Palihawadana Ralahamy, the Registrar of Malimbada, had five sons and one daughter: Sunny, Padma, Mahinda, Amara, Siri, and Nimal. Mr. Peter Wijesinghe, Palihawadana Ralahamy’s brother-in-law, was a member of the editorial staff at the Dinamina newspaper and had a special fondness for little Mahinda, the third child in the family. He sought his sister’s permission to take Mahinda to Colombo, accompanied by an elderly housemaid, to enroll him in a suitable school.

At the time, Mr. Wijesinghe’s good friend, Dr. E. W. Adikaram, was the Principal of Ananda Shasthralaya in Kotte. On the day of admission, Mahinda was introduced to the principal by his uncle. Dr. Adikaram asked the calm and composed child a few questions, all of which Mahinda answered promptly and confidently. Impressed by the child’s intelligence, Dr. Adikaram—a visionary educator—recognized Mahinda’s potential and ensured that he was provided with all the necessary support to succeed. Mahinda excelled in school, receiving two double promotions and completing his education in just a few years.

As Dr. Adikaram’s most trusted pupil, Mahinda entered the University of Colombo, where he earned a BA (Special) degree in Oriental Languages. He later returned to his alma mater, Ananda Shasthralaya, as a teacher. Within a few years, he rose to the position of Vice Principal and eventually became Principal.

Upon assuming this role, he was committed to fulfilling several key requests made by his mentor: improving school facilities, establishing a separate girls’ school on Pagoda Road in Kotte, and constructing a new playground at Baddegana on Thalawathugoda Road. The school’s hostel, known for serving nutritious vegetarian meals, was also expanded to accommodate students from distant areas such as Badulla, Bibile, Matara, and Welimada.

While continuing his academic journey, Mahinda earned a doctorate in Oriental Languages. He later joined the newly established University of Sri Jayewardenepura as a lecturer. When Dr. Ananda Guruge vacated the position of Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Mahinda was appointed to the role. In due course, he became the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities.

Dr. Palihawadana was known as a compassionate and dedicated teacher, always extending a helping hand to his students. Many of those he mentored now hold academic positions in universities across the country. Among them are Prof. Saman Chandra Ranasinghe, Ven. Prof. Induragare Dhammarathana, Ven. Dr. Maduruoya Dhammissara, and several other bhikkhus and lay scholars.

After retiring from his distinguished academic career, Dr. Palihawadana was appointed Chairman of the Sri Lanka Vegetarian Society by Dr. Adikaram. In 2002, he also became Chairman of the Krishnamurti Centre in Sri Lanka.

Throughout his career and into retirement, he authored several research publications, translations, and newspaper articles on a wide range of topics, including vegetarianism, the teachings of Krishnamurti, and contemporary politics. He also co-authored a revised edition of the Buddhist text Dhammapada with Harvard scholar Prof. John Ross Carter.

From the onset of his illness in 2022 until his passing, he was lovingly cared for by his eldest daughter, Priyamvada, and her husband, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, K. D. Ranasinghe. His son, Ravi, and Professor Nalin Wickramarachchi—the husband of his late daughter Nirmala—also consistently attended to his needs.

As per his wishes, a quiet funeral was held on the morning of Sunday, June 8, and his body was donated to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

May his journey through Samsara be brief, and may he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana!

Nimal Palihawadana

Dr. P. B. Sannasgala

15 June 2025 marks the 110th birth anniversary of Dr Punchi Bandara Sannasgala, who was born in the remote village of Ambagasdowegedara in Ambawela, Uva Province—then part of colonial Ceylon—nestled in the foothills of the Pattipola mountains. He is widely regarded as the most illustrious and distinguished Oriental scholar to have emerged from Uva Province.

Dr Punchi Bandara Sannasgala was raised in Yahalabedde, Haputale, where his parents lived. As the eldest of seven siblings, he was expected to assist with his father’s rice and vegetable cultivations, as well as the small tea holding the family owned. At that time, Yahalabedde lacked pipe-borne water, electricity, and tarred roads, making daily life arduous. Yet, his destiny lay in a different direction. His academic brilliance was recognized by erudite Buddhist monks who played a pivotal role in nurturing his thirst for knowledge and intellectual promise.

It is important to remember that when Dr Sannasgala was born, Sri Lanka was still under British rule, and education was a privilege largely reserved for the elite and affluent. There were no island-wide scholarships available. With the support of the monks, he embarked on the only academic pathway open to him: Pirivena education. Through this, he was introduced to Oriental languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, and Sinhala, which he studied in depth and excelled.

Relocating closer to Colombo provided him with the opportunity to enter the mainstream Western education system established by the colonial administration. He enrolled at St. John’s College, Panadura and upon completing school, he entered University College—now the University of Colombo—where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. It is believed that his writing career began during his undergraduate years, when he contributed to Dinamina, Silumina, and other Sinhala publications—writing that also provided him with much-needed income. He would later go on to earn both an MA and a PhD in Sinhala.

He married Nalini Ratnayake, the eldest daughter of A. Ratnayake, then Minister of Food and Cooperatives and later Minister for Home Affairs under the government of D.S. Senanayake. A. Ratnayake had previously served as State Councillor for Dumbara and was the last President of the Senate.
Among Dr Sannasgala’s many publications, the most outstanding is Sinhala Sahithya Wanshaya, a comprehensive account of Sinhala literature from its origins up to the 1960s. It remains the only work that covers the entire history of Sinhala literary tradition. Later, he turned his attention to lexicography, visiting world-renowned centres such as the Oxford Dictionary Office in the UK, as well as institutions in the United States, the Netherlands, and Germany. Dr Punchi Bandara Sannasgala worked in the University of Colombo and University of Kelaniya.

His final major literary work, The Cookery Book of the Kandyan Palace, published in 1989 when he was nearly 75, is a poetic compilation of royal recipes once served to the Kings of Kandy. This work is a testament to his enduring scholarly passion and deep respect for Sinhala culture.

Perhaps his most significant contribution to the nation was the completion of the Sinhala Dictionary, a monumental project entrusted to him in 1975, which he completed in 1988.

To this day, Dr Sannasgala’s life stands as a beacon of inspiration to any child born into hardship. Emerging from a rural village during colonial rule with limited access to formal education, he overcame all odds through grit, determination, and unwavering pursuit of knowledge. His journey remains a shining example for the youth of today.

He passed away on 22 March 1997, leaving behind a rich legacy in Sri Lankan literature and scholarship.

May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana!

Manouri Senaratne and Kshanika Hirimburegama

Following the article entitled: “Tackling Insidious Killer” (The Island of 04June 2025) Dr Geewananda Gunawardana, in his article entitled, “Another Side to Cancer,” has provided us with an immense amount of detailed information on the workings of the human body. It is very rewarding to read his explanations. Myriads of different proteins, like a colony of worker ants, carry out the instructions given in our DNA. People really need to know how we work and what goes wrong: the causes of cancer and the steps needed to reverse cancer, where possible.

All responsible human beings need to get some basic ideas about this life-threatening disease for themselves. People need to digest, accept, take on board, grasp and understand befire their ship hits the rocks and capsizes! Do not wait for a crisis consultation with a doctor. A warning: there are Harpies out there luring you to your doom by singing their songs (advertisements) to entice you to fall into the abyss.

Anyone reading Dr Gunawardana’s excellent article for a second time will see there are several major points made in his writing which merit greater emphasis. He kindly gives us “The International Agency for Research on Cancer” where 133 known carcinogenic agents are listed and a further 418 likely carcinogenic agents that humans encounter under various circumstances in life.  (See Monograph 100)

Dr Gunawardana gives us a whole list of carcinogenic agents: alcohol as in beverages, benzene as in petrol, formaldehyde as found in many domestic household products, aflatoxins as found in contaminated foods, diesel engine exhausts (buses!), coal plant emissions and processed meats (bacon and sausages). He mentions food laced with herbicides, insecticides, and also harmful fried foods. He warns: often foods and drinks are contaminated with carcinogenic additives used in the manufacture of food packaging.

To add to all that, we have hepatitis and the human papilloma virus which also raise the risk of cancer.

Dr Gunawardana talks of how modern use of plastics introduces increasing risks to our health. Not least, micro plastics are found everywhere, all around the globe and have been linked to a whole range of human illnesses. (See: S. Goswami and Others, 2024)

Dr Gunawardana observes that because of this disastrous plastics contamination in humans, we humans are destined to battle this contamination for the rest of eternity.

He has detailed here an immense, spine chilling list of threats to human life arising from our environment due to business activity. There is the old adage (in English) “prevention is better than cure.” This needs to be our motto concerning life in Sri Lanka. And we have the law of cause and effect: ‘everything arises through causes’ which is a fundamental of the ‘Old Wisdom’ passed down to us through the ages.

Dr Gunawardena gives us the following links:

WHO :

(https://who.int/activities/preventing cancer/)and

The American Cancer Society (https://acscancerrisk360.cancer.org/)

Fortunately, although cancer rates are climbing, luckily, the death toll is not following so closely behind because there are certain remedial actions we can take, such as early intervention.

People need to understand more about their food (carbohydrates) and style of life and our increasingly hazardous environment due to our ever-increasing reliance on plastics and also how businesses use chemicals in and on the furniture, household items, cars we buy, before more serious crises arise.

Priyantha Hettige ✍️