Sri Lanka in 1965 :

A glimpse from the past

By Ryhanna Salie

A newspaper library is like a time capsule. It is the best place to learn about the vents of yesteryear. The pages of newspapers of yore may be faded, but the events described therein are etched firmly in our annals. When my editor asked me whether it was possible for me to wrote about the events, people and places of Sri Lanka 50 years ago, I locked forward eagerly to a trip to the past.

As I began to leaf through the pages of the Daily News and the Sunday Observer from 1965-66 at our library, I realised that Sri Lanka had a vibrant culture and society which experienced several issues from to time. That is perhaps one thing in common, then and now. There were also social issues such as water and paddy shortages caused by a drought that prevailed that year.

Carts

The recurring issue of acute water shortages affected the Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia areas in April 1965. Residents had complained that there was no water from five in the morning until seven in the evening. According to one report, “water had to be collected and stored during the night for day time use.” Water carts were selling water to these residents who got their water supply from the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). An official of the Waterworks department of the CMC had stated that “the area needed nearly five million gallons of water per day and they were not able to meet this requirement because of the prevailing drought at the Labugama and Kalatuwawa catchment areas.”

Another report records the way in which the drought and high temperatures affected paddy cultivation. The report stated, “the lack of rainfall and soaring temperatures continue to cause severe hardship in many areas. Vegetable growers and paddy cultivators face almost certain ruin if they do not have rain shortly.” The Kalutara, Ambalangoda, Bentota and Ratnapura areas were mainly affected. The report also stated that in other areas such as Matugama, Matara, Kamburupitiya and Wennapuwa the next paddy crop may have to be abandoned if early rains were not experienced.

Scheme

The Mahaweli project was also initiated in the auditorium of the Irrigation Department in 1965. The report states, “this is a massive, multi-million rupee scheme to harness for all time the mighty resources of the Mahaweli Ganga, to use its colossal energy to run hydro-electric power plants, irrigate wide new acres of the Dry Zone and uplift the domestic and social environment of people caught up within its scope.”

Anatole Gromov, the UN representative in Sri Lanka was invited by the Director of Irrigation A.E.C. De S. Gunasekara to open the talks which drew on the combined expertise of top members of the Irrigation Department, Agriculture Department, Elections Department and Survey Department. The project was partly funded by the UN Special aid fund and the balance by the Ceylonese government.

The vibrant social life of Sri Lanka in 1965 was also recorded in Ceylon Observer. The third annual tea trade dance was held at Ceylinco House in 1965. Priyanka and Orange Peiris performed at this event and the guests included Devika Fernando, Indra Wettasinghe, Elizabeth Banks, Terrie Kelly, Sunitha Aluvihare, Joyce Wijesinghe, Marion Weerakoon and Yvonne Dias.

Mrs. J.R. Jayewardene attended a luncheon with prominent guests such as Padma Ratnesar, Kathleen Wijesinghe, Manel Wijayratne, Sita Senaratne, Malinee Jayanetti, Swarna Gunasekara and Monty Jayawickrema. Harold Senevirathne Combo’s held their eleventh anniversary dance at the Ceylinco House. Clementine De Silva and Therese Liyanage were few of the guests.

Baurs Ltd., the local agents for the N.Y.K. Line (Japan) held a cocktail party at the Jubilee Room of the Galle Face Hotel when the principals of the line were in town. Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake attended the birthday party of Sir John Kotelawala who celebrated his 69th birthday. The guests in attendance were Kamala Nadesan, Mona Kohobanwickrema, Mavis Gardiner, Pearl De Silva and Mrs. Jinasena Ellawalla.

Exposition

It was also reported that Ena De Silva “turned her courtyard into a kaleidoscope of colour, with yards of colourfully batik printed fabric, at her exposition and sale of work.” Swarna and Sanath Ameratunge held a dinner party to say farewell to shipping colleague Robert Thompson who left Sri Lanka for Australia. The guests were Manel Abeysundare, Lalanla De Saram, Sunitha Rodrigo, Ranjini Wijewardane and Sita De Saram.

The cultural events of the time consisted of plays, ballets and film award ceremonies. The White Sheep of the Family, a play produced by Marjorie Jayasuriya was staged at the Lionel Wendt Theatre in April 1965. A ballet for children Run Kikili was choreographed by Vajira. It was reported that “Vajira whose “Swan” characterisation was her best role to date excels in bird personifications.

She achieves a remarkable imitative likeness of the movement and mannerisms of the birds she characterises and in this ballet this particular choreographic talents of her’s had full scope. The spectators included the new Education Minister I.A. Iriyagolla and his wife and eminent writer Punyakanthi Wijenaike.

Furthermore, the presentation of awards for the best films and performances of Sinhalese films screened in 1964 was organised by the Eksath Lanka Samajaya and held at the Royal College Hall. The Best Actor was Joe Abeywickrema and Best Actress was Rita Ratnayake and Best Cinematographer was Mike Wilson.

Play

Iranganie Serasinghe produced her first play Rama and Sita in 1965 for the Stage and Set Group. Gamini (Kuru) Gunawardane adapted this legend and Ena De Silva designed the costumes for this play which was staged at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.

Upali Wijewardene was appointed as a trustee of the Kelani Rajamaha Vihara and the temple was opened to the public after a period of nearly four years. A Fiat car was advertised in the Ceylon Observer for Rs. 3,300/ and many other cars were priced round the same figure. We will return later to have a look at some of the vintage advertisements.

Pictures by Dushmantha Mayadunne