KAMALIKA PIERIS

Ceylon history was introduced as a subject to schools during the British period. Initially, pupils were only taught European history, and, as one commentator observed, pupils left school with the notion that ‘our ancestors were barbarians’.  Ceylon history should be introduced, it was suggested, so that pupils would be in a position to admire Ceylon’s ancient civilization and develop a sense of pride and patriotism.   S.A.Pakeman, lecturer in history at University College, Colombo, had pointed out in 1922 that it would be good if some schools at least paid some attention to Asian history in their history syllabuses.  

Rev A.G. Fraser, Principal, Trinity College, Kandy, (1904-1924) was probably the first to start teaching Ceylon History in school. He had had introduced Ceylon History to Trinity, using the two books on the history of Ceylon written by L.E Blaze. F. L. Woodward, Principal of Mahinda College, Galle, (1903-1919), had included history in the school curriculum and staged plays based on Ceylon’s history.    P de S Kularatne encouraged the study of Ceylon’s history at Ananda.   He declared that history was ‘much neglected in our big schools’    and in 1920 announced that ‘Ceylon history was now progressing upwards in the school’. He thought the available history books were biased and contained inaccuracies and he encouraged the staff to take their pupils on excursions to historical places, and study history that way. 

The first text books on Ceylon history written specifically for schools were those by L.E.Blaze, (1861-1951) Founder principal of Kingswood College, Kandy. In 1900 he wrote, History of Ceylon, the first comprehensive school textbook on the history of Sri Lanka. This was the prescribed history textbook for middle school until the late 1930s (with ten editions being published in that time). In 1914 he authored The Story of Lanka, another detailed history of the island, which became the Middle School school text for history (it was re-printed six times). In 1937, Pakeman and GC Mendis wrote Our Heritage: Ceylon and world history up to 1500”. This probably replaced Blaze.

Ceylon history was an established subject in schools when I was at school in the 1950s. I studied from textbooks written by SF de Silva, the A level text book was by L.H. Horace Perera. History was also a popular subject in the university at that time.  My recall is that at this time, the choice in the university was between western history and Indian History. Ceylon history was included into both syllabuses and was compulsory.

Then in the 1970s, history was abruptly removed from the school syllabus, with no notice.  The education reforms of 1972 removed history and geography from the curriculum for secondary schools and substituted in its place a subject titled ‘social studies.’ The minister for education was Baddiudin Mahmud and the Permanent Secretary, was, I believe, Premadasa Udagama, the United Front government was in power.  The intention clearly was to remove from the minds of future generations any formal knowledge of the past. It was intended to be an erasure of the Sinhala Buddhist history of Sri Lanka.  .

 Many Buddhist institutions such as All Ceylon Buddhist congress, YMBA, Lanka Mahabodhi Samitiya and Sasana Sevaka Samitiya made representations to the authorities, protesting against this decision, but nothing happened. As result, for a period of thirty years, generations of school children grew up without knowing the history of their country.

The removal of history from the school syllabus was soundly condemned. Critics charged that this was done ‘purposely’ and ‘surreptitiously’. Its consequences were noted.  Children came out of school not knowing their own history or that of the rest of the world.  Students later complained that they were prevented from knowing the history of their country having had the ‘misfortune’ to study social studies in 1980s.

Comparisons were made with other countries. USA, Australia, and New Zealand, which had short histories, were proud of their history. In USA which has only 200 years of history, even medical students have to offer two papers in American history. Those emigrating to USA were tested on the history of the USA. Chancellor, Kelaniya University, Dr Velamitiyawe Kusaladhamma said   in 2003 that Sri Lanka is the only country where most of our leaders do not like to teach out history to the younger generation. We possess an unblemished history of more than 2500 years. USA with a history of 200 years, teaches history to its children.

There were several calls for the re-introduction of history to the school curriculum. Eksath Sinhala Maha Sabhawa had engaged in vigorous campaigns from 1999, sending appeal after appeal to President, Prime Minister and Minister of education pointing out the need to re-introducing history as a full time subject into the school curriculum. History was surreptitiously withdrawn for the school curriculum says Upali Jayasekera writing to the Island in 2002. The public should ask for its return. Newspaper editorials also endorsed the idea.

The Sri Lanka Historical Association started to negotiate with the government to get history back. The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka wrote to the National Education Commission in 2002 recommending that history be taught in school.

 In the mean time, while waiting for History to return to the schools, the intelligentsia took over the task of teaching Sri Lanka history. Buddhist organizations planned to ‘teach the chronicles like Mahavamsa’ in their Daham pasal.

Tisara Prakasakayo in 2000 launched a series of cartoon books to teach children the ancient history of Sri Lanka. They dealt with kings such as Dutugemunu, Mahasen and Dhatusena, as well as the subjects of steel technology, medicine and maritime travel. The children’s supplement ‘Funday’ issued with the Sunday Times runs a series on the chronological history of ancient and medieval Sri Lanka

The intelligentsia stated to write books on ancient and medieval history. Numerous books on the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods appeared in Sinhala. The respected historian W.I.Siriweera wrote ‘History of Sri Lanka ‘for the public (2002). In 2002 the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute had two month course on Sri Lanka history for the public. Dr Bandu Edussuriya, a medical specialist prepared a ‘Simplified English summary of the Mahavamsa’. This sold out fast.

In 2002, the public noted with approval that the Minister for Education, Karunasena Kodituwakku, himself a historian, was   going to re-introduce history as a subject in schools, after nearly four decades of neglect.

In 2003, Ministry of Education announced that it was shortly to recommence teaching history in schools and state universities. History was to be introduced in story book from form 1- 4 grades and as a formal subject from        grade 5-13.

Sirasa news telecast on 29.4.03 announced that history was coming back from grade I to A levels. Eksath Sinhala Maha Sabhawa said they were delighted to hear this.In 2004 history came back to the school curriculum. (contd)