Nissanka Wijeyeratne

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The Honourable Deshamanya Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne

Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament for Dedigama
In office 1977 – 1989

Born	14 June 1924
Died	7 January 2007
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	United National Party
Spouse	Nita Wijeyeratne
Children	Neranjan, Mano, Anuradha, Lankesh and Nishangani
Alma mater	Royal College, Colombo, University of Ceylon
Occupation	Politics, Civil Servant, Diplomat
Religion	Buddhist

Deshamanya Nissanka Parakrama Wijeyeratne (14 June 1924 - 7 January 2007) was a Sri Lankan politician, civil servant and diplomat. He was also the Diyawadana Nilame (Chief lay Custodian) of the Sri Dalada Maligawa from 1975 to 1985.

1 Early life
2 Education
3 Civil Service Career
4 Political career
5 Diyawadana Nilame
6 Honours
7 Poetry
8 Family
9 References
10 See also
11 External References

[edit] Early life

Nissanka Wijeyeratne was born 14 June 1924 to a leading family from Sabaragamuwa in Sri Lanka. He was the second son of Sir Edwin and Lady Leela Wijeyeratne, of Budenepola Walauwa, Kegalle. Sir Edwin Wijeyeratne was a former Cabinet Minister. His elder brother, Tissa Wijeyeratne was Barrister by profession, was appointed Sri Lankan ambassador to France and Switzerland, additional secretary to ministry of foreign affairs and defence and senior adviser on foreign affairs to Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. He has one younger brother, Dr Cuda Wijeyeratne, who is a physician.

[edit] Education

Nissanka Wijeyeratne completed his primary and secondary education at the Royal College, Colombo. He then pursued further studies at the University of Ceylon where he earned an Honours BA in History. He also had a scholarly interest in Sri Lankan sociology, as well as in religious philosophy.

[edit] Civil Service Career

Nissanka Wijeyeratne entered the prestigious Ceylon Civil Service (CCS) after leaving university. During his years in the CCS he held several positions, including permanent secretary to the ministries of information, broadcasting, transport and cultural affairs, government agent in Anuradhapura, Mannar & Jaffna, and assistant government agent in Galle. He was the Chairman of the Anuradhapura preservation board and was a former member of the executive board of UNESCO from 1987 to 1989^[1]. Nissanka Wijeyeratne retired from the Sri Lanka Administrative Service in 1973.

[edit] Political career

Nissanka Wijeyeratne was a long standing a member of the United National Party. He was then appointed as chief organizer for the Dedigama electorate, which he won in the 1977 parliamentary elections. He subsequently served as Cabinet Minister of Education, Higher Education & Justice in President JR Jayawardene's government.

As Cabinet Minister of Education and Higher Education, Nissanka Wijeyeratne introduced the Universities Act No 16 of 1978 to Parliament^[2]. The University of Ceylon was the only university in Ceylon from 1942 until 1978. As a result of this Act, it was separated into four independent universities: University of Colombo, University of Peradeniya, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and University of Kelaniya. He also proposed the establishment of the University of Ruhuna and the Open University of Sri Lanka ^[2].

The new superior court complex in Colombo was established by Nissanka Wijeyeratne with Chinese Government aid during his tenure as the Minister of Justice ^[2]. He established the Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle with aid from UNESCO for preservation of National Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka,^[2]and proposed the Sri Lankan President’s Fund, which provides health and education assistance to the needy and underprivileged^[2]. Nissanka Wijeyeratne also set up the 'Sacred City of Anuradhapura' and shifted the urban city to the newly created Anuradhapura town^[3].

Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne was later appointed as Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Soviet Union^[4].

[edit] Diyawadana Nilame

Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne (Center) with Japanese Emperor Akihito (left) and President JR Jayawardena (right)

Wijeyeratne served as Diyawadana Nilame (Chief lay Custodian) of Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy for 10 years. He contested for the post in 1975. Dr Wijeyeratne was the first low country Govigama person in the history of Sri Lanka who challenged the Kandyan Radala hierarchy for that post. During his tenure as Diyawadana Nilame, he introduced administrative methods to Sri Dalada Maligawa and established the Gold Museum, and re-organised the Kandy Perahera. He established the Kandy Esala Perahara Fund. He was followed by his eldest son, Neranjan Wijeyeratne who was first elected as Diyawadana Nilame in 1985, and then re-elected in 1995.

[edit] Honours

Nissanka Wijeyeratne was awarded an Honorary Degree as Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Colombo in 1978.
The title of Buuddha Kulawthansa was conferred on him by the Maha Nayake Theros (chief incumbents) of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters.
President Ranasinghe Premadasa conferred him the title Deshamanya on National Heroes Day, May 22nd, 1991.

[edit] Poetry

A collection of over two decades of Dr Wijeyeratne’s English poems was published in a book titled 'Ape Appachchi: An Anthology Of Our Father's Poems' in 2001. Some of Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne's poetry is political, capturing personalities, incidents and issues as he saw them during his prominent role in public affairs^[5].

[edit] Family

Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne married Nita Dullewe, the only child of Tiny and Mallika Dullewe of Meeduma Walauwa, Rambukkana.^[2] Dr Nissanka and Nita Wijeyeratne had five children (Neranjan, Mano, Anuradha, Lankesh and Nishanganie).

Neranjan Wijeyeratne (eldest son of Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne) is the current United National Party Chief Organiser for the Galagedara Electorate and was the former Diyawadana Nilame (Chief lay Custodian) of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy. Neranjan Wijeyeratne served as Diyawadana Nilame for a total of 20 years.

Anuradha Dullewe Wijeyeratne (third son of Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne) entered into active politics in 1988 as a United National Party Member of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council in Ratnapura. He also served as Member United National Party National Executive Committee. He was Acting Diyawadana Nilame (Acting Chief lay Custodian) of Sri Dalada Maligawa Kandy on several occasions for three decades, appointed by the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs with recommendation from Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwatte & Asgiriya Chapters.

Mano Wijeyeratne (second son of Dr Nissanka Wijeyeratne) is a current Member of Parliament from Kegalle District & Minister of Enterprise Development in President Mahinda Rajapakse's Government. Mano Wijeyeratne had also served as Minister of Plantation Services under President DB Wijetunga's Government.