Bishop Edmund Peiris:

Promoter of national culture

Twenty first death anniversary fell on September 4:

Stanley E Abeynayake

Bishop Emeritus of Chilaw Dr Edmund Peiris who passed away on September 4, 1989 was a true patriot who loved his Motherland. A renowned historian, erudite scholar and linguist, talented musician, author and composer he was a staunch promoter of our national culture

The Bishop was born in Chilaw and created history by becoming the first Sinhala Bishop of Sri Lanka besides being Chilaw’s first Catholic priest. He had his early education at the now defunct St Mary’s English School where he studied up to the seventh standard.

He later attended St Joseph’s College, Colombo. Joining St Bernard’s Seminary, Borella, he was ordained as a priest on February 25, 1924. When the new Diocese of Chilaw was promulgated in 1939, he was appointed as its first Bishop.

The Chilaw Diocese saw a number of improvements and innovations during his tenure.

Exchange views

It is to his undying memory that he opened up the St Joseph’s Home for the Elders at Lansigama, St Anne’s Nursing Home at Marawila, St Paul’s Seminary also at Marawila and St Peter’s Industrial Home Chilaw among other institutions.

Before being elevated as the Chilaw Bishop, he served as a young priest in many parishes - Kalutara, Kalamulla, Mutwal and so on.

In 1920, he used to meet various people at St Philip’s Church, Olcott Mawatha, then known as Norris Road, Pettah close to the Fort Railway Station. He greeted every person with a ‘God Bless’ dearfully before he met them. The idea in such conversation was to exchange views on various aspects of men and matters. He regarded intelligent people as open universities or walking encyclopedias.

At one early stage of his priesthood, he lived with Father Marcelline Jayakody - Pansale Piyathuma (Rev Father of the Temple).

By associating with that highly versatile priest Edmund Pieris, the young priest was greatly nurtured with Sinhala culture and also grasp the lofty doctrines of the Dhamma - Buddhism.

Scholar

For a short spell he taught at St Bernard’s Seminary and later was in charge of St Vincents’ Home Maggona for juvenile offenders.

In 1933 he proceeded to England for higher education and joined the London University.

He was equally at ease in Western classical languages - Greek and Latin as he was in his Pali and Sanskrit.

His love and predilection for Sinhala was such, that even when he was sent to the London University for higher studies he opted for a degree in oriental studies.

Majoring in Sinhala and Pali his proficiency in English too was of a very high standard. After graduating with a BA (London) with flying colours he returned to his Motherland in 1937.

Then again, he was appointed the Head of St Bernard’s Seminary.

For a short period he taught at his almamater St Joseph’s College, Colombo - the premier Catholic collegiate school in the island.

When engaged in studies in England he did extensive research at the British museum on the history of our country and on Portuguese and Dutch documents preserved in the archives section.

Versatile

Simplicity was the keynote of this patriot in purple. High thinking and simple living was his philosophy in life. As President of the Royal Asiatic Society for a number of years, he contributed a number of well-researched, resourceful documented talks and lectures on several themes of historical, cultural value. A priest who appreciated hymns, he also was an amateur composer and singer of Sinhala songs. With meticulous ease he prepared his own timetable so as to work round the clock.

Whatever task he performed, he did that methodically and punctually. He was one of the pioneers who fought for the rightful place of Swabhasha both Sinhala and Tamil in Sri Lanka.

With the elevation of Bishop Pieris to the first indigenous See of Chilaw, the Church in our country took a distinct turn towards a national outlook.

Even at his Episcopal ordination these were such national embellishments like Sesath, Hewisi - band and Gokkola decor.

Social justice too was near and dear to his heart in that he thought of social justice long before other stalwarts talked about it.

Historic shrine

He was in the vanguard of those who fought for the rights of the poor and the downtrodden.

To the inhabitants of Chilaw, he was a true son of the soil, an illustrious star in the night sky that illuminated and guided the fisherfolk during those halcyon days of yore.

An awaiting admirer of St Anne’s Church, Talawila he put that historic shrine on the map of Catholicism in Sri Lanka.

Regarding the promotion of Sinhala Nadagama, he shrined hard for its comeback and revival.

Diamond Jubilee

Chilaw celebrated the occasion of his Diamond Jubilee of Successful Ordination on February 25, 1984.

Among the highlights of the celebrations in Chilaw to mark that remarkable occasion was the essay competition on Dr Edmund Pieris open to students in Chilaw schools.

Among his labours of love in Sinhala are the heritage of Sinhala - Christian literature and the edition of Rev Fr Jacome Gonsalvesly’s Dharma Sanghawa and Ananda Kalippuwa in Sinhala.

The former highly informative book was published titled Sinhala-Christiani Sahitya Wanshaya. Bishop Edmund Peiris lived in retirement at Holy Cross College, Gampaha. He passed away peacefully on September 4, 1989 - 21 years ago.

“Adieu and farewell the Lord at the Golden Gate will be there to meet and greet you thus “Well done, good and faithful servant.”