I have a cousin sister elder to me. Now she has a daughter
who is going to sit for the grade 5 examinations in this month. When I was ay
my niece’s age my cousin was in her early twenties. She never had a time to
play with me, but she had a considerable amount of papers which were known as “Mal Pathara” .These some kind of papers
which were very popular during early 90s.These papers are not pornography, but
full of sentimental love stories, every weekly published .Most of the time with
the paper publishers issues a colored photograph of Bollywood actor. My cousin
really loved those papers and weekly she was buying.
My mother would rather
prefer that I am going to my cousin’s home than playing with the boys. I don t
think that she ever knew that I am going there to read this papers, When I was
about 10 years old I have finished most of children books.
Every day I wanted to read something different, I ‘m not going to Justify reading those youth papers at that time, but frankly
that was happened.
Mr.Bandula Padmakumara
The first time that I came to know Upul Shantha Sannasgala was from that paper. That paper was “Araliya” which means flower temple trees. The editor of that newspaper was Bandula Padmakumara, he is the one who started first adults only magazine in Sri Lanka, even I have seen this magazine with one of my cousin brother who was actually over ten years elder than to me.But I never got a chance to read, By the time I got in to his room the magazine was not there, god knows where it was?
The first time that I came to know Upul Shantha Sannasgala was from that paper. That paper was “Araliya” which means flower temple trees. The editor of that newspaper was Bandula Padmakumara, he is the one who started first adults only magazine in Sri Lanka, even I have seen this magazine with one of my cousin brother who was actually over ten years elder than to me.But I never got a chance to read, By the time I got in to his room the magazine was not there, god knows where it was?
Both Budula Padmakumara and Upul Shantha Sannasgala I met when I was
in grade 7 again ,.Bandula Padmakumara had started a newspaper “Samudura”.It
was a time where we never got a chance to sit in front of a computer, not to
mention that we never had smart phones
or I Pad and surf internet.
I was very much curious to know what s happenings outer
world. The “Samudura “basically
translation of Readers’ Digest, National Geographic, Life etc. . .And it was
full of images.Bandula Padmakumara
was the editor of that paper. Upul
Shantha Sannasgala was a very popular tuition teacher; He was a pioneer of
starting whole classes’ students over 1000.
Then suddenly Bandula Padmakumara started” Lakbima “newspaper which is a national
newspaper now.
The Lakbima was the
first newspaper which started issuing an entertainment tabloid magazine with the
newspaper in Sinhalese. The first newspaper with the entertainment tabloid was
“the Sunday times”. People love gossip, and
Bandula Padmakumara knew it
very well.
While I was moving from child hood to youth hood Bandula Padmakumara also had moved from “Mal pathara karaya” to “Praveena Madhyawedii”.But still Upul Shantha Sannasgala stays as tuition teacher. But he was popular with youth writing a novel “Adaranneya wassanaya” which means loving spring I guess so.
Mr.Padmakumara while he was doing Mul pituwa
While I was moving from child hood to youth hood Bandula Padmakumara also had moved from “Mal pathara karaya” to “Praveena Madhyawedii”.But still Upul Shantha Sannasgala stays as tuition teacher. But he was popular with youth writing a novel “Adaranneya wassanaya” which means loving spring I guess so.
Mr.Padmakumara while he was doing Mul pituwa
It was the love
story Kasun and Chapa ,I too read
it.That book was a very popular among the youth I can remember my mother was scolding saying it’s
cheap literature, but who cares ,that
book was a best-selling book in Sri Lanka .Even they produced a movie
out of it, but movie was a horrible crap
from the beginning to the end I watched
it too.
From the beginning of the new millennium Sri Lankans started
celebrating Valentine’s Day. The Valentine’s Day was implanted to Sri Lanka by
the medias specially FM radios.Eventhogh my parents were married over 30 years
they were never heard about this day.
But now even five years old kindergarten kids are exchange roses on that day. After A/L examinations I was spent very lethargic time without knowing what will be next. Upul Shantha Sannsgala again appeared to the stage by organizing lover’s camp first time in Sri Lanka.
The camp was held at Wihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo if I am not mistaken. Of course I did not go but I was close by .Those days I was spending lot of time in Public Library Colombo,Vihara maha devi park was next to the library. I still remember before start the camp there was a protest by lovers they were asking for what that I don t remember. But all the couples walked around the Vihara Maha devi Park holding banners. The entire event was not free. First time in Sri Lanka people paid to protest.
Vihara Maha Devi Park Colombo
I do remember this because of another thing that was the time Manjula Wediwardhana was writing to by his heart touching words in “Rawaya” newspaper. He had made an interview with Upul Shantha Sannasgala about this event, and had asked why this whole thing has become paid event. He asked much better way, like why love is expensive on valentine day or something like that. Upul Shantha Sannsgala had replied his ass is not aching to do things free.
But now even five years old kindergarten kids are exchange roses on that day. After A/L examinations I was spent very lethargic time without knowing what will be next. Upul Shantha Sannsgala again appeared to the stage by organizing lover’s camp first time in Sri Lanka.
The camp was held at Wihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo if I am not mistaken. Of course I did not go but I was close by .Those days I was spending lot of time in Public Library Colombo,Vihara maha devi park was next to the library. I still remember before start the camp there was a protest by lovers they were asking for what that I don t remember. But all the couples walked around the Vihara Maha devi Park holding banners. The entire event was not free. First time in Sri Lanka people paid to protest.
I do remember this because of another thing that was the time Manjula Wediwardhana was writing to by his heart touching words in “Rawaya” newspaper. He had made an interview with Upul Shantha Sannasgala about this event, and had asked why this whole thing has become paid event. He asked much better way, like why love is expensive on valentine day or something like that. Upul Shantha Sannsgala had replied his ass is not aching to do things free.
But I don’t think Upul Shantha Sannasgala did
everything hoping only profit. He was
the producer for Ashoka Hadagama’s
movie” Aksharaya” which was banned showing in Sri Lanka.
By that time Bandula
Padmakumara started reading newspaper headlines in the morning in a
television channel .Common thread for both of them was they always think little
different from most of us. Both of them
were never afraid of trying something new.
Then again Upul
Shantha Sannasgala was charged stealing Advanced Level exam paper and
discussing the questions before the exam in his tuition class. But end of the
story Upul Shantha Sannasgala was
found not erroneous and he wrote a book to prove that he is not guilty.
During the past years Bandula
Padmakumara ended up being very faithful journalist to the previous
government. Also he was appointed as the head of the Lake house; it’s a
government publishing newspapers. But Upul Shantha Sannasgala ended up being
out spoken against the government. He also made appear that time opposition leader now prime minister
in his tuition class. That was also first time in Sri Lanka .A politician
addressing students in a private tuition class.
Sometimes later Upul Shantha Sannasgala started
acknowledging that he missed his parents specially his mother during his struggling
years in Colombo. He started being ultimately genuine and explained to media
what terrible life that he spent in his childhood. Not only was that he accusing
his father being abusive. He did not stop at that level.
Upul Shantha Sannasgala adressing at AMMA book lounch
He wrote a book “Amma” the mother ,well we can’ t compare this book with Maksim Gorky’s the mother, Sannasgala’s book does not have such gravity at all, but as usual after years it was again best –selling booking SriLanka.Even the book launching was very dramatic ,very heart touching. While the distinguish guest addressing the audience a painter did a portrait of Sannasgala’s mother.
Upul Shantha Sannasgala adressing at AMMA book lounch
He wrote a book “Amma” the mother ,well we can’ t compare this book with Maksim Gorky’s the mother, Sannasgala’s book does not have such gravity at all, but as usual after years it was again best –selling booking SriLanka.Even the book launching was very dramatic ,very heart touching. While the distinguish guest addressing the audience a painter did a portrait of Sannasgala’s mother.
My mother is not fan of Sannasgala at all. But due to the
heavy publicity of this event she insisted that she wanted to participate, so I
went with her. Throughout the programme my mother was crying. This time Upul
Shantha Sannasgala had touched most sensitive nerves of the Sri Lankan s.Sannasgala
did not stop at that even he gave his for a tele drama director to do a soap
opera in local television channel.
At this time Sri Lankan politics also started changing, Presidential
election was announced two years in advanced and Sannasgala was supporting to
the “Yaha palanaya” the good government. First week this year the good government
came to power.
Since that Sannasgala appeared in almost every government’s
every media channels. Meanwhile Bandula
Padmakumara was kicked out of the both the Lake house and early morning newspapers
reading from the TV channel. The good government ignored him completely and two
weeks ago I saw he has come to the same tv channel has taken an award which his
programme won during his time, unfortunately he had to return this because the
tv channel had complaint to the police.
Upul Shantha Sannasgala did not start reading newspapers,
but he started talk show “Sathya garaya” the chamber of truth, but all the
peoples appeared in the programme was well known liars. As it appears to me the
aim of this programme is to clean their
black spots look them clean and ensure make justify what they did during the past time.
This is not the
first time we are experiencing this kind of programmes,
For the previous government this role was played by popular
actor Jackson Anthony. He did this cleaning business at that time for everyone not
only the politicians. Few years ago brought one of his fellow actor who was charged for raping a 14 years old girl at that time and let him to show his innocence
by using government media channel. This person later found guilty and sentenced
to 10 years imprison. But again he appealed and found not guilty the clever lawyers
brought an argument saying it was not rape it was consensual sex they had and
they won.
Now Sri Lanka child law has changed and it does not matter what
is the verb or adjective, the age below 18 any sexual intercourse is a rape.
Ironically this year for the parliamentarian election the same actor requested nominations
from the good government, but he was rejected.
But from the good government Upul Shantha Sannasgala able to
get nominations and now he already started his political campaign. But his
victory in the election unpredictable but I ‘m sure he is well prepared to appear
on behalf of the good governments whether it is good or bad. I wish he will not
get inspired by his esteemed friend Jackson Anthony.
It was William Shakespeare said that;
“All the world is a stage
And all the men and women merely
players;They have their exits and their entrances,”
But these clever actors do not
allow us to see different play, they are changing only the actors, but the play
remains.as it was before.
Do we want to see to again?
