Mr. D. S. Senanayake Archives

ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE DURING WORLD WAR II – PART I-By Avishka Mario Senewiratne Source:Tillthemountainsdisappearams Background Though this part of the world was at relative peace, by early 1942 over 20 million souls had lost their lives during the terrifying battles in countless locations in Europe. The United States had remained neutral. That was until December 1941, when the Imperial Japanese, allies of the Axis, attacked Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. As a result of this surprise attack, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared war against the Axis, entering World War II, and thus, the tides of the war were changed. The Imperial Japanese, who emerged victorious in their naval as well as air pursuits, were highly interested in attacking the British garrisoned in the East Indies, which included Ceylon, a British colony since King Sri Wickrema Rājasinghe’s surrender in 1815. The next tragedy was the fall of Singapore. This too was carried out ...

SIR DON BARON JAYATILAKA: THE EPOCH MAKER-by Sudeep Perera Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka was born on February 13, 1868 in Waragoda, a village in Kelaniya. Source:Dailynews He was the eldest son of Don Daniel and Elisa Jayatilaka (nee Weerasinghe), the former being from Paththalagedara in Veyangoda. Daniel Jayatilaka was a contractor in the construction of roads and a founder member of the Vidyalankara Pirivena in Kelaniya. Mrs. Elisa Jayatilaka (nee Weerasinghe) devoted Buddhist, a descendent of the highly respected, wealthy Weerasinghe family of Waragoda. Initial education was at Vidyalankara Pirivena where he learnt Sinhalese, Pali, Sanscrit and Buddhist Literature under the patronage of scholars such as Ven. Rathmalane Sri Dharmaloka and Ven. Rathmalane Sri Dharmarama. Elementary education in the English medium was commenced at a Baptist school in Kelaniya. Secondary education was received at Wesley Collage Colombo. His siblings were Muhandiram Don Simon Jayatilaka and Mudliyar Don Abraham Jayatilaka. Marriage ...