REV.DR .PERCY ABRAHAMS A RARE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FIELD OF HERPITAFAUNA BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

Uropeldiaes ruhunai Rev Fr Dr Percy Abrahams a rare contributor to the field of HerpitofaunaVide: The St. Aloysius College Centenary 1995

LEGEND ON THE SON OF SITUGE SAMUEL DE SILVA -SON OF RENOWNED BUDDHIST PHILANTHROPHIST HENEGAMA APPUHAMY

When Samuel his son was taken for 1915 riots the father offered the colonial government gold to his weight.But this request was declined by the British.

LETTER TO MR.S.L. GUNASEKARA ON THE LORE OF THE LAW AND OTHER MEMORIES FROM HEMANTHA SITUGE ATTORNEY AT LAW

Hemantha Situge LL.B                                152 1/7, Courts Road,

Attorney-at-Law                                                    Hulftsdorp,

                                                                             Colombo 12.

                                                                             Mobile 0773122865

                  

                                                                             07^th December 2011.

Mr. S.L. Gunasekera LL.B

Attorney-at-Law,

No. 119/3, Model Farm Road,

Colombo 03.

Dear Sir,

LORE OF THE LAW

AND

OTHER MEMORIES

by S.L. Gunasekera

I purchased a copy of the above titled book of yours on 05.12.2011 and wish to make the following comments.

1.           At page 15 the ‘Backwater’ named Udahamulla The Backwater is an erroneous meaning on the toponymy of the Sinhalese word Udahamulla. My source is an article published in the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka Journal Study our place names written by T.B. Weerakoon where he has introduced a table which gives the etymology of the Sinhalese words. Literarily Udahamulla means an ‘Upper Corner’ where the Sumangala Sinhalese Dictionary by Rev. Soratha would throw more light to the said word.

2.           You have heavily used Sinhala words in English. I wish if you would have used diacritical words to identify them properly in English.

3.           The photographs portrayed in the front cover and the back cover are not identified to the readership. I think some of the photographs are on your family whilst the rest of them are of the legal profession.

May I congratulate you on your magnum opus.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely,

Hemantha Situge

LORE OF THE LAW AND OTHER MEMORIES BY S.L.GUNASEKARA COMMENTS ON THE BOOK BY HEMANTHA SITUGE ATTORNEY AT LAW

PLEASE AWAIT MY COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE TITLED BOOK

PERSONIFICATION OF JUSTICE BY HEMANTHA SITUGE PUBLISHED IN THE BAR ASSOCIATION JOURNAL 1998

According to Prof.Jan Hallabick this is the only English paper in the world.There are 08 German papers in the world.

A LETTER TO MR.BRADMON WEERAKOON BY HEMANTHA SITUGE ATTORENEY AT LAW DATED 28.11.2011 ON HIS BOOK ON KALUTARA

Hemantha Situge LL.B                                152 1/7, Courts Road,

Attorney-at-Law                                                    Hulftsdorp,

                                                                             Colombo 12.

                                                                             Mobile 0773122865

Mr. Bradman Weerakoon,                                     28.11.2011

Aaron’s Lodge,

Palayangoda,

Kalutara.

Dear Mr. Weerakoon,

KALUTARA  - AN ODYSSEY

I write to you to inform you that I purchased a copy of the above titled work written by you from the Lake House (Book Shop) at the Liberty Plaza on 02.11.2010 read and re-read same and wishes to make the following comments of the said book .

Firstly, you have not sufficiently dealt with the derivation of the word Kalutara. How did the name Kalutara derive, Kalu i.e. black in Sinhalese tara would have been from µõØ æ_õØ vide: Geology of Ceylon by Prof. P.G. Cooray.

Secondly, the mouth of the river of Kaluganga.

Vide: æ_õØ - by ´µù$ß ûÜù$ùß÷¸

Thirdly, the famed legendary banyan tree that adorns the cover of your book Baron Eugene de Rasonett’s ‘Sketches of Ceylon 1864’ is cited by Rajpal K. de Silva. There is another vivid description Sir Ernest Haekel’s.  A visit to Ceylon translated by Clara Bell. The fate of this tree would have been a record of interest – Neville de Silva puts in verse in one of the Australian Aloysian News Quarterly past magazines.

Fourthly, the account of Kalutara Dutch Fort found in Nelson’s book on Dutch Forts in Sri Lanka would have been an ideal reference on the Kalutara Fortress.

Fifthly, (i) The second English Botanical Gardens in Ceylon was in Kalutara

  (ii) The family De Alwis Seneviratne who hailed from Kalutara made  their contribution on the drawings found at the Herbarium of Peradeniya.

(iii) The Kalutara snail an invasive species possibly were introduced from Kalutara.

I fervently believe you have not done proper justice to Kalutara bereft of its records on the unprecedented history on its natural history.

Sixthly, I do not think that you have done adequate research into the toponymy on the district of Kalutara. My source is the supplement in the article titled: The Study of Place Names in Sri Lanka by T.B. Weerakoon JRAS Sri Lanka Branch XXXVI 1993 (reprint) P80 to 86.  Further elements from the Kalutara District completing the Western Province.

Seventhly, I was amazed by the meager details on the flags of the Kalutara district. Please refer:

(i)           E.W. Perera’s Sinhalese Banners and Standard

(ii)          Edith Fernando’s books on Sinhalese Flags

(iii)        Silva’s book on Flags (Sooriya Publications)

Eighthly, I was flabbergasted when perusing your account on Panadura the Buddhist renaissance. There was not an iota of material on S. Mahinda the Tibetian Poet monk who made an extensive contribution to the renaissance from the Panadura Mahabellana Sri Sudharmaramaya temple. vide: &ÛæÚÈ ´{Úùß÷À {ÚÆ by Æ&ß&æ æ´Ù&ÚÍ {ÚÆ 2009

Ninthly, I have learnt that late Mr. A.C. Goonaratne Q.C. was a product from the St. John’s College  Panadura. Refer A.R.B. Amarasinghe’s Supreme Court of Sri Lanka Sarvodaya Vishvalekha Publications 1986.

Tenthly, You have not at least provide a scant reference on the archeological inscription found at the present District Court premises. Another glaring omission is on Sandesha Kavya’s of 13^th 14^th Century (Epistle verses)

Eleventhly, I have learnt that Cheng Ho the Chinese Eunuch used Panadura as a Port. vide: Garvin Menzie 1421 When China Ruled the World.

Twelfthly, I have learnt that the Walallawita Korale which was joined together with Bentara as a Korale in the District of Galle was shifted to the District of Kalutara very recently. May be only during the last two or three decades.

I have also learnt that Elpitiya Kanda is found as a hide out of Vidiya Bandara. vide: Chulawamsa – Geiger and Parangi Hatana by Alagiyavenna Mukaweti edited by S.G. Perera & Fernando later Prof. Rohini Paranavithane.

Thirteenthly, I have read in George Flores book on 500 commemoration of  the Portuguese visit to Sri Lanka 2001 there had been a Portuguese Scions Statutes.

Fourteenthly, Father S.G. Perera provides us two articles on Velapura in Ceylon Antiquary and Literary Register. Another in the Kalutara Urban Council commemorative journal for the year 50 or 60.

Fifteenthly, There is a book on the Kandey Viharaya written by Prof. J.B. Dissnayake in the Rataka Mahima series published by Godage.

Sixteenthly, There is a German writer’s book on Waterfalls of Sri Lanka published by the Tisara Publications.

Also there is a eighty page book titled õÝòÔèÙ à`ÙßÙ &{ æ_õØ ÷ÀÚ&ßõÜÚæß ÷ÀÚ×à`ÙÚ ù$´$<ÙÚ× by øÌ´ùß ÑæÜ´Øõßù.

Seventeenthly, Kalutara is well famed for the luscious fruit Mangosteen possibly introduced by the Dutch from Batavia – Indonesia.

Eighteenthly, There is a Sinhalese book on verse on Kalutara the title is “æ_µõ$ð ÙæØ” Page 77 – authored by M.C.F. Perera born in Kalutara and old boy of St. Johns Panadura. vide: Page 476-7 &Ú‘{Ù ù<æö$µÓ ûÔµØ$ßè$Æ×$ ´ÔÙßÙûÚ®µ×ß µæß.ä§.÷À &ÚÙß<$ 1966.

I was never born in Kalutara I am a Gallean. I was interested on Kalutara because of my colleague past-President RAS RC de S. Manukulasooriya’s article on the JRAS which is replete with errors. I think he was a DRO in Kalutara if I remember correct.

Finally I wish to state that Kalutara like Galle has no Manual or Gazetteer published in the colonial times. When I went through the book titled Ratnapura as seen as by Government Agents compiled by Malcolm Abhayaratne there were some references on Kalutara. Unpublished G.A. diaries would arouse curiosity.

With all best wishes.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely,

Hemantha Situge

VIDYALOKA PIRIVENA LIBRARY GALLE

Introduction

The Vidyaloka Pirivena Library dates from 1929 where the founder was a leading erudite scholar named Pandita Welivitiye Pungnasara Nayaka Thero -a recipient of much coveted Ubayasekera Swarna Sanka award bestowed by the Governor awarded on merit by the Oriental Language Society in 1924.He resigned from the post of  Principal [Parivenadipathi] from the Ananda Pirivena of  Kitulampitiya [dated from 1896] to start this Pirivena at the heart of the town in Galle.
This Pirivena is widely acclaimed for not only for the monks and laymen produced for their erudition and Seela and also for the pivotal role played in the Buddhist renaissance in the pre independence era for the voice carried to the nation.
The Pirivena paved the way to the two academic magazines viz. Saraswathie in 1961 and the Vidyaloka.And also through a well-known press Granthodaya which was commenced by the founders own brother.which was instrumental in releasing an array of  patriotic and Buddhist books.
VIDYALOKA PIRIVENA  is a legend by itself on the History of Galle.If this could be accounted as `a legend by itself on the History of Galle `the pirivena library is undoubtedly its life blood..
 
What Contains at the Library.?
The library contains the personal collections of the founder Welivitiye Pugngnasara  nayaka Thero, former Vidyodaya parivenadipathi Akuretiye Amarawansha nayka thero,also Akuretiye Nandasara one time the parivenadipathi of the Pirivena.The other are donations and the collection for mwell over 80 years.

There are books on Buddhism ,Historical, literature,languges such as Pali ,Sanskrit,Sinhalese,Burmese,Vanga, which is over 10000 in number.
A project for Conservation
[1]Conserving  Books through insecticide
[2]Consultative advice from National Archives.
[3]Books and magazines binding.
[4]Computer Inventorising and Cataloguing

]

TIMBIRIGAHA KOVILA DADALLA -GALLE

See the News letter Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka the Second issue first page

THE BIGAMIST FATHER TO SEEK ACCESS TO HIS CHILDREN IS RESTRAINED BY THE HIGH COURT OF COLOMBO

The Colombo High Court Judge Sunil Perera on Wednesday the 23rd , issued an interim order restraining the order pronounced by the Magistrate of the Juvenille Court dated 31st October,providing the Plaintiff Respondent father having access to his three children,untill the termination of this case.

The Petitioner  Vadivel Sobha stated before court that her children aged 11, 16, and 5 were studying at the Arokya Matha H.R. School,Karumandapam Tirichie in Tamil Nadhu of South India

The Colombo High Cort Judge made another interim order to release the 3rd Respondent 5year child to the Petitioner. who is in the custody of the probation .

The Petitioner alleged  that the the father of the children Janaka  Paranagama had committed another marriage whilst her legal marriage exists,also there is a Bigamy case pending at the Maligakanda Magistrates Court upon a complaint lodged by her at the Fraud Bureau.

Hemantha Situge with S.Kumarasingham appeared for the Respondent Petitioner

Katherine Frank's CRUSOE-Daniel Defoe, Robert Knox and the Creation of a Myth A REVIEW BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

Please await for my review in this blog on the above titled work.

Kalutara a personal odeyssey by BRADMON WEERAKOON -A REVIEW BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

Please await for my comments on the book.

THE DIVISIONAL SECRETARY OF WELIPITIYA AND THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER OF THE CEYLON ELECTRICITY BOARD AND ANOTHER PERSON FACES CONTEMPT OF COURT CHARGES

The Additional District Judge of Matara Mr Dhammika Dissanayaka on 22nd November issued summons on a Charge of Contempt on the Divisional Secretary of Welipitiya M Liyanaarachchie the 10th Respondent, the Electrical Engineer of the Ceylon Electricity Board,the 13th Respondentand Pubudu Prasana,the 11th Respondent of Ganewatte Pallala Weligama.
The  alleged Charge  that they would face would be was  acting in violation of an interim injunction granted by the District Court of Matara not to do any changes or any face-lifts to the subject matter in action.
Despite this interim injunction of the Court the 10th and the 13th has acted in contrary to the said order of the District Court of Matara.
The Petitioner in this case is Tirimadura Dayananda of Palalla Wligama who claims entirety of this corpus.Senior Counsel Mr HEMANTHA SITUGE with KAMAL UDUGAMPOLA instructed by Mrs Haritha Kaluarachchi appeard for the 2nd Defendant Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner .
 The Charge Sheet would be read over by to them on 06th January 2012

QUAINT HOARY STREET NAMES GALLE

This article appears in the Australian  Aloysius News Quarterly 2011 August issue.

ADIEU ! SCAFFOLD CITY GALLE -HEMANTHA SITUGE

Adieu ! Scaffold City Galle by HEMANTHA SITUGE  await the article shortly

SENERATH PARANAVITHANA COMMEMORATION -2010SENERATH PARANAVITHANA COMMEMORATION -2010

SITUGE SAMUEL DE SILVA

RICHMOND CENTENARY 1976 REFERENCE TO HIS UNTIMELY DEMISE

SITUGE SAMUEL DE SILVA THE ONLY SON OF THE LEGENDARY HENEGAMA APPUHAMY BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

Amongst the cases that were tried from the Matara District were ‘Horagaoda Riots’ case which was held on the 5^th June 1915.The remarkable graphic description provided in ‘Ceylon Police and Sinhala-Muslim Riots of 1915’ written by A.C. Dep published by Vishvalekha  [at pages 123-4] Thus:

“The 14 accused were charge with Treason , riotoriously demolishing buildings and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.”

The first Accused sentenced was Situge Samuel de Silva for 20 years Penal Servitude. This accused was defended by highly paid EARDLEY NORTON*the well famed Indian Barrister who appeared for Edmund Hewawitharana and Henry Pediris.(*vide :A .R.B. AMERASINSHE ‘s SUPREME COURT OF SRI LANKA 1986 Vishvalekha)

Eardley Norton is considered as one of the Greatest  Advocates of India.  

NAGODA PAGNGNANANDA NAYAKA THERO [1894-1968]

Plate 1 Kitulampitiya Ananda pirivena parivenadipathi[1932-1968]