Samarakoon’s original version may herald a better tomorrow for Lanka

Our National Anthem is embodied in the Constitution. Section 7 recognises the National Anthem as “Sri Lanka Matha” and Schedule 7 provides the music of it. Our first National Anthem was “Namo Namo Matha” and that was changed to “Sri Lanka Matha” in 1962.

“Namo Namo Matha” the original National Anthem was composed by Ananda Samarakoon. One of his early compositions “Namo Namo Matha” was nominated as the National Anthem and officially adopted as the National Anthem of Ceylon on November 22, 1951, after being approved by a committee headed by Sir Edwin Wijeratne.

Some advisors of the then Prime Minister Mrs. Bandaranaike who claimed to be specialists on music and “Gana” connected to songs, advised her that particularly the “Gana” significance of the introductory words in “Namo Namo Matha”, designate disease and ill-luck to the country and its politicians/ leaders. We must bear in mind that Mrs. Bandaranaike’s husband S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike who was the Prime Minister had been assassinated by a Buddhist monk only four years before.

The advisors and/or critics won the day, and the suggestion to change the words “Namo Namo Matha” to “Sri Lanka Matha” was accepted.

Without the consent of Ananda Samarakoon, the composer of the anthem, the opening words were changed to “Sri Lanka Matha” so that the “Gana” significance would now designate victory and prosperity. Ananda Samarakoon was invited to listen to the new National Anthem. He was said to be heartbroken at the change and died just over a year later.

Samarakoon completed the “Gana Shasthra” studies in India. Knowing the “Gana Shasthra” well, I am sure, he would have applied his knowledge when composing the song “Namo Namo Matha” .

The change in words was expected to bring good luck and prosperity. But within a year the infamous coup to overthrow Mrs. Bandaranaike’s government took place. The conspirators were arrested and prosecuted. Ten years after, the JVP insurrection took place and many lives were lost. The LTTE was born in 1976 and grew by the early Eighties. The second JVP insurrection was during the 1987 - 1989 period. Many leaders were assassinated. After so many years the Eelam war ended in 2009. Since the end of the war we have been going down economically.

Today the government is struggling to find forex to purchase the essentials to keep our lives going.

It is my humble submission that we return to our first National Anthem starting with the words “Namo Namo Matha”. Hemal Perera Via email