Media in recent months had given wide
publicity and made the public knowledgeable about the first
Buddhist school in Sri Lanka — G/Piyaratana Maha Vidyalaya,
located between 64 and 65 mile post along Galle — Colombo main
road in the Southern Province. It was highlighted in both the
printed and electronic media that this school is heading towards
rapid deterioration and possible collapse if it goes unattended
by the relevant educational authorities and the public.
It may be of historical interests for many Sri
Lankans, particularly the Buddhists living here and abroad to
know about the pioneering role played by this school, and the
pioneering efforts made by the founder of this school in
promoting native (national) education in Sri Lanka. Historical
records speaks more on the valiant and charismatic role played
by Piyaratana Tissa Nayaka Thero — the founder of this Buddhist
school — who challenged missionary education in Ceylon under
British rule. The significance of this challenge was that it was
the first ever attempt to revive Buddhism through the promotion
of native Buddhist education subsequent to the victorious great
religious debate known as Panaduravadaya (Debate held in
Panadura).
The saga of this school goes as far back as
1869. That was the time when missionary schools and the
government authorities did everything possible to suppress
Buddhism and the setting up of native schools.
Archival records in the National Archives in Sri
Lanka and the collection of historical records still preserved
by Sailabimbaramaya of Dodanduwa the abode of Piyaratana
Tissa Nayaka Thero and also at Kumarakande Mahaviharaya (Dodanduwa)
authoritatively suggest that Piyaratana Tissa Nayaka Thero was
the founding father of Buddhist education in Sri Lanka. This
fact was accepted when the Postal Dept. of Sri Lanka issued a
commemorative stamp valued sixty cents in honour of this priest
on 22nd May 1984.
Although we identify the first Buddhist school
as Piyaratana Vidyalaya, was initially known as
Jinalabdhivishodhana (in love of Buddha) and the latter name
replaced after the demise of Piyaratana Thero by his pupil,
Siridhamma Thero, the immediate successor and the chief
incumbent of the Temple.
Historical documents further indicates that
Piyaratana Tissa Thero through a society known as Lokartha
Sadhana Sanagamaya, founded by himself engaged in a valiant
battle to get his school registered with the then educational
authorities under colonial government. Failing in his efforts to
get it registered, he seemed to have used his tact and
intellectual skills by giving a grand welcome to Governor
Robinson by erecting pandals, when the latter visited Dodanduwa
in an official tour in the Southern Province. In the same year
he won his battle in getting this school registered with the
educational authorities. That was in 1874 and it was a
monumental task done by Piyaratana Nayaka Thero for the
promotion of native Buddhist education in Sri Lanka.
His contributions to promote Sinhala Buddhist
education, of course need further research and it is unfortunate
that his role is shrouded in the history of Buddhist revival,
perhaps on account of the pre-eminence given to other
contemporaries of his era by historians. It is not intended here
to make a detailed historical sketch of his contributions except
stating certain facts about him and the significant role played
by this school during the pre and post — independence era.
Historical records indicate that many leaders
during the period of Buddhist revival had worked with Piyaratana
Nayaka Thero and visited dhamsabha Mandapa of
Sailabimbaramaya where many discussions were held on matters
pertaining to Buddhist education. Veteran Buddhist priests like
Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala and Migettuwatte Gunananda (the chief
debater of Panadurawadaya) and clergymen like Anagarika
Dhammapala and Henry Steel Olcott were among the close
associates of this Thero, with whom they exchanged letters on
various topics in addition to their visit to this temple located
adjacent to this school.
Henry Olcott, an American national who formed
the Theosophical Society and helped in promoting Buddhist native
schools like Mahinda College in Galle, Ananda and Nalanda
Colleges in Colombo and Dharmaraja College in Kandy and schools
in other parts of the island was first administered pansil
by Piyaratana Nayake Thero. Impressed by the activities of the
thero, Olcott has contributed much needed financial assistance
and laboratory equipments to this school including 8 mm
projector, the first of its kind brought to the island (which is
now in the possession of an outsider and worthy of preserving it
as cultural heritage of Buddhist revival).
It is also recorded in the archival records that
the famous poet priest of Tibetan origin — Rev. S. Mahinda — was
ordained by the same priest at Sailabimbaramaya. Another matter
of historical importance is that the said temple is having a
Buddha statute made out of rock which had been ferried through
sea from Kaveri Pattanam of South India. As children we
heard from our grand parents that the statute was brought to the
temple by cutting a temporary canal from the sea coast leading
to the temple bordering on the land side of the present railway
track near Dodanduwa Railway station. It is well known that this
priest was behind this Herculean task. (It is of historical
interests to note that Dodanduwa was a hub of commercial
activities during this period with linkages to South India from
where salted fish (jadi in Sinhala) and Calicut tiles
were brought through Customs located near Dodanduwa Road bridge.
And also it had linkages with the Maldives and Singapore.
Historical records in the possession of late Rev. Dhammasena of
Kumarakande maha viharaya gives a vivid account of the
commercial activities engaged by the sea-faring heroic people of
this area).
The efforts launched by Piyaratana Thero to
promote native Buddhist education was unlimited. Accordingly it
is known that it was this thero who took pains to introduce
English medium stream to the school which was started in a
temporary cadjan shed. The aim was to make students prepare for
government jobs particularly make them compete with students
passing out from English missionary schools.
Because of this pioneering effort, Piyaratana
Vidyalaya continued to be one of the best schools in the
Southern Province, where admission was difficult as late as 1950
and 1960s. Many students from distant places like Ambalangoda,
Galle, Kalegana, Katudampe, Boosa, Kumarakande, Hikkaduwa,
Telwatte, Gonapinuwala, Thiranagama, Rathgama and surrounding
areas attended this school. It had one of the best science
laboratories and the Science graduates during my time (that was
in 1940s and 50s) were brought from India. There were so many
teachers committed to work and no tuition at that time. The
results of the college were high. Many students who studied in
this school including my contemporaries of 1940s and 50s have
either entered top administrative positions or senior positions
in the government service or joined as professionals in the
medical, engineering and legal fields. Those who joined business
emerged as business tycoons who may have second generation or
third generation of children
.
The reason why I am writing this is to draw
attention not only to the past students of this school but also
to their children and grand children to make them proud of the
type of education served by this school. And also to remind the
need for compulsory obligations to extend help to help recover
from its present position. Above all, I want to draw public
attention, particularly of those Buddhist high priests living
here — Colombo, Kandy, Anuradhapura and foreign capital cities
like London, New York, Washington, Tokyo, Toronto, Singapore
etc. Also I wish to draw the attention of the Buddhist
Philanthropists living all over the world.
My objective in providing this article is two
fold. Fist to emphasize the significance of preserving the first
Buddhist school in Sri Lanka; second, to make an open appeal to
the government, general public and the affluent Buddhists and
all others concerned to promote this school either by funding or
through any other means.
My appeal in directed mainly to the Minister of
Cultural Heritage — Vijitha Herath and Her Excellency, the Prime
Minister, Minister of Education, relevant authorities of
provincial education and all parliamentarians and the Opposition
to help preserve this school as a place of "Cultural Heritage".
Because this school is more than 130 years that is 30 years more
than what is required to declare this school as an institution
of cultural heritage... In this connection I draw the attention
of the Commissioner of Archaeoloy to take all possible measures
to preserve the cultural identity of this school and the temple
where Piyaratana Thero lived.
Subsequent to media reports an ad-hoc committee
was established by a few old boys a couple of months ago when I
was elected as the pro-tem treasurer.
A full session of the Old Boys and Girls has now
been summoned for today by extending an open invitation through
public media to all the former students of this historic school.
This meeting will commence at 9 a.m. and it is hopeful of
establishing a steering committee for fund raising and mapping
out future strategies to overcome the present debacle of the
first Buddhist school.
Any funding by philanthropists or well wishers
within and outside the country may be drawn in favour of the
Treasurer, Piyaratana Old Boys and Girls Association and
addressed to the Principal, Piyaratana Vidyalaya, Dodanduwa.
(Prof. W. M. Karunadasa, University of Colombo)
Source : www.island.lk