UNIVERSITY OF CEYLON: 1963 STUDENT BATCH WERE UNIQUE

1963 was a watershed year in the history of the University of Ceylon. 1963 saw one faculty split into two campuses viz Peradeniya and Colombo and the laying of the foundation for two faculties to be swapped, one transferred from Peradeniya to Colombo andvice versa.

The 1963 batch of students entered the seven faculties of the University of Ceylon viz Agriculture, Arts, Dental Science, Engineering, Medicine, Oriental Studies and Veterinary Science, with campuses in Peradeniya and Colombo.

The most significant event in 1963 was the splitting of the Faculty of Arts into two campuses, creating what was popularly known as the Gopallawa faculty in Colombo, there being justification for its nickname. Some consider 1963 as the beginning of ‘open politicisation’ of the system of education in then Ceylon, although there is ‘not so open’ evidence of an earlier start. To accommodate the son of the then Gover- nor of Ceylon approximately 360 students were absorbed after the release of the initial results. This apparently was a clear political interference in the system of education. However, in a way the opportunity these students were offered mitigated the politicisation issue.

Of the students thus selected to the Faculty of Arts many went to Peradeniya, some ended up in Colombo and a few attended both. I myself was in the last category, in my case the choice being due to a twist of fate rather than an academic brilliance.The Faculty of Engineering was transferred to the Peradeniya campus and the Faculty of Law was brought to the Colombo campus thereby compensating the loss of diversity at the Colombo campus. The Faculty of Science was still in Colombo. The science students who started their classes a month before the Arts students claimed they had seniority rights due to their head start!

The haphazard manner in which the above changes were imple- mented gave rise to many problems such as the shortage of urban hostel facilities. But on the positive side it gave rural students an exposure to an urban culture. Relative to the faculties of liberal arts, other faculties such as the Medical Faculty which by now had faculties both in Colombo and Peradeniya, progressed more conservatively without having to go through the many problems the Faculty of Arts underwent. Some political analysts are of the opinion that youth radicalisation in Sri Lanka may have accelerated with increase in the numbers of intake since 1963.

In 1963 all the faculties had many distinguished professors and lecturers. The Vice Chancellor was the late Sir Nicholas Attygala, famously known as the Iron Chancellor who managed to run the University with a firm grip during a period of turbulent transition. Though mortally scared of him students respected his tenacity. Even with

The most significant event in 1963 was the splitting of the Faculty of Arts into two campuses, creating what was popularly known as the Gopallawa faculty in Colombo, there being justification for its nickname. Some consider 1963 as the beginning of ‘open politicisation’ of the system of education in then Ceylon, although there is ‘not so open’ evidence of an earlier start

significant changes, the 1963 batch still reflected the laid-back life style of old Ceylon. With regular sports events, day trips arranged by various clubs, ‘Colours nights’, Film and Theatre festivals and what was known as ‘socials’, it was a carefree lifestyle unlike what the University underwent during later years.

As they celebrate their 50th Golden Jubilee Anniversary, with the benefit of hindsight one cannot but agree that the batch of students who entered the many faculties of the University of Ceylon in 1963 have done wonderfully well serving Sri Lanka in various capacities. The 1963 batch of students was indeed a unique batch.