Prematilaka Mapitigama
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Prematilaka Mapitigama | |
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Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka, J.R. Jayewardene[1] | |
In office 1988–1996 | |
Secretary General, J.R. Jayewardene Centre[1] | |
In office 1993–2012 | |
Additional Secretary to the Ministries of Irrigation, Power & Highways; Lands & Land Development;[2] Lands, Irrigation & Mahaweli Development; [3] [4] | |
In office 1977–1990 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 07 January 1930 Mattamagoda, Ceylon |
Died | 14 April 2012 Colombo, Sri Lanka | (aged 82)
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Occupation | civil servant [5] [6], author [5], publisher |
Profession | Ceylon Administrative Service [5] |
Prematilaka Mapitigama, also known as K. W. M. P. Mapitigama, (January 07, 1930 – April 14, 2012) (Sinhala: ප්රේමතිලක මාපිටිගම) was a senior Sri Lankan civil servant [5] [6], author [5] and a publisher. As the Secretary to the President, Mapitigama was once the highest ranking public servant in the government of Sri Lanka. At the time of his death he was serving as the Secretary General of J.R. Jayewardene Center at 191 Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7. Mapitigama succeeded W.M. P. B. Menikdiwela as the Permanent Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka, J. R. Jayewardene in 1988 and continued to be the Secretary to the Former President, J. R. Jayewardene until the demise of the late president on November 01, 1996. He has also authored and published number of books both in Sinhalese and in English.
Early life and family
Prematilaka Mapitigama was born on January 7, 1930 as the eldest son of P. B. Mapitigama and Leelawathie Higgoda Kumarihamy. He had a wife, Nalini (née Senaratne) and two children, Nethanjalie and Niranjana.[1]
Civil service
Prematilaka Mapitigama entered the Ceylon Administrative Service (CAS) in 1967 [5] [7]. From 1970 to 1977, he functioned as the Senior Assistant Secretary of Ministry of Defense & External Affairs under the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike. From 1977 until 1990 he served as the Additional Secretary to the ministries of Irrigation, Power & Highways; Land & Land Development; and Lands, Irrigation & Mahaweli Development; [3] [4] [2] all under Cabinet Minister Lionel Gamini Dissanayake. Mapitigama succeeded W.M.P.B. Menikdiwela as the Secretary to President J. R. Jayewardene [1] in 1988 and continued to be the Secretary to the Former President until the demise of President Jayewardene on November 01, 1996. Thereafter, he continued to function as the Secretary General of the Jayewardene Centre [1] until he passed away in April, 2012.
Mapitigama has held number of senior positions in the SLAS and notably the below:
- 1993 – 2012 Secretary General of J. R. Jayewardene Centre
- 1989 – 1996 Secretary to the Former President of Sri Lanka, J. R. Jayewardene
- 1988 – 1989 Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka, J. R. Jayewardene
- 1977 – 1990 Additional Secretary to the Ministries of Irrigation, Power & Highways; Lands & Land Development; Lands, Irrigation & Mahaweli Development
Writing
Mapitigama turned his hand to writing at a very young age, first writing to newspapers and then publishing his first novel in 1960 in Sinhalese, "සාර්ථක විවාහයට මඟ" (Way To A Happy Marriage) [8] [9], based on his years in the Marriage and Divorce Commission of Sri Lanka. A series of books followed and one of his final books in English, Longest Days [10] [11] [6] was published in 2002 in English, based on his vast experience in government service.
Death
Mapitigama died in April, 2012 at the age of 82 at the Intensive Care Unit of the Asha Central Hospital in Colombo.
Books
- Longest Days (self-published, 2000)[10] [11] [6]
- JR in cartoon (2002) [12]
- Eka Diga Gamanak [13]
- සාර්ථක විවාහයට මඟ (Sarthaka vivahayata maga | Way To A Happy Marriage, 1960, Revised 2002) [8] [9]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Obituaries". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 16 September 2012.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ a b "Culture and Management in Sri Lanka (page 174)" (PDF). usaid.gov. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ a b "The politician who practised principles". island.lk. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ a b "The man who tamed the wild Mahaweli". island.lk. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "A dedicated government servant - Appreciation". island.lk. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d Columbia University, Libraries. "Columbia University Libraries". clio.cul.columbia.edu. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ Ratnayake, R. M. L. "Administrator, social worker and affectionate friend - Appreciations". sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ a b Ratnayake, Premil. "Sarthaka vivahayata maga - Book review/ Opinion". island.lk. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ a b Kannangara, Ananda. "Prof. on what makes a successful marriage". dailynews.lk. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ a b Ranatunga, D. C. "JR and his battered suitcase - Book review". sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Review - Personal experience and impression of a public servant". The Island (Sri Lanka). 13 May 2001. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
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(help) - ^ Kannangara, Ananda. "J.R. through the eyes of the caricaturist - Book review". dailynews.lk. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ Karunanayake, Nandana. "Memoirs of a public servant - Book review - Opinion". dailynews.lk. Retrieved 17 September 2012.