Sandika Madushan

'LANGUAGE VEHICLE OF
CULTURE'

PROFESSOR AT CUMARANATUNGA
CELEBRATIONS

"Language is the vehicle of our culture," said Professor G. P. Malalasekera, when he presided at the Munidasa Cumaranatunga celebrations held at the Central Y.M.C.A. on Tuesday.

"We have recently had a stirring call to patriotism", he said, "but I am afraid the response cannot but he feeble until we have the requiste factors for the growth of a fervant love of what is our very own. Among these language holds a most prominent place for it enshrines our thoughts and our aspirations. it is the vehicle of our culture, the culture which has been the envy of others for centuries."

The celebrations began by the Chairman garlanding a portrait of the late Mr. Munidasa Cumaranatunga. A Number of speeches were delivered dwelling on Mr. Cumaranatunga's skill as a poet and a writer and on his services for the rehabilitation of Sinhalese. Among the speakers were Rev. Kodagoda Nanaloka, Rev. Father Marceline de Costa and Mr. R. Tennekoon, Mr. A Gunawardena read a paper on Mr. Cumaranatunga's poetry.

The proceedings were interspersed with recitals of songs by Sunil Shanti
and his troupe.

6.3.1948
D.N.