Features

Noel Crusz’s Little Bike Lost: The Story of Sri Lanka’s First Schoolboy Film

Published

1 year ago

2024/12/22

by Rajiva Wijesinha

I had hugely enjoyed the Ceylon Journal, an exciting initiative from someone only recently out of school. Avishka Mario Senewiratne, who subsequently gave me one of his earlier books, which is an even more remarkable achievement. As the title indicates, it deals with a film made a long time ago.

He heard about it only when he was writing The Story of St. Joseph’s College, and promptly recognized it as ‘a phenomenal event that took place in 1956’. And this was not exaggeration, for the idea to make a film, and carry it through professionally, was unique, and Avishka is owed a debt of gratitude for having recorded the exercise so meticulously.

The film was the brainchild of Fr. Noel Crusz, whose name sounded familiar, for he had been known as an artist and also a priest who had later given up the priesthood, and married. Before that, he had while a teacher at St. Peter’s, been asked to produce ‘Catholic Hour’ for Radio Ceylon. And understanding his talent Cardinal Cooray, the head of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka during my childhood, and for many years before that, sent him to Europe and America to study mass media.

He made many friends in Hollywood, who helped him in his film-making. Bing Crosby gave him the camera he used, and was later said to have helped with funding when he was running out, even after he had been given a loan of Rs.100 by the visionary educationist Fr. Peter Pillai.

When Vittorio De Sica’s ‘Bicycle Thieves’ reached cinemas in Colombo, Noel Crusz was at St. Josephs where he had set up a Film Society. One of its members, having slipped out to watch the film, and been caught and caned by Peter Pillai who was then the Rector, thought up a script which appealed to Crusz. This was good timing, for 1955/56 had been declared the Diamond Jubilee year of SJC. Before that Crusz had written and produced plays, and also made documentary films. A feature was a new departure that he thought appropriate for the Jubilee, but while he remained in charge he gave the boys of the Film Society full responsibility, and they lived up to this admirably.

Avishka has given full details of the process, with chapters about the selection of the cast and crew, the different locations used, and what took place behind the scenes, followed by a short account of how the footage was put together. In between, which shows admirable pacing on the writer’s part, is a long chapter detailing the plot of the film. Then we have the press preview and the reactions, which were almost entirely positive. Even Mervyn de Silva, though less enthusiastic, registered the great initiative displayed, and praised the young people ‘in a society that is well known for its timidity’.

But then tragedy strikes. For Kingsley De Rosairo, the boy who had organized the fighting and the race sequences, inspired by the subject of the film, persuaded his father to buy him a new bicycle. His cousin was given one too, and the two raced round Colombo, and even cycled one day to Avissawella and back. But then one evening, the evening of the press preview, when they got home, they found that their music teacher had come and gone and left a message that they should come to his home. So Kingley set off, and was knocked down by a passing truck, when he had almost reached the house. And though he was rushed to hospital, doctors could do nothing and he died next morning, without regaining consciousness.

But the show went on. The one strong criticism made of the film was that the sound was messy, for it had had to be dubbed as the camera used did not allow for the recording of speech. And since the cast read out what they were supposed to say, it had sounded stilted. Crusz then accepted the suggestion that this be dropped, and managed to have the new version, without any conversation, ready for the Gala Premiere which took place at the Lionel Wendt.

The Prime Minister Mr Bandaranaike graced the occasion, with his wife and daughter who were both elected to that position in time, and made a very complimentary speech. And before the screening Mrs Bandaranaike gave out awards to the cast and crew. The main star of the film got an Olympic New Yorker bicycle, the same as he had won in a raffle in the film and then had it stolen from him, before recovering it and winning the Cycle Race at the Sports Meet.

He was tongue-tied when Chandrika asked him how he had done his role, and the producer had to answer for him. But after that little touch, Avishka ends the chapter with him cycling home on his new bike. And even more moving had been the earlier record of Charmaine De Rozairo going on stage ‘to collect a prize on behalf of her later younger brother, Kingsley’.

But after that there were no more films. After his account of the Gala Premiere, Avishka records the popularity of the film all over the country, with screenings in several other venues including Jaffna. But then, typically, though Fr. Crusz now had many fans, his work upset some of his superiors, and early in 1958 he was transferred, whereupon the Film Society died away. The writer of this film had written another screenplay called ‘Shanty Dwellers’, but it did not see the light of day.

Avishka does not expand on the reasons for the transfer, simply noting in the last chapter that Crusz served in Kohuwala and Jaffna and Maggona, before giving up the priesthood in 1965. He had also given up his role on ‘Catholic Hour’, though why this should have happened while he was in Kohuwala is not clear. I suspect rather that the conservative elements in the Church asserted themselves, not at all happy with Crusz’s strong sense of social justice – as exemplified indeed by the subject of the proposed second film.

For Crusz was associated with the radical Peter Pillai and also it would seem with the future liberation theologian Tissa Balasuriya, who was also then on the SJC staff and who was later excommunicated. By then Crusz had left the country, and lived out his life in Australia, where he finally wrote a book about the Cocos Island Mutiny, the only instance in the Second World War when soldiers were executed for mutiny. They were Ceylonese and his longstanding concern with the story makes it clear that his thirst for social justice had not diminished.

But the last chapter also has heartwarming accounts of what happened to the boys over the years, including the surprise party the producers of the film threw for Noel Crusz for his 95^th birthday. They managed to trace the hero, Gerry D’Silva, whose unexpected presence drove Crusz to tears of joy. Earlier we were told about how he was reunited with the second lead, Bryan Walles, who had migrated to America, after his mother saw an article Crusz wrote in 1995 about the making of the film.

Sadly hardly any of the cast and crew remained in Sri Lanka. Many were Burgher and departed in the sad exodus of this talented group in the sixties and seventies. But even the Sinhalese producer Lalin Fernando went, though one important member of the production team, Ranjith Pereira, stayed behind and had a distinguished career in the country.

If the last chapter has a valedictory air, the penultimate one recreates the sense of adventure that Crusz had encouraged, for it is about how Bryan Walles and three of his friends, carried away by Tarzan books, decided to leave Colombo and live in the jungles of Madhu. So they set off by train, but at Maradana one of the boys decided to stay behind.

Unfortunately for the rest, he revealed the plan to his parents so the boys found the police waiting for them on the platform at Polgahawela, and they were taken home. But the chapter ends with a picture of Bryan on an elephant, finally pulling off a Tarzan, around 30 years later.

That picture is one of the splendid illustrations with which the book abounds. It contrasts, as do the many pictures in the last chapter, with the pictures of the boys in school, including several stills taken while the film was being made. The pictures exude innocence, though the book, and the film, are full of the fights which seem to have been a staple of existence in the school in those days.

The pictures also capture the questioning look the heroes, the boy who lost his bike and his younger brother, seem to have displayed in life as in the film. The four bullies, on the other hand, look tough, at all times, though the one who double-crossed the others and told Tommy where the bike was also has a wary look in his portrait picture.

The girls, whom Noel Crusz chose from Holy Family Convent, where he had previously produced plays, are striking, though Tommy’s older sisters are suitably admonitory in the stills. Sadly the older sister – which they were in real life too – died in the first decade of this century but the younger one, who looks radiant in the picture of her with her husband in Australia, was still living when the book was written.

Then there are the picture of the places where filming took place, including an array of pictures of St. Joseph’s as it was 70 years ago. And there are crowd shots, not only of the cycle race, but even of one of Sri Lanka’s greatest sportmen, Nagalingam Ethirveerasingham, about to leap high at the sports meet. Supplementing these are a few imaginative sketches which bring alive the personalities of not only Noel Crusz but also Peter Pillai and the Vice-Rector, to say nothing of Bing Crosby.

The book ends with three appendices, the last the filmography of Crusz, while the first tells the tale of the inspiration for the film, Vittorio De Sica’s ‘Bicycle Thieves’. The second appendix is a fascinating letter from Crusz written almost half a century after the film was made, about the process of creating a soundtrack through dubbing that was more professional than the first effort, and which included the crowd voices used then.

I thought the book a triumph for many reasons. First in that it recreated a singular achievement of a school 70 years ago, while conveying the enthusiasm and the dedication of schoolboys of that period. Second it records the tremendous achievement of Noel Crusz, while also registering the sadness of his career being spiked as it were by unsympathetic authority.

Third it brings together heaps of period pictures, supplemented by pictures of youngsters grown old, which is a healthy reminder of the passing of time, while the buildings of St. Joseph’s, though altered over the years, mark the continuity of a distinguished heritage. To add another perspective, the writer has collected advertisements of those days for both cameras and bicycles, that record too the impact the film made – as do the newspaper cuttings about the triumph as well as the tragedy of Kenneth De Rozairo’s death.

In a bleak world it has been heartening to see the initiatives and the dedication of Avishka Mario Senewiratne, first with regard to the inspired Ceylon Journal and now this revival of a forgotten story and singular achievement. And his ability to recreate the past reminds me of something my former Dean once wrote, that ‘The past envelopes you like a warm blanket.’

All News Advertisement

Features

Digital transformation in the Global South

Published

8 hours ago

2026/02/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

AI Summit, India

Understanding Sri Lanka through the India AI Impact Summit 2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly moved from being a specialised technological field into a major social force that shapes economies, cultures, governance, and everyday human life. The India AI Impact Summit 2026, held in New Delhi, symbolised a significant moment for the Global South, especially South Asia, because it demonstrated that artificial intelligence is no longer limited to advanced Western economies but can also become a development tool for emerging societies. The summit gathered governments, researchers, technology companies, and international organisations to discuss how AI can support social welfare, public services, and economic growth. Its central message was that artificial intelligence should be human centred and socially useful. Instead of focusing only on powerful computing systems, the summit emphasised affordable technologies, open collaboration, and ethical responsibility so that ordinary citizens can benefit from digital transformation. For South Asia, where large populations live in rural areas and resources are unevenly distributed, this idea is particularly important.

People friendly AI

One of the most important concepts promoted at the summit was the idea of “people friendly AI.” This means that artificial intelligence should be accessible, understandable, and helpful in daily activities. In South Asia, language diversity and economic inequality often prevent people from using advanced technology. Therefore, systems designed for local languages, and smartphones, play a crucial role. When a farmer can speak to a digital assistant in Sinhala, Tamil, or Hindi and receive advice about weather patterns or crop diseases, technology becomes practical rather than distant. Similarly, voice based interfaces allow elderly people and individuals with limited literacy to use digital services. Affordable mobile based AI tools reduce the digital divide between urban and rural populations. As a result, artificial intelligence stops being an elite instrument and becomes a social assistant that supports ordinary life.

Transformation in education sector

The influence of this transformation is visible in education. AI based learning platforms can analyse student performance and provide personalised lessons. Instead of all students following the same pace, weaker learners receive additional practice while advanced learners explore deeper material. Teachers are able to focus on mentoring and explanation rather than repetitive instruction. In many South Asian societies, including Sri Lanka, education has long depended on memorisation and private tuition classes. AI tutoring systems could reduce educational inequality by giving rural students access to learning resources, similar to those available in cities. A student who struggles with mathematics, for example, can practice step by step exercises automatically generated according to individual mistakes. This reduces pressure, improves confidence, and gradually changes the educational culture from rote learning toward understanding and problem solving.

Healthcare is another area where AI is becoming people friendly. Many rural communities face shortages of doctors and medical facilities. AI-assisted diagnostic tools can analyse symptoms, or medical images, and provide early warnings about diseases. Patients can receive preliminary advice through mobile applications, which helps them decide whether hospital visits are necessary. This reduces overcrowding in hospitals and saves travel costs. Public health authorities can also analyse large datasets to monitor disease outbreaks and allocate resources efficiently. In this way, artificial intelligence supports not only individual patients but also the entire health system.

Agriculture, which remains a primary livelihood for millions in South Asia, is also undergoing transformation. Farmers traditionally rely on seasonal experience, but climate change has made weather patterns unpredictable. AI systems that analyse rainfall data, soil conditions, and satellite images can predict crop performance and recommend irrigation schedules. Early detection of plant diseases prevents large-scale crop losses. For a small farmer, accurate information can mean the difference between profit and debt. Thus, AI directly influences economic stability at the household level.

Employment and communication reshaped

Artificial intelligence is also reshaping employment and communication. Routine clerical and repetitive tasks are increasingly automated, while demand grows for digital skills, such as data management, programming, and online services. Many young people in South Asia are beginning to participate in remote work, freelancing, and digital entrepreneurship. AI translation tools allow communication across languages, enabling businesses to reach international customers. Knowledge becomes more accessible because information can be summarised, translated, and explained instantly. This leads to a broader sociological shift: authority moves from tradition and hierarchy toward information and analytical reasoning. Individuals rely more on data when making decisions about education, finance, and career planning.

Impact on Sri Lanka

The impact on Sri Lanka is especially significant because the country shares many social and economic conditions with India and often adopts regional technological innovations. Sri Lanka has already begun integrating artificial intelligence into education, agriculture, and public administration. In schools and universities, AI learning tools may reduce the heavy dependence on private tuition and help students in rural districts receive equal academic support. In agriculture, predictive analytics can help farmers manage climate variability, improving productivity and food security. In public administration, digital systems can speed up document processing, licensing, and public service delivery. Smart transportation systems may reduce congestion in urban areas, saving time and fuel.

Economic opportunities are also expanding. Sri Lanka’s service based economy and IT outsourcing sector can benefit from increased global demand for digital skills. AI-assisted software development, data annotation, and online service platforms can create new employment pathways, especially for educated youth. Small and medium entrepreneurs can use AI tools to design products, manage finances, and market services internationally at low cost. In tourism, personalised digital assistants and recommendation systems can improve visitor experiences and help small businesses connect with travellers directly.

Digital inequality

However, the integration of artificial intelligence also raises serious concerns. Digital inequality may widen if only educated urban populations gain access to technological skills. Some routine jobs may disappear, requiring workers to retrain. There are also risks of misinformation, surveillance, and misuse of personal data. Ethical regulation and transparency are, therefore, essential. Governments must develop policies that protect privacy, ensure accountability, and encourage responsible innovation. Public awareness and digital literacy programmes are necessary so that citizens understand both the benefits and limitations of AI systems.

Beyond economics and services, AI is gradually influencing social relationships and cultural patterns. South Asian societies have traditionally relied on hierarchy and personal authority, but data-driven decision making changes this structure. Agricultural planning may depend on predictive models rather than ancestral practice, and educational evaluation may rely on learning analytics instead of examination rankings alone. This does not eliminate human judgment, but it alters its basis. Societies increasingly value analytical thinking, creativity, and adaptability. Educational systems must, therefore, move beyond memorisation toward critical thinking and interdisciplinary learning.

AI contribution to national development

In Sri Lanka, these changes may contribute to national development if implemented carefully. AI-supported financial monitoring can improve transparency and reduce corruption. Smart infrastructure systems can help manage transportation and urban planning. Communication technologies can support interaction among Sinhala, Tamil, and English speakers, promoting social inclusion in a multilingual society. Assistive technologies can improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, enabling broader participation in education and employment. These developments show that artificial intelligence is not merely a technological innovation but a social instrument capable of strengthening equality when guided by ethical policy.

Symbolic shift

Ultimately, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 represents a symbolic shift in the global technological landscape. It indicates that developing nations are beginning to shape the future of artificial intelligence according to their own social needs rather than passively importing technology. For South Asia and Sri Lanka, the challenge is not whether AI will arrive but how it will be used. If education systems prepare citizens, if governments establish responsible regulations, and if access remains inclusive, AI can become a partner in development rather than a source of inequality. The future will likely involve close collaboration between humans and intelligent systems, where machines assist decision making while human values guide outcomes. In this sense, artificial intelligence does not replace human society, but transforms it, offering Sri Lanka an opportunity to build a more knowledge based, efficient, and equitable social order in the decades ahead.

by Milinda Mayadunna

Features

Governance cannot be a postscript to economics

Published

8 hours ago

2026/02/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kristalina-Georgieva

The visit by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to Sri Lanka was widely described as a success for the government. She was fulsome in her praise of the country and its developmental potential. The grounds for this success and collaborative spirit go back to the inception of the agreement signed in March 2023 in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s declaration of international bankruptcy. The IMF came in to fulfil its role as lender of last resort. The government of the day bit the bullet. It imposed unpopular policies on the people, most notably significant tax increases. At a moment when the country had run out of foreign exchange, defaulted on its debt, and faced shortages of fuel, medicine and food, the IMF programme restored a measure of confidence both within the country and internationally.

Since 1965 Sri Lanka has entered into agreements with the IMF on 16 occasions none of which were taken to their full term. The present agreement is the 17^th agreement . IMF agreements have traditionally been focused on economic restructuring. Invariably the terms of agreement have been harsh on the people, with priority being given to ensure the debtor country pays its loans back to the IMF. Fiscal consolidation, tax increases, subsidy reductions and structural reforms have been the recurring features. The social and political costs have often been high. Governments have lost popularity and sometimes fallen before programmes were completed. The IMF has learned from experience across the world that macroeconomic reform without social protection can generate backlash, instability and policy reversals.

The experience of countries such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal in dealing with the IMF during the eurozone crisis demonstrated the political and social costs of austerity, even though those economies later stabilised and returned to growth. The evolution of IMF policies has ensured that there are two special features in the present agreement. The first is that the IMF has included a safety net of social welfare spending to mitigate the impact of the austerity measures on the poorest sections of the population. No country can hope to grow at 7 or 8 percent per annum when a third of its people are struggling to survive. Poverty alleviation measures in the Aswesuma programme, developed with the agreement of the IMF, are key to mitigating the worst impacts of the rising cost of living and limited opportunities for employment.

Governance Included

The second important feature of the IMF agreement is the inclusion of governance criteria to be implemented alongside the economic reforms. It goes to the heart of why Sri Lanka has had to return to the IMF repeatedly. Economic mismanagement did not take place in a vacuum. It was enabled by weak institutions, politicised decision making, non-transparent procurement, and the erosion of checks and balances. In its economic reform process, the IMF has included an assessment of governance related issues to accompany the economic restructuring process. At the top of this list is tackling the problem of corruption by means of publicising contracts, ensuring open solicitation of tenders, and strengthening financial accountability mechanisms.

The IMF also encouraged a civil society diagnostic study and engaged with civil society organisations regularly. The civil society analysis of governance issues which was promoted by Verite Research and facilitated by Transparency International was wider in scope than those identified in the IMF’s own diagnostic. It pointed to systemic weaknesses that go beyond narrow fiscal concerns. The civil society diagnostic study included issues of social justice such as the inequitable impact of targeting EPF and ETF funds of workers for restructuring and the need to repeal abuse prone laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Online Safety Act. When workers see their retirement savings restructured without adequate consultation, confidence in policy making erodes. When laws are perceived to be instruments of arbitrary power, social cohesion weakens.

During a meeting between the IMF Managing Director Georgeiva and civil society members last week, there was discussion on the implementation of those governance measures in which she spoke in a manner that was not alien to the civil society representatives. Significantly, the civil society diagnostic report also referred to the ethnic conflict and the breakdown of interethnic relations that led to three decades of deadly war, causing severe economic losses to the country. This was also discussed at the meeting. Governance is not only about accounting standards and procurement rules. It is about social justice, equality before the law, and political representation. On this issue the government has more to do. Ethnic and religious minorities find themselves inadequately represented in high level government committees. The provincial council system that ensured ethnic and minority representation at the provincial level continues to be in abeyance.

Beyond IMF

The significance of addressing governance issues is not only relevant to the IMF agreement. It is also important in accessing tariff concessions from the European Union. The GSP Plus tariff concession given by the EU enables Sri Lankan exports to be sold at lower prices and win markets in Europe. For an export dependent economy, this is critical. Loss of such concessions would directly affect employment in key sectors such as apparel. The government needs to address longstanding EU concerns about the protection of human rights and labour rights in the country. The EU has, for several years, linked the continuation of GSP Plus to compliance with international conventions. This includes the condition that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) be brought into line with international standards. The government’s alternative in the form of the draft Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PTSA) is less abusive on paper but is wider in scope and retains the core features of the PTA.

Governance and social justice factors cannot be ignored or downplayed in the pursuit of economic development. If Sri Lanka is to break out of its cycle of crisis and bailout, it must internalise the fact that good governance which promotes social justice and more fairly distributes the costs and fruits of development is the foundation on which durable economic growth is built. Without it, stabilisation will remain fragile, poverty will remain high, and the promise of 7 to 8 percent growth will remain elusive. The implementation of governance reforms will also have a positive effect through the creative mechanism of governance linked bonds, an innovation of the present IMF agreement.

The Sri Lankan think tank Verité Research played an important role in the development of governance linked bonds. They reduce the rate of interest payable by the government on outstanding debt on the basis that better governance leads to a reduction in risk for those who have lent their money to Sri Lanka. This is a direct financial reward for governance reform. The present IMF programme offers an opportunity not only to stabilise the economy but to strengthen the institutions that underpin it. That opportunity needs to be taken. Without it, the country cannot attract investment, expand exports and move towards shared prosperity and to a 7-8 percent growth rate that can lift the country out of its debt trap.

by Jehan Perera

Features

MISTER Band … in the spotlight

Published

8 hours ago

2026/02/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

MISTER Band: For the past four consecutive years, they have performed overseas, during New Year’s Eve

It’s a good sign, indeed, for the local scene, to see artistes, who have not been very much in the limelight, now making their presence felt, in a big way, and I’m glad to give them the publicity they deserve.

On 10th February we had Yellow Beatz in the spotlight and this week it’s MISTER Band.

This outfit is certainly not new to our scene; they have been around since 2012, under the leadership of Sithum Waidyarathne.

The seven energetic members who make up MISTER Band are:

Sithum Waidyarathne (leader/founder/saxophonist/guitarist and vocalist), Rangana Seram (bass guitarist), Vihanga Liyanage (vocalist), Ridmi Dissanayake (female vocalist), Nuwan Cristo (keyboardist/vocalist), Kasun Thennakoon (lead guitarist), and Nuwan Madushanka (drummer).

According to Sithum, their vision is to provide high quality entertainmen to those who engage their services.

“Thanks to our engaging performances and growing popularity, MISTER Band continues to be in high demand … at weddings, corporate events and dinner dances,” said Sithum.

They predominantly cover English and Sinhala music, as well as the most popular genres.

And the reviews that come their way, after a performance, are excellent, they say, and this is one of the bouquets they received:

It was a pleasure to have you at our wedding. Being avid music fans we wanted the best music, not just a big named band, and you guys acceded that expectations. Big thanks to Sithum for being very supportive, attentive and generous.

: Sithum Waidyarathne: Band leader and founder

: Ridmi Dissanayake: MISTER Band’s female vocalist

The best thing is the post feedback from all the guests. Normally we get mixed reviews but the whole crowd was impressed by you.

MISTER Band was one of our best choices for our wedding.

What is interesting is that for the past four consecutive years, this outfit has performed overseas, during New Year’s Eve, thereby taking their music to the international stage, as well.

The band has also produced a collection of original songs, with around six original tracks composed by the band leader, Sithum Waidyarathne, including ‘Suraganak Dutuwa,’ ‘Landuni,’ ‘Dili Dili Payana,’ ‘Hada Wedana,’ and ‘Nil Kandu Athare.’

Two more songs are set to be released this month: ‘Hitha Norida’ and ‘Premaye Hanguman.’

In addition to their original music, they have also created a strong online presence by performing and uploading over 50 cover songs and medleys to YouTube.

“We’re now planning to connect with an even wider audience by releasing more cover content very soon,” said Sithum, adding that they are also very active on social media, under the name Mister Band Official – on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.