BOOK REVIEW TITLE : LAW RELATING TO RECOVERY OF LOANS BY BANKS ( SPECIAL PROVISIONS ) ACT NO. 4 OF 1990 AS AMENDED (SANSHODITHA 1990 ANKA 4 DARANA BENKU MAGIN PRADANAYA KARANA LADA NAYA AYA KARA GENIME (WISHESHA VIDIVIDANA PANATHATA ADALA NEETHIYA) AUTHORS: J.M.RANJITH PERERA, ATTORNEY - AT - LAW SENIOR COUNSEL - CHIEF AUTHOR & H.M.SISIRA KUMARA BANDARA ,ATTORNEY - AT - LAW, ASSISTANT AUTHOR PUBLISHED AS AN AUTHOR PUBLICATION REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE, Daily News Town and Country 30th January 2019

http://dailynews.lk/2019/01/30/tc/175900/significant-treatise-bank-loans

Significant treatise on bank loans BOOK REVIEW Wednesday, January 30, 2019 - 01:00 Print Edition T&C, Daily News, Law Relating To Recovery Of Loans By Banks ( Special Provisions ) Act No. 4 Of 1990 As Amended (Sanshoditha 1990 Anka 4 Darana Benku Magin Pradanaya Karana Lada Naya Aya Kara Genime (Wishesha Vidividana Panathata Adala Neethiya) Authors: J.M.Ranjith Perera, Attorney - At - Law Senior Counsel - Chief Author & H.M.Sisira Kumara Bandara, Attorney - At - Law, Assistant Author, REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

Significant treatise on bank loans

BOOK REVIEW

Wednesday, January 30, 2019 - 01:00

Print Edition

T&C

Title: Law Relating To Recovery Of Loans By Banks ( Special Provisions ) Act No. 4 Of 1990 As Amended (Sanshoditha 1990 Anka 4 Darana Benku Magin Pradanaya Karana Lada Naya Aya Kara Genime (Wishesha Vidividana Panathata Adala Neethiya)

Authors: J.M.Ranjith Perera, Attorney - At - Law Senior Counsel - Chief Author & H.M.Sisira Kumara Bandara, Attorney - At - Law, Assistant Author

The splendid book entitled: Law Relating To Recovery Of Loans By Banks (Special Provisions) Act No. 4 Of 1990 As Amended (Sanshoditha 1990 Anka 4 Darana Benku Magin Pradanaya Karana Lada Naya Aya Kara Genime (Wishesha Vidividana Panathata Adala Neethiya) written in Sinhalese, was released recently.

Legal arena

It was way back in the year of 1938 that first book of the law in the Sinhalese language emerged entitled: ‘My Lawyer’ (Magé Neethgnayâ) written by B. J. Fernando a then Proctor of the Supreme Court of Ceylon. This book ran into several editions; in 1939 the second edition, the third edition in 1950 revised fourth edition was done by his wife Lakshmi Fernando a Proctor of S.C. with a forward written by Dr Colvin R. de Silva, that eminent Advocate of the day.

The book is now unheard and unknown apparently buried in the whirligig of time. However, this was not the first occasion that law was made known to the public in the Sinhalese language. Advocate Herbert Sri Nissanka later King’s Counsel pioneered in releasing a Sinhalese journal entitled: Raja Niti (Raja Neethi) in 1925 where extracts of some of the statutes were translated into the Sinhalese language. There was phrase coined in the legal arena as “like Silindhu” that in the double murder committed by villager Silindhu-- aptly based for the Bloomsbury group English novel “Beddegama” by Leonard Woolf, that well known Colonial Civil Servant,--- stood at the Defendants dock mum, were unable to understand the happening of the Court of law where he was unaware of the procedure that he was sentenced to death.

Though the Extraordinary Gazette bearing No. 1/6 dated 07th September 1978 it was allowed the use of English Language to maintain any record and conduct in any court of law in the country. The books on Sinhalese and Tamil languages have since Sri Lanka was made a Republic it became a sine qua non in our original courts of law. The reviewer finds a large amount of Sinhalese law books are released day by day. Some of these books are written by Attorneys-at-Law and laymen alike. But how many of these books are written by legal practitioners. This reviewer is of the fervent opinion that most of these books are mere compendiums. How many of these could make an impact on the legal system of the country? J. M. Ranjith Perera a Senior Counsel – a busy eminent practitioner in law ably assisted by H. M. Sisira Kumar Bandara Attorney-at-Law has filled the void that hitherto existed on one of the most abstruse parts of civil law namely the Law Relating to Debt Recovery (Special Provisions) No. 4 of 1990 as amended. His path-breaking opus is not a mere book it is an eminent commentary/ study on the subject

It was Lord Justice Eldon once who said that: “ A Lawyer should live like a hermit and work like a horse “. How many senior practitioners of the unofficial bar have imparted their knowledge of the practical law for the benefit of the present and the future generations of our country? The release of this book sequel to the first book titled: “Law Relating to Debt Recovery Act No 2 of 1990” was written in Sinhalese. J.M.Ranjith Perera Senior Counsel and his Assistant Sisira Kumara Bandara has rendered yeoman services by using their wealth of knowledge for the benefit of the lawyers and the students by expending their time and energy to guide them for a sound knowledge on the subject.

It was the legendary Abraham Lincoln once who said: “ A Lawyer’s Time and Advise are His Stock in Trade “.The country and the legal profession owes a debt of gratitude to Senior Counsel J M Ranjith Perera and his assistant H M Sisira Kumara Bandara for spearheading to release a series of books to educate the lawyers and laymen alike as they are indeed gems of wisdom to the legal profession and to the people of all walks of life alike. The reviewer learns that these books of these writers would be translated to the Tamil language to help the Tamil medium lawyers and the students shortly.

Legal profession

The reviewer finds a large amount of Sinhalese law books are released day by day. Some of these books are written by Attorneys-at-Law and laymen alike. But how many of these books are written by legal practitioners. This reviewer is of the fervent opinion that most of these books are mere compendiums. How many of these could make an impact on the legal system of the country?

The opus contains eight chapters. The first chapter deals on the history of parate execution. The second chapter is on the intention of the legislature. On careful perusal, it is evident that the rest of the six chapters are on the procedural aspects the book is the sine qua non a much awaited ‘nuggets of gold’ for the legal profession.

Path-breaking opus

J. M. Ranjith Perera a Senior Counsel – a busy eminent practitioner in law ably assisted by H. M. Sisira Kumar Bandara Attorney-at-Law has filled the void that hitherto existed on one of the most abstruse parts of civil law namely the Law Relating to Debt Recovery (Special Provisions) No. 4 of 1990 as amended. Their path-breaking opus on this statute is not a mere book it is an eminent commentary/treatise/study guide on the subject.

The reviewer read and re-read this indispensable book, found replete with thirty-eight reported and six unreported judgments pronounced by the superior Courts with an easy reference index guide culled with pertinent extracts of the Sinhalese statute and more appropriately from the English statute. The book spans 228 pages of pure bliss for the legal practitioner. The book contains two extracts from Hansards of the Parliament on the 1990 and 2003 bills and the debates that took place therein is found and where there were hue and outcry from the members of the Parliament introducing this statute was a draconian piece of legislation.

Senior Counsel J. M. Ranjith Perera’s treatise on ‘Law Relating to Debt Recovery Act No. 4 of 1990 as Amended’ has trailed the blaze by his maiden book on this statute in not only educating the layman, law students and further for the busy legal practitioners; this reviewer advocates that the opus would be an essential guide. Undoubtedly the book would serve as a vade mecum for all this wide array of readership.

- REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

ANUBUDU MIHIDU MAHAHIMI ( MIHIDHU HIGH PRIEST THE SECOND BUDDHA ) BY DR P. G . PUNCHIHEWA PUBLISHED BY SARASAVI PUBLISHERS 2018 REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE :             ANUBUDHU MIHINDU MAHIMI

                          MIHINDHU HIGH PRIEST-THE SECOND BUDDHA

AUTHOR:        DR  P. G. PUNCHIHEWA

PUBLISHERS : SARASAVI PRAKASAKAYO

REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

The magnum opus of Dr P. G. Punchihewa  entitled : Anubudu Mihinu Mahimi -Mihindhu the high priest the second Buddha - in Sinhalese  published by the Sarasavi Publishers was released recently.

Anubudhu Mihidhu Mahahimi   is a much awaited biography on the Arahath Mahinda who were instrumental in introducing Buddhism to our island. The earliest biography written on him  was titled : Mahinda Stavirayange Jeewitha Kathawa -the  life story of the Mahinda  Sthaweera - was written by Mudliyar Arthur Jayawardana of Wellaboda pattu Hikkaduwa printed by S A Z Siriwardane on 20th July 1886 which was a fifty page book where one thousand copies were printed and was prized at 25 cents. ( vide  : at page 30-1 , item no 213 Register of Books Printed in Ceylon March 1885 to March 1892 ) Dr Punchihewa's biography has emerged after thirteen decades. This reviewer has had the occasion to read and re-read both these biographies ; the  extremely  rare  the first  opus  at  the " Sumangala Library " of the Sudarshana Paramanada Bogahagodella  Purana Raja Maha Viharaya  in Galle .Archaeological evidence on the Arahath Mahinda was very scarce almost unknown to the first writer Mudliyar Arthur Jayawardana in 1886. Dr Punchihewa has studied and immersed on the highly venerable personality researching into all historical and archaeological evidence available at his disposal . He has filled the void hitherto existed or carried out a biographical resurrection . Centuries after the demise of the Arahath Mahinda to marshal biographical details about him is clearly  skeletal of nature and undoubtedly a formidable task. We owe Dr Punchihewa  a deep debt of gratitude for undertaking this onerous  task.

Geographically , the mountain range  consists  of  four main hills . They are viz: Ambastala ( Sela Cetiya or the Ambastala dagaba ) - Mihidhu maha Seya - Plateau of the Mango , Rajagiri the Mountain  of the Kings , Atvehera kandha - the mountain of elephant vehera - and Anakutti the Mountain of the Elephant .The Brahmi inscriptions of Mihintale  near Ambastala of fourth century A D ,depicts  in Inscriptions of Ceylon Vol.1 part 1 pages 1-5 Colombo 1970   not only the earliest form of Sinhalese writing but also the earliest record itself. Ven Dr  Walpola Rahula has stated in his 'Early History of Buddhism in Ceylon'  Gunasena 1953 that " Buddhagosha  says that Mahinda brought to the island of the Sinhalese for the benefit of the people of the island .  Thus  he made Sinhalese a literary language and inaugurated its literature." Mihintale was called as Cetiyagiri it is very likely that King Devanampiya tissa named after the place of birth Arahath Mahinda's   Vidisa as a mark of respect for the maha thero's mother .

Dr Punchihewa's book deserves some comments of this reviewer.

At page 24 Dr Puncihewa's book he  compares with the account of Mahawamsa together with the excavations of Prof Cunningham cited by Prof . Rhys Davis on the missionaries set forth by Moggaliputta tissa Maha thero to propagate Buddhism. 

At page 44-45 of the opus Dr Punchihewa refers to the spot which the king stood answering the riddle posed by the sage which  is today enclosed by a railing covered with a slab of stone popularly known as chandrakanthi pashana where  in mythology this type of  stone is formed from moon beams shining on dew drops.

At page 46 Dr Punchihewa quotes Justice Weeramantry which  was accepted by Amerasighe J in his judgement pronounced in Bulankulama Vs Secretary to the Ministry of Industrial Development ( Eppawala Case )  reported in 2000 Sri lanka Law Reports 243 to 321 is now accepted  as our law. 

At page 56 of his book Dr Punchihewa states that the Jambukola harbour is where Sanghamitta set foot in the Northern peninsular .Dr De Silva  infra  at page 32 : 2005 , infra at page  25 : 2013 identifies this spot  'now known as Tiruvadinilayam [ site of the sacred foot print ]' 

Dr Punchihewa also states  that the ship that brought the  first Boa sapling by Sanghamitta bikkhuni  . The mast was kept as a museum object and  exhibited according to our recorded history. ( Geiger : Mahavamsa [1912] -p134)    

At page 68 of the book Dr Punchihewa draws our attention on the Rajagala inscription deciphered by Prof.  Paranavitane in 1962 University of Ceylon Review Vol XX at page 160  . Dr Raja de Silva in his ' Digging into the Past' vishvalekha publications  2005 [ translated into Sinhalese by Kingsley Kurukulasooriya  titled : Atheethaya Sevima Sadaha Keneem -Purawidyathmaka Rachana  An author publication 2013 at page 23  ] at page 26  states that : " Whereas neither Paranavitana nor his successor Godakumbura has mentioned the existence of the dagoba itself ( probably because they do not appear to have inspected the site personally ) , I discovered ,beyond the single line inscription on the right-hand side , the remains of a small dagoba built of rough stones. " 

King Mahadathika Mahanaga of  the 7-19  century Mihintale inscription  found in Inscriptions of Ceylon Volume 2 part 1 at page 26 in  line 13  says that   images or statues of Mahinda ,Bhadrasala , Ithtika and Uthtiya were erected. This palaeographic evidence corroborates the  Arahath Mahinda and the arrival of  his retinue.   

The oldest book written on Mihintale in Sinhalese " Sithuyam sahitha Mihintala Maha Vihara Warnanawa" - the peon of praise on the Mihintale temple - by  Ven .Pudukkulame Dhammalankara published by Tennakoon Muduyanselage Appuhamy upasaka in 1910 at the Maha Bodhi press throws more light on the folklore of the Arahath Mahinda thus Mihindhu lena the cave of Mihindhu , Mihindhu maha seya -the stupa of Mahinda as Ambhastala , mindhu pokuna - the pond of Mihidhu - the Aradhana Gala the rock of invitation  the place  where the first sermon was preached by Arahath Mahinda . According to this book the Mihintala Maha Viharaya  vide pages 33 to 36  of the book was handed over to the sangha or the priests only on 16th July 1909 by the Government Agent Hoseburgh where Walisinghe Harischandra has had  played a key role.Then there were 68 caves , 360 stupas, 100 statue abodes , 1600 places of sangha wasa- where monks could reside  . Epigraphia Zeylanica Vol. 5  pages 210-225 Colombo 1963 bears ample testimony to the fact that  these ruins depicts that the Mihintale was a busiest place at the dawn of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

The bodhi tree at Mihintale is one of the first eight shoots that sprang from the tree in Auradhapura.  The oldest stupa built at Mihintale were, it is said , no doubt identical in the form of their counter parts such as in Sanchi and Bharut.The discovery at Mihintale of a small golden reliquary typically resembling the earliest Indian stupas , surmounted by chatras, ( the umbrellas) corroborates this surmise.

Prof . Senerath  Paranavitane has opined in his 'Glimpses of Ceylon's  past'  in 1972    that the  sedate Buddha statue -Dyana Buddha -  excavated from Mihindhu seya  in 1934 , is accounted as' the most artistic Buddha images in metal so far brought to light in Ceylon'. The relic casket of black earthen ware found from the same locality  is a one hitherto unknown from India or Ceylon and known as the oldest discovered so far in the island. 

Reading and re-reading Dr Punchihewa's fascinating biographical study  entitled ; Anu Budhu Mihidhu Maha himi thus a by-gone  towering intellectual re-past.    

      

HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN SRI LANKA 1948-2017 EDITED BY DR IYANTHI ABEYWICKRAMA, DR PALITHA ABEYKOON , DR LAKSHMAN KARALIYADDE AND DR PHILLIP VEERASINGAM PUBLISHED BY SRI LANKA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IN 2018 REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

NIMESHA THIWANKARA SENEVIPALA'S SRI WICKRAMA RAJASINGHA NOHOTH ALUTH DEVIYO SAMANTHI PUBLISHERS 2018 REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE : SRI VICKRAMA RAJASIMHA NOHOTH ALUTH DEVIYYO 

AUTHOR : NIMESHA THIVANKARA SENEVIPALA

PUBLISHERS SAMANTHI PRAKASHAKAYO

REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE 

King Sri Vickrama Rajasimha  ( 1798-1815 ) was known as the most ruthless ruler to have ruled Sri Lanka . Dr Henry Marshall has stated  that: " He died at Vellore , on the afternoon of 30 th January 1832 aged 52 ; having been seventeen years a state prisoner." vide page 131  Ceylon - A General Description of the island and its inhabitants Tisara praakasakayo  (1846) 1969.

Prior to Nimesha Thivankara Senevipala's book entitled : Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe nohoth aluth deviyo  Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe alias New God   published by the Samanthi Publishers - through  his  discovery was brought into light -Dr P E P Deraniyagala edited and released Sinhala Verse ( Kavi) Volume 1 Collected by Hugh Nevill  1954  no 272 'Dalumura Yahan Kavi ' [ at page 311] stated that : 'This is an invitation to accept the decorated shrines or altars, and the betel leaves ,which are prepared to propitiate certain devatars or god.' These are Pitiye Deviyo , Pallebedde deviyo, Alut Deviyo, Devata Bandara,Kalu bandara, Keerthi Bandara,Gange Bandara ,Devel Devindu , Twelve Deva Sakras, Maha Bamba,Soli Kumara and Sri Wickrama Rajasingha, Amusiri Devi, and Amusiri Kadawara. It is evident that Alut Deviyo is not a synonym for the Sri Wickrama Rajasingha  as depicted in the  53 verses found therein. The same book refers to Aluth Deviyange kavi on Embekke Devi vide item no 70 at page 80.

The Sinhala Deva Puranaya [ Ancient lore of the Sinhalese Gods] by Prof K N O Dharmadasa and H M S Thundeniya State Printing Cooperation 1994 at page 122 refers to seventeen Aluth Deviyo's from Matale.

K D Somadasa's Catalogue of The Hugh Nevill Manuscripts in the British Library Vol 6  1993 British Library at page 192-3 " Dalu Mura Yahan Kavi" reiterates the position maintained by the reviewer.  Sri Wickrama Raja Simha is no synonym for the Aluth Deviyo it was only an epithet used on the  occasion of the introduction of the God .Therefore to assume that there was an Aluth Devi Devalaya   at page 59 of his book ,in the name for  Sri Wickrama Raja Simha should be accepted as cum grano salus -taken with a pinch of salt-. 

Nimesha Thiwankara Senevipala has also provided Aluth Deviyange Vimanaya  at page 61 of the book - New God's seat of habitation- , and  Aluth Deviyange Bala Parakramaya at page 47 - majesty of the  New God   should be asserted by the  God Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe's name and not by the epithet used at the time of introduction.

K D Somadasa's Catalogue [supra] pages 319 -321  Dolaha Devi Kavi contains Miriswatte Aluth Deviyo  which   casts serious doubts on the premise of  Aluth Deviyo .

The bone of contention asserted by this reviewer that 'Aluth' is not an epithet in identifying a deity  is further substantiated by H U Pragngnaloka's Purana Sivupada Sangrahawa [ the old compendium of folk verses] 1952 printed by the Government printer thus:

S.K. JAYAWARDANE'S SENKADAGALA YUGAYA SAMANTHI PUBLISHERS 2018 REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

NIMESHA THIWANKARA SENEWIPALA'S SARANANKARA SANGARAJA CHARITHAYA SAMANTHI PUBLISHERS 2018 REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

NIMESHA TIWANKARA SENEVIPALA'S MANDARAMPURA PUWATHA SAMANTHI PUBLISHERS 2018 REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE : MANDARAMPURA PUWATHA

EDITOR : NIMESHA THIWANKARA SENEVIPALA

PUBLISHED BY SAMANTHI PUBLISHERS 

The splendid opus entitled : Mandarampuwatha Edited by Nimesha Thiwankara Senevipala published by Samanthi prakashakayo  was released recently.

The Mandaram pura puwatha was  the title of a book released as an author publication in 1958 by an edition edited by the High priest Labugama Lankananda .The high priest did his edition from a palm leaf manuscript that was found with the chief incumbent of Asgiriya Wijayasunderamaya Ven Yatawatte Sri Sumangala Dhammaratanabhidana Mahanayake of Yatawatte temple Asgiriya ,which spanned into eight hundred and sixty six verses.He claimed that after 779 verse as a leaf was damaged twenty verses could not be traced thus his edition was incomplete.

The second edition of the book emerged in 1996 published by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to  mark  the ninety fifth birthday of the high priest which fell on 10th July 1996.

Sunil J. Madugalle  when he wrote his book entitled :" Four Kandyan Families" Vijitha Yapa publications 2015 he had utilized the same manuscript used by Labugama Lankanada High priest evidently the same palm leaf manuscript is still  found at the Yatawatte temple Asgiriya Therefore as claimed by Nimesha Thiwankara Senevipala in his epilogue that as this copy cannot be traced or it was widely believed as there is no original  in existence  this version should be taken as cum grano salus -taken with a pinch of salt.  .

 The book entitled: Mandarampura puwatha  was  edited by Mandaramnuwara Chandrananda himi  was released as an author publication  in 2013 where the paraphrases are found in this edition below each verse  the reviewer could not find same for hundred and ninety two to hundred and ninety four verses. Also two hundred and eighty one to two hundred and eighty four verse the paraphrases are not provided by the editor.The priest claimed that he could not find and palm leaf manuscript on Mandarampura puwatha .

Nimesha Thiwankara Senewipala's edition of the  book titled:Mandarampura Puwatha is done with a discovery of a new manuscript copied by Ven Ukuthule Seelananda of Kadadora Raja Maha Viharaya as the chief incumbent from a palm leaf copied by a principal of Padiyapelellla Udahewaheta on 5th March 1831 spanning into forty eight pages of A5 size of exercise book of 120 pages.This manuscript was originally titled Madarapura puwatha has only two hundred and forty three verses.

Nimesha Thiwankara Senevipala's edition numerically  the verses differed  with the earlier book the meaning was found similar in the  contents of the verses found thereto .

The indispensable value of the discovery of Ven Ukuthale Seelananda's copy  which was included in Nimesha Thiwankara Senevipala's book is that he has ransacked and found same as he claims the second copy discovered.The rarity of the palm leaf copies bear ample testimony as it  cannot be traced from  the K.D. Somadasa's Index on the Palm Leaf Manuscripts volumes 1,2 and 3 published by the Ministry of Cultural affairs 1959,1964.W A de Silva's Catalogue of Palm Leaf Manuscripts in the Colombo Museum Volume 1 Gov press Colombo 1938 and the Catalogue of the Hugh Nevill Collection of  Sinhalese Manuscripts in the British Library by K D Somadasa Volume 1 to 7 published by the Pali Text Society and The British Library from 1987 to 1995    do not contain any references on the Mandarampuwatha.

We owe Nimesha Thiwankara Senevipala a deep debt of gratitude for his remarkable discovery as he has allayed the doubts hitherto existed.



 
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GAYAN CHANUKA VIDANAPAHIRANA's SWAMALI MAHA CHAITHYA WARNANAWA DAYAWANSA JAYAKODY PUBLISHERS 2015 ON SITUGE DON HENDRICK APPUHAMY ALIAS HENEGAMA APPUHAMY on his benevolence to RUWANWELISEYA

TREAT FOR THOSE WHO SAVOUR HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW ON SIRISENA DEEGODA GAMAGE's SIGRI PIYUMA BY R S KARUNARATNE PUBLISHED IN THE SUNDAY OBSERVER 13-01-2019

Sigiri Piyuma

Author: Sirisena (Bandu) Deegoda Gamage
An author publication
Price: Rs. 400

Much has been written about the history of Sigiriya and its beautiful frescoes. The 600 feet high huge black rock has a long history dating back to 477 AD. It is believed that the black rock had been painted white and it appeared like a massive dazzling cloud floating in the sky. Although it was surrounded by the think jungle, Sigiriya was known as Alakamanda, the palace of King Kuvera.

According to legend, King Ravana defeated Kuvera and made Sigiriya one of his palaces. Historians, however, believe that Sigiriya was the palace of King Kasyapa who ruled his kingdom from 477 AD to 495 AD. After killing his father – Dhatusena – by plastering him up in a wall, Kasyapa was tormented by his guilt and abandoned his magnificent Anuradhapura kingdom.

After Kasyapa’s era, Sigiriya did not draw anybody’s attention until it was discovered by archaeologists. They came across the famous Sigiriya frescoes on the Western surface of the rock. It is believed that there were more than 500 frescoes but only about 23 survive today in a small pocket halfway up the rock, about 100 metres above the ground.

There has been much speculation over who they represented. According to one view, they depict Ravana’s consort Mandodari. Others believe that they were dancing women in Kasyapa’s palace. The paintings are of semi-nude Apsaras or celestial nymphs showering flowers from above on the humans below.

Sirisena (Bandu) Deegoda Gamage’s Sigiri Piyuma is, in fact, not a historical exploration of Sigiriya. It is a historical novel based on the Sigiriya frescoes. The theme of the novel appears to be that the Sigiriya frescoes depict Buddhist philosophy. To expand his theory through the novel, the author deftly creates a love affair between Suryaputra and Pramitha.

Dhatusena was not a popular king. He had two sons - Kasyapa and Moggallana. When they grew up, they tried to capture the kingdom. The story begins when Kasyapa’s men kidnap Suryaputra and Pramitha. The author describes the events that followed in a matter-of-fact style. He has been able to maintain some degree of suspense until the end of the novel. It is a sine qua non for any novel.

Historical novels of this nature are very rare in modern times. Many so-called novelists turn out cheap love stories. As a result, only a very few authors write historical novels these days. Sigiri Piyuma will be a treat to those who are fascinated by the Sigiriya frescoes.

karunaratners@gmail.com

FRANCOIS DOR'S WHY ? THE MYTHOLOGICAL LIFE PUBLISHED BY THE EDEN HOUSE REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

BOOK REVIEW Title: A HISTORY OF SRILANKAN ELEPHANTS With an Account of Maduwanwela Dissawe by C G Uragoda Published by Sridevi Publications 2018 Reviewed by Hemantha Situge

BOOK REVIEW 

TITLE: A HISTORY OF SRI LANKAN ELEPHANTS With An Account of Maduwanwela Dissawe

AUTHOR : C. G. URAGODA

PUBLISHER: SRIDEVI PUBLICATIONS 2018

REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE


A splendid book entitled: A History of Srilankan Elephants With an account of Maduwanwela Dissawe  written by Dr C. G. Uragoda was published by Sridevi publishers and  was released recently.

Dr C G Uragoda a prolific writer who  has contributed immensely to the  field of wildlife and nature .His latest book is his fourteenth published work .Dr Uragoda is a  pre-eminent savant who is in search of the scientific background in all his spheres of  research writing.The opus is replete with excellent  twelve chapters.

At page 2 of his book Dr Uragoda's  sub-heading ' Elephant and wood -apples' has whetted the curiosity of this reviewer.Thus: ".... The implications of this tradition is that by some intestinal, perhaps mediated through their body heat elephants extract the pulp, leaving behind the empty shell intact.If each of these shells have a small opening , the ready explanation is that this has been created by insects in the shell while on the ground after having been expelled by the elephant.

 Dr Uragoda cites  S V O Somanader who 'has  offered a scientific explanation for this phenomenon'. Dr Uragoda has also states that : " His theory draws scientific support from G M  Henry , who as entomologist to the Colombo Museum , carried out several experiments.His explanation was that larvae of the common guava blue butterfly ( Virochola isocrates) " live inside the fruits of the wood-apple trees.. eating the contents and emerging at night ( they ) sweep the droppings out through  a small hole usually near the stalk...."Hence the Sinhalese proverb Etha gilla divul gediya wagey literally 'like the Divul -wood apple -fruit swallowed by the elephant'. Wood -apple ( Limonia acidissima )  is also known as the elephant apple.John M. Seneviratne's 'Dictionary of Proverbs of the Sinhalese' printed by the Times of Ceylon 1936 contains twenty one  Sinhalese proverbs on the elephant.

 Sri Lanka's Four – Legged Jumbo (Elephant maximus) is the only largest number of species from fauna of elephants in the world that has found niche to be placed on the prestigious records of the Guinness Book of World Records – 2016. At page 42 of the 2016 Guinness Book under the title of Elephant sub title: most elephant subspecies it is recorded thus: “Researchers widely agrees that the Asian Elephant (Elephant maximus) has the most sub species four in all: the Borneo Pygmy (Elephant maximus ,the Indian (Elephas maximus indicus) the Sri Lankan (Elephas maximus maximus) and the Sumatran (Elephant maximus sumatrensis).

The  Sri Lanka elephant is the largest sub species. It attains a shoulder height of upto      and the weight 5500 Kg (12,125 lbs). It is also darker in colour than other Asian elephants with more patches of decreased skin pigmentation. Unusually most Sri Lankan subspecies have no tusks.” 

It is the  fervent view of  this reviewer that the “Guinness Book of World Records 2016” account has properly given due recognition to the Sri Lanka’s elephant. The genus of elephants maximus  was introduced from the Sri Lankan species which later became Elephas maximus maximus – Sri Lanka’s subspecies. The “type” locality of the elephas maximus is Ceylon now Sri Lanka. The zoologist, Ray in 1693 created the genus Elephas from a young Ceylon elephant which he saw in the zoological gardens at Florence. In 1754 Linne’ described Elephas indicus in the Memoir of the Museum of the King Adolph Fredrick of Stockholm and based their description both that of Ray and upon the foetus of an African elephant which still exists in that museum. In the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae (1758) he has renamed the animal as Elephas maximus.

It is also should be borne in mind Ceylon’s (now Sri Lanka) elephant Elephas maximus maximus was known by two genuses the present is also known by two other extinct species. They are viz. Elephas maximus vilaliya and Elephas maximus sinhaleyus the other genus known to have extinct from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) Hypselephas hysudrieus sinhaleyus.

Sri Lanka's elephant has portrayed in our ancient flags banners standards. One such  flag is the kuru etha flag of Matara. E.W.Perera's Sinhalese Banners and Standards  Colombo ,Gov Printer 1916 Plate VIII Fig 15 to 17 all Kandyan flags  ,Plate IX Fig 18 to 20 all Kandyan flags  ,Plate XXV Fig 67 flag of the Ruhunu Kataragama dewale Kegalle. Nimal de Silva's Flags and Flags Traditions 2012 at pages  iv, 2 , 20,21, 25, 34, 58, 113, 115, 119, 121, 123, 180-1,185, 218, are all on elephant flags.

Sri Lankan elephant is steeped in epigraphy.The mahouts are mentioned in Inscriptions of Ceylon Vol 2,  5 page 60 , Archaeological Survey of Ceylon 1925 ,3 , elephant combats Epigraphia Zeylanica Vol  1, 2,pages 15,16,17, and on ivory Epigraphical Notes 8, 10.5 

Prof Merlene Peris wrote A Note on the Etymology of "elephant"[ JRAS Vol 38 1993/1994  page 163] and Mahawamsa Studies Kandula The Elephant at War published by Godage.  

Reading and re-reading  the pachyderm miscellany written by Dr Uragoda entitled: " A  History Sri Lankan Elephants- with an Account of Maduwanwela Dissawe"-  the nonagenarian's erudite discourse is  an indeed a vade maecum for the elephant lovers. 

YATAGALA RAJAMAHA VIHARA ITHIHASAYA HA JANASHRUTHI [ THE HISTORY OF THE YATAGALA VIHARAYA AND THE FOLKLORE : BY PADALANGALA ASSAJI HIMI PUBLISHED BY THE YATAGALA VIHARA DAYAKA SABAVA 2016 REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

BOOK REVIEW 

Title: Yatagala Raja Maha Vihara ithihasaya ha Janashruthi [ The History of the Yatagala temple and the folklore ]

Author : Ven. Padalangala Assaji thero

Published by the Yatagala Raja Maha Vihara Dayaka Sabawa

Reviewed by Hemantha Situge

The book entitled: Yatagala Raja Maha Vihara ithihasaya ha Janashruthi [ The History of the Yatagala Viharaya and the Folklore] written by Ven Padalangala Assaji published by the Yatagala Raja Maha Vihara Dayaka Sabhawa in 2016 is the only book compiled pertaining to a Buddhist temple on Galle.

The book is dedicated to the ascendant priests of the Ketagoda Sangha lineage and epilogue is written by Ven Metaramba Hemaratane chief incumbent of the Yatagala Viharaya.

The book spans into 68 pages  and 21 colour photographs of pure bliss.The opus contains eight chapters and a useful bibliography.

This book has emerged since six decades after the earlier publication on the temple titled: Yatagala Raja Maha Vihara Ithihasaya by Millawa Gooneratne  thero on 10-12-1956 perhaps the earliest book on a temple on Galle.

The word Yatagala colloquially in Sinhalese 'beneath the massive rock' evidently was brought by the the village or sub village named 'Yatagama' vide : at page 13 of Millawa Gooneratne's book [supra] states that a school was erected . The pirivena of the temple  is named Hettawala derived from  Hetta Achala .i e  ' beneath the massive rock'

Ven. Millawa Gooneratne's opus contains a rare photograph a chief incumbent Ven Kalahe Gooneratne posing with Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala High Priest.

The temple though nestled at a most picturesque hillock after mounting of ninety steps ,is found in a most vulnerable locality as it is at a 'stone throw away 'distance from the Galle harbour the then main port of call, where the port functioned as a gateway for the invaders.

Therefore the role of the High priest Ketagoda Ratanajothi of the Yatagala Purana Raja Maha Viharaya was much alike the role played by the high priest Pallathtara Pugngnasara who re-located , re-discovered and re-built the Totagamuva  Rathpat Purana Raja Maha Viharaya .

The reclining statue of the Buddha and the bronze statue over five feet are salient treasures of the yester year.

The historical temple and the precincts were declared as a monument by the Gazette notification no 617 dated 29th June 1990 , is indeed a gift for posterity.

Ven. Padalangala Assaji thero's remarkable book entitled: Yatagala Rajamaha Vihara Ithihasaya  Ha Janashruthi ( The history of Yatagala temple and the Folklore ) would serve as a vade maecum on the temple .

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BOOK REVIEW TITLE: MAHATHMA GANDHI LANKAGAMANAYA SAHA LANKEYA DESHAPALANAYA [ MAHATMA GANDHI VISIT OF CEYLON AND SRI LANKAN POLITICS ] BY SAMPATH BANDARA PUBLISHED BY SARASAVI PRAKASHAKAYO REVIEWED HEMANTHA SITUGE

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE : MAHATMA GANDHI LANKGAMANAYA SAHA  SRILANKEYA DESHAPALANAYA [ MAHATMA GANDHI  VISIT TO CEYLON AND SRI LANKAN POLITICS ]

 Published by Sarasavi Prakasakayo

Reviewed by Hemantha Situge

The splendid book entitled: Mahatma Gandhi - Lanka Gamanaya Saha Deshapalanaya [ Mahatma Gandhi visit of Ceylon and SriLankan Politics] written by the well-known writer Sampath Bandara  published by the Sarasavi Prakashakayo to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahathma Gandhi was released recently.

The introduction of this opus states that last November marked the completion of 90 years on Mahathma Gandhi's visit to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka )Also the 30th January last year completed the 70th  Death Anniversary of this icon of the yester year.

The reviewer had the opportunity to read and re-read this book finds two momentous incidents to mark the sixteen days of Gandhiji's visit which spans from 12-11-1927 to 29-11-1927 requires to be revived our interest and placed of record.

Firstly the fate of the Na ( Messua ferrea) tree planted by Mahathma Gandhi hitherto that remains as  a protected tree under the Fauna and Flora Ordinance ( Chap 567) N. 2 of 1937 as amended .S.D. Saparamadu in his first Volume entitled: SRILANKA a WILDLIFE INTERLUDE Tisara Publications  2006 found at page 205 has stated that:


" Na Tree at Kotte ( Messua ferrea)

This tree was declared a protected tree under Section 43 schedule 6 of the Fauna Flora Ordinance in 1990.The notification the description : " Tree plant at Kotte by Mahatma Gandhi visited Sri Lanka in 1929 and the tree evidently planted during this visit. The department was  not able to give any information as to the location of this tree and whether it is still standing"

'Mahatma  Gandhi visited Sri Lanka in 1929 ' is evidently a lapsus calamai or a lapsus pennae. The house that he lived in  C Arumugam's mansion named " The Arc" in Cotta Road Rajagiriya. The tree and the house is no more  which is evidently was demolished and cut-off  and has taken a part of it by the building and the garden of the " Voet Inn " Sri Lanka Law College Hostel , 1163B Cotta Road Rajagiriya.

This reviewer could neither trace any references in Mahadev Desai's With Gandhiji in Ceylon Published by S. Ganeshan 1920  and nor in Gopalakrishna Gandhi(editor) 's Gandhi and Sri Lanka 1905-1947 Vishvalekha 2002  . on  the  exact day Gandhi planted this tree at Rajagiriya " The Arc".

A political biography entitled :" J R Jayewardane of Sri Lanka 1906-1956 Volume 1, written by K M da Silva and Howard Higgins at page 63 records an incident occurred in December 1930  ' provides evidence of the rapid progress of Dicky's [JRJ's ] politicization.' Thus:

" In the first of the incident , unveiling of a portrait of Gandhi in the premises of the Law College , Dick was at the centre of the controversy that erupted.Considering that the governing body of the Law College consisted of Supreme Court judges , and most of them British, the decision  to unveil a portrait of the arch-rebel of the raj provocative; it became doubly so, and a calculated act of defiance,at a time when Gandhi was in jail. The first problem  was to raise funds to pay the artist, David Paynter- a highly regarded Eurasian artist resident in the island who had been commissioned to do the portrait of Gandhi in the Law College, this financial support dried up if it did not evaporate altogether. One result of this reneging on promises of support was an acrimonious exchange of letters between the head of a prestigious firm of lawyers - a friend of E.W. and the Jayewardane family and Dick .Eventually it was Dick himself, who made good the financial loss sustained by the refusal of established lawyers to keep their promises of money to pay for the portrait.He had saved a tidy sum of money from his salary as his father's private secretary and part of this was diverted to this purpose.........

E. W. was a member of the governing body of the Law College was instrumental in preventing it from banning the unveiling ceremony.Arguing that" The rebel of today is the martyr of tomorrow " he pointed out that the law students had not asked for permission to hang the portrait on the wall of the College , but merely had invited them to be present at the ceremony." The portrait was unveiled by Chairman of the Ceylon National Congress  Francis de Zoysa K C  the main speaker was C E Corea  and the vote of thanks were delivered by J R Jayewardane himself who had relinquished office as his fathers private secretary.

The opus also states that ' the portrait itself is an undistinguished piece of work. Gandhi appears there at prayer an ascetic and the overwhelming impression is on of penitence and submission. There is nothing there of other facets of the mans personality especially his irresistible vitality'.

These incidents bear ample testimony to the fact that the  charisma of Mahatma Gandhi has made a remarkable impact on Sri Lankan political arena. Sampath Bandara's book is a befitting  true tribute to this unique Indian  leader sui generis. 

THE MAHAVAMSA ILLUSTRATED -PAINTINGS FROM A 12 th CENTURY MYANMAR TEMPLE BY DR HEMA GOONETILEKE PUBLISHED BY S. GODAGE AND BROTHERS (PVT) LTD 2019 REVIEWED BY HEMANTHA SITUGE

The magnum opus entitled:" The Mahavamsa Illustrated -Paintings from  a 12 th century Myanmar Temple" - by Dr Hema Goonetileke published by S Godage and Brothers was released recently.

This opus is dedicated to 'to  the monks of Sri Lanka and South -east Asia who over  the centuries for over one millennium traversed the oceans and difficult terrain to enrich each other's cultures'.

The foreword of the book is written by Emeiritus Professor Y. Karunadasa  and the introduction of the book is done by former Associate Professor of the University of Texas, Doanald M. Stadtner .

Dr Hema Goonetileke has turned aback in time embarking on a journey of historiography unfolds the pages of our epic Mahavamsa  tracing the indispensable role played by the avid monks of Sri Lanka and the East Asia  for  their  impact to strengthen the cultural ties in between Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

In the light of the publication:" The Mahavamsa Illustrated" this reviewer opines  that the contents of the book should be viewed through the contemporaneous epigraphic evidence  available on the  era such as Polonnaruva : Slab Inscription of the Velaikkaras ( circa 1137-1153 A. D.) Epigraphia Zeylanica Volume II  No 40 ( Reg. no 2) .from pages 242 to 255  Edited and Translated by Don Martino de Silva Wickramasinghe  London 1928 .

from pages 248-50 of this inscription Dimbulagala ( Udumbagiri ) Maha Kassapa is mentioned Goonetilke  asserts at page 94 in her opus. At page 253-4 of this inscription : " So His Majesty had Buddhist priest invited from Aramans [to Ceylon } , an [ with their aid ] effected the purification  of the Buddhist Order of the Nikayas [ fraternities] ".

The other epigraphic account is on the Devanagala Parwatha Inscription  by Parakramabahu the Great,  the description is found in the Report of the Kegalle District  XIX -1892  Archaeological Survey of Ceylon  by H. C. P. Bell  Colombo 1904 vide: pages 73 to 76 it is on the Burmese interactions of his times.

Dr Rev Polwatte Buddadatta Mahathera wrote a book titled: Kalyani Shila Lipi in Sinhalese deciphered the Kalyani inscriptions ,which was reprinted by Godage . This book would be a another book to re-examine the episode of Burma .

Another account on the History of the Burmese Sect in Sri Lanka ( Lakdiva Buruma Nikaye Ithihasaya ) in Sinhalese found from pages 37-49 written by the Dr Rev Polwatte Buddadatta Mahathero  published in Paranavitana Felicitation Volume edited by Prof  N. A. Jayawickrama Gunasena 1965  would be of some value that whet the curiosity of the reader.

Dr Malini Dias's 'Historical Relations of Ancient Sri Lanka and Myanmar published in the Ancient and Medieval Commercial Activities in the Indian Ocean' : Testimony of Inscriptions and Ceramic -shreds Report of the Taisho University Research Project 1997-200 Edited Noboru Karashima Taisho University 2002 pages 170-183  is another recent scholarly  study on the subject.

 It is the fervent view of this reviewer that  Prof' G. P. Malalasekera in his  splendid treatise entitled : 'The Pali Literature of Ceylon'[1928] Buddhist Publication Society 1994  at page 196-7 sheds light to hidden saga  of the the 12 th century  Mahawamsa paintings found in the Myanmar temple  Miyankaba Kubyaukgyi in Bagan .During the reign of King Parakramabahu 1 -the Great - a Burmese priest named  Elder Uthtarajeewa from Pagan  learnt the damma and sought upasampada -higher ordination from the celebrated  Mahaviharaya along  with his pupil the novice Chapata known in religion Saddammajothipala   .Thereafter four Sinhalese monks set foot to Myanmar together with him  and conducted Upasampada -the higher ordination- in Myanmar . Malalasekera has stated that this intercouse  as  the beginning of the lineage of- Sihala sangha - Sinhalese monks in Burma  thus it unravels the tangled skein hitherto existed.

The visit of these Sinhalese monks bear ample testimony to the fact how episodes of Mahavamsa has steeped in Burmese Buddhist culture that left the hallmark of imprint  by them at  this temple. The paintings are drawn by an unknown artist in Burma who  has associated  with the Myanmar Temple.

This reviewer could not trace any mode of departure cited  even in 'Sri lanka -Myanmar Historical Relations in Religion, Culture and Polity  by H. Goonetileke pp 77to 114 JRAS NS Volume LV , 2009 

The  scholarly treatise entitled:" Mahavamsa Ilustrated " ,is indeed a thought provoking book  for the researches to further delve into on  the significant religious intercourse as a landmark   of the past.