Memories of archaeologists Paul and Siran Deraniyagala, father and son

by Raja de Silva

In my schooldays, everyone knew of Paul Deraniyagala, ‘Cambridge Boxing Blue’, who was a familiar figure judging the boxing at the Stubbs Shield contests in the Royal College Hall. Twenty years later, I would see him at close-quarters in his office at the National Museum, poring over the remains of a man in his plaster of Paris cocoon brought from an excavation in Balangoda. This man was later known as ‘Balangoda man’. That was in 1957, after Paranavitana had retired and Godakumbure, later to become Archaeological Commissioner was in England; Paul Deraniyagala, Director of National Museums, was appointed Acting Archaeological Commissioner in addition to his own duties.

Excellent idea

At the outset, the Acting AC told me, then the most senior officer in the Department, that I was to see him at the Colombo Museum, across the road from our Department, only on important matters such as signing statutory papers. Otherwise, a telephone call would do. One Saturday morning (then a working day till 1 pm) I was working in my laboratory and workshop in the Old SSC pavilion next door. I received a visitor at about 10.30. He was my friend Charlie Kannangara from Deniyaya, where he was the Member of Parliament; he was tired after driving non-stop and wanted to take me to the SSC for a hard-earned beer. I held him at bay with magazines till 11.30 when he began to show signs of becoming restive. But it was a working day. So, I telephoned the Acting AC, whereupon the following dialogue took place:

de Silva: de Silva here, Sir.

Paul D: Yes, what’s the matter? (The Acting AC did not like receiving telephone calls.)

de Silva: A friend has driven to Colombo from Deniyaya. He is tired and he wishes to take me to his club for a beer.

Paul D: An excellent idea.

And thus the conversation was concluded.

I was glad to have had an understanding Acting Archaeological Commissioner who gave me a free hand in managing the Department. I have (hopefully) perpetuated his name in Sigiriya by referring in official documents to a cave (B7) as Deraniyagala’s Cave. This is where he had earlier discovered several paintings containing female figures showing their whole bodies.

Like father, like son

In 1968, there was provision in the Estimates of the Archaeological Department for the appointment of an Assistant Commissioner (Excavations). The Public Service Commission (PSC) gazetted the notice calling for applications, and one day five members of the board of interview (myself included) sat in the board-room of the PSC waiting to interview each applicant. I noticed that the peon (later known as ‘Karyala Karyaka Sevaka’) had whispered to each of three interview board members that there was a telephone call at the office of Secretary/PSC, next door. I was the next to be similarly telephoned, whereupon the following conversation took place.

de Silva (AC): Hello.

Bradman Weerakoon, Secretary to the Prime Minister (S/PM): Hello, Raja, Brad here. I have a message for you from the PM.

AC: Is it the same message that you gave the other interview board members?

S/PM: Yes, the PM is interested in one of the applicants you are about to interview (and he named the applicant).

AC: Brad, the post is for an officer of my Department, and I want the best.

S/PM: Understood. Anyway, I was asked to convey the message.

AC: Message received.

Siran Deraniyagala was the best applicant, and he was appointed to the new post in 1968.

Resignation and re-employment

Some time after 1979, Siran Deraniyagala found that his presence was periodically required in Germany to attend to certain family obligations. This entailed his being abroad for longer periods than was permissible by the regulations of the Government. He told me of his decision to resign from his post of Deputy AC. I informed the Minister of Cultural Affairs, Edwin Hurulle, of the situation, and advised him that we could retain Siran’s services after his resignation by his re-employment as Advisor in Excavations. There was provision for such a procedure, and so he was re-employed.

MH Sirisoma, the next in line, was appointed Deputy AC and Siran Deraniyagala was appointed Advisor in Excavations, enabling him to continue heading the Excavations Branch of the Archaeological Department. On the premature death of AC Sirisoma in 1992, Deraniyagala was appointed Director General of Archaeology on 24 November 1992, and on his retirement in 1999, he resumed work as Advisor in Excavations. He is the longest serving officer of the Archaeological Department. He has had an outstanding career, and I consider myself fortunate in having had him as an Assistant Commissioner of Archaeology.

One final memory I recount concerns my late wife, Kamala. She had met Siran Deraniyagala periodically, and once took the opportunity to ask him why he used big words in physical geography like “aeolian” in his papers. His riposte was that it was for the purpose of confusing his readers. This was appropriately met by laughter all round.

Paul Deraniyagala and his son, Siran, are exceptional in many ways: both were alumni of Cambridge and Harvard universities, both had doctorates, and both served as heads of the same government department, i.e. of Archaeology. I am aware that the son brought great satisfaction to his family in this achievement.

Siran Deraniyagala, a foremost archaeologist, has left us (on October 4) on his longest journey. The only member of his family known to mine, from her infancy, is his daughter Lily Juleff (born 1997, resident in the UK) to whom we send our thoughts of deepest sympathy. I conclude by warmly wishing Siran Deraniyagala bon voyage.