Features

Lighter moments in the University of Ceylon in the 1960s

Published

4 months ago

2025/11/23

In the 1950’s and early 60’s the only sure path for students to pursue a professional career was through the University of Ceylon. The most difficult University to get into was one’s own. Why? Because everyone wanted to get in, so the competition was tough. Allowing for the differences in schooling opportunities and teaching standards across the country, and vagaries such as examination blues, keen competition ensured that only the creme-de-la-crème of the youth of our time entered the hallowed portals of the two campuses in Colombo and Peradeniya. It follows that the University, by many measures, was the “academic citadel” for the youth of our time.

The unique status of the University of Ceylon at the time was depicted by a ditty that likened it to the institution of marriage: The title tells it all in the midst of serious study, assignments/ course-works whilst burning mid-night oil.

‘Those who are in it, are trying to get out;

Those who are out, are trying to get in;

Those who tried to get in, and coul

d not get in;

Speak ill of the institution.’

Vice Chancellors And Professors

At the time I entered the University, the Vice Chancellor of theUniversity of Ceylon was Sir Nicholas Attygalle, a powerful and charismatic personality, who was concurrently the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. The Dean of the Faculty of Science was Professor B. L. T. de Silva, whose specialty was Botany. All university final exam results had to be approved by the University Senate. Heads of all Faculties, including the two senior professors mentioned above, were members of the Senate. The non-voting member was the University Registrar.

While Senate sessions to approve examination results were largely a formality, there were occasions when some discretion was required to resolve the cases of students with marginal performance at the finals. As a rule, Sir Nicholas took the stand that a medical doctor cannot be released into society unless the pass mark has been reached in ‘all’ subjects. He was against passing a medical student who was ‘a marginal case’. He was firm in his conviction.

The day came when the issue was whether to grant a pass to a veteran student taking Botany Honours. The student had failed in his two previous attempts at the final examinations. Finals were held only once a year. At his third ‘shy’ the student had passed in three subjects; in the fourth, his score was 37, three short of the pass mark of 40. The Senate had to agree to raise the score of 37 to 40 for this student to be awarded the degree. A key condition to do so was agreement by the subject matter Professor. As it was Botany, B.L.T. de Silva’s approval was mandatory.

B.L.T. de Silva assumed a stance similar to Nicholas Attygalle in refusing to grant a degree if a student had not achieved the pass mark in all four subjects. Nicholas found this exasperating, probably because he appreciated the enormity of a “veteran” student having to come back again to sit the examination in another year’s time if he were not granted his degree at these
sessions.

Nicholas had the final say as the Chairman of the Senate and Vice Chancellor, and cajoled: ‘I say, BLT, push the bugger up, push the bugger up, please. Only a bloody plant will die!’ BLT acceded and there is a baby boomer botanist today who owes his career to Sir Nicholas Attygalle.

Rendezvous

From the stately library building at the Peradeniya Campus, it is a short trek on the footbridge across the Mahaweli to Akbar- Nell Hall, the hall of residence located adjacent to the Faculty of Engineering (affectionately referred to as the EFac). The EFac itself had its lecture rooms and laboratories in hangar-like halls on either side of a wide and open corridor some 400 meters long. The layout presented an impressive open-air vastness particular to this Faculty. At one end of the corridor was the canteen and at the other the Akbar-Nell Hall, home to many EFac students. Of all the academic faculties in Peradeniya, the EFac probably had students from the widest socio-economic range of Sri Lankan society.

Among them, in our time, was a student from a wealthy family who had the only car among the Akbar-Nell residents. To his credit, he was a clean living and charitable soul. He lent his car to friends in a spirit of camaraderie, with no questions asked about the purpose for which it was to be used.

‘Machang! I need to take Beatrice out tonight for a film,’ was enough for him to lend the car. On another day it was another friend taking Latha out. No questions about what might happen in the back seat with Latha. He also obliged friends who were taking out Kamala, Lolita, Nirmalee or Pathma (all fictional names randomly picked and any resemblance to anybody living is completely unintentional).

But this student had one failure (a couple, in fact): he failed to get through his exams in the first attempt. The Dean of the Engineering Faculty was Professor E.O.E. Pereira, a mustachioed, pipe smoking, charismatic Burgher gentleman. His exterior was stern, but on the inside he was a kind and fatherly figure to the students.

The Annual Sessions of the Institution of Engineers was held in 1968 in Colombo. The guest speakers included Professor EOE (as he was affectionately called) and the General Manager of Railways (GMR). An interesting conversation took place on the podium.

‘Hello, EOE, how are you?’ asked the GMR
‘Very well; and how is the railway network?’ ‘Progressing smoothly. But EOE, I have a problem.’ ‘What is it?’
I have a nephew studying under you. He is a bright chap, but he is failing his exams,’ was the GMR’s uneasy answer. ‘What is his name?’
The name was provided by GMR. EOE’s eyes lit up in understanding.
‘Has he got a car?’ ‘Yes, yes he has a car, you know him EOE?’ asked the GMR,
with excitement in his voice. ‘I know him well, I trust’, EOE said. ‘That is a relief. I hope you can help him, EOE?’ ‘I can, but he has to study harder.’ ‘How do you mean?’ was the troubled GMR’s query about his nephew. ‘I go to the Faculty Club every night for a drink and then drive up Hantane Hill to my residence at about ten o’clock in the night for dinner.’

If the GMR was wondering what EOE’s time of returning home at 10 in the night had to do with his nephew, he was about to learn its significance.

‘When I return home from the club, I see his car parked near the Hantane bypass, and he is with his girl-friend in the car,’ and EOE added, ‘You will have to ask him to pull up his pants and start studying seriously!’

It would have been fascinating to have been a fly on the wallduring the subsequent meeting between the uncle and the nephew: the nephew strongly denying any nightly escapades, and the uncle discounting any arguments on the basis of the unimpeachable witness’ account of the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering!

EOE in 1969 deservedly became the Vice Chancellor. The nephew of the GMR, I am glad to say, put his head down following EOE’s advice, and graduated. He retired as a very successful Hospital Engineer, and resident in a chic suburb not far from London.

Peradeniya Rest House and The Man Of God

The most popular restaurant among Peradeniya undergrads in 60’s was Lyons in Kandy. This was the place where the fare was easy on the pocket and the portions generous, an attractive combination to the campus fraternity with tight budgets. The up-market place was El Sombrero, a part of Queen’s Hotel. At Lyons, a mixed grill of steak, bacon, sausage and a “bulls-eye” was Rs 2.50 and a bottle of beer was Rs 3.00; at El Sombrero they were Rs 4.50 and Rs 4.00 respectively. Thus the latter location was reserved for a very special occasion. Being on about Rupees Ten (10) pocket money per week one had to choose the eating places wisely.

Then there was the East China Hotel opposite the lake. Here a plate of fried rice was served with a boiled egg. This was a clincher to cut down on costs, especially if there was a “biju- terian” (the Peradeniya vernacular for an egg eating-vegetarian!) in the group as the cost of ordering a special vegetable dish would also be averted.

However the pride of place for a meal went to the Peradeniya Rest House located much closer to the campus: it was set in a grove of trees opposite the entrance to the Botanical Gardens. The Rest House was run by the Kandy Municipality, which

adhered strictly to local government regulations. The rule that guests had to register in the guest book was not an issue, but an annoying quirk in the regulations – namely, that liquor could not be sold to those living within the Peradeniya local government area – was a hindrance, as this meant that students in the university campus would not be served liquor at the Rest House. So a strategy had to be hatched to beat the inequity of this rule.

An Engineering Faculty (EFac) undergrad and friends from Akbar Nell Hall signed in the Guest Book as ‘Bevis Perera (not his real name) and friends’ from Kollupitiya. The waiter winked knowingly. Several glasses of beer and an excellent meal were enjoyed and the bill was settled with the waiter the recipient of a decent tip and a participant in the ‘crime’. The culprits spread the message and there were many entries of ‘Bevis Perera and friends’ in the Guest Book during the ensuing months.

Bevis Perera was however a real person, a final year student at the EFac. He was a man with a missionary zeal to spread God’s message, and widely regarded as eccentric in his ways. Bevis also had a genuine difficulty: he invariably failed his examinations. He attributed these failures to divine interference in that the longer he spent at Peradeniya, the more he could spread the Lord’s word.

Perhaps his problem arose from the fact that his analytical judgments did not often align with the requirements of his course. For example, a dynamic vibration problem was given with the flywheel rotating at 1,800 revolutions per minute. The Professor had required the students to state assumptions in solving the vibrating frequencies of the flywheel. Bevis’s simple assumption was, ‘Let’s assume that the flywheel does not rotate and is stationary’. He reduced the problem in Dynamics to one of Statics. The examiner was not amused and gave him ‘zero’ for the assignment. This type of eccentricity marked his career and destined Bevis to a long innings at Peradeniya.

Bevis had never ever graced the Peradeniya Rest House and was oblivious to the chicanery committed in his name. The charade at the Rest House went on for about three months. Waiters with quivering palms were very happy to have Bevis arriving in many forms. This innocent deception would have continued if Bevis’s father, a top bureaucrat and head of a government corporation, had not visited the Rest House.

Near midnight on the fateful day, there was a commotion in the corridors of a Residential Hall and one could hear an elderly man’s shouting. The door to Bevis’s room was open and a man was seen severely chastising Bevis. The doors of the adjoining rooms on either side of the corridor opened and the male students in various stages of undress streamed towards Bevis’s room.

‘I know why you are failing exams,’ was the elderly man’s bellow, with finger pointing directly at Bevis. ‘You haunt the Rest House and that is why you fail!’ was the old man’s charge.

‘What are you saying, Dad?’ was Bevis’s mild reply in his state of confusion. ‘Don’t pretend, Bevis. When did you last go to the Rest House?’ shouted the dad. ‘I have never been to the Rest House,’ was the nonplussed Bevis’s reply.

What had happened was that Bevis’s father Wilfred Perera had come ‘on circuit’ visiting branch offices under him in Matale and Kandy. The tired man had checked into the Rest House at 11 p.m for a good night’s sleep and signed the Guest Book. Immediately his attention was attracted by the preceding entry, ‘Bevis Perera and friends’ from Kollupitiya. Going back on records confirmed that his son had been spending considerable money and time at the Rest House, evidently neglecting his studies.

Tired as he was, he immediately ordered his driver to take him to the Hall where Bevis was a residential student. This was a bad case of his father jumping to conclusions (leading to a thoppi and malle pol dialogue). But putting yourself in his shoes, can you blame Mr Perera? Bevis would have had a trying time to convince his father that all those entries in the Rest House register were pranks by friends who did not, in fact, wish him ill.

With friends like them, why would Bevis need enemies? In the event, after a long stay of seven years, Bevis finally scraped through the examinations to qualify as an engineer. He is now in the USA serving in a Christian Mission. Apparently, his father continued to disbelieve Bevis’s denials even after Bevis’ graduation.

By Nihal Kodituwakku ✍️
(Excerpted from 15 autobiographical anecdotes)

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Features

Illegal solar push ravages Hambantota elephant habitat: Environmentalist warns of deepening crisis

Published

14 hours ago

2026/03/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

Land earmarked for the project

A large-scale move to establish solar power plants in Hambantota has triggered a major environmental and social crisis, with more than 1,000 acres of forest—identified as critical elephant habitat—cleared in violation of the law, environmental activist Sajeewa Chamikara said.

Chamikara, speaking on behalf of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform, said that 17 companies have already begun clearing forest land along the boundaries of the Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve. The affected areas include Sanakku Gala, Orukemgala and Kapapu Wewa, which are known to be key elephant habitats and long-used movement corridors.

He said that what is taking place cannot be described as development, but rather as a large-scale destruction of natural ecosystems carried out under the cover of renewable energy expansion.

According to Chamikara, the clearing of forests has been carried out using heavy machinery, while large sections have also been deliberately set on fire to prepare the land for solar installations. He said that electric fences have been erected across wide stretches of land, effectively blocking elephant movement and fragmenting their natural habitat.

“These forests are not empty lands. They are part of a living system that supports wildlife and nearby communities. Once destroyed, they cannot be easily restored,” he said.

The projects in question include a 50 megawatt solar development undertaken by five companies and a larger 150 megawatt project implemented by 12 companies. The larger project is reported to be valued at around 150 million US dollars.

Chamikara stressed that these projects are being carried out in a coordinated manner and involve extensive land clearing on a scale that raises serious environmental concerns.

He further alleged that certain companies had paid about Rs. 14 million to secure support and move ahead with the projects. He said this points to a troubling failure of oversight by state institutions that are expected to protect forests and wildlife habitats.

“This is not only an environmental issue. It is also a serious governance issue. The institutions responsible for protecting these lands have failed in their duty,” he said.

Chamikara pointed out that under the National Environmental Act, any project of this scale must receive prior approval through a proper Environmental Impact Assessment process.

He said that clearing forest land before obtaining such approval is a direct violation of the law.

He added that legal requirements relating to archaeological assessments had also been ignored. Under existing regulations, large-scale land clearing requires prior evaluation to ensure that sites of historical or cultural value are not damaged.

“The law is very clear. You cannot go ahead with projects of this nature without proper approval. What we are seeing is a complete disregard for legal procedure,” Chamikara said.

The environmental impact of these activities is already becoming visible. With their natural habitats destroyed, elephants are increasingly moving into nearby villages in search of food and shelter. This has led to a sharp rise in human-elephant conflict in several areas.

Areas such as Mayurapura, Gonnooruwa, Meegahajandura and Thanamalvila have reported increasing encounters between humans and elephants. According to Chamikara, more than 5,000 farming families in these areas are now facing growing threats to their safety and livelihoods.

He warned that farmers are being forced to abandon their lands due to repeated elephant intrusions, while incidents involving damage to crops and property are rising. There have also been increasing reports of injuries and deaths among both humans and elephants.

“This is turning into a serious social and economic problem. When farmers cannot cultivate their lands, it affects food production, income and rural stability,” he said.

Chamikara also raised concerns about the broader environmental consequences of clearing forests for solar power projects. While renewable energy is promoted as a solution to reduce carbon emissions, he said that destroying forests undermines that goal.

“Forests play a key role in absorbing carbon dioxide. When you clear and burn them, you are increasing emissions, not reducing them. That defeats the purpose of promoting solar energy,” he explained.

He added that large-scale deforestation in dry zone areas such as Hambantota could also affect local weather patterns and reduce rainfall, which would have further negative impacts on agriculture and water resources.

Chamikara called for a shift in policy, urging authorities to focus on more sustainable approaches to solar power development. He said that rooftop solar systems on homes, public buildings and commercial establishments should be given priority, as they do not require clearing large areas of land.

He also recommended that solar projects be located on degraded or abandoned lands, such as areas affected by past mining or other low-value lands, rather than forests or productive agricultural areas.

“Renewable energy development must be done in a way that does not destroy the environment. There are better options available if there is proper planning,” he said.

Chamikara urged the Central Environmental Authority and the Department of Wildlife Conservation to take immediate action to stop ongoing land clearing and investigate the projects. He stressed that all activities carried out without proper approval should be halted until legal requirements are met.

He warned that failure to act now would lead to long-term environmental damage that could not be reversed.

“If this continues, we will lose not only forests and wildlife, but also the balance between people and nature that supports rural life. The consequences will be felt for generations,” he said.

The situation in Hambantota is fast emerging as a critical test of whether development goals can be balanced with environmental protection. As pressure grows, the response of authorities in the coming weeks is likely to determine whether the damage can still be contained or whether it will continue to spread unchecked.

By Ifham Nizam

Features

Why Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings need to be at the heart of conflict resolution

Published

14 hours ago

2026/03/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

Mahatma Gandhi

All credit to the Tamil Nadu government for taking concrete measures to perpetuate the memory of the renowned Mahatma Gandhi of India, who on account of his moral teachings stands on par with the likes of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Confucius and Jalaluddin Rumi, to name a few such all-time greats. The time is indeed ripe to draw the world’s attention to the Mahatma’s humanistic legacy which has resonated in the hearts of peace-oriented sections the world over down the decades.

Under its mega developmental blueprint titled ‘ Tamil Nadu 2030’, the Tamil Nadu government, among other things, intends transforming villages into centres of economic growth in conformity with the Mahatma’s vision of making the village the fundamental unit of material and spiritual advancement. Thus will come into being the ‘Uttamar Gandhi Model Villages Project’, which will be initially covering 10 village Panchayats. (Please see page 3 of The Island of March 11, 2026).

The timeliness of remembering and appreciating anew the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi resides in the utter lawlessness that has been allowed to overtake the world over the last few decades by none other than those global powers which took it upon themselves to usher in a world political and economic order based on the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Mainly in ‘the dock’ in this regard are the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

As is plain to see, the international law and order situation has veered out of control. Principal priorities for the international community or what’s left of it is to prevent the current mainly regional war in the Middle East from degenerating dangerously into another world war, coupled with the task of eliminating the possibility of another nuclear holocaust.

The most scorching of ironies is that the world’s ‘number one power’, the US, has virtually lost its way in the ‘Global Disorder’ it has been party to letting lose. For instance, instead of making good its boast of militarily neutralizing Iran and paving the way for the constant flow of fuel and gas from the Strait of Hormus by itself and Israel, it is now appealing to the rest of the West to come to its assistance. Not surprisingly, US allies are indicating their unwillingness to help pull the US’ ‘chestnuts out of the fire’.

Oil and gas are the veritable life blood of countries and going ahead it should not come as a surprise if impatience gets the better of the major powers and the nuclear option is resorted to by some of them under the dangerous illusion that it would be a quick-fix to their growing economic ills and frustrations.

All the above and more are within the realms of the possible and the need is pressing for humanistic voices to take centre stage in the present runaway crisis. As pointed out in this column last week, Realpolitik has overtaken the world and unless the latter is convinced of the self-destructive nature of the major powers’ policy of ‘meeting fire with fire’ to resolve their disputes, annihilation could be the lot of a good part of the world.

For far too long the voice of humanity has been muted and silenced in the affairs of the world by the incendiary threats and counter-threats of the big powers and their allies. No quarter has been bold enough in these blood pressure-hiking slanging matches to speak of the need for brotherly love and compassion among nations and countries. But it’s the language of love and understanding that is the most pressing need currently and the Mahatma in his time did just that against mighty odds.

At present the US and Iran are trading threats and accusations over military-related developments in the Gulf and it’s anybody’s guess as to what turn these events will take. However, calming voices of humanity and moderation would help in deescalating tensions and such voices need to go to the assistance of the UN chief and his team.

The Mahatma used the technique of ‘Satyagraha’ or the policy of non-violent resistance to oppose and dis-empower to a degree the British empire in his time and the current major powers would do well to take a leaf from Gandhi. The latter also integrated into the strategy of non-violent resistance the policy of ‘Ahimsa’ or love and understanding which helped greatly in uniting rather than alienating adversaries. The language of love, it has been proved, speaks to the hearts and minds of people and has a profoundly healing impact.

Mahatma Gandhi defined the ideal of ‘Ahimsa’ thus: ‘In its positive form, “Ahimsa” means the largest love, the greatest charity. If I am a follower of “Ahimsa”, I must love my enemy or a stranger to me as I would my wrong-doing father or son. This active “Ahimsa” necessarily includes truth and fearlessness.’ (See; ‘Modern Indian Political Thought; Text and Context’ by Bidyut Chakrabarty and Rajendra Kumar Pandey, Sage Publications India, Pvt. Ltd., www.sagepub.in).

In the latter publication, the authors also defined the essence of ‘satyagraha’ as ‘protest without rancour’ and this is seen as ‘holding the key to his entire campaign’ of non-violent resistance. From these perspectives, the teaching, ‘hatred begets hatred’ acquires more salience and meaning.

Accordingly, the voice of reason and love needs to come centre stage and take charge of current international political discourse. The UN and allied organizations which advocate conflict resolution by peaceful means need to get together and ensure that their voices are clearly heard and understood. The global South could help in this process by seeing to the vibrant rejuvenation of organizations such as the Non-aligned Movement.

An immediate task for the peace-oriented and well meaning is to make the above projects happen fast. In the process they should underscore afresh the profound importance of the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, who is acclaimed the world over as a uniting and healing political personality and prophet of peace.

If the Mahatma is universally acclaimed, the reason is plain to see. Put simply, he spoke to the hearts and minds of people everywhere, regardless of man-made barriers. The language of peace and brotherhood, that is, is understood by everyone. The world needs more prophets of peace and reconciliation of the likes of the Mahatma to drown out the voices of discord and war-mongering and ensure that the language of humanity prevails.

Features

Exciting scene awaits them …

Published

14 hours ago

2026/03/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Future Model Hunt extravaganza, organised by Rukmal Senanayake, and advocacy trainer Tharaka Gurukanda, held in late January 2026, has brought into the limelight four outstanding contestants who will participate, at the international level, this year – Sandeepa Sewmini, Demitha Jayawardhana, Diwyanjana Senevirathna, and Nimesha Premachandra.

Nimesha took the honours as Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026 and was featured in The Island of 05th March,

Sandeepa Sewmini was crowned Miss Supranational 2026 and will represent Sri Lanka at the big event to be held in Poland later in the year.

A Business Management and Human Resources student, she will be competing under the guidance of Rukmal Senanayake from the Model With Ruki – Model Academy & Agency.

The Mister Supranational Sri Lanka crown went to Demitha Jayawardhana, a 20-year-old professional model and motocross rider.

Apart from modelling he is engaged in his family business.

Demitha Jayawardhana: Mister Supranational Sri Lanka 2026

Demitha is also a badminton player with a strong passion for sports, fitness and personal growth.

In fact, he is recognised for his strength, discipline, and passion for fitness.

A past student of Wycherley International School and St Peter’s College, Colombo, Demitha is currently in his second year of Economics Management at the Royal Institute of Colombo.

He will represent Sri Lanka at the 10th edition of the Mister Supranational pageant, in Poland, in August, 2026.

Mister and Miss Supranational are annual international beauty pageants, held in Poland, and are designed to discover new talent for the modelling and television industries and produce instant celebrities.

The competition focuses on elegance, intelligence, and social advocacy, with contestants, representing their countries.

The newly appointed Miss Teen International Sri Lanka 2026 is Diwyanjana Senevirathna.

She was crowned at the Future Model Hunt and will represent Sri Lanka at the Miss Teen International 2026 pageant in India.

Diwyanjana is noted for her grace and dedication to representing the country at this prestigious event that aims to celebrate talent, intelligence, charm, and individuality, and provide a platform for young girls to showcase their skills.