Welikadawatte
Encyclopedia
Welikadawatte, a middle-class housing estate in Rajagiriya
, Sri Lanka
was a result of the first co-operative housing scheme in Sri Lanka.
In the mid-1950s, Dr. Seneka Bibile
, together with Herbert Keuneman, 'Bonnie' Fernando, Anil
and Jeanne Moonesinghe
and other members of the radical intelligentsia
founded Sri Lanka's first co-operative housing scheme, the Gothatuwa Building Society. The members of the society were drawn from the ranks of the journalists of the "Lake House" publishing group and of the professors of the University of Ceylon
.
The housing estate was established on land granted through the offices of T. B. Ilangaratne
in the Welikada area (Rajagiriya postal area) of Kotte
, now the Capital of Sri Lanka but then a suburb of Colombo
. Originally within a large cinnamon and coconut plantation known as Marandaan Kurunduwatte, it was named Welikadawatte - the Sinhala for "Welikada Gardens". One notable aspect of the scheme was that the each of the houses had a distinct design, the architects experimenting with forms new to Sri Lanka at the time. Some of the designs were reminiscent of the approach of Walter Gropius
and the Bauhaus
- then popularly known as the 'American Style'.
The scheme later on expanded considerably, both in size and in population. It attained some fame as an island of intellectual creativity from the mid-1960s onwards.
, Osmund Jayaratne
, S.R. Kottegoda, Lester Jayawardene, T.W. Wikramanayake, Stanley Dissanayake and Jayadeva Uyangoda
,Doctors B.J Masakorala, Lucian Jayasuriya, Indrani Jayawardene,late Dr. Jayasundara, Cabinet Ministers Anil Moonesinghe
and late Kingsley T Wickremaratne, writers Vijita Fernando
, B.J.B. ("Bonnie") Fernando, Herbert Keuneman, Jeanne Moonesinghe
and Lakshman Gunasekera, slain human rights journalist Richard de Zoysa
and his mother, human rights activist and Mother's Front founder Dr Manoranee Saravanamuttu, women's rights activist Sepali Kottegoda and intellectuals Newton Gunesinghe, Dr. N.R. de Silva, civil servant Victor Unantenne, late BCF Jayaratne, principle of Museus College Wimala Jayaratne and former soldier in the 'Lanka Regiment' of the Indian National Army
, late writer M.W. Indrasoma, former port chairman late Mr Dolapihilla, former General Manager of Bank of Ceylon and Seylan Bank Mrs Rohini Nanayakkara, banker Mr Ellapola, former Secretary General of the UNP Senerath Kapukotuwa and Secretary to late president Premadasa, Bradman Weerakoon.
The offices of the Stromme Foundation, Humanitarian Information Centre for Sri Lanka Rights, and of the English Writers' Cooperative of Sri Lanka, are located here.
Rajagiriya
Rajagiriya is one of the main residential and Commercial suburbs after Nugegoda in the Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte municipal limits. Rajagiriya is bordered by Borella and Ethul Kotte.-History:...
, 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...
was a result of the first co-operative housing scheme in Sri Lanka.
In the mid-1950s, Dr. Seneka Bibile
Seneka Bibile
Senaka Bibile was a Sri Lankan pharmacologist. He was the founder of Sri Lanka’s drug policy, which was used as a model for development of policies based on rational pharmaceutical use in other countries as well by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and...
, together with Herbert Keuneman, 'Bonnie' Fernando, Anil
Anil Moonesinghe
Anil Moonesinghe was a Sri Lankan Trotskyist revolutionary politician and trade unionist. He became a Member of Parliament, a Cabinet Minister, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a Diplomat. He authored several books and edited newspapers and magazines. He was Chairperson and General Manager of...
and Jeanne Moonesinghe
Jeanne Hoban
Jeanne Hoban , known after her marriage as Jeanne Moonesinghe, was a British Trotskyist who became active in trade unionism and politics in Sri Lanka. She was one of the handful of European Radicals in Sri Lanka.- Early years :She was born in Gillingham, Kent...
and other members of the radical intelligentsia
Intelligentsia
The intelligentsia is a social class of people engaged in complex, mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them...
founded Sri Lanka's first co-operative housing scheme, the Gothatuwa Building Society. The members of the society were drawn from the ranks of the journalists of the "Lake House" publishing group and of the professors of 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...
.
The housing estate was established on land granted through the offices of T. B. Ilangaratne
T. B. Ilangaratne
Tikiri Bandara Ilangaratne was a Sri Lankan politician, author, dramatist, and theater actor he was Member of Parliament for Kandy, Galaha, Hewaheta and Kolonnawa in Colombo district...
in the Welikada area (Rajagiriya postal area) of Kotte
Kotte
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte , also known as Sri Jayawardenapura or Kotte කෝට්ටේ, is the administrative capital of Sri Lanka. It is located beyond the eastern suburbs of the commercial capital Colombo and is often called New Capital Territory...
, now the Capital of Sri Lanka but then a suburb of 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...
. Originally within a large cinnamon and coconut plantation known as Marandaan Kurunduwatte, it was named Welikadawatte - the Sinhala for "Welikada Gardens". One notable aspect of the scheme was that the each of the houses had a distinct design, the architects experimenting with forms new to Sri Lanka at the time. Some of the designs were reminiscent of the approach of Walter Gropius
Walter Gropius
Walter Adolph Georg Gropius was a German architect and founder of the Bauhaus School who, along with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture....
and the Bauhaus
Bauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
- then popularly known as the 'American Style'.
The scheme later on expanded considerably, both in size and in population. It attained some fame as an island of intellectual creativity from the mid-1960s onwards.
Notable residents
Among its notable residents have been Professors Seneka BibileSeneka Bibile
Senaka Bibile was a Sri Lankan pharmacologist. He was the founder of Sri Lanka’s drug policy, which was used as a model for development of policies based on rational pharmaceutical use in other countries as well by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and...
, Osmund Jayaratne
Osmund Jayaratne
Vidya Jyothi Osmund Jayaratne was Sri Lankan academic and politician. He was the President of the Colombo Campus, University of Sri Lanka , Emeritus Professor of Physics....
, S.R. Kottegoda, Lester Jayawardene, T.W. Wikramanayake, Stanley Dissanayake and Jayadeva Uyangoda
Jayadeva Uyangoda
Jayadeva Uyangoda is a prominent political scientist and constitutional expert in Sri Lanka.As a leftist student leader and a member of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna movement in the 70s, he was arrested and imprisoned by the government. After the change of regime he went on do his doctoral research...
,Doctors B.J Masakorala, Lucian Jayasuriya, Indrani Jayawardene,late Dr. Jayasundara, Cabinet Ministers Anil Moonesinghe
Anil Moonesinghe
Anil Moonesinghe was a Sri Lankan Trotskyist revolutionary politician and trade unionist. He became a Member of Parliament, a Cabinet Minister, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a Diplomat. He authored several books and edited newspapers and magazines. He was Chairperson and General Manager of...
and late Kingsley T Wickremaratne, writers Vijita Fernando
Vijita Fernando
Vijita Fernando is a Sri Lankan journalist, translator and fiction writer. She was a winner of the Gratiaen Prize and has received Sri Lanka’s State Literary Award.-Biography:...
, B.J.B. ("Bonnie") Fernando, Herbert Keuneman, Jeanne Moonesinghe
Jeanne Hoban
Jeanne Hoban , known after her marriage as Jeanne Moonesinghe, was a British Trotskyist who became active in trade unionism and politics in Sri Lanka. She was one of the handful of European Radicals in Sri Lanka.- Early years :She was born in Gillingham, Kent...
and Lakshman Gunasekera, slain human rights journalist Richard de Zoysa
Richard de Zoysa
Richard de Zoysa was a well-known Sri Lankan journalist, author, human rights activist and actor, who was abducted and murdered on February 18, 1990. His murder caused widespread outrage inside the country, and is widely believed to have been carried out by a death squad linked to elements within...
and his mother, human rights activist and Mother's Front founder Dr Manoranee Saravanamuttu, women's rights activist Sepali Kottegoda and intellectuals Newton Gunesinghe, Dr. N.R. de Silva, civil servant Victor Unantenne, late BCF Jayaratne, principle of Museus College Wimala Jayaratne and former soldier in the 'Lanka Regiment' of the Indian National Army
Indian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
, late writer M.W. Indrasoma, former port chairman late Mr Dolapihilla, former General Manager of Bank of Ceylon and Seylan Bank Mrs Rohini Nanayakkara, banker Mr Ellapola, former Secretary General of the UNP Senerath Kapukotuwa and Secretary to late president Premadasa, Bradman Weerakoon.
The offices of the Stromme Foundation, Humanitarian Information Centre for Sri Lanka Rights, and of the English Writers' Cooperative of Sri Lanka, are located here.