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by Chamikara Weerasinghe

ANCL founder

Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. (ANCL) commemorates the birth anniversary of its founder, press magnate, D. R. Wijewardene with an offering of atapirikara to Maha Sangha today. An all-night pirith chanting ceremony was held yesterday at Lake House premises to mark the event. The pinkamas were organised by the ANCL management and the Lake House Buddhist Association.

Although eulogizing dead personages is sometimes regarded an "odd" cultural habit by some observers, D. R. Wijewardene had a clear grasp of the definition of "the press freedom" or independent press and its rightful place in the world of politics.

As a matter of fact, the role of D. R. Wijewardene and his attitude in this regard was outstanding as the Managing Director of the ANCL. He virtually laid the foundation for the freedom of press in the heyday of journalism when he declined a "knighthood" offered to him by the then Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake for his worthy services to the country (then Ceylon) in achieving independence to the country.

Mr. Wijewardene contributed immensely to the struggle for the freedom of press before he passed away two years after Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) attained independence on February 4, 1948 from the colonial British administrators, who governed the country from London. However, despite his being instrumental in securing an independent Sri Lanka, D. R. Wijewardene was unable to participate in any independence day anniversary as he was very ill and bed-ridden.

He is remembered for his landmark protest campaigns against the Waste Lands Act, which was introduced by the British rulers.

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