Tagore-inspiration for Sri Palee

by Milton DHARMASINGHE, Bulathsinghala Spl. Cor.

India's High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha said that after the arrival of Arhath Mahinda to Sri Lanka 2,500 years ago, the foundation for Buddhism in the country was established. In the same manner following the advent of Rabindranath Tagore to Sri Lanka, in 1934, arts and cultural activities were revived in the country.

He was speaking at the Tagore Day celebrations at Sri Palee College, Horana on Tuesday at the school auditorium. The Tagore Day of the school was organised by the principal, teachers, students and Past Pupils' Associations of Sri Palee College.

The High Commissioner also said that after he assumed duties as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka he was impressed with the strong ties and bonds Sri Palee had with India.

He said the late Wilmot A. Perera, the founder of Sri Palee visited Shanthinikethan in India in 1924 and after observing the activities there, he had decided to set up an institution such as Shanthiniketan in Horana and that was how Sri Palee came to be known as the centre for arts.

He said a delegation of Sri Palee Past Pupils visited Shanthiniketan recently to strengthen the ties of friendship between the two institutions. A delegation from Shanthinikethan would also visit Sri Palee next month.

After welcoming the chief guest, Senior Minister for Good Governance and Infrastructure Ratnasiri Wcikramanayke and the High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha by Principal Wilfred Weerasinghe and the member of Past Pupils' Association a special floral tribute was paid to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's photograph.

The Indian High Commissioner said that if not for Gurudev's visit a special school such as Sri Palee would not been established in the country.

He also promised to help in the repair and remodelling of the Sri Palee College library. He also referred to the strong ties between the Governments of Sri Lanka and India in the past and at present.

Senior Minister for Good Governance and Infrastructure Ratnasiri Wickramanayke said Rabindranath Tagore was a genius, an eminent educationaist and a world famous poet who was awarded the Noble Prize for Literature. Geetanjalee, his poetry book had been translated into many languages. He followed in the footsteps of Mahathma Gandhi and his philosophy of Ahimsa.

After Tagore's visit to Sri Lanka, there had been a revival of our eduction especially in the arts. The missions he had made to Sri Lanka were helpful to create a strong friendship as well as the development of country's cultural and educational fields, he said.

Yasasiri Janaka Kumara, a past pupil of Sri Palee Colombo Branch and Wilfred Weerasinghe, Principal of Sri Palee also spoke. Councillor for press Information and Culture of the Indian High Commission Ms. Birendra Yadev and Indian Cultural Centre Director Ramachandran were also present.