Harischandra Wijayatunga
Encyclopedia
Wijayatunga Mudalige Harischandra Wijayatunga is a Sri Lanka
n author, translator, lexicographer, teacher, lawyer and politician. He held various offices in different institutions of the Government of Sri Lanka. At present he is the leader of Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra
Party. During the presidential elections of 1994
and 1999
, he was the candidate of that party for this high office.
He is the compiler of the Gunasena Great Sinhala Dictionary, which is considered as the most comprehensive Sinhala-Sinhala dictionary to date. Besides compiling this voluminous work of over 2000 pages, he also proposed scientific ideas to standardise the Sinhala alphabet
.
His political philosophy Mahasammatavada ('Great Consensus' or comprehensive consultation) envisages consulting all people which he described "as going beyond democracy". He has also appeared for the rights of Sinhala
Buddhists on various fora.
, Sri Lanka
. His father, Wijayatunga Mudalige Don Bastian Wijayatunga, was an Ayurvedic eye physician, landed proprietor and a planter (coconut and paddy) and his mother was Amarawathie Jayasinghe. Wijayatunga was the fourth in a family of eight siblings.
Wijayatunga received his elementary education at the Government Bilingual School in Minuwangoda. When the Nalanda College Colombo was relocated to Minuwangoda during the World War II
, as a security measure, his parents took the opportunity to shift him to that school. After the War Nalanda College Colombo was taken back to Colombo
, and Wijayatnga continued his studies at Nalanda College Colombo. In 1952 he entered the University of Ceylon
and in 1955 graduated with a bachelor's degree
in science.
For his thesis
"Legal Philosophy in Medieval Sinhale" he was awarded the Ph.D. degree by the University of Kelaniya
in 1990.
, Kandy
as a science teacher. In addition, he also taught Chemistry at the Mahamaya Girls' College
, Kandy. It was during this time that he wrote his first book Miridiya Jivihu (Freshwater Life). In 1956 he was appointed as the Editor of the Science Section of the Sinhala Encyclopaedia, established at the University of Peradeniya
. After some years of service there, he assumed the post of vice-Principal of his former work place, Dharmaraja College
.
In 1965 he was appointed to the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) which started work in the same year. He was the first and the only member appointed to the staff, functioning as its Secretary. Under his supervision Divisional Committees on Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Agriculture and Chemicals, and Metrication
of Sri Lanka
were appointed.
The next step he took was to join the Sri Lanka Law College
as a student. He took his oaths as an Attorney-at-Law
in 1973.
He appeared for the accused in the 1971 insurrection before the Criminal Justice Commission. It is also noteworthy that he represented several parties at the Presidential Commission headed by the former Chief Justice Mr. M. C. Sansoni.
Throughout the 1980s he held various offices such as Chief Editor of the tabloid Sinhala Bauddhya (The Sinhala Buddhist), Director, Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation and member of the Directorate of the Siddhayurveda College, Gampaha
. During the years 1984-1990, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Sinhalese Encyclopaedia as well as the Officer-in-Charge, Sinhala version of the Legislative Enactments of Sri Lanka.
of Sri Lanka
, calling into life the “Sinhala Union of the University of Ceylon”. During his stay in Kandy he associated himself with the work of Sri Lanka Freedom Party
. Realising that none of the two major parties in Sri Lanka would espouse the rights of Sinhala Buddhists, which was uppermost in his mind, he established the Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya
in 1990 with a group of intellectuals. He became the leader of this party and holds this position to this date.
In the third Sri Lankan presidential election, 1994
, he was the candidate of his Party and polled 32,651 votes. Six years later, he contested again in the presidential elections of 1999
, polling 35,854 votes. He also contested in the parliamentary elections
of 2000, 2001 and 2004.
Wijayatunga and Karuna are the parents of three sons (Widyasagara, b. 1965, Chakrapani, b. 1967 and Chandrakeerthi, b. 1970) and a daughter (Shyama Kumari, b. 1969). He has travelled widely in many Asian, African and European countries, and was invited to address various groups of learned societies in India
, Japan
, UK and Australia
.
Translations
Creative works
Dictionaries
Works on Religion and History
Works on Politics
Works on Law
Works on travel
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n author, translator, lexicographer, teacher, lawyer and politician. He held various offices in different institutions of the Government of Sri Lanka. At present he is the leader of Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputhra Pakshaya is a minor Sinhala Buddhist political party in Sri Lanka, led by Dr. Harischandra Wijayatunga....
Party. During the presidential elections of 1994
Sri Lankan presidential election, 1994
The Sri Lankan presidential election of 1994 was the third presidential election of Sri Lanka. Nominations were accepted on 7 October 1994, and the election was held on 9 November 1994. Electoral participation was 70.47%...
and 1999
Sri Lankan presidential election, 1999
The Sri Lankan presidential election of 1999 was the fourth presidential election of Sri Lanka. Nominations were accepted on 16 November 1999, and the election was held on 21 December 1999 Electoral participation was 73.31%...
, he was the candidate of that party for this high office.
He is the compiler of the Gunasena Great Sinhala Dictionary, which is considered as the most comprehensive Sinhala-Sinhala dictionary to date. Besides compiling this voluminous work of over 2000 pages, he also proposed scientific ideas to standardise the Sinhala alphabet
Sinhala alphabet
The Sinhala alphabet is an abugida used in Sri Lanka to write the official language Sinhala and also sometimes the liturgical languages Pali and Sanskrit...
.
His political philosophy Mahasammatavada ('Great Consensus' or comprehensive consultation) envisages consulting all people which he described "as going beyond democracy". He has also appeared for the rights of Sinhala
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
Buddhists on various fora.
Early life
Harischandra Wijayatunga was born in 1931 at Medemulla in MinuwangodaMinuwangoda
Minuwangoda is a town and Urban Council in Gampaha District in the Western Province of Sri Lanka...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. His father, Wijayatunga Mudalige Don Bastian Wijayatunga, was an Ayurvedic eye physician, landed proprietor and a planter (coconut and paddy) and his mother was Amarawathie Jayasinghe. Wijayatunga was the fourth in a family of eight siblings.
Wijayatunga received his elementary education at the Government Bilingual School in Minuwangoda. When the Nalanda College Colombo was relocated to Minuwangoda during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as a security measure, his parents took the opportunity to shift him to that school. After the War Nalanda College Colombo was taken back to Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, and Wijayatnga continued his studies at Nalanda College Colombo. In 1952 he entered the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
and in 1955 graduated with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in science.
For his thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
"Legal Philosophy in Medieval Sinhale" he was awarded the Ph.D. degree by the University of Kelaniya
University of Kelaniya
The University of Kelaniya is a state university of Sri Lanka. Situated just outside the municipal limits of Colombo, in the ancient and historic city of Kelaniya, the University has two major campuses, seven locations, six faculties and four institutions....
in 1990.
Career
Immediately after his University education, Wijayatunga joined the staff of Dharmaraja CollegeDharmaraja College, Kandy
Dharmaraja College , founded in 1887 is a premier Boys' School in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist school with around 175 teaching staff and around 4,500 students. The school has many renowned figures in its alumni including William Gopallawa, A. E...
, Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
as a science teacher. In addition, he also taught Chemistry at the Mahamaya Girls' College
Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy
Located in the heart of the City of Kandy overlooking the Kandy Lake, Mahamaya Girls’ College is one of Sri Lanka's finest public Buddhist girls' schools. The school is named after Queen Mahamaya, the mother of the Lord Buddha.-Location:...
, Kandy. It was during this time that he wrote his first book Miridiya Jivihu (Freshwater Life). In 1956 he was appointed as the Editor of the Science Section of the Sinhala Encyclopaedia, established at the University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
. After some years of service there, he assumed the post of vice-Principal of his former work place, Dharmaraja College
Dharmaraja College, Kandy
Dharmaraja College , founded in 1887 is a premier Boys' School in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist school with around 175 teaching staff and around 4,500 students. The school has many renowned figures in its alumni including William Gopallawa, A. E...
.
In 1965 he was appointed to the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) which started work in the same year. He was the first and the only member appointed to the staff, functioning as its Secretary. Under his supervision Divisional Committees on Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Agriculture and Chemicals, and Metrication
Metrication
Metrication refers to the introduction and use of the SI metric system, the international standard for physical measurements. This has involved a long process of independent and systematic conversions of countries from various local systems of weights and measures. Metrication began in France in...
of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
were appointed.
The next step he took was to join the Sri Lanka Law College
Sri Lanka Law College
Sri Lanka Law College was established as the Ceylon Law College under the Council of Legal Education in 1874 in order to impart a formal legal education to those who wished to be lawyers in Ceylon...
as a student. He took his oaths as an Attorney-at-Law
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in 1973.
He appeared for the accused in the 1971 insurrection before the Criminal Justice Commission. It is also noteworthy that he represented several parties at the Presidential Commission headed by the former Chief Justice Mr. M. C. Sansoni.
Throughout the 1980s he held various offices such as Chief Editor of the tabloid Sinhala Bauddhya (The Sinhala Buddhist), Director, Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation and member of the Directorate of the Siddhayurveda College, Gampaha
Gampaha
Gampaha is an urban city in Sri Lanka and is the capital of the Gampaha District in Western Province, north of Colombo. Gampaha District is separated from Colombo mainly by the Kelani River.-Namesake:...
. During the years 1984-1990, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Sinhalese Encyclopaedia as well as the Officer-in-Charge, Sinhala version of the Legislative Enactments of Sri Lanka.
Political career
Wijayatunga’s political career goes back to his university days. He joined in the popular movement in 1950s to make Sinhala the Official LanguageOfficial language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, calling into life the “Sinhala Union of the University of Ceylon”. During his stay in Kandy he associated himself with the work of Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
. Realising that none of the two major parties in Sri Lanka would espouse the rights of Sinhala Buddhists, which was uppermost in his mind, he established the Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputhra Pakshaya is a minor Sinhala Buddhist political party in Sri Lanka, led by Dr. Harischandra Wijayatunga....
in 1990 with a group of intellectuals. He became the leader of this party and holds this position to this date.
In the third Sri Lankan presidential election, 1994
Sri Lankan presidential election, 1994
The Sri Lankan presidential election of 1994 was the third presidential election of Sri Lanka. Nominations were accepted on 7 October 1994, and the election was held on 9 November 1994. Electoral participation was 70.47%...
, he was the candidate of his Party and polled 32,651 votes. Six years later, he contested again in the presidential elections of 1999
Sri Lankan presidential election, 1999
The Sri Lankan presidential election of 1999 was the fourth presidential election of Sri Lanka. Nominations were accepted on 16 November 1999, and the election was held on 21 December 1999 Electoral participation was 73.31%...
, polling 35,854 votes. He also contested in the parliamentary elections
Elections in Sri Lanka
Elections in Sri Lanka gives information on election and election results in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a six year term by the people...
of 2000, 2001 and 2004.
Personal life
Wijayatunga was married to Kalukapuge Karuna Perera (B.A., Dip. Ed., Attorney-at-Law, Notary Public and Commissioner of Oaths) of Kiribathgoda, who died in 2000. Karuna's father, a Kalukapuge Bandaranaike, adopted the surname Perera during British colonial time. One of the descendent of the male lineage of the Kalukapuge Bandaranaike family is the fourth Prime Minister of Ceylon, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Karuna's both parents were school principals.Wijayatunga and Karuna are the parents of three sons (Widyasagara, b. 1965, Chakrapani, b. 1967 and Chandrakeerthi, b. 1970) and a daughter (Shyama Kumari, b. 1969). He has travelled widely in many Asian, African and European countries, and was invited to address various groups of learned societies in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, UK and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Works by Harischandra Wijayatunga
Science works- මිරිදිය ජීවිහු (1955)
- ජ්යෙෂ්ඨ රසායන විද්යාව (1956)
- පොළොවේ කථාන්තරය (1959)
Translations
- බ්රව්නිං සහ ජෝසෆ් ලියූ ප්රායෝගික රසායන විද්යාව (1958)
- ඩරන්ට් ගේ කාබනික රසායනය (1963)
- මාඕ සේතුං ගේ කලාව හා සාහිත්යය (1963)
Creative works
- පහන් වන දා (1961)
- කුමාරතුංගගේ සමාජ දර්ශනය (1962)
- සිංහල ශබ්දකෝෂ සම්පාදනය ට අලුත් ආකල්පයක් (1977)
- සිංහල අකුරු අකාරාදී කිරීම සහ ප්රමිත කිරීම (2003)
- හෙවිසි එපා (2007)
Dictionaries
- නූතන සිංහල පාරිභාෂික ශබ්දකෝෂය (1978)
- පරිපාලන ශබ්දකෝෂය (1982)
- ප්රායෝගික සිංහල ශබ්දකෝෂය, කාණ්ඩ I සහ II (1982/84)
- ගුණසේන මහා සිංහල ශබ්දකෝෂය (2005)
Works on Religion and History
- ආගමික නිදහස හා මූලික අයිතිය (2003)
- ඊර්ෂ්යාකාරයා ගේ අණ (2006)
- යක්කු සහ කුවේණිය (2008)
Works on Politics
- ජාතික සටන (1960)
- ජනතා ජයග්රහණයේ අනාගතය (1963)
- ලෝකය රක්නා තන්ත්රය - මහ සම්මතවාදය (1991)
- Mahasammatavada (1992)
- ජාතික අනන්යතාවේ න්යායික පසුබිම (1992)
- නේරු-කොතලාවල ගිවිසුම ක්රියාත්මක කරමු (1993)
- වෙනසක පෙරනිමිති (1995)
- මූලික අයිතිය පෙන්වා උත්තරීතර අයිතිය පැහැර ගැනීම (1996)
- භීෂණයෙන් තොර සමාජයක් (1999)
- මාර සෙනඟ ගේ හා දේවදත්තයන්ගේ වැඩ (2003)
Works on Law
- නීති නිඝණ්ඩුව (1998)
- Legal Philosophy in Medieval Sinhale (2008)
Works on travel
- සුන්දර කෙන්යාව හෙවත් මාසෛයන් ගේ රට (2002)
Further reading
- සිංහල බෞද්ධ චින්තනය ට බලපෑ විජයතුංග සාධකය, Udaya Rajapakshe, S. Godage & Bros., Colombo, 2007 (ISBN 955-20-9519-0)