Dr Nissanka Parakrama Wijeyeratne (14 June, 1924 - 7 January, 2007) was a Sri Lankan politician and civil servant.
Family background
Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne hailed from an illustrious Family of Sabaragamuwa in Sri Lanka. He was the second son of Sir Edwin and Lady Leela Wijeyeratne. Sir Edwin Wijeyeratne was a former Sri Lanka High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and India, and Cabinet Minister of Home Affairs and Rural Development in Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake's Government. He was acting leader of the Senate too. He received his accolade at the hands of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 at Buckingham Palace. Nissanka Wijeyeratne's elder brother, Tissa Wijeyeratne was Barrister at Law, had served as the Additional Secretary to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence, Sri Lanka Ambassador to France and Switzerland and Senior Advisor ( Foreign Affairs ) to Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. He has one younger brother, Dr Cuda Wijeyeratne, who is a doctor of medicine.
Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne married Nita Dullewe, the only child of Tinny and Mallika Dullewe of Meeduma Walauwa, Rambukkana. Dr Nissanka and Nita Wijeyeratne had five children ( Neranjan, Mano, Anuradha, Lankesh and Nishanganie )
Education
Nissanka Wijeyeratne gained his primary and secondary education at Royal College Colombo. He then pursued further studies at the University of Colombo and gained an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in History at the University of Colombo. He continued to develop an impressive depth of knowledge in Sri Lankan and world history over the years. He also had an impersonal, objective and scholarly interest in Sri Lankan sociology, as well as in religious philosophy. His knowledge is extensive and in many areas profound, which led to his popular nickname, 'A Walking Encyclopaedia'. He was awarded an Honorary Degree as Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Colombo in 1978.
Dr.Wijeyeratne receive the title of Buuddha Kulawthansa conferred on him by the Maha Nayake Theros of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters. President Ranasinghe Premadasa went on to confer the Desamanaya Award on this distinguished citizen on National Heroes Day May 22nd 1991.
A Friend of the Minorities
While remaining free of prejudice or malice against the teachings of other world religions, many of whose holy places he had visited as a scholarly pilgrim. Some knowledge of the Christian faith is widespread in Sri Lanka as part of our colonial heritage. The symbiotic relationship between Hinduism and Buddhism makes it natural that a man of learning should respect Hindu teachings, as Dr. Wijeyeratne showed when he held office as President of the Aurobindo Society of Sri Lanka from 1978 - 1982. It is much more rare for a Buddhist to pursue studies of the Islamic faith and its doctrines, as Dr. Wijeyeratne did. These studies, as well as the tributes he paid to the loyalty of the Muslim community to the cause of the Island's independence in the face of the colonial conquests, have earned him the good will of the Muslims of Sri Lanka. The title of Quaid-e Millath was bestowed on Dr. Wijeyeratne at the International Muslim Conference.
Career
Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne was one of the top members of the prestigious Ceylon Civil Service & United National Party Chief Organiser for the Dadigama Electorate which he won in the 1977 Parliamentary Elections. He was Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister of Education, Higher Education & Justice in President Junius Richard Jayewardene's Government. He was also later appointed as Sri Lanka Ambassador to the Russian Federation. He was a ex Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa Kandy.[2] In addition, he had also served as the Assistant Government Agent in Galle, Government Agent in Anuradhapura, Mannar & Jaffna,Chairman Anuradhapura Preservation Board, Secretary to Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Secretary to Ministry of Information, Broadcasting & Transport, and Exco Member Governing Body of UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Emblem of Sri Lanka
The present Emblem of the Government of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was designed in 1972 solely under the ideas and guidance of Dr.Nissanka Wijeyeratne when he was serving as Secretary to Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka and as Chairman of National Emblem Design Committee. The designer of the emblem was Venerable Mapalagama Wipulasara Thera.
Sri Lankan National Flag
In 1972, Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne introduced the four leaves of the Bo tree at the four corners of the Sri Lankan national flag.[1]
Services to Sri Lanka
Dr Wijeyeratne has rendered multifarious services to Sri Lanka and its people. It was he who set up 'Sacred City of Anuradhapura' and shifting the Urban City to the newly created Anuradhapura town. He was also responsible for the establishment of Anuradhapura Airport, construction of the road from Anuradhapura to Tantitimalay, construction of the road from Anuradhapura to Kelatthawa, establishing PolonnaruwaSacred Area and Aluvihare Sacred Area. Dr Wijeyeratne also established the Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle with aid from UNESCO. The Central Cultural Fund in Sri Lanka was also established by him, for preservation of National Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka.
Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne established the University of Ruhuna & introduced the Open University of Sri Lanka, President's Colleges all over the island as well as the Medical Faculty of the University of Jaffna. He also established Mediaton Board concept as a solution for legal proceedings. The New Superior Court Complex in Colombo was established by him with Chinese Government aid.
The Sri Lankan President’s Fund (an official fund managed by the President of Sri Lanka), which provides assistance to the needy and underpriveleged for health and education needs, was proposed by Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne when he was Cabinet Minister in President Junius Richard Jayewardene's Government. It was implemented by Junius Richard Jayewardene the Sri Lankan President at the time.
Dr Wijeyeratne introduced the Buddhist Pirivana Act in Parliament to safeguard Buddhist education for monks and layman, and transforming Vidyalankara Maha Pirivena and Vidyodaya Maha Prrivena as University of Kelaniya and University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He also introduced the Sanghadhikarana Act on behalf of Buddhists, gazzetted Kandy Sacred Area, introduced administrative methods to Sri Dalada Maligawa and established the Gold Museum, re-organised the Kandy Perahera and set up the Kandy Esala Perahara Fund.
Poetry
Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne was a brilliant versifier as if to the manner born. At the drop of a hat he, had the ability to produce an apt verse or poem to capture the essence of any character or situation. A collection of over two decades of Dr Wijeyeratne’s english poetry were published in a book titled 'Ape Appachchi: An Anthology Of Our Father's Poems' in 2001.[2]
Three generations in Sri Lankan politics
There have been three generations of Wijeyeratnes in Sri Lankan politics. From the third generation, first it was Anuradha Dullewe Wijeyeratne (third son of Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne) who entered into active politics in 1988 as a United National Party Member of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council in Ratnapura. He also served as Member United National Party National Executive Committee. He had been the Acting Diyawadana Nilame, Sri Dalada Maligawa Kandy in several occassions for three decades, appointed by the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs with recommendation from Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwatte & Asgiriya Chapters.
Mano Wijeyeratne (second son of Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne) is a present Member of Parliament from Kegalle District & Hon Minister of Enterprise Development in President His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse's Government. Mano Wijeyeratne had also served as Minister of Plantation Services under the President Dingiri Banda Wijetunga's Government.
The present United National Party Chief Organiser for the Galagedara Electorate is Neranjan Wijeyeratne (Eldest son of Dr. Nissanka Wijeyeratne). He was an energetic administrator. He had proved his capabilities during his term of office as the administrator had proved his efficiency during the two decades of his term as Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy. It was due his proven ability that the shrine which was devasted by the LTTE bomb attack of 1998 was restored.
Dr. Nissanka Wijeyeratne contested for the Diyawadana Nilame post of the Sri Dalada Maligawa Kandy in 1975, and won it by a landslide victory.It was the first ever in Sri Lanka's history that the Kandyan Radala caste hierarchy was challenged for that post. Although Sri Dalada Maligawa had been managed for the longest period by the Wijeyeratne family, who have served the post of Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa for 30 years.[3] After Independence, three generations of Wijeyeratnes have kept a record in the Sri Lanka political history by holding Ministerial posts in the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
References
See also
External links
External references
1. http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/12/10/imp06.asp
2. http://www.island.lk/2008/01/03/features6.html
3. UNESCO: MS Data Member, Dr Nissanka Parakrama Wijeyeratne, 1987-1989, 128-131. Member, Mr Ananda W.P. Guruge, 1989-1991, 131-137. Representative, 2003-2007, 168-177 ... erc.unesco.org/cp/cp.asp?language=E&country=LK - 22k - Cached - Similar pages
- ↑ Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka
- ↑ An Anthology of a Father’s Poems
- ↑ [www.sridaladamaligawa.lk/english/tooth_relic_in3.html SACRED TOOTH RELIC IN SENKADAGALA ( KANDY )]