Sagara Palansuriya

Palansuriya Mohottalalage Dingiri Mahaththaya^[1] (Sinhalese: පලන්සුරිය මොහොට්ටාලලාගේ ඩිංගිරි මහත්තයා) or Kalalelle Ananda Sagara (KAS / Kayes) (Sinhalese: කළල්ඇල්ලේ ආනන්ද සාගර (කේයස්)) or Sagara Palansuriya (Sinhalese: සාගර පලන්සුරිය) as he was known in his late life, was a poet, teacher and a member of parliament.

Early life

Palansuriya Mohottalalage Dingiri Mahaththaya was born on 11 March 1908 at Kalalella, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka.^[2]

Mahaththaya undertook his primary education at Madampagama Rural Sinhala school and then did renunciation to the Buddha Shasana as a Buddhist monk named Ven. Kalalelle Pemananda. Under the tutelage of Ven. Ethoya Penanissa thero he was educated in the Sinhalese language, Literature, Sociology, Culture and Politics, in addition to learning several eastern languages as a scholar of Vidyalankara Pirivena (now known as University of Kelaniya). Mahaththaya travelled to Shanthi Nikethana in India where he continued his studies. Following the stint at Shanthi Nikethana, the poet KAS set to cope with the synchronous mature poets of Colombo Era such as Ananda Rajakaruna, Rev S. Mahinda and G H Perera.

Career and service

In his second term of priestliness under the name of Ven. Kalalelle Ananda Sagara or pseudonym KAS (Kayes), he continued his career as a teacher and promoted his style of Poesy compiling verses such as Kalakanniya, Kelani Withthi, Paddiyavatiya, Mal Hamy and Visirinu Tharu. KAS reached his highest turning point of life compiling Sudo Sudu, the KAS Markup Script and became a well recognized leading literary figure of the country. Sudo Sudu (Sinhalese: සුදෝ සුදු )(Darling my Brighty), the master piece of his major work is said to be one of the highest range interested and well received by every layer of the society in Colombo.^[3][4]

Later he gave up his robes forever and reverted to his lay name Sagara Palansuriya entering into politics, joining the Viplavakari Lanka Sama Samaja Party (Revolutionary Ceylon Equal Society Party), led by Philip Gunawardena, in 1947.^[5] Palansuriya was able to secure a place at the parliament in 1956 representing the Horana Electoral District for Mahajana Ekasth Peramuna (Peoples United Front), which was led by S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike.^[6] Because of his interest in the left-wing politics, he maintained a close relationship with Sama Samaja and Communist Party politicians, including Tikiri Banda Subasinghe, K. M. P. Rajarathna, Nimal Karunatillake, Lakshman Rajapaksa, M. S. Themis and T. B. Ilangaratne. He always cared the welfare of the ordinary class and often drew attention to the plight of the poor farmers. As a progressive politician Palansuriya served his people and led them for their benefits. He had to retire from politics in 1960 due to his health issues. Palansuriya died on 22 June 1961.^[7]

See also

• S. Mahinda
• Wimalaratne Kumaragama
• Philip Gunawardena
• S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike

References