‘The Ceylon Journal’ promises much with its 2nd issue

True to the promise it made in its first issue, launched this year in August 2024, the second issue of The Ceylon Journal published a week before Christmas and continues to balance the scholarly and the popular in its articles which cover a wide range of subjects. Indeed, because of this delicate balancing act, it can be argued that this issue, Volume 1, No. 2 is on par with, if not an improvement on, Volume 1, No. 1.

One is glad that Rohan Pethiyagoda’s amazing keynote speech given at the launch of the first issue, is reprinted in full here. Within a few sentences he launched into his close dissection of the rise and fall of rubber production in Ceylon during the early 20th century and how rubber exports, especially in the Cold War era, influenced the shifting alliances Ceylon had with the world powers - from Britain and the USA - to China and Russia. He laments that this caused “pejorative connotations” given to Capitalism “in Sri Lanka to this day” and resulting “in us becoming more insular, more inward looking and anxious to assert our nationalism even when it cost us dearly”. It was a speech tremendous to listen to, and now equally tremendous to read.

Among the highlights of this second issue is Prof. C. R. de Silva’s compelling piece on one of early modern Sri Lanka’s most well-known personalities - Queen Dona Catherina (Kusumasana Devi). Prof. De Silva, one of the last great scholars of the Golden era of Peradeniya University, writes about this wife to two famous Kandyan Kings and the mother of another. Unlike previous writings on Dona Catherina, he has uncovered some important sources which bring a newer perspective of Dona Catherina. A fair understanding of how the Queen remained a Roman Catholic in a predominantly Buddhist milieu and her impact in the Kandyan Kingdom is demonstrated in this article. De Silva raises important questions about the Queen, and dismisses certain other bits of information published before.

Dr. Donald Stadtner, the American Art Historian, who has spent decades, studying Buddhist art in South and South-East Asia, takes another look at Adam’s Peak. Using a host of writings from early travellers such as Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo, he explores the views of various groups of people and joins the debate as to whose footprint is on Adam’s Peak. The editorial team made a sound decision by publishing the never seen illustration of Adam’s Peak based on Marco Polo’s writings in the 14th century on its front cover. This illustration, not witnessed for centuries, is the crown jewel of the 2nd volume of The Ceylon Journal. Donald Stadtner must be praised for procuring it from Burgundy and making it available to the editor for use on the cover.

The Nittaewos of Sri Lanka

The well-crafted piece on the Nittaewos of Sri Lanka by Pradeep Jayatunga deserves attention by all readers. Jayatunga is known for his previous work on the Nittaewos, “the race of half men-half brutes” that are supposed to have existed in this island in ancient times.  Jayatunga refers to them as the ‘cryptids’ of Lanka because some people believe they exist or say they have seen them, but it has never been proven they exist, much like the legends around Bigfoot in North America, the Loch Ness monster in Scotland and the Yeti in Central Asia, to name a few. Jayatunga claims that many scholars, some well-known, have compromised factual data for sensation and argues that the principle of “Occam’s razor” should be applied here, meaning that the simplest or most easily accessible explanation should be considered from among the many contrasting tales of alleged sightings and actual physical contacts with these “creatures”. This writer however would consider by contrast, the principle of “Hickham’s dictum”, which argues, if applied to this case, that all the different stories, tales and legends should be considered when deciding whether or not Nittaewos existed, perhaps?

Avishka Mario Senewiratne, the young editor of The Ceylon Journal who has focused his historical research on the British Colonial period of Sri Lanka, gives a useful account on mid-19th century Ceylon through four facets of the illustrious life of Charles Ambrose Lorenz, the man who inspired him to begin The Ceylon Journal. The footnotes of the article bring out many anecdotes on Lorenz, some surely eliciting the reader’s uncontrolled laughter! The article justifies why Lorenz was a “gentleman hero” to all Ceylonese and a man whose legacy remains strong to date. Kumari Jayawardena said of him that “more than any other man, (He) began the movement for the political emancipation of the Ceylonese”.

Dr. Kelum Manamendra-Arachchi and Dr. Sonali Premarathne shares an interesting piece on the extinct Rhinoceros of Sri Lanka based on some Ice-Age fossils discovered by the late Dr. P. E. P. Deraniyagala. The article is seriously scientific and would sit comfortably in a journal dedicated to Vertebrate Paleontology but it does not feel out of place amongst the diverse contents of The Ceylon Journal. Its brevity attracts the reader, easily helped by the intriguing illustrations of the rhinoceros drawn by Manamendra-Arachchi himself.

Honouring a scholar 

An interesting move taken by the editors of The Ceylon Journal from this issue onwards is to honour a scholar who had contributed to Sri Lankan studies by dedicating the journal issue to him or her, and if possible, to publish an article on the person in question. The first person to be so honoured is Fr. S. G. Perera SJ, the early historian. The American scholar Josie Portz, contributes a piece on Fr. Perera’s interesting work The Ceylon History for Schools, which was unofficially the textbook for all Ceylonese students who followed the English medium for nearly 30 years. Portz has compared this work with many other scholars who ventured to the complete or partial history of Ceylon such as Blaze, Codrington and Arunachalam.

Scholars of today and tomorrow would appreciate Prof. C. R. de Silva and Avishka Mario Senewiratne for compiling a very comprehensive bibliography of all possible monographs, articles, papers and speeches of Fr. S. G. Perera. This is truly a praiseworthy part of this second issue of the CJ.

It is heartwarming to this writer to read Michael Meyler’s interesting and valuable piece on the late Richard Boyle whom some have called Ceylon’s modern day Robert Knox.  Richard spent virtually his whole life in Sri Lanka working in the film industry and later in serious scholarship on the multi-faceted history of Sri Lanka. It is doubtful whether the country has been grateful to Richard or whether his works have been appreciated. However, the legacy of Boyle would be strengthened and remembered through this well researched article by Meyler.

Manohara de Silva P.C., the well-known constitutional lawyer and member of the editorial team of TCJ, revisits the Kandyan convention of 1815. De Silva brings out a unique and interesting account of this important event in the history of Sri Lanka. He comments on and contradicts certain established details on the Convention, which makes the article an interesting read.

A very informative and intriguing article about the hijacking of an Alitalia passenger aircraft on 30th June 1982 by the Sri Lankan Sepala Ekanayake is worth reading in full, not just for the unique motivation behind the crime, not for ideological or financial reasons, but simply that Ekanayake wanted to re-unite with his family. It raised serious legal issues for the Sri Lanka judicial system, namely over “ex post facto criminal laws” - laws which were applied retroactively, “created after the hijacking to cover actions that happened before the law existed”.  The debates that ensued had ramifications for other such laws related to national security, war crimes and even for tax related matters, and showed how retroactive legal frameworks, posed complex challenges to the balance between fairness and the demands for justice or governance.

KKS Perera’s article on the life of our accidental but memorable former Prime Minister Wijeyananda Dahanayake, gives the new generation of Sri Lankans ample information of one of the most honourable Sri Lankan statesmen. The many anecdotes, rare photographs and cartoon of his long life and career provided with the article only reinforce the fact that he was a unique, much loved and respected politician.

Dr. Srilal Fernando writes about the many famous friends of the Australian artist Donald Friend who lived in Sri Lanka in the 1950s, including Bevis Bawa, the architects Geoffrey Bawa and Ulrik Plesner, the actors Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and Peter Finch, and others like Tambimuttu, Mark Bracegirdle and Mitty Lee Brown.

Another short and lively piece is written by Malaka Talwatte about the visitors to Taprobane Island in Weligama Bay when it was occupied by the American composer, author and translator Paul Bowles during the late 1940’s and early 50’s. In 1954, Peggy Guggenheim was one such visitor, who according to Talwatte “was considered as one of the greatest patrons and collectors of 20th century modern art”.

This varied and vivid collection of articles in the second issue of TCJ is concluded by Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy’s short review on the recently published Speeches and Writings of Deshamanya M. D. D. (Dharmasiri) Pieris, who left a “very material and highly distinguished legacy …. as a public servant of the highest quality” in the Ceylon Civil Service and later in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. Highlighted in this collection is Mr. Pieris’ concern about “the erosion of institutions and checks and balances in the interest of personal power and self-aggrandizement at the expense of public welfare and public good”. Pieris is the patron of The Ceylon Journal.

The second issue of The Ceylon Journal is a must-read for anyone passionate about Sri Lanka’s rich history and vibrant scholarship. With compelling articles spanning diverse topics—from the rise and fall of rubber production to the intriguing legends of the Nittaewos—this issue continues to offer a perfect blend of scholarly depth and engaging narratives. Featuring rare illustrations, fresh insights, and thought-provoking analyses, it solidifies The Ceylon Journal as an indispensable resource for all those who are interested in Sri Lanka. Don’t miss out on this captivating volume!

(The second issue of the book, The Ceylon Journal, is priced Rs. 2000. For more details in this regard can be obtained by calling 0725830728)