His death ran headlines in all the newspapers.
Martin Wickramasinghe's writings both as author
and journalist covering a span of over fifty years
had been read in almost every home. His death
after a short illness was a loss felt not only by
family friends and admirers, but also amongst the people of
Sri Lanka in general.
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Last rites
in his birthplace
It was Martin Wickramasinghe's wish that his last rites be performed
in Koggala. His cremation was simple and traditional.
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Samadhi in
Koggala.
Samadhi, in Koggala near the house where he was born. Martin Wickramasinghe's
ashes were buried here in 1976. His wife Prema Wickramasinghe's
ashes were buried besides his in 2001.
The simple Samadhi blends with the surrounding
rural parkland, in which he roamed as a child. A
small vault containing a laminated copy of his
much loved novel Gamperaliya, a copper plate engraved with the titles
of the books he wrote and
the lyrics of the ode to Martin Wickramasinghe written by Mahagamasekara
are buried under the head stone, which is a rock from near the reef
with its marine life that prompted him as a child to read books
on biology.
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1st day postal
cover with the commemorative stamp.
First day cover of stamp issued as part of the centenary celebrations
of Martin Wickramasinghe's birth. Stamp bulletin issued with the
1st day cover
on National hero's day states that Martin Wickramasinge is the foremost
of intellectual of
Sri Lanka of this century.
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Chairman of
the Trust in his library.
Handing over the books to the National Library in
1980 in the presence of the Chairman of the Martin Wickramasinghe
Trust Moratuwe Sasanarathana Nayaka Thero. After his death in 1981,
Akuratiye Amarawansa Nayaka Thero succeeded him as Chairman of the
Martin Wickramasinghe Trust.
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100th Birth
Anniversary celebrations.
Minister W.J.M Lokubandara and Martin Wickramasinghe's wife Prema
lighting the lamp
at the inauguration of the 100th Birth Anniversary celebrations
of Martin Wickramasinghe in the year 1990.
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Seventh day
Alms giving.
Alms giving, on the seventh day after his death took place in the
house in Koggala where he was born.
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Launching
of Ape Urumaya ha Bhikshun Wahanse.
Launching of first posthumously published book
by Martin Wickramasinghe "Ape Urumaya Ha Bhikshun Wahanse"
(Our Heritage and the Sangha). There have been three other unpublished
books of Martin Wickramasinghe's writings published posthumously.
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Ven. Akuratiye
Amarawansa Nayaka Thero.
Chairman, Martin Wickramasinghe Trust, Chief Incumbent Vidyodaya
Pirivena, Chief Sangha Nayaka Southern Sri Lanka, Panditha, M.A.,
Author of Vansattappakasini, Maha Vansa Tika, Divyavadanaya etc.
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Professor
Trevor Ling.
Professor Trevor Ling lighting the traditional lamp with Ven. Sasanarathana
Nayaka Thero & Prema Wickramasinghe just prior to delivering
his Martin Wickramasinghe lecture.
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| The Martin Wickramasinghe Lectures.
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| Martin Wickramasinghe lectures were
inaugurated in 1978. The inaugural lecture was delivered by Professor
Joseph Needham. The purpose of these lectures was to present the
views of internationally acknowledged intellectuals on areas of
knowledge explored by Martin Wickramasinghe to local audiences.
Although most of the lectures were delivered in English, translations
of the text of the lecture in Sinhala and Tamil were given to the
audience at the lecture itself. |
History and Human Values:
A Chinese Perspective for World Science and Technology
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Professor Joseph Needham F.R.S |
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Philosophy Buddhist and Marxist:
Agreement and Disagreements.
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Professor Trevor Ling M.A. ph.D - 1979 -
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Language Culture and National Consciousness:
Modern Perspectives from Soviet Ethnographical Research
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Professor Yulian Bromley - 1980
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Darwin, Darwinism and the Condition of Man.
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Professor A.C.J. Weerakoon - 1983
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Sociology and Literature.
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Professor Antony Flew -1988
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Martin Wickremasinge 's Vision of National Identity.
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Dr. Nalin de Silva -1989 -90
Pandula Endagama
Victor Ivan
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