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| Sunday, 17 July 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Prof. Kusuma
Karunaratne :
Dextrous linguist and award winner by Lakmal Welabada
The mutual ties between Japan and Sri Lanka have been long-standing. Among those who have contributed to strengthen ties between the two countries is Prof. Kusuma Karunaratne, a pioneer. In recognition of her continued long-standing service, the Japanese Emperor's high category award which is referred to as 'The Order of the Rising Sun', was awarded to Prof. Karunaratne, Senior Professor of the University of Colombo, who was also the former Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Former Acting Chancellor, University of Colombo. The order was conferred officially on her by the Emperor on April 29, and then awarded to her ceremonially by the Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka, Akio Suda on June 2 at a ceremony held at his residence. 'Knowledge of languages clears barriers and strengthens ties among many nationals in the world,' was the theme of Prof.Kusuma Karunaratne throughout her 35 years relationship with Japan. She was among the few persons in the world who has taught a language while learning it. As an undergraduate in the University of Peradeniya, young Kusuma took a great liking to learn about Japan by listening to lectures delivered by Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra and Prof. Ariya Rajakaruna. Her first contact of a Japanese national was Prof. Nakamura Hisashi who was here on research work for a PhD and Koichi Aoyama, an officer from the Japanese Embassy. She was the Assistant Lecturer in Sinhala Literature at the University of Peradeniya. They were put on to her to learn Sinhala and they exchanged their knowledge. Prof. Karunaratne has written and published many books in Sinhala and English. Her newest collection of short stories 'Punchi Kete Wature Gihin' (the small till has swept away in the water) was her first Sinhala short story collection based on the tsunami disaster. "I was affected by the recent devastation and recreated 12 short stories on this theme," she says."Tadashi Nokuchi was my third contact from Japan and we have been involved in many literal and cultural work. He became so fluent in Sinhala that he wrote a Sinhala novel 'Anitya Jeevitayak' that contains much information on Japan," she said. Subsequently, the Japan Foundation invited Prof. Karunaratne to deliver a Takeshi Kaiko Memorial Lecture in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in 1993. She went back to Japan as a Visiting Fellow/Professor to Taisho University for a year, on a second invitation in 1997 to do a research on Japanese literature and culture. During this period, she was invited by ten campuses to speak about women, culture and literature of Sri Lanka. She also translated a few Japanese children's stories into Sinhala. She has rendered her service to popularise Japanese studies among the undergraduates in Sri Lanka. Today, it has reached post-graduate level at the University of Colombo under her guidance and supervision; while the University of Kelaniya and the University of Sabaragamuwa carry the first degree level programmes in Japanese studies. Since 1995, Prof. Karunaratne has served as a member of the Bunka (Cultural) Awards panel conducted by the Japanese Embassy in Sri Lanka, which gives awards to young excellent achievers in the field of art, films, drama, fictions and music. "Japan and Sri Lanka share many similarities. Buddhism is the main religion practiced in both countries, along with similar social values. Signs of traditions still exist, but modernisation is taking place in the Japanese city. A similar sentence structure can be seen in both Sinhala and Japanese, but the pronunciation is different. There's no clear 'R' or 'L' sound in the Japanese language, and 'the' is pronounced for 'D' and 'th' is pronounced for 'T'," explains Prof. Karunaratne promising to render her service more in strengthening the ties between the two countries. |
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