C. W. W. Kannangara

Dr. Cristopher William Wijekoon Kannangara (Sinhala ආචාර්ය ක්‍රිස්ටෝෆර් විලියම් විජේකෝන් කන්නන්ගර; 18 October 1894 – 23 September 1969) was a Sri Lankan Lawyer and a politician. He rose up the ranks of Sri Lanka's movement for independence in the early part of the 20th century. As a lawyer he defended the detainees that were imprisoned during the Riots of 1915, many of whom were the emerging leaders of the independence movement. In 1931, he became the President of Ceylon National Congress, the forerunner to the United National Party. Later, he became the first Minister of Education in the State Council of Ceylon, and was instrumental in introducing extensive reforms to the country's education system that opened up education to children from all levels of society.

Born in the Southern coastal town of Hikkaduwa, his academic progress at the free Wesleyan school enabled him to win a Foundation Scholarship to Richmond College, Galle, a prestigious secondary school at the time managed by the Methodist church. After leaving school, he worked as a teacher in Mathematics at Wesley College, Colombo and Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa. He excelled as a lawyer in the Southern Province, eventually getting elected in 1923 as its representative, first to the Legislative Council of Ceylon, and then to its successor the State Council.

Becoming Minister of Education in the State Council, Kannangara and the Committees of Education introduced extensive reforms to Sri Lanka's education system throughout the 1940s. He began a Central Colleges scheme, which established high quality secondary schools for the benefit of thousands of underprivileged students in the rural parts of the country. Kannangara was also the Chairman of the Committee that submitted the Free Education Bill for a vote in the State Council, though he was initially opposed to complete free education. It has been inaccurately quoted that Kannangara was born in Randombe, (off Ambalangoda). He was the son of John Daniel Wijekoon Kannangara, the Deputy Fiscal in the Police Magistrate's Court in Balapitiya, and Emily Wijesinghe, daughter of Mudliyer Wijesinghe; he also had four siblings.

Emily passed away early in Kannangara's childhood, John Daniel would and have four more children with his second wife.

Education The young Kananga attended the well known Richmond College, in Galle, Sri Lanka. Kannangara received his primary education at the free Wesleyan Missionary School, and his achievements were brought to the attention of the Rev. J.H. Darrel, Principal of Richmond College, Galle, who was visiting during a prize-giving ceremony. Having noticed that most of the prizes were won by Kananga, he is said to have remarked, "Son, you may have to hire a bullock cart to take home the books you collected at this prize giving." Darrel also gave Kannangara a chance to sit for a Richmond College Foundation scholarship exam. Excelling in Mathematics in the exam, he won the scholarship, receiving an award for free board and lodging at Richmond College. There he would receive education from an elite school of the time, far superior to that offered at his school. He also captained Richmond College in first eleven cricket in 1903, and was a member of the school soccer team the same year, winning colours for his performances.

Political career Kannangara was elected to the Legislative Council of Ceylon in 1923, thrusting him into the very heart of national politics. He was elected to the State Council in 1931 and again in 1936. Kannangara joined Anagarika Dharmapala's historically significant temperance movement, and worked actively with its leaders, including Sir D.B. Jayatilleke, D.S. Senanayake, F.R. Senanayake and Arthur V. Dias. Kannangara was appointed as the first chairman of the Executive Committee of Education in the State Council and thus became the first Minister of Education of Ceylon in 1931. The final report of the Executive Committee of Education was published in 1943, with the inclusion of important recommendations initiated by A. Ratnayake, P. de S. Kularatne, S. Natesan and T. B. Jayah, that were initially opposed by Kannangara; Kannangara spoke for six and a half hours to convince other members of the council to vote for the bill, and was supported in his efforts by H. W. Amarasuriya, Dudley Senanayake, J. R. Jayewardene, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, Dr. N. M. Perera and others. There was also a public campaign launched by E. W. Adikaram, G.P. Malalasekera and L. H. Metthananda to support the bill, which was eventually passed by the State Council in July 1945.

A statue of C. W. W. Kannangara has been erected at the Parakramabahu Central College in Polgahawela. A new book under the title 'No Pearl of Greater Price' being a biography of C.W.W Kannangara written by the erudite Buddhist Scholar Dr. Ananda Guruge was released on 28 December 2013 at a public meeting held at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Auditorium

Family He married Edith Weerasooria, daughter of Gate Mudliyar James Charles Weerasooria, Mudliyar of the Kandy Kachcheri and the aunt of N.E.Weerasooria, QC of Lake Cottage, Kandy on 4 December 1922. They had two children, a son Dr. Chithraranjan Swarajweera Wijekoon Kannangara, a Consultant Gynecologist and a daughter Kusumawathi Wijekoon Senevirathne -nee Kannangara.

Summary C.W.W. Kannangara, known as the father of free education in Sri Lanka, played a pivotal role in transforming the country's education system. Born in 1894 in a small village in Ambalangoda, he faced numerous challenges in his early life, which fueled his determination to ensure that others would not suffer the same educational disadvantages. A brilliant student himself, Kannangara excelled in his studies and later became a dedicated educator and politician, committed to the cause of education.

Kannangara introduced the Free Education Bill in 1944, a groundbreaking initiative that aimed to provide accessible education to all children regardless of their socio-economic background. This bill was a radical departure from the existing system, which largely favored the wealthy and urban populations. His visionary reforms included establishing central schools, which offered quality education to rural areas, and providing scholarships to talented students, thereby promoting educational equity and opportunity. These central schools were strategically placed to serve the educational needs of rural children who otherwise had limited access to quality education.

In addition to these significant measures, Kannangara also advocated for a curriculum that was relevant and comprehensive, ensuring that students received a well-rounded education. He believed that education should not only be about academic learning but also about character building and equipping students with the skills needed for life.

C.W.W. Kannangara's efforts have left an impact on Sri Lanka.