Professor Vini Vitharana

Vini Vitharana was born on June 2, 1928 at Pallikudawa, Tangalle. He had his early education at Christ Church College, Tangalle and entered Mahinda College, Galle in 1942 from where he continued his studies until he passed his University entrance examination and entered the University of Colombo in 1945. His academic record appears below.

Qualifications:

BA University of Colombo 1949, MA Vidyodaya University 1959, PhD Peradeniya University 1966, PhD London 1968, Lanka Sahithya Shoori – Vidyodaya University, Sahithyacharya – Vidyalankara University and Shaastra Visharada – 1st Class – Vidyodaya University.

Posts held:

After graduation 1949, he was appointed as a teacher at his Alma Mater – Mahinda, College, Galle where he served till 1953, teacher at S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia from 1953 – 1957, Deputy Editor, Sinhala Encyclopedia 1957 – 1959, Lecturer and finally Asst. Professor Sinhala at Vidyodaya University from 1960 to 1981, Professor in Sinhala at Ruhunu University, Matara from 1981 to 1993, Emeritus Professor, Sellipi & Archeology at the Post Graduate Institute, Kelaniya University, Emeritus Professor, Culture and Humanism, Sri Jayewardenepura University, Nugegoda 1999 -2007, Emeritus Professor, Buddhist & Pali University 1999, Emeritus Professor, Sabaragamuwa University 1999-2000, Sinhala Consultant, National Institute of Education, Maharagama 2000, Chief Editor Sinhala Paribashitha Dictionary 2001-2004, Consultant Publications, Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Culture and Arts 2010-2014, Lay Consultant, All Ceylon Buddhist Congress 2015.

English Publications translated into Sinhala:

“Asia Eliya” – Translation of Light of Asia – 1955, ’Goda Manel” – Translation of several poems- 1977, “Midi Vitha” – Translation of several English and Greek poems. -1978, “Asiya Peheliya ” – Translation of Sir Edwin Arnold’s ‘Light of Asia’- 2001, “Rubaiyathaya’ – Translation of Rubbaiath by Omar Kayyam – 2002, “Geethanjali” – Translation Geethanjali by Ravindranath Tagore – 2004.

Sinhala Publications Translated into English:

“Muwadevdawatha” 2007, “Sasandawatha” -2012, “Mayura Sandesaya” – 2014, “Selalihini Sandesa” 2015, “Kawsilumina” 2017, Gira Sandesa” 2018, “Saddarma Rathanavaliya ” 2019.

Poems:

“Megharagaya” 1977

Research Publications:

“Sithuvam Boogoloya — Lankawa” 1960, “Boogola Vidya Shabdakoshaya” 1961, “Lipi Ata” (Collection of articles on Sinhalese Literature), 1975, “Thotagamuwa” (History of Buddhist Institutions 15th Century) 1986, The Oru and the Yathra , 1992, “Baliyagaya, 1992, “Pahaduwa” (Commentaries re Sinhala Usage 1993, Sri Lankan-Maldivian Cultural, Affinities 1997, Sri Lanka Geological Vision 1999, Sun and Moon in Sinhala Culture 2013.

Miscellaneous Publications:

Night of Doom (Cyclone in the Eastern coast) 1978) Reprinted 1990, “Pabanda Athewela” (usage and mistakes in modern Sinhala usage) 1993, “Hiroshimawa” 1995. Reprinted in 2005, “Sunil Samara” – A collection of articles regarding Visharada Sunil Shantha – 2000, “Padaya, Wakya saha Chedaya” – Common errors in Sinhala Grammar and Usage 2007, “Amara Samaruwa” an appreciation of the Amarasuriya family of Unawatuna, Galle.- 2010, “Viyarana Visithuru” 2013

Awards won (National Level):

UNICEF Award for Sinhala ‘Sahithyaya’ 1962, Sri Lanka Literary Council award for Best Sinhala Translation 1978, National Kala Keerthi Award 1993, World Buddhist Brotherhood Award 2002, Kala Mandala Award for the Best Sinhala Translation 2002, Cultural Award by the Sinhala Institute 2004, Rohana Ransilu award of the Southern Provincial Council 2004, Special Award of the Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council 2005,

Award by the Cambridge International Society England for one of the Best 2000 Intellectuals of the 21st Century – 2007

Tangalle Sinha Smajaya Award 2010, Uruma Prasad Award presented by the Ministry of National Uruma -2012, Sahithya Ratna Award by the Ministry of Culture and Arts – 2013, Professor GP Malalasekara Award of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress 2013, Sri Lanka Archeology and Central, Cultural Fund Award 2013, Hela Havula Award 2013, State Literary Award “Kaw Silumina” 2018, State Literary Award “Gira Sandesaya” 2018, H. A. I. Gunatilleke Prize for Translation – Gratien Trust “Kaw Silumina” 2018, Godage National Literary Award for life long contribution to Sri Lankan Literature in English 2019

Other posts /Appointments:

Chairman, Consultant Committee on Sinhala Literature 1970 – 1977, Founder President Munidasa Cumaratunga Foundation 1986-2002, Founder President Sunil Shantha Society 1987 – 2003, Chairman, Sri Lanka, Kala Mandalaya 1989-2004, Chairman, Sri Lanka Archeology Society 2007, Asst. Director, Abhayagiri Vihara Project UNESCO – Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle 1982-1987.

The other posts held in many organizations, presentations made on different occasions, articles published in numerous publications, are too long to be included in an article of this nature.

He had also visited India, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Greece, Italy, France, UK, USA, Soviet Russia, Mongolia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Laos and Maldives connected with various research and study projects.

Professor Vitharana was a person who has had a vast experience not only academically and in teaching, but also in various other fields like translations, research, archeology and geography etc. He was a scholar heavily inclined towards research and writing. He was a teacher emulated by many. His love and desire for learning and teaching cannot be compared with many others.

If wealth could be measured in terms of knowledge, he was one of the wealthiest persons I have known. He was a person who was contemptuous of colonial rule, in spite of which his knowledge and skill in the usage of the English language may surprise many. Learning and teaching were his greatest passions. He touched the lives of so many students around the country and his legacy continues to inspire, guide and live through them.

In addition to the academic and literary activities he was also Founder Chairman, Munidasa Cumaratunga Trust and Founder Chairman, Sunil Shantha Society.

As a teacher at Mahinda College, Galle, in addition to his classroom teaching activities, he also contributed a great deal to extracurricular activities like training students in English and Sinhala elocution, English and Sinhala Debating Teams, English and Sinhala Dramas, helped in organizing variety entertainments, educational tours and compiling and editing College Magazines. He was a leader, friend and confidant to his former students.

His personal qualities were an example for his students to learn the true leadership qualities. He was a man of high integrity. He was honest to a fault. He was a symbol of simplicity and was a most unassuming and modest person. His great sense of humour was one of his trade marks.

He passed away on 2nd December 2019. He leaves behind his loving wife Thilaka, a graduate teacher now retired, his daughter Dr. Kumudini and his son Ruwan Lasith, senior specialist at Toyota Motors, Belgium.

In December 2018, he drafted this poem to be sent by email to a British friend. It was sent through a friend of his in Sri Lanka as the Professor did not have email facilities.

“With my right I cannot write

-Of my left nothing much is left

-With no ear can I clearly hear

-My eyes show nothing precise and clear

-Both legs can make me barely walk

– And the mouth can only pretend to talk

-But as I think of wishing you both

– Good tidings for the year that’s drawing fast

-My heart of ninety in youthful leap

– Bound in cheers forlorn in heaps”.

I came to know him during the early forties when he joined Mahinda College, Galle and entered the school hostel. He was many things to me later – teacher, mentor, friend, coach & big brother. I am so pleased to have had this opportunity to pay my last respects to a fine teacher and a wonderful human being.

May his journey in Sansara be a pleasant one until he achieves Nirvana.

Wimalasena de Silva