Features

Going under armed escort as Chairman SLBC and Director of Broadcasting

Published

1 year ago

2025/05/4

On being told of my new assignment in the SLBC, I went home and dismissed the Prime Minister’s office car. Although I could have used it to go to the SLBC, technically I was no longer Secretary to the Prime Minister, and therefore, not really entitled to use it. I decided to drive my Morris Minor to go there. News travels very fast in this country. Even before I had got home there had been numerous telephone calls. Now, calls were coming in at the rate of one every three or four minutes.

Most of them were from my friends and colleagues and many of them expressed their sympathies and concerns at my going to the SLBC rather than congratulations. Till then I did not fully realize, the kind of public opinion that prevailed, in regard to the SLBC as a place of work. I made a mental note that this had to change.

One of the callers informed me that the important UNP Trade Union, the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS) had gone to see the Prime Minister to protest at the appointment of someone who had closely worked with Mrs. Bandaranaike, to an important state media institution like the SLBC. I was very happy to hear this news and thought deliverance was at hand.

I now telephoned Mr. Menikdiwela, and told him about the information I had, and suggested that if this was true, it would be better for me to do something else. Mr. Menikdiwela laughed and said “Yes, some of them came to see us, but we told them that you were an outstanding public servant and not a politician and directed them to co-operate with you fully.”

There was no further recourse, and I was getting ready to go. But it was difficult to have lunch, because the phone was ringing constantly. In desperation my mother put some food on a plate and began feeding me. To her I was a 40-year-old child who had to be fed, in case he went away without eating.

Among these callers. was Admiral Basil Gunasekera, Commander of the Navy. The Navy was responsible for guarding the SLBC. He inquired whether it was true that I had been appointed to the SLBC. I said, “Yes.” He then inquired “When do you hope to go there?” I said, “Almost immediately.” He asked “Can’t you go there tomorrow?”

I told him, that it was impossible and that the Prime Minister wanted me to go there very early. I asked him what the problem was. He said that there were a large number of people there, some of them drunk. Then he said something very touching. “I can guarantee your safety, don’t worry about that. But I don’t want a single bastard to cast even a remark at you.” I thanked him most sincerely for his kindness and concern, and told him I would go and handle the situation and rang off.

However, Basil had not still finished. Within a few minutes he rang me again. “How are you going to the SLBC?” he asked. I told him that I would drive my private car. “Don’t'”, he said. “I will send you a vehicle.” I thanked him, but informed him that I had to leave almost immediately. “A car will be there in 15 minutes,” he said.

I was almost ready to leave when I heard the sound of a car stopping near our gate. I walked to the verandah and was surprised to see a smart Navy officer seated there, cradling a sub machine gun! On seeing me, he got up, smartly saluted, stated he was one of the ADCs to the Commander, and informed me that the Commander had ordered him to personally accompany me to the SLBC.

I was now getting worried. Sending a car was a kind thought and a convenience. Sending an armed escort was a different matter. In any case, there. was now no time for anything and I kept my thoughts to myself. The officer sat behind with me in the Navy car, and we proceeded to Independence Square and the SLBC.

As we came in sight ofthe building, the first thing I saw was a millingcrowd under the main portico. There groups of people scattered here and there in the driveway. The car turned in at the gate and was about to proceed towards the portico, when I ordered the driver to stop. There was too large a crowd under the portico for a car to get through easily, and I did not want an intrepid Navy driver to enforce a right of passage.

The car halted half way and I opened the door and was about to get down, when I saw, the officer reaching for his machine gun which he had kept on the floor of the car. “Drop it. Don’t take it out,” I said urgently. I said it so vehemently that with the corner of my eye I saw him drop it. I did not want to take up my appointment under armed guard. The next moment, I waded into the crowd.

At the SLBC and discussions with the government trade union

From somewhere, two hands appeared clasping a sheaf of betel. A little later, I saw that they belonged to Thevis Guruge, Deputy Director-General. He muttered some words of welcome. He told me that the Directors of the various divisions wanted to meet me, and also the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya. He wanted to know whom I wanted to meet first. I said the trade union. It was clear that I had to come to terms with them first, otherwise administration would be impossible.

Thevis Guruge then led me to the boardroom. Very soon the room was packed to capacity and not even standing room was available. People were pressing to get in. The place was reeking of alcohol. I sat at the table with Thevis and some of the other directors of divisions, to whom I had been introduced. A spokesman for the trade union began to address me. It was not really an address but a harangue.

He spoke at length on the arbitrary and capricious actions of the previous regime in respect of the Corporation and its employees, particularly those known or suspected to be UNP employees. He went on to relate a long list of specific instances, including the names of those who had been interdicted, dismissed or transferred. He mentioned how the then Minister Mr. R.S. Perera had come in a procession after their election victory and taken numerous arbitrary actions.

When this spokesman ran out of steam, another took over, and then yet another. There was great excitement in the room. People were talking to each other, and interrupting the speakers to signify approval or to remind them of some forgotten point. I did not utter a word. I listened carefully although it was not easy to concentrate amidst the babble.

I realized that there was a great deal of pent up feeling, and that it was a good thing for it to come out. All this went on for over an hour. Then came the demands. They recited a list of persons under interdiction whom they wanted reinstated immediately. They said some of them were present in the room. The same demand extended to some of the dismissed as well as transferred employees, in whose case the demand was that they be put back in their original positions.

Then they became creative and wanted certain people placed in certain positions. All these were to be effected immediately. The room was smelling like a tavern. I continued to remain silent, but a silent fury was growing in me. Then suddenly they realized I had not spoken a word. There descended an awkward silence. I waited awhile. Silence continued to prevail, a silence which illustrated the saying “A loud silence.”

I then asked, “Have you finished? They said, “Yes”. I said, “I have listened to you patiently all this time without interruption and now, I do not wish to be interrupted until I have finished.” They nodded. I then said, “Over the last more than an hour, you had related to me, who you were, your experiences and finally your demands. Now, permit me to say something about who I am and how I function.

“I have entered the public service not through political patronage or any assistance from anybody. I entered the service through passing, what was commonly accepted as the most difficult competitive examination of the time, namely the open competitive examination for appointment to the Ceylon Civil Service. At this examination, in the. year I sat, only five were selected for appointment and I came second in order of merit. Over 300 sat this examination. Therefore, I am beholden to nobody either for my entry or my continuance in the public service.

“I am also not interested in any particular post, or where I serve. I go where the government of the day wants me to go. That is how I have come here. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t have come here. You will appreciate therefore, that I am not a politician. I am an administrator. The essence of administration is equity, fairness, openness, proper investigation and analysis before decisions, and decisions based on balanced judgment.

“Therefore, the demands you have made of me, no administrator can agree to. I am, however, prepared to go into each and every case, and if any injustice is revealed, correct it. But I am not prepared to work to any imposed deadline. There will not be undue delay either. Therefore, there is nothing I can do today. I need today to have discussions with the heads of divisions and others and get a grasp of things and ensure that there is no breakdown in services.

“But I see from your faces that you are unhappy with my reply. Therefore, I would now like to suggest a remedy. Go now in procession to the Prime Minister’s residence in Ward Place, and tell him that you cannot work with this devil.” The conversations being in Sinhala, this sounded much pithier in that language. This stunned them. They did not expect this kind of reply. They were struggling to cope.

Then they became more accommodating. They apologized and said that they didn’t mean to challenge my authority or hurt my feelings. Their vehemence, they said was a result of the injustices they had suffered. I reiterated that I would correct any injustice that had occurred. But to do all this I needed to get to work. I therefore told the Union members “remember you are members of a Union of a party which has over a five sixth majority in Parliament.

“As a result, you have an enormous responsibility to see that the power you have is used in such a manner as to enhance, and not to destroy the image of your party. I am therefore, now entrusting you with the responsibility of maintaining peace and good order here, as well as in all sub-stations and other facilities. I want you to show an example in how to treat your political opponents. I am entrusting you with the task of their protection.

“I want you to demonstrate that your membership consist of gentlemen and people of calibre, who would not even cast a remark at a political opponent. If you allege that the previous regime behaved badly, you now set the standard of behaviour. I will watch carefully to see what your standard is.” It was my judgment that the Union needed to be given a role and responsibility immediately. Their feelings of both elation and bitterness had to be channeled in a positive direction and their energies put to productive use.

I then asked all, other than the employees of the Corporation to go home. I told the union to ensure that any employee who was drunk or after liquor was sent home, and asked to report next day when he was sober. Things were now settling down, and the Union began to comply.

A matter of a personal secretary

I then began the meeting with the directors of the divisions. There was first a matter of my personal secretary to be settled. When the Deputy Director-General Thevis Guruge raised this issue, I said, “Any competent male would be fine.” He said that was not possible. All the personal secretaries were female. I then inquired, “How old is the oldest of them?” All began to laugh. Mr. Guruge informed me that the oldest was 54 years of age and very competent. I agreed at once. I said that since there was no one older, 54 years would be fine. There was more laughter.

The reason for this precaution was that the SLBC had a reputation fora number of romantic liaisons with secretaries, which had extended in the past to certain Chairmen and Directors-General. The organization also had the reputation outside, of some of its employees specializing in ringing up the homes of various officers and telling the wives that their husbands were carrying on with some attractive secretary. In some instances, this may have been true. But the talk outside was that this had reached pathological proportions.

In fact, my wife too was aware of this, so that in due course when she received a telephone call or two, she told the callers, that she had given me complete freedom to do as I please, and that anything I do, would not bother her in the least. Meeting this blank wall, the callers did not persist.

The organization also was talked of outside as a place where tale carrying was common. So I told the directors and the union representatives, that my door would always be open for anybody to come and tell me anything, but if anyone were to make a complaint against anyone else, or make an adverse comment about anyone, such a person would have to wait in my room until I summon the other party, and go into the matter in the presence of both.

I said that the only exception to this rule would be a security-related matter, which would be handled differently. I said finally, that I valued credibility very much and that it would be in everyone’s interest that they did not lose their credibility with me. Whilst this part of the discussion was going on, the Prime Minister, Mr. Jayewardene rang me. He inquired whether everything was all right. I said “Yes”. He then asked whether I had any problems. I said “None”.

He seemed to be somewhat surprised, and next asked, “How are the unions?” I said that they were very cooperative. I think, he hung up with a slight degree of bafflement. This call was followed almost 15 minutes later by a call from Mr. R. Premadasa, the No. 2 in the Cabinet. He asked me virtually the same questions, and received the same answers. He too seemed somewhat baffled, and wanted to know whether I required any assistance.

I replied that I needed no assistance whatsoever. He hung up and again called me about an hour later, to inquire how things were going. I replied “Smoothly,” and that was the end of any further calls from the high levels of government. When I reached home it was past midnight. By that time, peace and order had been restored, the premises cleared of excited and drunken people, the main program slots determined and early dates and times fixed for me to meet, the other trade unions in the Corporation such as the SLFP union and the Ceylon Mercantile Union (CMU).

Mr. D.B. Wijetunge was appointed Minister, and Sarath Amunugama Secretary. Mr. Wijetunge was an understanding and an affable personality, and it was easy to work with him. Mr. Amunugama, was a colleague of mine in the former Civil Service and was a member of the last batch of that service before it was wound up. He was a little over a year junior to me in the service, and I was a member of the previous batch. In fact, some of my friends asked me how I was going to work with a Secretary, who was junior to me.

I told them that this was no. problem. I never thought of my public service career in terms of hierarchies, posts or seniorities. I believed that I had entered the public service of my country and that as long as I remained in service, I had decided never to actively seek or canvass for any post. I had also made up my mind that I would serve in any post a government wanted me to serve in.

I departed from these principles only once in my near 37 years of unbroken service. That was much later, when I was offered the post of Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, on which I would comence at the appropriate place. In any case, Sarath and I had known each other both at the University and in the Service, and there were no serious problems in our working relationship.

(Excerpted from In the Pursuit of Governance, the autobiography of MDD Pieris)

All News Advertisement

Features

Building a sustainable future for Sri Lanka’s construction industry

Published

15 hours ago

2026/05/8

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka’s construction industry has long been a central pillar of sustainable development. From roads and bridges to homes, schools, and hospitals, construction shapes the country’s physical landscape and supports economic progress. As the nation continues to rebuild and modernise, the demand for construction materials and infrastructure keeps rising. However, this growth also brings a significant environmental cost. Cement, steel, bricks, aggregates, and timber all require energy, resources, and transportation, contributing to carbon emissions and environmental damage. If Sri Lanka continues with traditional construction practices, the long-term impact on the environment will be severe.

The encouraging news is that Sri Lanka has many opportunities to adopt more sustainable construction practices while still maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety. Sustainable construction does not mean weaker buildings or lower standards. It means using sustainable materials, reducing waste, improving design, and choosing methods that protect the environment. Many countries have already moved in this direction, and Sri Lanka has the potential to follow the same path with solutions that are practical, affordable, and suitable for local conditions.

A promising option

One promising option is the use of Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB), which are different from the concrete blocks commonly used in Sri Lanka for the past 25 years. CEBs are made from soil mixed with a small amount of stabiliser and pressed using machines. Unlike traditional fired clay bricks, CEBs do not require high-temperature kilns, which consume large amounts of firewood or fossil fuels. This makes CEBs a low-carbon alternative with a much smaller environmental footprint. In Sri Lanka, CEBs are already used in eco-resorts, community housing projects, and environmentally focused developments. They offer good strength, durability, and thermal comfort, making them suitable for many types of buildings. By expanding the use of CEBs, Sri Lanka can reduce energy consumption, lower emissions, and promote locally sourced materials.

Recycled aggregates also offer significant potential for sustainable construction. These materials are produced by crushing concrete, demolition waste, and construction debris. In Sri Lanka, recycled aggregates are already used in road construction, particularly for base and sub-base layers. They are suitable for non-structural building work such as pathways, garden paving, drainage layers, landscaping, and backfilling. Using recycled aggregates reduces the need for newly quarried rock and aggregates, decreases landfill waste, and lowers transportation emissions. With proper quality control and standards, recycled aggregates can become a reliable and widely accepted material in the construction industry.

Timber and sustainability

Timber is another important area where sustainability can be improved. In the past, timber for construction was often taken from natural forests, leading to deforestation and loss of biodiversity. Today, this approach is no longer sustainable. Instead, the focus must shift to legally sourced timber from managed plantations. Sri Lanka’s plantation-grown teak, jak, and kubuk can provide high-quality, legally sourced timber for construction while protecting natural forests and supporting rural economies. Using plantation timber ensures that harvesting is controlled, trees are replanted, and the supply chain remains legal and ethical.

Beyond materials, sustainable construction also involves better design and planning. Buildings that are designed to maximise natural ventilation, daylight, and energy efficiency can significantly reduce long-term operating costs. Simple design improvements such as proper orientation, shading devices, roof insulation, and efficient window placement can reduce the need for artificial cooling and lighting. These measures not only lower energy consumption but also improve indoor comfort for occupants. Sri Lanka’s tropical climate offers many opportunities to incorporate passive design strategies that reduce environmental impact without increasing construction costs.

Waste reduction is another key component of sustainable construction. Construction sites often generate large amounts of waste, including concrete, timber offcuts, packaging, and soil. By adopting better site management practices, recycling materials, and planning construction sequences more efficiently, contractors can reduce waste and save money. Proper waste segregation and recycling can also reduce the burden on landfills and minimise environmental pollution.

Promoting sustainable construction

Public projects such as schools, hospitals, and government buildings can play a leading role in promoting sustainable construction. When government projects adopt greener materials and designs, the private sector follows. This creates a positive cycle where environmentally responsible choices become the industry standard. Public sector leadership can also encourage local manufacturers to produce sustainable materials, improve quality standards, and invest in new technologies.

Sri Lanka also carries a proud and remarkable history in construction, with achievements that continue to inspire the world. The engineering brilliance behind Sigiriya, the advanced urban planning of Polonnaruwa, the precision of the Aukana Buddha statue, and the sophisticated water management systems of ancient tanks and reservoirs all demonstrate the deep knowledge our ancestors possessed. These historic accomplishments show that innovation is not new to Sri Lanka; it is part of our identity. As the world moves toward 2050 with increasing sustainability challenges, Sri Lanka can draw strength from this heritage while embracing modern technologies and sustainable practices. With the combined efforts of skilled professionals, industry experts, academic researchers, and strong government support, the country can introduce new systems that improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen resilience. By working together with determination and sharing knowledge across generations, Sri Lanka’s construction industry can build a future that honours its past while leading the way in sustainable development.

Foundation of sustainable development

Sri Lanka’s construction industry has always been a foundation of sustainable development. Today, it also has the chance to take a leading role in sustainability. By choosing sustainable materials, reducing waste, improving design, and supporting responsible sourcing, the country can build a future that is both modern and environmentally responsible. Sustainability is essential for Sri Lanka’s long-term goals of reducing carbon emissions and limiting the impacts of global warming. As Sri Lanka moves forward, the construction industry must embrace sustainability not only as an environmental responsibility but also as an opportunity to create stronger, smarter, and more resilient buildings for future generations. Sri Lanka has the talent, the heritage, and the technical capacity to shape a more sustainable future, and with the right national direction, the construction industry can become a model for the region. If professionals, policymakers, and communities work together with a shared vision, the country can transform its construction sector into one that protects the environment while supporting long-term progress.

About the Author: P.G.R.A.C. Gamlath Menike,

BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying (University of Reading, UK), MSc Quantity Surveying (University College of Estate Management, UK), MCIArb, Doctoral Student, Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, is a Senior Quantity Surveyor: Last Project (2022 -2025) Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 2 Construction Project, Gammon Engineering Construction (Main Contractor).

By P.G. R. A. C. Gamlath Menike

Features

Palm leaf manuscripts of Sri Lanka – 1

Published

15 hours ago

2026/05/8

Thilina Walpola

Palm leaf manuscripts

Palm leaf manuscripts have been in existence in Sri Lanka since ancient times. The two oldest palm-leaf manuscripts found in Sri Lanka today are the Cullavagga Pâli manuscript of the H. C. P. Bell collection, which is held at the Library of the National Museum, Colombo, and the Mahavagga Pâli manuscript in the University of Kelaniya collection. Photocopies of both are available at the Library of the University of Peradeniya. Both are dated to 13 century. Cullavagga manuscript has wooden covers richly decorated in lac with a design of flowers and foliage.

Karmmavibhâga

However, the oldest known Sinhala palm leaf manuscript in the world is the Karmmavibhâga which was found in a Tibet monastery in 1936 by the Indian scholar Rahul Sankrityayan. Rahul Sankrityayan, (1893–1963) former Kedarnath Pandey, was an Indian polymath, who searched out rare Buddhist manuscripts on his travels abroad. Sankrityayan visited Sri Lanka as well. Vidyalankara Pirivena is mentioned.

Sankrityayan visited Tibet several times to collect manuscripts from the Buddhist monasteries there. In May 1936 on his second visit to Tibet, Sankrityayan visited the Sa-skya monastery. The Chag-pe-lha-khang Library in this monastery was specially opened for Sankrityayan.

He stated in his autobiography that when the clouds of dust which greeted this rare opening of its doors had subsided, they beheld rows of open racks where volume on volume of manuscripts were kept. “After rummaging around, I came across palm-leaf manuscripts. They were not wrapped in cloth, but were tied between two wooden planks with holes through them.” Sankrityayan found several important manuscripts he had been looking for, in that collection.

Sankrityayan catalogued fifty-seven manuscripts bound in thirty-eight volumes. The thirty-seventh volume was written in the Sinhala script. Sankrityayan records that this volume contained ninety-seven palm- leaves each of which measured 18 1/4 by 1 1/4 in. (46 x 3 cm.) and that there were seven lines of writing on each folio.

According to Sankrityayan, these Sinhala texts originally belonged to a Sri Lankan monk called Anantaśrî who had come to Tibet in the time of ŚSrî Kîrttidhvaja (Kirti Sri Rajasinha). Analysts noted that Sankrityayan does not give the source of this information and the manuscript makes no mention of Anantaśrî.

Sankrityayan had taken with him to Tibet, one Abeyasinghe, (Abhayasimha) to help him with copying manuscripts. They made hand-copies of the important manuscripts. Abhayasimha had copied about 250 to 350 strophes each day. But he fell ill due to the extreme cold and was sent home in June. Abeyasinghe had written letters home during his stay in Tibet.

Photographs of the manuscripts found during Sankrityayan’s expeditions in Tibet are preserved at the National Archives in Colombo. There is also a copy in Vidyalankara pirivena library The Historical Manuscripts Commission In its 1960/1961 report, drew attention to this manuscript, known as Sa-skya Codex, describing it as “a unique document.” (Annual Report of the Government Archivist 1960/61, 1963)

Sinhala scholar P.E.E. Fernando examined photographs of the Sa-skya Codex at the request of the Historical Manuscripts Commission and assigned it to the 13th century. The Historical Manuscripts Commission, dated it to either twelfth or the thirteenth century.

The Historical Manuscripts Commission observed that this manuscript was of great value for the study of the development of the Sinhala script. Ven. Meda Uyangoda Vimalakîrtti and Nähinne Sominda in their edition of the Karmmavibhâga published in 1961 agreed that the Sa-skya Codex represented an early stage in the evolution of the Sinhala language.

Mahavamsa

The Mahavamsa is considered a unique historical document. There is nothing like it in South Asia, and probably all Asia, with the exception of China. Mahavamsa provides a historical account of events, with emphasis on chronology and dating. This, it appears, was rare at the time.

However, Mahavamsa is not a political history, though that is the popular perception of it. It is a religious history. It was written to record the introduction and entrenchment of Buddhism in the country. Other Buddhist countries, such as Cambodia, Burma and Thailand value the Mahavamsa for this reason. They held copies of the Mahavamsa and used events from it in their temple frescoes.

But Mahavamsa is also an important reference source for reconstructing the political history of Sri Lanka. Political and social facts are included in the Mahavamsa narrative when describing religious events, and this makes the Mahavamsa important for historians. This tradition of history writing, beginning with the earlier Sihala Attakatha and Dipawamsa, it is suggested, started in Sri Lanka in 2^nd or 3^rd BC.

Today, the Mahavamsa has become a major source of historical information, not only for dating kings, temples and reservoirs, but also for reconstructing ancient Sinhala society. The fact that Kuveni was seated beside a pond, spinning thread has been used to indicate that there was water management and textiles long before Vijaya arrived. Dutugemunu (161-137 BC) paid a salary to the workers building the Maha Thupa. This shows that money was used at the time.

Copies of the Mahavamsa have been treasured and looked after in Sri Lanka for centuries. They have been copied over and over again. The manuscripts were held in temple libraries because the subject of the Mahavamsa was the entrenchment of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

The Mahavamsa manuscripts did not pop up suddenly during British rule as people seem to think. The British did not ‘discover’ the Mahavamsa. It was there. When the British administration started to take interest in the history of the island, the sangha would have directed them to the Mahavamsa, in the same way that they directed HCP Bell to the ruins in Anuradhapura and the Sigiriya frescoes. HCP Bell did not discover those either.

The British administrators saw the value of the Mahavamsa and copies were sent to libraries abroad. The Bodleian library, Oxford has a well preserved Mahavamsa manuscript, taken from Mulkirigala, which Turner used for his translation. Cambridge has two Mahavamsa manuscripts. The two copies at India Office library, and the copy in East India Library are probably in the British Library today. The Royal Library, Copenhagen, has a copy, consisting of 129 sheets, 12 lines to a leaf, written in good handwriting.

In Sri Lanka there are several copies of the Mahavamsa in the Colombo Museum Library. One copy, known as the ‘Cambodian Mahavamsa ‘is in Cambodian script. University of Peradeniya has at least three copies.

It is interesting to note that the Mahavamsa was known to the Sinhala elite and some had copies in their private libraries. The Historical Manuscripts Commission of the 1930s said in its first report that five copies of the Mahavamsa and a 19^th century copy of the Dipawamsa were found in private collections.

The temple libraries had many copies of the Mahavamsa. Some were of very high quality. Wilhelm Geiger had looked at the copies held at Mahamanthinda Pirivena, Matara and Mulkirigala vihara. Asgiriya, Nagolla Vihara and Watagedera Sudarmarama Potgul vihara, Matara, are three of the many libraries that held copies of the Mahavamsa.

Sirancee Gunawardene examined the copy at Mahamanthinda Pirivena, Matara, very closely. She says that it is a very old manuscript. According to its colophon, the manuscript was first copied 400 years ago. It is in a very good state of preservation. It has 232 folios. Each 50 cm long 6.25 wide. Nine lines on each side, in Pali metric verse.

The writer of the manuscripts said that his version was an improvement on the copy. He wrote, “I will recite the Mahavamsa which was compiled by ancient sages. [their version] was too long and had many repetitions. This version is free from such faults, easy to understand and remember. It is handed down from tradition, for arousing serene joy and emotion’ .

The Mahamanthinda manuscript records the continuous history of 23 dynasties from 543 BC to 1758 AD. It refers to the principle of hereditary monarchy as 39 eldest sons of reigning monarch succeeded their fathers to the throne. It highlights the fact that fifteen reigned only for one year, 34 for less than four years, 22 kings were murdered by their successors, 6 were killed during battles, 4 committed suicide, 11 were dethroned.

Mahawansa as a World Heritage document

An ola manuscript of the Mahavamsa, held in the Main Library of the University of Peradeniya has been recognised by UNESCO as a part of World Heritage. UNESCO announced In 2023 that it has included the Mahavamsa as one of the 64 items of documentary heritage inscribed in the UNESCO’s Memory of the World International Register for 2023. The manuscript is dated to the early 19 century.

The certificate declaring the Mahawansa as a world heritage document was handed to the Chancellor of Peradeniya University by UNESCO Director General, who visited the University in 2024 specially to do so. She also unveiled a plaque marking the declaration.

The story began much earlier. The National Library of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Buddha Sasana had jointly appointed a 6-member committee headed by Prof Malani Endagamage, to find the best preserved copy of the Mahavamsa in Sri Lanka. This would have been in 2000 or so. For two years, this team had examined copies from over 100 temples nationwide.

Temples around the country yielded copies, crumbling to well-preserved, reported Sunday Times. There was one from the Ridi Vihara that almost made the cut, but four other copies were shortlisted. One from the Dalada Maligawa, Kandy and three manuscripts from the Main Library of the University of Peradeniya. Three academics from the University’s History Department, Professors K.M. Rohitha Dasanayaka, Mahinda Somathilake and U.S.Y. Sahan Mahesh examined the three Peradeniya manuscripts

Dasanayaka said, “We poured over the copies together, and it became clear that one copy stood out. While the other two had numerous inconsistencies, this one, written in a curvy hand, was neat and beautiful. After more than two centuries, the manuscript was still very attractive, with a ‘flaming cinnamon orange’ cover and elegant lettering.

The first section of the manuscript ends with Mahasen (274–301 AD), written by the monk Mahanama. The second part ends at 1815. The author is given as Ven. Thibbotuwawe Buddharakkhita but he was dead by 1815. The final part was probably done by an acolyte. He has done a very neat job, seamlessly adding his bit, concluded Dasanayake.

This manuscript was acquired by the Library of University of Peradeniya when K. D. Somadasa, was the Librarian (1964 – 1970). It is held in the Main Library and its Accession Number is 277587.

National Library & Documentation Services Board of Sri Lanka, which administers the National Library of Sri Lanka submitted a nomination to UNESCO on behalf of this manuscript. UNESCO responded positively to the application.

UNESCO said the Mahavamsa was recognized as one of the world’s longest unbroken historical accounts, presenting Sri Lanka’s history in a chronological order from the 6th century BCE. The authenticity of the facts provided in the document has been confirmed through archaeological research conducted in Sri Lanka and India.

It is an important historical source in South Asia, said UNESCO. It was the first of its kind in South Asia, initiating a mature historiographical tradition. It has contributed singularly to the identity of Emperor Asoka in Indian history. The existence of a number of manuscripts of the Mahavamsa in several countries as well as the transliteration and translation of the text to several Southeast Asian and European languages stand testimony to its immense historical, cultural, literal, linguistic and scholarly values, .” UNESCO press release said.

Further, UNESCO found that this manuscript was correctly conserved at the University Library. The university and its library maintained high standards in safeguarding the palm-leaf manuscripts, preventing deterioration, declared UNESCO. (Continued)

REFERENCES

https://archives1.dailynews.lk/2021/02/25/local/242520/ola-leaf-mahavamsa-be-declared-world-heritage

Sirancee Gunawardana Palm leaf manuscripts of Sri Lanka . 1977 p 41,44-47 , 253 290 292, ,

N. E. I. Wijerathne Methods, Techniques and Challenges in Deciphering the Sa-skaya Codex. Vidyodaya Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (2025), Vol. 10 (01) https://journals.sjp.ac.lk/index.php/vjhss/article/view/8571/6001

First report of the Historical Manuscripts Commision.1933 SP 9 of 1933. p . 53, 95, 96

https://journals.sjp.ac.lk/index.php/vjhss/article/view/8571/6001https://www.austriaca.at/0xc1aa5572%200x00314cc3.pdf

https://leftword.com/creator/rahul-sankrityayan/

https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianHistory/comments/1oc5tc2/in_his_autobiography_meri_jeevan_yatra_rahul/

https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230910/plus/in-search-of-the-perfect-mahavamsa-531513.html

https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Mahawansa-declared-a-world-heritage/108-287528

https://mfa.gov.lk/en/visit-of-unesco-dg/

https://sundaytimes.lk/online/education/UNESCO-ready-to-support-digitalisation-of-Ola-leaf-books/290-1146314

https://media.unesco.org/sites/default/files/webform/mow001/53_131%252B.pdf

by KAMALIKA PIERIS

Features

A new Sherlock Holmes novel

Published

15 hours ago

2026/05/8

Thilina Walpola

Tales of Mystery and Suspense – 1

“The House of Silk” is set in a grim Victorian winter, and moves from Baker Street to a luxurious suburban villa, from dingy pubs to elegant London clubs, from a correction school for boys high on a hill to Dr Silkin’s House of Wonders, which provided noisy low life entertainment. Holmes and Watson went there in search of the House of Silk, a name they had heard when looking into the death of one of Holmes’ Baker Street irregulars (slum children who ferreted out information for him) .

I do not think highly of sequels to books written by highly regarded writers, though I must admit that this dislike is based on just a few samples. But while in England I was given by my former Dean, with a forceful recommendation, a book about a Sherlock Holmes mystery, supposedly written by Dr Watson. I began on it soon after I got back home, and found it difficult to put down, so I suppose I will not look on Anthony Horowitz as an exception to my rule. I may even look out for his efforts at continuing the adventures of James Bond, though I suspect Fleming’s laconic style will be less easy to emulate.

“The House of Silk” is set in a grim Victorian winter, and moves from Baker Street to a luxurious suburban villa, from dingy pubs to elegant London clubs, from a correction school for boys high on a hill to Dr Silkin’s House of Wonders, which provided noisy low life entertainment. Holmes and Watson went there in search of the House of Silk, a name they had heard when looking into the death of one of Holmes’ Baker Street irregulars (slum children who ferreted out information for him). They had asked Holmes’ brother Mycroft for help in finding what and where this was, but he had warned them off, having been himself told by someone very senior in government that it might involve those in very high positions, and further inquiries might prove dangerous.

Needless to say, Holmes does seek further, and is lured to an opium den where he is drugged, to be found outside with a gun in his hand and the body of a girl beside him, the sister of the murdered boy Ross. A passer-by swears he had seen Holmes fire the shot, and the owner of the opium den and a customer swear that Holmes had taken too much opium and left the den in a demented condition. A police inspector who had been passing promptly arrests Holmes and Watson, and even their old acquaintance Inspector Lestrade finds it difficult to get access to him.

Watson eventually gets to see him when he is in the infirmary, after he has been told by a mysterious man that Holmes was going to be murdered before his case could be taken up. The man said he had earlier tried to get Holmes to investigate the House of Silk by sending him a white silk ribbon, such as had later been found tied round the hand of the murdered boy. But, as a criminal himself, he said, he could not reveal more, though he himself was horrified by the business of the House of Silk, which gave criminality a bad name, which is why he wanted it all stopped.

Holmes escapes from the infirmary, with a little help from the doctor whom he had once assisted earlier, right under the nose of the nasty Inspector Harriman. He then joins up with Watson, and having with the help of Lestrade overcome the men designed to kill him at Dr Silkin’s House of Wonders, he sets off, with an even large posse of policemen, to the House of Silk.

After much suspense, the habitues of the House of Silk are arrested, the Inspector having broken his neck in the course of a chase downhill, having fled when his misdeeds were exposed. The mastermind claims that he will not face a trial because of the important people involved, but instead falls down a staircase while in prison and breaks his neck. One of the noblemen involved commits suicide, but another, and the medical man who had sworn he saw Holmes kill the young lady, get off without charge.

But then we revert to the original story, which had involved an art dealer who came to Holmes because he was being followed by someone he thought was an American gangster out for revenge. This was because he had shipped some pictures to an American buyer, and these had been destroyed when a train was held up by an Irish gang and the coach with the safe in it dynamited. The buyer and the dealer had got a private agency to investigate, and this had ended with the gang being killed in a shootout, though one of the twins who led it had escaped. The buyer had subsequently been killed, and Mr Carstairs feared that the twin who survived had followed him to England.

Holmes and Watson went to Carstairs’ house, where they met his wife, whom he had met on the boat back from America, and his sister. Their mother had died some months earlier, when gas had filled her room after the flame had gone out. It transpired that there had been a break in, and some money and a necklace stolen from a safe, and it was in tracing these, through a pawnbroker, that Holmes and Watson had found the American murdered in the hotel where he had been staying.

The leader of the irregulars had come to tell Holmes that they had traced the man to the hotel, and Ross had been left on guard. He seemed terrified when Holmes and Watson and Carstairs turned up, but said he had seen nothing. When the boys had been dismissed, and the room opened up, the man was found dead, the murderer obviously having gained entrance through a window.

Holmes assumed the boy had seen someone he recognized, but he could not be traced, until he was found dead, horribly tortured. The silk band around his wrist then led Holmes to pursue the House of Silk. One of the boys at the school where Ross had been mentioned that he had a sister at a pub, and she, when confronted, asked in fear if they were from the House of Silk and then, having lunged at Watson with a knife, ran off – herself only to be found dead outside the opium den, which prompted the arrest of Holmes.

After the drama at the House of Silk, Holmes and Watson go to the Carstairs household, where he explains exactly what had taken place, identifying the murdered man as not a member of the gang but the head of the private agency which had investigated them. As my Dean told me, Horowitz then ties up all the loose ends with consummate skill, connecting with a fine thread all the malefactors, of various kinds.