C. W. W. Kannangara
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The Honourable C.W.W. Kannangara සි.ඩබ්ලිව්.ඩබ්ලිව්.කන්නන්ගර |
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| Father of free Education in Sri Lanka | |
| Minister of Housing and Local Government | |
| Minister of Education of the State Council of Ceylon | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
13 October 1884 Randombe, Balapitiya, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 23 September 1969 (aged 84) Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) |
| Political party | Ceylon National Congress |
| Alma mater | Richmond College |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Christopher William Wijekoon Kannangara (Sinhalav g mtg fකන්නන්ගර; 13 October 1884 – 23 September 1969) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician. Rising up the ranks of Sri Lanka's movement for independence in the early part of the 20th century, 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 rural town in Balapitiya, South, Sri Lanka, his academic prowess enabled him to win a scholarship to Richmond College, Galle, a prestigious national school at the time. Initially working as a lawyer after leaving school, he entered politics as the movement for independence was gathering strength in Sri Lanka. Kannangara was first elected to the Ceylon Legislative Council in 1923 and then to the State Council. He also served as the President of the Ceylon National Congress.
As Minister of Education in the State Council, Kannangara introduced extensive reforms to the education system of Sri Lanka throughout the 1940s. They befitted thousands of underprivileged students in rural parts of the country by making education free for all students. He also began a Central Colleges scheme, which established high quality secondary schools in rural areas of the country. Kannangara's significant achievements in areas of education have led him to being commonly referred to as the Father of Free Education in Sri Lanka.
Christopher William Wijekoon Kannangara was born on 13 October 1884, in Randombe, a rural village at Balapitiya in the south of Sri Lanka. The son of John Daniel Wijekoon Kannangara, the Deputy Fiscal Officer in the Balapitiya Courts, and Emily Wijesinghe, he had his primary education at the Wesleyan Missionary School in Randombe.
Kannangara showed great educational promise as a child, and his achievements were recognised by Rev. J.H Darrel, the Principal of Richmond College, Galle who was the chief guest at a prize giving of the Wesleyan Missionary School. After noticing that Kannangara won most of the available prizes, 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 and lodging at Richmond College. There he received the education of an elite school of the times, far superior instructions to that offered at his rural school.
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