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 ...

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Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, a man of vision and compassion-by Sanjiva Senanayake Colonel Henry Steel Olcott Source:FT Every year in November, Ananda College organises an oration by an illustrious alumnus of Ananda to commemorate and celebrate the life and work of an exceptional American who was instrumental in the founding of the College in 1886.  The Olcott Oration, one of the main highlights of the College calendar, was inaugurated in 1968. After a break of about 10 years, it was relaunched in 2001 with Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne as the speaker and has been held unbroken since then. Last year, Sydney-based lawyer, human rights activist and lyricist, Maithri Panagoda, delivered the oration.  This year it will be held at 4:30 p.m. on 28 November with Dr. Anil Jasinghe MD, SC, Md (Med. Ad.) speaking on ‘Sri Lanka’s Response to a Global Pandemic: COVID-19 – A Strategic Perspective’. For the first time ...

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