Bogoda Premaratne

Bogoda Premaratne
Bogoda Premaratne
Born	15 March 1921; Ceylon
Died	26 December 2013 (aged 92)
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Occupation	Educator
Known for	Improving education

Deshabandhu Bogoda Appuhamilage Premaratne (15 March 1921 – 26 December 2013) was a Sri Lankan youth educator who served in the Sri Lanka Department of Education in various capacities. Beginning as a teacher, he later became the principal of secondary education schools and teacher training schools. He ended his civil service career as the Commissioner of Examinations.

Premaratne served at the United States-Sri Lanka Foundation for Fulbright Scholarship as head of the selection committee from 1976 to 1988. At the same time, he was appointed to Chair of the Educational Reforms Committee of Sri Lanka in 1980, whose committee report was accepted and subsequently implemented. At the request of Sri Lanka's President, he served as the Secretary of the Ministerial Committee for Education, Cultural and Social Services where he established the research unit for social values at the National Institute of Education of Sri Lanka.^{[clarification needed]}

Early life

Premaratne was born in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) on 15 March 1921, and his elementary school education was in a rural setting. He attended Ananda College, a secondary school in Sri Lanka, where he developed an interest in education. He entered the Teacher Training School and trained as a teacher. He obtained his bachelor's degree in London^[where?] and his Masters in Education at Columbia University, in New York. He was the first Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) to receive the UNESCO Teachers Education Fellowship.^{[citation needed]}

Career

His first appointment was in the late 1940s at Kegalle Central. This school was established by the government as a model Nation School (Primary and Secondary) and served as a template for other newly formed institutes. As a teacher trainer he was involved with primary and secondary school curriculum development.

Premaratne was appointed as the principal of Passara Central College for six months, Hanwella Central College for two years, and Giragama Training School for two years. After receiving his master's degree, he became the vice principal at Royal College in 1959. He served in this capacity until 1966. In 1967 he was appointed principal of the college, a position he held until the end of 1971.

Premaratne was appointed as Commissioner of Examinations in 1972. He brought in the concept of standardisation to address inequities in admissions to the universities. He retired from government service in 1976 at the age of 55.

Retirement

After his retirement Premaratne served at the United States-Sri Lanka Foundation for Fulbright Scholarship selection from 1976 to 1988. He was appointed to Chair the Educational Reforms Committee of Sri Lanka in 1980, and was responsible for the Committee Report that the Sri Lankan Government accepted and implemented. He left the field in 1989.

Following a Presidential request, he served as the Secretary of the Ministerial Committee for Education, Cultural and Social Services. In this capacity, he established a new ‘Research Unit for the Social Values’ at the National Institute of Education of Sri Lanka.^{[citation needed]} He died on 26 December 2013 at the age of 92.^[1]

Recognition

During his tenure, President J. R. Jayewardene proposed that Bogoda Premaratne receive the Deshabandu (National Honours of Sri Lanka, a civil honour awarded by the Government of Sri Lanka). He was duly awarded this honour in May 1989.

Public figure

He authored many books on Buddhism. He also authored books in English such as Dialogues on Dhamma, Enlightenment is your Birth Right, Part 1 – Theory and Enlightenment is your Birth Right, Part 2 – Practice.. He was a popular public speaker on Buddhism. He was a founding member of the Sri Lanka Conference on Religion and Peace, affiliated with the World Conference of Religion and Peace. He served as the Secretary-General of the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace for five years and chaired the National Chapter for many years.

References

^ "Educationist Bogoda Premaratne passes away". Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

External links

[1] "Educationist Bogoda Premaratne passes away". Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

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