Features

Managing aftermath of a cyclone

Published

11 months ago

2025/06/22

Thilina Walpola

Trail of destruction left by 1978 cyclone. (Image credit World Vision)

(Continued from last week)

Therefore, during our visit, we were continuously alert to this factor, and learnt as much as possible about quality specifications, such as protein and moisture contents, milling qualities of different classes of wheat and so on. We took down notes and collected a fair amount of relevant literature. We were however of the view that we still needed expert technical advice, and this we later obtained from a retired expert of the Canadian Wheat Board. An important part of knowledge and judgement is to help you to decide how much you do not know. Whilst the visit to the US gave us a sufficient body of knowledge about wheat, to build on, it also convinced us that the switch-over needed detailed expert advice and guidance. Therefore, it was both fortunate and timely in more than one sense.

“The Tong Joo”

September 1978, saw the inauguration of the new constitution, a hybrid of the US and French constitutions, with a strong Executive Presidency. This was overshadowed in our minds in the Food Ministry, by sinking in Galle harbour of the ship “Tong Joo” carrying valuable cargo for the Food Department. This was a period of rain and blustery weather, with strong winds. Galle was not an easy port to navigate in at the best of times due to varying depths and submerged rocks.

Therefore, it was most important to steer vessels along defined channels that did not leave much room for manoeuvre. The pilot on the “Tong Joo” erred, albeit under difficult circumstances, leading to the drifting of the ship away from the channel and foundering on some rocks.

The question was whether the whole exercise should have been attempted in the prevailing weather conditions. When we received the news the Secretary, Trade and Shipping Mr. Lakshman de Mel and I set-off for Galle during the early afternoon. The Food Commissioner and others went separately. The weather was still unsettled and very windy. Once in Galle, some of us got into a launch and journeyed towards the half sunken vessel. The ride was far from comfortable. The sea was quite rough and the fact that I couldn’t swim added to the tension. After coming back to shore, we held a preliminary inquiry. Some of the steps we took were of importance in the light of the potential legal issues to follow. The half-sunken vessel, was a feature in Galle harbour for many months.

Sometime in October 1978, I was appointed to act as Secretary to the Ministry of Trade and Shipping for a period in addition to my duties as Secretary Ministry of Food and Cooperatives. Hardly had I completed this period of added responsibility, when a double problem confronted me at about the same time, one of a personal nature, and the other of an official nature. On the personal front our son developed Hepatitis and had to be warded at Durdans hospital. On the official side, a nasty cyclone hit Batticaloa.

Cyclone

The cyclone of late November 1978 was a particularly bad one. Batticaloa was completely battered. It seriously damaged homes and buildings and uprooted thousands of trees. Hardly a coconut tree was left. The moment I realized the severity of the cyclone, listening to news reports, I called up a meeting of the senior officials of the Food and Co-operative departments. It was necessary to anticipate the volume of emergency food supplies required, and how to get these through.

Telephone lines to Batticaloa were out and the Government Agent Dixon Nilaweera, who was later to become my Additional Secretary, and still later Secretary to the Treasury, was marooned in his official bungalow the -Residency,” watching the waters rising, seeing serpents swimming in the water, and contemplating whether death was to come by drowning, snake bite or electrocution as a result of fallen electric wires. Not entirely a happy range of choices. But we were able soon to establish radio contact, using the facilities available in the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs, as well as the police radio network. A serious problem was that Batticaloa was inaccessible by road or rail due to fallen trees and extensive damage to bridges, culverts and other infrastructure.

Whilst other departments and agencies of government addressed the issues of shifting fallen trees, and attending to emergency road and railworks, we decided in order to save time to load up lorries with rice, flour and sugar and position them as close as possible to the various routes into Batticaloa, so that they could proceed forward as the roads got cleared. Arrangements were made through Police headquarters, for the lorries to be parked at police stations and other secure points, and suitably guarded. Each lorry had 5-10 tons of rice, flour or sugar and had to be protected against pilferage and theft. Two days after the cyclone struck, the Secretary to the Cabinet called a major conference of Secretaries to Ministries, and Heads of several departments relevant to the relief effort to assess the overall situation and arrive at decisions. During the course of the meeting, I was instructed to load the necessary number of lorries for despatch. I informed the Cabinet Secretary, much to his surprise that loaded lorries were now close to Batticaloa, and that my request was for extra gangs and 24-hour work on road clearance and emergency road repair. This was done, and unexpectedly early scores of food lorries entered Batticaloa.

A public officer who was a resident of Batticaloa later told me that it was like a miracle to see the food lorries, many of them Food Department lorries with the huge sign of the department painted across on both sides, entering the city, so soon. He went on to say “Nobody will understand how high this boosted our morale, and what this meant for us.” He said people started clapping when they saw the lorries. Some were in tears. We in the Ministry of Food and Co-operatives did not imagine such a reaction. It was only made possible by quick reaction, responsible anticipation, close co-ordination and determined follow up. I was fortunate to have an excellent team, both in Food and in Co-operatives, who worked long hours untiringly and uncomplainingly. The personal downside of all this for me was that I was able to see very little of our son in hospital. On most days I was able to see him for about half an hour well past 9 p.m. The fact that he was in the very competent hands of Dr. Cyril Perera, one of our foremost paediatricians eased my mind somewhat.

Visit to China

In February 1979, a delegation led by Mr. Herat, the Minister of Food visited the People’s Republic of China: The members of the delegation, besides the Minister were, the Acting Food Commissioner Mr. Pulendiran; Mr. Easpharathasan of the Treasury; Mr. Sellaiah, the Deputy Chief Accountant of the Food Department; Mr. Jaya Herat, Private Secretary to the Minister; and myself. The purpose of the visit was to negotiate, renew and sign the protocol for rice under the overall umbrella of the Rubber-Rice Pact between the two countries. This visit constituted one of the senior level visits of Ministers, Deputy Ministers and senior officials periodically envisaged under the main Pact. Under these arrangements there were set periods, set levels and set protocol. It was indeed a rare privilege those days to visit China, which was closed to many foreigners.

In early 1979, China was still very much a closed Society, but we could see incipient signs of liberalization. The large mass of men and women were still dressed in the ubiquitous “Mao” blue suit, which constituted a pair of trousers and a tunic jacket. Dressed all-alike, it was sometimes not easy at a glance to distinguish men from women.

There were hardly any cars on the road, even in Beijing. But there were literally hundreds of thousands of bicycles. Everyone commuted on a bicycle. The paradox however was that although there were only very few cars, Beijing and other cities were quite noisy because of the constant blare of car horns. This was due to the thousands of cyclists on the highways. A thaw was just beginning. There were just a few people who had discarded their ‘Mao” suits and were dressed in more colourful clothing. Most of these were young people, and some young couples were bold enough to cuddle up in the parks and even steal a kiss or two in public, which we understood was unprecedented behaviour even in the recent past.

Ritual

But first we had to go through the ritual of getting into China from Hong Kong, then under British rule. We took a train to Lowu on the Chinese border. We got down at the station. We now had to cross the railway bridge on foot, and, at the other end of the bridge, we saw Chinese officials standing in order to receive us. On the Hong Kong end of the bridge was the British flag. On the Chinese end was the flag of the People’s Republic. It was quite dramatic. Our baggage was carried by porters at Lowu and handed half way over the bridge to porters on the Chinese side. So strict were the lines of demarcation of the border. Obviously, a Hong Kong porter was unable to cross the balance half of the bridge without a visa which was unobtainable.

We were warmly received by the Chinese officials and conducted to a special waiting room at the railway station on the Chinese side. Here, after the customary drinking of Chinese green tea we were served lunch at noon. At 12.30 p.m., we started on a 2 1/2 hour train journey to Canton. Here, we were greeted by officials of the local party and Municipal council and taken on a sightseeing tour to a beautiful flower exhibition and upto a mountain commanding a scenic view of the city.

At 4.15 p.m. we took off by plane on the 2 1/2 flight to Beijing. We arrived at about 7 p.m. to what was for us bitterly cold weather, with an icy cold blowing which brought tears to our eyes. We were met by the Chinese Minister of Trade Li Chiang; one of the Vice-Ministers and other officials. Our Ambassador Mr. Dias de Singhe and Embassy officials were also present. We were lodged at the huge Beijing hotel. Beijing did not have modern five star hotels during this time, and the Soviet type Beijing hotel was the best available. As in the Soviet Union, we found that the skill of heating rooms had not been mastered. Our rooms were uncomfortably overheated.

On the 28th of February at 10 a.m. the formal talks with the Chinese Minister of Trade opened in the Great Hall of the People. Minister Li Chiang was elderly, sophisticated and genial. Discussions progressed smoothly and concluded in about 1 1/2 hours. The team of senior officials, on our side led by the Acting Food Commissioner were to begin detailed talks during the afternoon with their Chinese counterparts. I was available to be consulted by them, but my task was to be with the Minister.

After our return to the hotel, we sat and discussed matters pertaining to the afternoon’s discussions. After lunch, I accompanied the Minister on a visit to the Forbidden City and the Palace Museum. At 6.30 p.m. the Chinese Minister hosted an official banquet in honour of the Minister at Beijing hotel. This was a nearly 2 1/2 hour affair with some fifteen courses. The Chinese really relax at these banquets, and there was plenty of good humour and an easy atmosphere.

On the next day, the first of March we were taken at 9 a.m. to the Museum of Chinese History and the renowned Tienanman Square. Tienanman, perhaps the largest square in the world was a square of vast proportions situated in the heart of Beijing surrounded on different sides by the Great Hall of the People; the Mao Mausoleum; Museums; the entrance to the Forbidden City and the raised area with a red walled background where Chinese leaders stand to take the salute on important national occasions.

It was both an experience and an education to spend some time seeing these places accompanied by well-informed guides. We had lunch back at the hotel, and at 2.30 p.m. listened to a briefing on food grain distribution in China. The point of interest to us was how China adequately fed such a huge population. Everywhere we went the people appeared to be well fed and healthy.

There was much discussion after the presentation. The process was complicated but it did ensure a basic ration for everyone. Writing this brings to my mind the view expressed by the well-known British economist Joan Robinson. Replying to a critic who lamented the lack of democracy in China, she replied that any society which could successfully feed nearly a billion people must have some solid virtues. The day ended with a visit to the Peking opera in the evening. It turned out to be a colourful satire on social oppression during feudal times. It was designed to heap hatred and ridicule on the pre-communist society, with a greater emphasis on ridicule, and by contrast to extol the progressive qualities of the present communist dispensation.

On the following day the 2nd at 8 a.m. the delegation was taken on a 70 k.m. drive to the Great Wall. To walk on the wall, with snow all around was an unique experience. The wall was interspersed with watchtowers at regular intervals and was broad enough to accommodate horses and chariots. After this early outing, the senior officials in our delegation went back to Beijing for the final round of negotiations on our purchase of rice.

I had the far more pleasant task of accompanying the Minister to the Ming Tombs and the Summer palace, built for the dowager Empress Tsusi. Much wealth had been lavished on its construction. It was a magnificent place with artificial lakes; huge boat like houses or retreats built of solid marble; and inside, a store-house of treasure, with bowls, vases, clocks and other numerous items built of gold, silver, jade and porcelain, some of them studded with gems. The Vice Minister was our host during this visit and we had lunch with him.

Unusual Behaviour

When we got back to the hotel during the early afternoon, Mr. Pulendiran, the Acting Food Commissioner came to see me. Joy was visible on his face. He and his colleagues had had a Successful negotiation. He breathlessly announced that the Chinese had agreed to sell the 100,000 tonnes of rice we needed at a price Of US$ 212 per metric ton. This was indeed a very favourable price. When we had our final round of discussions in Colombo with the committee headed by the Secretary to the Cabinet, the consensus was that we would be fortunate to buy at US$ 220 per metric ton. International market prices were rising, and crop availability tightening.

The World rice market was extremely sensitive, and quite different for instance to the Wheat market. In the case of wheat, there was generally a surplus of around 100 million metric tonnes available fortrading in the market in a given year, but, in the case of rice, general availability at that time was only around 12-14 million tonnes, because of high domestic consumption in the rice eating countries. Aggravating this issue was the state oftraditional rice exporting countries such as Cambodia and Vietnam, due to war and the aftermath of war.

Under these circumstances our delegation had done exceptionally well in getting the price they did. Mr. Pulendiran now wanted to close the negotiation, and the Chinese had wanted an immediate answer. Having warmly congratulated Mr. Pulendiran, I told him, I would let him have my decision later in the evening. He thought I had taken leave of my senses. He repeated the price advantage to us and said that he would be most embarrassed not to conclude matters immediately since the Chinese were waiting for a prompt answer. I advised him to put the whole blame on me, and if necessary to tell his counterparts that his Secretary was somewhat eccentric and also very slow to decide.

I emphasized that it was most important that he himself appears in a good light with his Chinese counterparts and that no feeling of respect or friendship for me should prevent him from telling them that he thought his Secretary was crazy. A much befuddled colleague left my room. The reason I decided on this course of action was the friendship and Understanding that I had struck up with the Chinese Vice Minister. He had been to Sri Lanka before, and we had got on very well at the discussions. Protocol-wise a Vice Minister on the Chinese side was equal to a Secretary to a Ministry on the Sri Lanka side.

Therefore, when he came to Colombo, the two banquets in his honour had to be hosted by Mr. Lakshman de Mel as Secretary to the Ministry of Trade and Shipping and myself as Secretary to the Ministry of Food and Co-operatives. But because of the long course of friendly dealings between our two Ministries and relevant departments and those agencies on the Chinese side, Lakshman and I decided to invite our two Ministers to the two dinners hosted by us in honour of the Chinese Vice Minister. Protocol-wise, the Ministers could not have hosted the dinner to a Vice Minister, but they could, if they so wished attend as our guests. This in fact was what both the Ministers Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali, Minister of Trade and Shipping and Mr. S.B. Herat, my Minister decided to do. This was a special gesture by the two Ministers, who were present at both dinners to the Vice-Minister as guests of the two Secretaries. This was deeply appreciated by him and the Chinese side. I was able to renew this friendship on this current visit, and I knew that I would meet him later in the evening at the return banquet hosted by our Minister in honour of the Chinese Minister.

I wanted to have a personal word with him on the price. The banquet was hosted at the Peihai Park Restaurant which was part of an old Palace, with a lake now frozen with ice, outside. When the Vice-Minister came in, I took him to a side. He spoke English and direct conversation was no problem. I was aware, from the newspapers that he had been involved the previous day, as a member of the Chinese delegation having talks with the visiting United States Secretary to the Treasury. I therefore inquired whether the talks were going well. He said, “Yes” and added “But America new friend, you, old friend.” I inquired whether I could discuss something as an “Old friend.” He said “Of course.” I then referred to the rice price. He interrupted me saying, “You have got very good price.” I said, “Yes,” and that it was a good price, but that I was now speaking to him at a personal level.

I rapidly briefed him on some of our problems, including the Foreign Exchange situation and the fact that our Minister had come to China for the first time. I concluded by saying, “Please see whether You could reduce the price by one dollar more.” A larger request would have been completely unrealistic. He said he was not sure, and that we had already obtained a good price, but that he would try, and let us know the following morning. After dinner, I briefed the Minister and the Food Commissioner of what I had done. Both were naturally pleased, and Mr. Pulendiran might have regretted the few dubious glances, he directed at me during the course of the evening. The next day, he came to me and announced excitedly that the price had been reduced by one US dollar. The hundred thousand dollars so saved amounted at the then prevailing exchange rate to about Rs. 2.5 million, a considerable sum of money at the time.

My salary at the time amounted to a little over Rs. 5000 per month. Calculated on this basis the saving would have covered my salary, if at this level, for my entire expected stay of about 35 years in the public service! This reduction also exemplified the spirit of goodwill and co-operation that existed between our two countries. The Minister was extremely pleased. He wanted to include me by name in his Cabinet paper, on the part dealing with the rice negotiations. I had to spend some time prevailing upon him not to do so. I had to remind him that our system works on the basis of Ministers getting both the credit and the blame depending on the diligence and the quality of work of their officials, and that It would be vulgar to have my name put in there. In any case, I said that I was drafting the Cabinet paper and there would be no such reference. The Minister reluctantly agreed, muttering something about telling the President.

On the next day the 3rd which was a Saturday, we were the beneficiaries of a fascinating experience. Our hosts took us to see a part of Beijing’s underground air raid shelter complex. There were an amazing series of underground tunnels, practically below every shop. All the tunnels were inter-connected, with some leading out of the city. They were quite spacious, with kitchens, independent sources of power, etc. In a relatively small area, these tunnels could take in around 10,000 people within about 6 minutes.

These tunnels were elaborate, and furnished with all the facilities including mini hospitals and medical centres. They were virtually a city underground. From here, we were taken to the Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors used to go to pray for a good harvest, and to pray to the earth and the sky. We got back to the hotel for a late lunch. At 5 p.m. the Minister and delegation called on the Vice Prime Minister Mr. Kumu. We had an hour’s cordial conversation, mainly on Sri Lanka-China relations. In the evening, we rounded off the day with a leisurely dinner at the Ambassador’s residence, where we were able to unwind. This was home.

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

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Features

Building a sustainable future for Sri Lanka’s construction industry

Published

3 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

3 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

3 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.