An appreciation
Mudiyanselage Ukku Banda Wanninayake was born on 26 October 1905 at the ancestral home of his mother, Hangilipola Walawwe. He was the only son in a family of seven, with six sisters. His father was a man of means from the village of Balalle, close to the ancient Kingdom of Yapahuwa. Both Hangilipola and Balalle have histories that go back to the Yapahuwa era.
L.M.J.U.B. Wanninayake received his early education at the Balalle village school, now known as U.B. Wanninayake Maha Vidyalaya. After passing the grade 6 exam in the Sinhala medium, he was admitted to Christudeva Vidyalaya (Lakdasa de Mel College) in Kurunegala. There he sat the grade 6 exam again, this time in English, passed well and was recognised as a brilliant student.
In 1921, he entered S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. He did well in his studies and won many prizes, including a copy of Macaulay’s Essays, which he read many times with great enjoyment. He also showed promise in sports and extracurricular activities, and trained as a junior and senior Cadet at the army camp in Diyatalawa.
He obtained an exemption from the Matriculation Examination and passed the Senior School Certificate Examination (Cambridge). The Principal, Fr. F.R. Stone, himself a well-known educationist, recognised him as an outstanding student.
His contemporaries included future fellow Parliamentarians Leslie Gunawardene (LSSP), M. Tiruchelvam (Federal Party), Sam P.C. Fernando (SLFP) and Michael Siriwardene (SLFP). Later luminaries of the college included Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake, former minister C.P. de Silva and Federal Party leader S.J.V. Chelvanayakam.
Teaching Career
On completing his studies, he received a teaching appointment at St. Andrew’s College, Puttalam. At the time he was staying with his cousin, the Court Interpreter Mudliyar R.A. Herath Banda, whose son H.B. Abeyratne later became the UNP MP for Yapahuwa. After a two year stint at St. Andrew’s he took a government teaching appointment and entered the Teachers’ Training College at Mirigama. That same year he sat the scholarship exam for the Teacher Training College and passed as the youngest candidate, winning one of 20 scholarships offered.
In 1928 and 1929, he studied at the Teacher Training College as a hosteller. He excelled in the annual sports meet in cricket, football and badminton, was appointed manager of the college journal, and was a member of the debating team. After training he was expected to rejoin government service. Instead he accepted an offer to become Principal of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala, in 1930.
The early years were difficult: the school had only about 100 students, some older than he. Undaunted, he worked tirelessly and turned it into a leading English-medium school for the Sinhala Buddhist children of the area. He remained Principal for a long period and succeeded Sir John Kotelawala as its Manager. By the time the government took over the school in 1961, it was a well-equipped, leading institution.
He continued as Principal even after becoming a Member of the State Council, representing the Puttalam seat, which then covered a vast area. In 1948 he retired prematurely from teaching to devote all his time to public service, though he never lost touch with Maliyadeva College and continued to support it.
Founding Schools and Institutions
There was a growing demand for an English-medium girls’ school in Kurunegala. In 1943, together with Sir John Kotelawala, he took the initiative to establish Maliyadeva Girls’ School on the Colombo–Kurunegala road. The project had the unstinting support of the Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA) and the Buddhist elite. Both schools have become prestigious colleges, and Mr. Wanninayake is honoured as a key architect of the project.
When the Japanese bombed Colombo during World War II, the Vidyalankara Pirivena was severely damaged and its sections were relocated around the island. At the request of Sir D.B. Jayatilaka in 1943, one section was installed in Kurunegala as the Maliyadeva Pirivena. Kurunegala now had three good educational institutions: Maliyadeva Boys’ College, Maliyadeva Girls’ College and Maliyadeva Pirivena. The strength behind this enterprise was U.B. Wanninayake.
Community Service Co-operative movement.
This was another of his passions. He worked to develop the movement systematically in the Kurunegala District. In 1949 a Co-operative Bank was set up, with Mr. Wanninayake elected Chairman of its Governing Board. It was declared open by Hon. D.S. Senanayake and functioned successfully until the Government took it over under the “People’s Bank” concept.
Hospital.
The Co-operative Society of the Kurunegala District formed a Hospital Committee, and he was again made its President. He worked hard to establish a hospital under the Society’s patronage and donated the land and Walawwe he had received as dowry on his marriage to Chandra Kumarihamy Abeyratne.
Teachers’ welfare.
Taking a keen interest in teachers’ rights, privileges and education, he set up the Guru Sangamaya (teachers’ society) and was elected its president. He was an active member of the All-Ceylon Executive Committee, through which he fought for better conditions of service and benefits for teachers.
YMBA.
In 1933 he energised the Kurunegala YMBA, enabling it to launch many projects. He succeeded Sir John Kotelawala as its president and held the office for many years, rendering great service to the Buddhists of the area.
Political Career
In 1943 he entered the State Council of Ceylon, marking his entry into active politics. Although he failed to enter the first Parliament, he was appointed to the Senate, where he served until 1960 as Chief Whip of the Government. From 1954 to 1956 he acted as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and sometimes deputised for him. He won the Yapahuwa seat in 1960 and 1965, and from 1965 to 1970 he was Finance Minister in the Dudley Senanayake government.
In 1968, he was appointed Chairman of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and its affiliates, extending his service beyond national borders.
As MP for Puttalam and Yapahuwa, his services in education, health, transport, communication, irrigation and local government were invaluable. Less known is his donation of private land and property to the Government for the public good. The People’s Bank, the main post office and the Multi-Purpose Co-operative Store at Mahawa are all built on land he donated. His economically valuable private lands in the middle of towns were given away despite protests from close relatives. The Kurunegala co-operative hospital, as noted, was built on the Walawwe given to him as dowry.
The 1970 Election
It is sad that, despite such magnanimity and proven ability, he failed to retain the Yapahuwa seat in the 1970 General Election. His main opponent was Tissa R. Balalle, a relative from his own village, a young lawyer and an old boy of Maliyadeva College. Before the election, Tissa had called on Mr. Wanninayake with a sheaf of betel leaves to seek his blessings, which were readily given. Tissa was a relative of Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike on the Ratwatte side. He was elected MP for Yapahuwa in 1970 and later became Governor of the North Western Province. He held Mr. Wanninayake with the highest respect and regard.
Character
U.B. Wanninayake was at heart a genuinely good, simple Buddhist villager who loved and led a simple life. Despite his urban education at S. Thomas’ and his friendships with the powerful, he never lost his common touch. Like his great friend from the North Western Province, Mr. M.D. Banda, he remained unpretentious, sincere and completely honourable to the last.
He appreciated humour, often cracking jokes himself, and enjoyed the company of friends and relatives and simple village life. There are many anecdotes about him, all highlighting his simplicity, humanity and humility.
Passing and Legacy
Mr. Wanninayake, who served the Wanni Hathpaththuwa, the country and the international community with honour, passed away on 19 August 1973. His remains were placed in the auditorium of Maliyadeva College so that the public could pay their last respects.
About a week later, a padlocked suitcase of his was opened in the presence of Tissa Balalle, C.M.B. Bogollagama and others. Everyone expected something of great value to secure the family’s future. They found only cigars, a box of matches, some papers and an insurance certificate of very little value. He was the epitome of absolute honesty and integrity.
In the vote of condolence in Parliament on 24 August 1973, numerous members from both government and Opposition spoke of his calibre and of the respect, esteem and affection in which all held him. They included R. Premadasa and J.R. Jayewardene of his own party (UNP), and, from the governing United Front, Dr. N.M. Perera (LSSP), Maithripala Senanayake, T.B. Subasinghe, Tissa Balalle and P. Wijesinghe (SLFP). M.H.M. Naina Marikar, MP for Puttalam, and V. Dharmalingam, MP for Uduvil (Federal Party), also spoke, along with many others.
Family
In 1944 he married Chandra Abeyratne, daughter of Bernard Abeyratne (Chairman of the Village Tribunal) and Soma Andarawewa. He was the respected father of eight children: Ranjini, Mahinda, Upali, Gemunu, Ananda, Tusitha, Swarna and Yojitha. His eldest daughter married her cousin, former Minister M.B. Abeyratne. His youngest daughter, Swarna, married Gamini Leeniyagolla, eldest son of his long-standing friend and colleague M.D. Banda, who like him embodied honesty and integrity.
The only legacy Mr. Wanninayake left his children was his unblemished name and his wholesome set of values.
May he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana!
R.M.V.P.B. Hangilipola
from The Island https://ift.tt/mKHsVYf
