peradeniya enrolled its first students produce graduates that have gone on to in the university in 1952 and was officially opened by the become prominent figures in politics, Duke of Edinburgh in the presence of business, the arts and academia, and admissions policies Queen Elizabeth in 1954. Jennings’s many have excelled on the internation- contributions extended well beyond the al stage. Today, the university has resulting in enrol- sphere of education. While in Ceylon, seven faculties (arts, science, veteri- ments that soon he also had appointments as Deputy nary medicine, agriculture, dental sci- Civil Defence Commissioner, ences, medicine and engineering), two exceeded the levels Chairman of the Ceylon Social postgraduate institutes and over 11,000 envisaged. Economic Services Commission and was an advi- students, making it the second largest sor to the constitutional arrangements of ’s 13 universities. difficulties precluded prior to independence. University education in Sri Lanka is a commensurate His primary task accomplished, still free, although this means that increase in funding. In the 1960s, the University took the momentous decision Cambridge by to offer classes in the vernaculars (Sinhala and Tamil) in addition to English. For the first time, non-English the Mahaweli speaking rural youth could pursue higher competition for places is fierce. Among studies alongside chil- aspirants of higher education across dren from the middle Peradeniya University Sri Lanka’s schools, Peradeniya con- tinues to be the most sought after of all classes and elite. by Sanji Gunasekara fortunes have mirrored the island’s Jennings left Peradeniya in 1955 and the country’s universities. political, economic and social trajecto- returned to England as Master of As an infant, I frequently accompa- “But who can deny that Peradeniya of ries. Trinity Hall at Cambridge, later becom- nied my parents to Peradeniya when vihara, Christian ecumenical church, the fifties, in the first decade of our While major centres of learning ing Vice Chancellor of the University they visited the late HAI Goonetileke - Muslim mosque and Hindu kovil. existence as a modern independent have existed in Sri Lanka for over two of Cambridge. For a brief few years then librarian and distinguished bibli- The mere mention of Peradeniya is nation, with its galaxy of world class millennia, these were closely linked to after he left the island, Jennings’s ographer – and also my mother’s certain to evoke nostalgia among its intellectuals on the teaching staff and the Sangha (the monastic community vision seemed to have become a reality. cousin. Returning to the campus earli- alumni. The late Lakshman the opportunity of sampling t he of Buddhist monks and nuns) and A rich intellectual tradition flourished er this year, I visited the six-storey Kadirgamar, former Sri Lankan crumbs of a rich intellectual feast, was restricted to matters pertaining to the and the university soon acquired a rep- main library complex where his por- Foreign Minister and one-time not a heady attraction for so many dharma (teachings of the Buddha). The utation as one of the most promising in trait gazes down from the wall of one President of the Oxford Union, spent young men and women shedding their advent of a modern secular university the Commonwealth. However, of the reading rooms, and to peruse the his undergraduate years at starched white school uniforms if only tradition is a relatively recent phenom- Jennings’s tenure had coincided with a impressive collection in the Ceylon Peradeniya. During the unveiling of for the freedom to grow a beard, smoke enon, introduced towards the end of period of momentous social and politi- Room – a concept he is credited with his portrait at Oxford in 2005, he a cigarette, wear the open sandals British colonial rule, although the cal change in the island. After nearly establishing in all Sri Lanka’s univer- remarked that while “Oxford was the patented by the revered Ceylon Medical College was inaugurat- 500 years of colonial rule, independ- sities. In another reading room, a icing on the cake, the cake itself was Sarachchandra and spout a confused ed in 1870. Following prolonged lobby- ence from Britain came in 1948. The young Buddhist monk in saffron robes, baked at home”. For many Sri mixture of existentialism, national- ing by a group of public-spirited citi- decade that followed saw a continued a Muslim girl in hijab and a group of Lankans, now ensconced in far less ism, and Marxism?” - Jayantha zens under the leadership of Sir rise in the forces of nationalism that, female Tamil students adorned in salubrious climes in all corners of the Dhanapala in his review of Ponnambalam Arunachalam, the together with a linguistic and cultural brightly coloured salwar kameez were globe, Peradeniya is a reminder of the Peradeniya: Memories of a University Ceylon University College was estab- resurgence, posed a direct challenge to all engrossed in their books, testament heady days of youth – a time of new (1997), edited by KM de Silva and lished in in 1921. Affiliated the elitist institution operating on the to the diversity of the student body. freedoms, a shared sense of optimism Tissa Jayatillaka with the University of London, this banks of the Mahaweli Ganga, Sri Peradeniya has people going lyrical and the allure of a rich intellectual or a small, developing country in landmark act was envisaged to be a pre- Lanka’s largest river. about it and it’s easy to understand grounding. Though many of the build- South Asia, Sri Lanka has pro- liminary step in the ultimate creation Just a few years after Jennings left, why. The grounds themselves cover ings are now somewhat faded, a drive Fduced a disproportionately high of a fully-fledged university. sweeping changes were made to the some 700 hectares, of which just 150 through the campus, perhaps after a number of academics, scholars and In what became known as the ‘battle island’s educational system. Following are developed. To the west are the pine- visit to the nearby Peradeniya professionals that have gone on to of the sites,’ competing proposals were popular demand, the government covered hills of the Hantana range Botanical Gardens, is definitely recom- prominence on the world stage. There put forward for the location of the uni- imposed changes in the university while flowing right through campus is mended, and provides a glimpse of is hardly a major research institution, versity. While Colombo was initially admissions policies resulting in enrol- the Mahaweli Ganga. Well-manicured what must be one of the most pictur- think-tank or university anywhere in favoured, a decision was eventually ments that soon exceeded the levels lawns are complemented by tropical esque settings for a university campus the West that does not have at least one taken to settle for Peradeniya, a tea envisaged. Economic difficulties pre- foliage. No doubt many young students in the world. Sri Lankan on its senior staff. plantation 8km from and a site cluded a commensurate increase in fell in love for the first time while For more information about the uni- Proficient in English, familiar with of great scenic beauty. Until the new funding. In the 1960s, the University strolling along the pathways that versity visit www.pdn.ac.lk Western culture (though often its campus was built, however, the new took the momentous decision to offer meander through the grounds, perhaps For the full review of Peradeniya: harshest critics) and capable of mim- university functioned in Colombo. classes in the vernaculars (Sinhala and pausing to steal a moment of intimacy Memories of a University (1997) by icking the decorum that is supposed to Taking its first students in 1942, it was Tamil) in addition to English. For the under the shade of an arboreal canopy. Jayantha Dhanapala, former UN epitomise a true ‘gentleman’ (or ‘lady’), a further decade before the transition first time, non-English speaking rural The sprawling nature of the campus is Undersecretary General, visit these Sri Lankans are frequently to Peradeniya. An acute shortage of youth could pursue higher studies reminiscent of the traditional open- www.ices.lk/publications/esr/articles_j assumed to be products of Oxford or building materials following the spread alongside children from the middle ness found at Anuradhapura, and the ul98/PeraMem.PDF Cambridge. In fact, many are graduates to the East of the Second World War classes and elite. architecture is distinctly oriental, with For a commentary on Jennings’s con- of Sri Lanka’s own elite educational was a major factor in this delay. However, many rural youth still felt double-pitched tile roofs and a wealth tribution to Peradeniya University read facility, the , The unwavering effort of one man, disadvantaged, particularly with the of ornamentation, including moulded HAI Goonetileke’s Introduction to especially during its golden era in the Sir William Ivor Jennings, was instru- realisation that a university degree stone basses, carved stone columns Jennings’s The Kandy Road (1993). 1950s and 60s. Originally known as the mental in ensuring the eventual suc- without a command of English was no and moonstones. Looking down at the For an insight into undergraduate University of Ceylon, the history of cessful transition to the new site in guarantee of employment. It was just a campus from the Hantana hills are the life at Peradeniya during the 1950s and this illustrious university is inter- Peradeniya. Appointed as first Vice matter of time before tensions simmer- staff quarters and university-spon- 60’s, read The Sweet and Simple Kind twined with that of Sri Lanka, and its Chancellor of the University of Ceylon, ing in wider society manifested in the sored places of worship - a Buddhist (2006) by Yasmine Gooneratne. Western Province Council Elections by Nalin de Silva The UNP was able to win only the elec- used as a human shield by the LTTE. It torates within the Colombo Municipality is heartening to note that even in he second installment of Pluralism limits indicating again that Colombo is Colombo Municipalty limits the UPFA and supremacy has to give way to not Sri Lanka. Many people from abroad has increased its vote among the Tamils Tthe western province provincial including journalists politicians, diplo- and the Muslims, with the racist parties council elections. The United Peoples mats come to know only Colombo even to that contest under racist names such as Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has won the a certain extent, and they go back with the Muslim congress have lost some of western province provincial councils memories of discussions that they had in their votes in these electorates. The num- continuing with the string of victories it Colombo as if that represented a good ber of SLMC representatives in the had in the previous provincial council cross section of the country. The country Provincial council has been reduced elections including that of the eastern begins after one crosses the Colombo albeit by one but when it has been province. It is a victory not only for the Municipality limits and the election reduced from four to three it reflects UPFA but for the sovereignty of the coun- results indicate how the country badly on the SLMC. If the government try. The elections victory comes in the approves the policies of the government. had anytime to organize an election middle of the victories the armed forces It is a fact that the majority of the among the people in the northern are experiencing in Mullaitivu against people living within the Colombo province, unlike the western oriented the LTTE that still keeps a few thousand Municipality limits are non Sinhala and western looking Tamils in Colombo, Tamils as hostages. The armed forces Buddhists in many ways. It is said that they too would have endorsed the poli- have been able to rescue more than hun- ethnically the majority of the people are cies of the government. While the racist dred thousand Tamils altogether during Muslims. It is uncertain with the volatile parties have lost some of their support- the last few days amidst obstacles from Tamil population in Colombo whether ers to the UPFA, the so called left parties various quarters including the western they come second but in any event the such as that under the leadership of Dr. countries. The dispersed or Burgher Sinhala Buddhists living in the Colombo Wickramabahu Bandara Karunaratne Tamils in the western countries together Muslim women come out of a polling booth after casting their votes in Colombo Municipality limits cannot exceed forty have shown that they are representing with the support of the respective gov- percent of the population. Even among not people of this country whether they ernments staged demonstrations against other countries. They have no regard for thirds majority in the western provincial the Sinhala Buddhists the percentage of be Sinhala, Tamil or Muslims but an the Sri Lankan government under the the sovereignty of the “smaller” nations council. It is mainly the policy on the the so called liberals produced by the imaginary set of people similar to the pretext that the armed forces were killing and their so called intellectuals will come operations against the LTTE that was put educational system is more when com- imaginary proletariat and the revolution innocent Tamils. However they never out concepts such as R2P to invade the to the test at the elections and the people pared with the other parts of the coun- named after that mythical class. Their wanted to ask the LTTE terrorists and other countries in the guise of protecting in the western province have overwhelm- try. The majority of them who vote UNP self determination is not respected by their terrorist leader to release the inno- human rights, democracy etc., that are ingly approved the policies of the govern- are found in the Colombo west, Colombo anybody including the Tamils and it has cent people. The western governments not practiced in their countries. If the ment in this regard. In certain elec- east and Borella electorates together been determined that self determination wanted the Sri Lankan government to LTTE is to surrender it has to be to the torates the UPFA polled more than seven- with some educated well to do Tamils in is not even a valid concept. declare ceasefires so that the LTTE could Sri Lankan government and the armed ty percent of the vote. The elections general. The Muslims, and the not so It is clear that the western countries enjoy a breathing space but it is to the forces and not to uncle Sams and aunty could have been considered as a referen- well to do Tamils are found generally in and India are applying pressure on the credit of the President Rajapakse and the Dorothys who are anyway on the decline. dum on the government policy on the Colombo north and Colombo central. Sri Lankan government to declare a government that they did not give in to The resounding victory of the UPFA is humanitarian operations in the northern It would be futile for the western pow- ceasefire and that these forces have those demands and protected the sover- an endorsement by the people of the poli- province and the people have enthusiasti- ers to carry on with its anti Sinhala already got the LTTE to declare a unilat- eignty of the country. It is also reported cy of the Rajapakse government on cally approved the relevant policy. The Buddhist propaganda when the armed eral ceasefire. If the government gives that the USA wants the LTTE to surren- humanitarian operations against the UPFA won all the electoral divisions in forces have been able to prove to the into the pressure that will only go der to a third party. This is nonsense of LTTE to liberate the innocent people who the Kalutara and Gampaha districts that world how humanitarian they have been against the wish of the majority of the the worst order and it goes on to show were trapped and also to retain the uni- includes what is referred to as the not only in operations but also in treat- people and likely to demoralize the how these powerful countries treat the tary state. The UPFA has a near two “Catholic Belt” in the Gampaha district. ing the innocent Tamils who had been armed forces.