University of Peradeniya sans a Hall, has 68th Convocation in the Gym
The University of Peradeniya, a premier University, had its 68th Convocation recently at the University Gymnasium, while over the years, the University authorities nor the Government has thought of building a Convocation Hall.
The University was established way back in the 1930's, forerunner to the University of Ceylon in Peradeniya.
The Duke of Gloucester laid the foundation stone for the Convocation Hall on Feb.12, 1948, after which an Honorary Degree was conferred on him and also on first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake.
Premier Senanayake left his Degree certificate at the University Registration office at Peradeniya.
It took another 60 years for the certificate to be conserved and ordered it be hung at the Peradeniya University Library.
The Duke was as here for the Independence celebrations and the Minister of Communications & Works, Sir John Kotalawela invited the Duke to lay the foundation stone for the Convocation Hall which was provided for by Consultant Sir Patrick Abeercrombie and Architect Shirley de Alwis' Plan.
According to the Plan, the Senate building was in the middle with the Library on its right and the Convocation Hall on its left was. But, for some inexplicable reason, this building never materialised.
The Convocation Hall is to return, and an area within the Campus earmarked, but doen't seem to have made any headway. So the makeshift arrangement for a Convocation stands. University of Peradeniya sits over the cantonment of the South East Asia Command, which had Lord Louis Mountbatten as its Supreme Commander during World War II. At wars end, the land cleared of rubber and tea bushes, was easy for this National University to be set up for Independent Sri Lanka.
However, it did have other obstacles. The main one being locationColombo or Kandy, and that too, whether it was Aruppola or Watapuluwa. Finally Peradeniya was selected due to its scenic beauty, which was seen after the land was cleared.
The Duke, in his address, following the laying of the foundation stone, said, "It gives me real pleasure to receive an Honorary Degree of the University of Ceylon. I am sure the roll of graduates at Peradeniya will be long and distinguished. It is a privilege to be the first on the roll and to share the honours of this Convocation with the Prime Minister of Ceylon, one of the architects of the new Ceylon Constitution, and one of the learned doctors who first suggested that the University be established on this site."
The ceremonial opening of the University was on April 20, 1954, by the Duke of Edinburgh who was in Ceylon with Queen Elizabeth II. The first Chancellor of the University was Lord Soulbury.
At its 68th Convocation, the University of Peradeniya conferred Degrees on 3,401 Graduates, the largest component from the Faculty of Arts with 817. Vice ChancellorUpul B. Dissnayake conferred the Degrees on behalf of the Chancellor- Professor P.W. Epasinghe, who was indisposed.
Academics are unanimously of the view that it is time a Convocati on Hall was constructed for a University such as Peradeniya.