Watch the Autism Action film on You Tube

 

Watch the Autism Action film directed by Ian McLeod on You Tube highlighting the call of the Autism Awareness Campaign for UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to do more for all people with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPyP-slDT6M

Nimal Mendis Song for Autism ‘Open Every Door’

(London, UK)  Asian superstar Nimal Mendis who has just released a song for autism in London titled ‘Open Every Door’ is appealing to the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown to help parents, carers and people with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome by providing better public services in education, health, specialist speech therapy and respite care. Mendis is joining British musicians who are supporting the call of the Autism

Asian superstar Nimal Mendis has released ‘Open Every Door,’ a song for autism in London

Awareness Campaign UK for a cohesive national stratgey on autism and a 10 year plan of action.

Charities, voluntary sector organisations and people from faith communities in the UK are also supporting the Autism Awareness Campaign UK in this matter. There are 587,900 people with autism in the UK according to researchers 1 in 100 children may have autism. Mendis has released a moving song focusing on the life of a child with autism – it is a song of hope. Copies of the CD have been presented to Prime Minister Tony Blair by Ivan Corea of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK who also handed over copies of ‘Open Every Dooe’ to the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Leader of the Opposition David Cameron and Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies (Ming) Campbell.

Nimal Mendis (who was born in Sri Lanka) has created history by being the first South Asian singer/songwriter ever to have written a song for autism – this is also the first ever song for autism presented to two British Prime Ministers. Mendis has recorded 22 songs, eight of them on the Decca label in London in the 1960s. He appeared on BBC TV’s ‘Top of the Pops’ program singing ‘Feel like a Clown’ with singer Sandra Edema in 1968. ‘Open Every Door,’ the song for autism has been dedicated to autism research – 50% of every download will go to autism research conducted by Autism Speaks UK, chaired by the highly respected Dame Stephanie Shirley.

To download the Song for Autism please access the web page:

http://www.mediaeyeproductions.com/downloads.html

Prime Minister Tony Blair meets Ivan Corea and Lee Scott MP

Prime Minister Tony Blair met with Vernon’s son, autism campaigner Ivan Corea and Lee Scott MP on 25th April 2007 in the House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster in London.

Ivan Corea and Lee Scott MP presented the Prime Minister with the Autism Report detailing the concerns and recommendations of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK.

Vernon Corea backed and supported the Autism Awareness Campaign.

The major autism debate launched by Lee Scott MP in Westminster London

Suddenly parliamentarians in the Palace of Westminster are talking about autism. This is due to the tremendous efforts by influential parliamentarian Lee Scott MP for Ilford North who is championing the cause of autism in the House of Commons.

Lee Scott in his historic debate on autism in Westminster Hall in London mentioned Vernon Corea’s grandson, Charin who is 11 years old and has ASD.The debate, supported by MPs was held on 7th March 2007.

Vernon Corea fully supported the Autism Awareness Campaign before he died in 2002. He spoke to so many broadcasters at the BBC about autism – he was a senior manager at the BBC and was the Corporation’s Ethnic Minorities Advisor.

Vernon Corea attended the parliamentary debates on autism in 2002 Autism Awareness Year and he was present at the historic service for autism held at St.Paul’s Cathedral in London. There were hundreds of families with autistic children, adults with autism, parents and carers, dignitaries and celebrities at the first ever service for autism at St.Paul’s Cathedral.

To read Lee Scott MP’s major debate on autism in Hansard please click on the link below:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070307/halltext/70307h0009.htm

Vernon Corea featured Cliff Richard on Radio Ceylon in 1958

Cliff Richard rocked Sri Lanka when he toured Colombo for the first time on his ‘Here and Now Tour’ on 23rd February 2007. Cliff is enjoying the sights and sounds of Sri Lanka and has also spent some time on Sri Lanka’s wonderful beaches. He flies to the Maldives on 26th February 2007.

Sir Cliff Richard released his first British rock and roll single ‘Move It’ in 1958. Vernon Corea was an announcer with Radio Ceylon and he helped make ‘Move It’ a hit across South Asia when he featured Cliff Richard on his radio programs on the station’s All Asia beam.
Radio Ceylon ruled the airwaves in South Asia and it played hit after hit by Cliff Richard on the All Asia beam – thousands of listeners from the Indian sub-continent wrote into Radio Ceylon requesting Cliff Richard songs. People in India bought transistor radios to listen to Radio Ceylon. The station not only played Hindi film music they also played western popular music to their Asian audiences. Radio was King in the Indian sub-continent in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Hindu Newspaper quoted the celebrated 1970s Jazz Queen of India, Asha Puthli:  

‘Asha Puthli was born and raised in Bombay. With a strong grounding in Indian classical music, she stepped forward to European opera. She learnt about Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole from “Voice of America” and about Dusty Springfield and Cliff Richard from Radio Ceylon……’

Vernon Corea never met Cliff Richard despite playing a role in popularising his music to millions of South Asian listeners. Vernon Corea was appointed Ethnic Minorities Adviser to the BBC in the 1970s. He was also a Lay Reader at Emmanuel Church in Wimbledon Village.He died in New Malden in Surrey in the United Kingdom in 2002.

Read the LANKA EVERYTHING News Report on Sir Cliff Richard rocking Sri Lanka:

http://wwww.lankaeverything.com/vinews/entertainment/20070222182626.php

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation celebrates 40 years….

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation celebrated 40 years in broadcasting on the 5th of January 2007.

This is another historic milestone for the radio station formerly known as Radio Ceylon. The SLBC is the oldest radio station in South Asia and celebrated eighty years in broadcasting in 2005.

On December 16, 1925 the then British Governor Sir Hugh Clifford inaugurated the broadcasting service – It was first known as Colombo Radio. The name was changed to Radio Ceylon and the radio the station shifted to Torrington Square on October 5, 1949.

The Colombo radio station at ‘The Bower’ ceased broadcasts by midnight on 31st December 1949 and Radio Ceylon came into being on 1st January 1950. On January 5, 1967, it became a state corporation – the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

Dudley Senanayake who was the Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1967 ceremonially opened the newly established Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation along with Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa and the Director-General of the SLBC, Neville Jayaweera who was a distinguished civil servant.

The SLBC had some of the most talented broadcasters in South Asia, among them, Livy Wijemanne, Vernon Corea, Jimmy Bharucha, Thevis Guruge, A.W.Dharmapala, Karunaratne Abeysekera, H.M.Gunasekera, S.P.Mylvaganam, Gnanam Rathinam,Nihal Bhareti, Leon Belleth, Eric Fernando and Vijaya Corea to name a few. They entertained millions of listenera across the Indian sub-continent.

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation made so many musicians household names by featuring their music – among them, Bill Forbes, Des Kelly, Nimal Mendis,Cliff Foenander, Clarence Wijewardene, Annesley Malewana, Desmond de Silva, C.T.Fernando, Mignonne Fernando and The Jetliners, Indrani Perera to name a few.

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation has been described as a ‘national treasure of Sri Lanka’ by Ivan Corea, the Sri Lanka- born writer.

SLBC Chairman Sunil Sarath Perera said since started 80 years ago, the SLBC has made a tremendous impact on the Sri Lankans.

“SLBC broadcasts in seven languages for listeners in Sri Lanka, Asia and the Middle East. SLBC became a corporation in 1967. SLBC has ancient equipment and even the BBC does not have such equipment. We preserve them for the Nation and for the future generations’ use,” he told newsmen in Colombo.

A new museum, a disaster communication room and a language lab were opened at the SLBC to mark its 40th anniversary. Tharanga, a magazine published by the SLBC was re-launched during the ceremony in Colombo.

http://www.lankaeverything.com/vinews/entertainment/20070106232057.

SLBC celebrates 40 years in broadcasting

By Ivan Corea

SLBC: The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation reached yet another historic milestone, the station recently celebrated 40 years in broadcasting on January 5, 2007.

On that day the then Prime Minister of Ceylon, Dudley Senanayake, the Minister of Broadcasting Ranasingha Premadasa and one of Sri Lanka’s finest civil servants, SLBC Director General, Neville Jayaweera lit the oil lamp on January 5, 1967 at the auspicious time of 7.18 a.m. – the Kandyan drums heralded the re-branding of Radio Ceylon, the oldest radio station in South Asia.

The Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake unveiled the plaque which can be seen to this day in the foyer of the radio station.

Broadcasting on an experimental basis was started in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe. Gramophone music was broadcast from a tiny room in the Central Telegraph Office with the aid of a small transmitter built by the Telegraph Department engineers from the radio equipment of a captured German submarine.

The results proved successful and barely three years later, on December 16, 1925, a regular broadcasting service came to be instituted.

On December 16, 1925 the then British Governor Sir Hugh Clifford inaugurated the broadcasting service – It was first known as Colombo Radio. The name was changed to Radio Ceylon and the radio station shifted to Torrington Square on October 5, 1949.

Radio Ceylon broadcaster Gnanam Rathinam in her book ‘The Green Light’ (Memories of Broadcasting in Sri Lanka) notes: ‘In 1943 the Broadcasting Station premises was sited in a bungalow named The Bower, in Cotta Road, Borella (in the city of Colombo). In early days the programmes in all languages were scheduled and produced by announcers who covered airtime as well.

The Colombo radio station at ‘The Bower’ ceased broadcasts by midnight on December 31, 1949 and Radio Ceylon came into being on January 1, 1950. On January 5, 1967, it became a state corporation – the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation produced some of the finest broadcasters in the world, among them – Livy Wijemanne, Vernon Corea, Pearl Ondaatje, Greg Roskowski, Tim Horshington, Claude Selveratnam, Jimmy Bharucha, Thevis Guruge, A.W. Dharmapala, Karunaratne Abeysekera, H.M. Gunasekera, S.P. Mylvaganam, Gnanam Rathinam, Nihal Bhareti, Eric Fernando, Leon Belleth and Vijaya Corea to name a few.

I grew up in a world of broadcasting. My father, Vernon Corea joined Radio Ceylon in 1956 as a relief announcer during the Clifford Dodd era of the Commercial Service. Clifford Dodd, an Australian administrator was seconded to Radio Ceylon via the Colombo Plan. Working with Livy Wijemanne they transformed the Commercial Service making it a lucrative arm of the radio station.

The Hindi Announcers – Gopal Sharma, Vijay Kishore Dubey, Shiv Kumar Saroj, Manohar Mahajan, Sunil Dutt (who went on to become a massive Bollywood icon), Hamid Sayani, Amin Sayani, Vijaylaksmi de Saram played a pivotal role – millions across the Indian sub-continent tuned into Radio Ceylon and subsequently the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation – making the SLBC ‘King of the Airwaves’ in South Asia. The SLBC was unbeatable.

I remember so well as a child growing up in Sri Lanka, visiting the SLBC, entering the grand foyer – you hear the hum of the generators, the massive reception desk was your first port of call. There is only one SLBC receptionist I remember and she is Ranjini Wickremasinghe who had a ‘broadcasting romance’ and married my uncle, Vijaya Corea who went on to become the Director-General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

The studios harked back to the golden days of Radio Ceylon – and they are preserved to this day – it was a privilege to join forces with Nihal Bahreti and Clifford Basanayake and record a whole series of radio programs for the SLBC when I last visited Sri Lanka in 2003.

I interviewed Cliff Richard at the Greenbelt Festival in the UK – the first ever interview with Cliff for the SLBC which was broadcast in 1981 on a special program. Cliff told me that he would love to visit Sri Lanka – his wish will soon be a reality – when Cliff visits Sri Lanka- for a concert in Colombo in February, I believe.

Cliff told me that he only visited the airport in 1972 and he was given a wonderful cup of Ceylon tea – he sent his best wishes to all his fans in Sri Lanka through that interview broadcast on the SLBC.

The SLBC has featured some of the finest talents of the nation – Pandit Amaradeva, H.R. Jothipala, Nanda Malini, Premasiri Khemadasa, Nimal Mendis, Bill Forbes, (who starred with Cliff Richard in ‘Oh Boy’ the television show in London) Cliff Foenander (who went on to sing in Las Vegas), Des Kelly, Mignonne Fernando and the Jetliners, Clarence Wijewardene, Annesley Malewana, A.E. Manoharan, Desmond de Silva, C.T. Fernando and a whole host of artistes became household names through the airwaves of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

I have always maintained that the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation is a national treasure of Sri Lanka – I was delighted to hear that a museum, a linguistic library, a disaster communications unit and a magazine launch commemorated this epoch making day. Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, the Minister of Mass Media and Information appreciated the successful achievements of the SLBC for the last 40 years.

Minister Yapa pointed out the importance of maintaining a ‘Linguistic Laboratory’ and requested the authorities to let the public to get access to it, which he believed could serve in its best capacity of the purpose of maintaining such a unit.

Sri Lanka can be proud that she is up with the great broadcasting nations of the USA, UK and Germany – it was Edward Harper, a British engineer, who, together with Ceylonese radio enthusiasts carried out the first radio experiments when her arrived in Ceylon in 1921 as Chief Engineer of the Telegraph Office in Colombo. Sri Lanka celebrated 80 years in broadcasting in 2005.

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation needs to lead the way in digital broadcasting and I am convinced that with the right financial support, the SLBC will be a shining beacon in the world of broadcasting – in the years to come. They will still be talking about the SLBC in another hundred years.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/09/

Vernon Corea’s Ceylon

 

 

 

 

LIVING IN CEYLON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Veteran Radio Ceylon and BBC broadcaster, Vernon Corea (who was placed in the top 5 greatest broadcasters of the world by ‘The Hindu’ alongside his friend Ameen Sayani of ‘Binaca Geet Mala’ fame) was born on the island of Ceylon on September 11^th 1927 in a village called Kurana near Katunayake (now famous for its international airport.) Vernon’s father Rev. Ivan Corea was a curate at St.Philip’s Church in Kurana. Vernon and his brother Ernest were born in Kurana.

 

Ceylon in the 1920s was in a process of change – the British began introducing limited electoral reforms and the ‘freedom movement’ pushed for total independence from the colonial masters. The Ceylonese were calling for freedom and Mahatma Gandhi backed that call.

 

That very year in November, Gandhi arrived in Ceylon on his first and last visit to the island. Gandhi travelled from India to Ceylon arriving in Colombo, the capital city on November 12, 1927. He accompanied by his wife Kasturba, C. Rajagopalachari, and the latter’s daughter, Lakshmi.

Also accompanying Mahatma Gandhi on his visit to Ceylon were his secretaries, Mahadev Desai and Pyarelal. Gandhi stayed in Ceylon for three weeks.He visited the length and breadth of the island and even stayed in ‘Sigiriya’ in Chilaw with Vernon’s relatives. C.E.Corea and Victor Corea were the fearless freedom fighters from Chilaw. C.E.Corea was President of the Ceylon National Congress for the term – 1924-1925.

 

The cry for freedom and independence grew stronger in the 1930s and the Ceylon National Congress were calling for responsible government for the people of Ceylon, others followed the Gandhian ideal of ’swaraj,’ advocating more forceful expressions of opposition to British rule.

 

D.B.Jayatilake, D.S.Senanayake, Ponnambalam Arunachalem, Ponnambalam Ramanathan, A.E.Goonesingha, C.E.Corea, Victor Corea, E.W.Perera, and the ‘younger generation’ of Ceylonese politicians -G.G.Ponnambalam, S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike, Dudley Senanayake, J.R.Jayewardene were among those who were deeply involved in the political struggle at the time.

 

The introduction of universal suffrage in 1931 with the general elections on the island in 1931 led to the formation of the first State Council in Ceylon from 1931-1935 – the new State Council of Ceylon had fifty seats. Vernon was 5 years old when the first State Council was formed and Sir Francis Molamure was selected as the first Speaker.

 

The Ministers in the first State Council were – Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka – Minister of Home Affairs, Don Stephen Senanayake – Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Tikri Banda Panaboke – Minister of Health, Charles Batuwantudawe – Minister of Local Administration, Sir Haji Mohamed Macan Markar – Minister of Communications and Works, C W Kannangara – Minister of Education, and Perannan Sundaram – Minister of Labor, Industry and Commerce.

 

King George V (1910-36) of England sent a message to the people of Ceylon – the King’s message was read to the council at the opening ceremony on 10th July 1931. “On the occasion of the opening of the State Council, I desire to convey to my people in Ceylon through their elected representatives,an assurance of the interest with which I shall watch the inauguration of the Constitution which on the recommendations of the Special Commission over which Lord Donoughmore presided, it has been my pleasure to grant them.”

“The constitution, which accorded to the island a large measure of self-government, embodies many novel features, for which there is no exact parallel in any dominion. I am confident that the people of the island will approach their new duties with a full sense of grave responsibility which is being laid upon them, so that the establishment of the constitution may conduce to the best interests of the island and of my people.”

 

Vernon grew up in Kurana in 1920s – according to Donovan Moldrich of the Times of Ceylon, ‘ In 1923 big business had still not fully recovered from the debilitating effects of World War I and prices dipped very much lower later in the twenties and thirties. In 1923 whisky was Rs 72 of one dozen bottles. The best beers that England and Europe could provide were Rs.24 per case of four dozen bottles.’

 

Some idea of textile prices can be gleaned from an advertisement by Whiteaways

who occupied the premises in the Fort now owned by the C.W.E. Cretonne Rs. 1 a yard. Curtain muslin Rs. 1.25 a yard. Casement Rs. 1.35, Turkish towels Rs. 1.

 

A Peperill drill suit, made to measure, was Rs.7.50. A Tropical Linen suit was Rs. 11.75. The charge for Gaberdine suits was Rs.16.50 and tweeds costRs.35.

 

A Ford car in 1923 in Ceylon cost Rs.2,025. The Indian Scout motor bike sold at Rs.1,000. Moutrie pianos which were among the most popular were sold at Rs.995. The passage fare in 1923 from Ceylon to Australia was Rs.285 while the sea journey from Ceylon to Great Britain was Rs.435. One of the cheapest sea journeys from Colombo to Penang in 1923 was quoted at £10.

 

Cargills and Millers published full page advertisements of delicacies to satisfy the most exacting gourmets. Russian caviare,cherries in Maraschino, Gorgonzola and Grueyre cheeses, cumquats, greengages, loganberries, truffles, mushrooms, champignons, asparagus, horseradish, Indian relish, British soups, nuts from Barcelona and Brazil.

 

In the world of entertainment in 1920s Ceylon cinema shows were held twice nightly at 6 pm and 9.15 pm at the Olympia, Palace, the Empire and the Public Hall which was owned by Madan Theatres Ltd.

 

Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson and Douglas Fairbanks were the idols of the silver screen in Colombo while Harold Lloyd was the King of Comedy in Ceylon.

 

Motorists were regarded as a ‘menace’ in Ceylon in 1923. The Sunday Times cartoonist suggested ‘wings’ for pedestrians in Ceylon.

 

The Europeans and the Ceylonese elite and the Grand Oriental Hotel(Taprobane) in Colombo regularly held fancy dress balls in 1923. Vernon’s world was a far cry from the grand balls at the Galle Face Hotel and the Grand Oriental Hotel.

 

Vernon’s family moved to Borella when his father Revernd Ivan Corea was appointed Vicar of St.Luke’s Church. Reverend Canon Ivan and Ouida Corea were hugely involved in the life of the local community.His parents, Reverend Ivan and Ouida Corea led a very simple life at St.Luke’s Church. They began an important ministry with the Rodi Colony – they were Ceylon’s ‘Untouchables’ and people did not have the time of day for the Rodiyas who struggled on a day to day basis.( This community service to the Rodi Colony carried on until Canon Ivan Corea’s death in 1968)

 

Vernon was 15 years old when the Japanese bombed Colombo and other parts of Ceylon on Easter Sunday 5th April 1942. Vernon’s Father Rev.Ivan Corea was Vicar of St.Luke’s Church, Borella. The Easter Sunday Service was in progress and Vernon used to hark back to that day when 180 Japanese aircraft from five aircaft carriers attacked Ceylon. Vernon recalled the dog fights between the Japanese zero aircraft and the Royal Air Force over St.Luke’s Church.Vernon’s father, Canon Ivan Corea was preaching in St.Luke’s Church, Borella at the time and the parishoners could hear the Spitfires and Hurricanes doing battle with the Japanese Zero aircraft above in the skies as the RAF fought off a forerunner to a possible invasion of Ceylon. According to Vernon the Japanese even bombed the Mental Hospital in Colombo.

The writer Aryadasa Ratnasinghe recalled the raid on Colombo on 5th April 1942 -

‘The first air raid on Colombo took place on Easter Sunday (April 5, 1942) at 7.30 a.m., when Japanese aircraft flew in close formation over Colombo and dropped bombs at different places. The air battle lasted for nearly half an hour. The Allied forces, warned of the danger, were able to shoot down some of the enemy aircraft which fell on land and sea.

Among those shot down, one fell near St. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, one closer to the Bellanwila paddy fields, one near Pita Kotte, one on the race-course, one near Horana and one on the Galle Face Green. One bomb fell off the target and damaged the Mulleriyawa Mental Hospital killing some inmates. It appears that the pilot had mistaken the buildings to be Echelon barracks sheltering the Allied troops. One fell near the Maradana railway station partly damaging it. There were many deaths and more casualties and most of them were civilians. To prevent bombs falling on hospitals, it was decided to have a large red cross painted on the roofs for the guidance of the pilots. ‘

Many Ceylonese died for King and Country – they gave their lives in the cause of freedom in Asia and in Europe. Some relatives of the Corea family served with the Army in Europe and saw action in World War II. The whole campaign for Independence was put on hold during World War II. The war became very real to the people of Ceylon when the Japanese bombed the island. Vernon and his family turned into the BBC and Radio SEAC at the Vicarage at St.Luke’s Church in Borella to listen to the news during the War.

The call for ’self-government’ peaked after the war, the Ceylon National Congress resumed their agitation – Ceylon was given her independence on 4th February 1948. A new era had dawned – the Ceylonese were ecstatic. The Portugese, the Dutch, the British had all colonised this beautiful island – now they were free, at last. It was the talk of the verandahs of Colombo including the Vicarage at St.Luke’s Church and in the towns and villages – there was great rejoicing in the island, Vernon’s relatives had campaigned so hard for self-rule – now the reality dawned on them. Vernon was 21 years old in September 1948, he had moved from childhood to manhood that very year. It was a collective sense of growing up.

The island’s first ever Prime Minister was D.S.Senanayake. There was a Corea in the first cabinet with G.C.S.Corea appointed Minister of Labour.

The celebrated Sri Lankan author, Yasmin Gooneratne writing in the Daily News in Colombo, observed that: ‘ Independence in 1948 had brought with it a new confidence in the present and future of the country, creating an euphoria in many cultivated minds that inspired a creative impulse in every area of the performing arts. Individuals who had hitherto “followed their bliss” in comparative isolation, came together in various different organizations and groups, believing that what they had to contribute to the arts was of value to the nation.

In the area of the English theatre alone, the 1950s saw Prof. Lyn Ludowyk combining his devotion to English-language literature and to European drama to involve his youthful students (among them Iranganie Meedeniya and Jeanne Pinto) in plays by Shakespeare, Brecht, Ibsen, Pirandello, Karel Capek, Gorky, Show and others that were presented at King George’s Hall in Colombo.

These DramSoc productions benefited from the talents of seniors such as Lucien de Zoysa, Johann Leembruggen, Arthur Van Langenberg, Percy Colin-Thome and Winston Serasinghe, some of whom were already known for their performances in Radio Ceylon’s occasional English radio plays; and notably from the skills of ‘imported’ directors such as Neumann Jubal. …’

Vernon Corea decided in the 1950s to follow in the footsteps of his father and join the priesthood. It certainly please his parents, Ivan and Ouida Corea – Vernon left Colombo on Air Ceylon to attend Bishop’s Theological College in Calcutta.

Vernon travelled from Ratmalana Airport on the outskirts of Colombo.This airport was at one time Ceylon’s main terminal with the Dakota DC-4 planes and the Lockheed 749 Constellation airacraft of Air Ceylon flying in to land at Ratmalana.

In 1934 the State Council of Ceylon made a historic decision to construct an aerodrome and found that Ratmalana was the best area because it was within easy reach of the capital city of Colombo.

The first plane landed at Ratmalana was on 27th November 1935, a de Havilland Puss Moth flown by Tyndalle Bisco, Chief flying instructor of Madras Flying Club.This airport was at one time Ceylon’s main terminal with the Dakota DC-4 planes and the Lockheed 749 Constellation airacraft of Air Ceylon flying in to land at Ratmalana.

In 1934 the State Council of Ceylon made a historic decision to construct an aerodrome and found that Ratmalana was the best area because it was within easy reach of the capital city of Colombo.

The first plane landed at Ratmalana was on 27th November 1935, a de Havilland Puss Moth flown by Tyndalle Bisco, Chief flying instructor of Madras Flying Club.

Vernon travelled on Air Ceylon – the airline inaugurated services in 1947 and was first called Ceylon Airways. He returned to Ceylon on the death of his mother – he decided not to pursue ordination. Vernon Corea then met his future wife Monica who was a teacher at Uva College in Badulla – in the hill country of Ceylon. Monica attended St.Mark’s Church in Badulla town.

Vernon went as Chaplain to the school and assisted Rev.Felix Dias-Abeyseinghe the Vicar. They married in 1954. After the death of their first born Harishchandra, the couple moved to Colombo. Vernon worked briefly at Car Mart in Colombo. Then came 1956 and he was encouraged to apply to Radio Ceylon and train as a Relief Announcer.

This was a life changing moment for Vernon Corea. As soon as he entered the impressive foyer of Radio Ceylon – he knew that this was the place for him.

Vernon Corea took to broadcasting like a duck taking to water. He thrived in broadcasting. Radio Ceylon had a splendid reputation as one of the finest broadcasting institutions around the world. It is also the oldest radio station in South Asia. Millions in the Indian sub-continent tuned in to Radio Ceylon. According to Neville Jayaweera, former Chairman and Director-General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Vernon was probarbly the most popular announcer and presenter of radio programs on the Commercial Service of the station in the 1960s.

Nimal Mendis had released his hits, ‘Kandyan Express,’ ‘Cherry Blosson Tree ‘ and ‘Oh My Lover’ in Colombo. English pop songs written and recorded in Colombo by talented Ceylonese musicians were something new to 1950s Ceylon. Harold Seneviratne, Adrian Ferdinands, Cliff Foenander, Des Kelly and Bill Forbes were very popular in Colombo in the world of entertainment in the late 1950s and 1960s. Tony Fernando had opened ‘Tony’s Record Bar’ near Bambalapitiya junction and people flocked to buy records and radios. ‘Tony’s Record Bar’ was the ‘in’ place to be and budding artistes were to be seen chatting away with the charismatic Tony Fernando who also managed the leading band, The Jetliners.

Life was simple in 1960s Ceylon. Radio ruled the airwaves – Radio Ceylon was King – the announcers enjoyed pop star status in South Asia. Families went to a local Chinese restaurant to enjoy a meal together at places the Chinese Lotus Hotel in Kollupitiya, Hotel Nippon and Chinese Dragon Cafe. Families enjoyed traditional Sri Lankan biriyani at Hotel Buhari – a basic restaurant but the food was tasty.

Adults went to the Coconut Grove night club at Galle Face Hotel to enjoy the mesmerising sounds of young teenage Mignonne and the Jetliners singing ‘My Boy Lolipop’ and other hits.Mignonne Fernando went on to enjoy iconic status in the world of popular music in Sri Lanka. Vernon Corea had also introduced the Jetliners on the stage at the Coconut Grove night club at Galle Face Hotel. The other places of entertainment were Hotel Taprobane and Mount Lavinia Hotel. Ceylonese also flocked to the shows organised by entertainment tycoon, Donovan Andree and his son Malcolm Andree. Nimal Mendis and others also performed at the night club Pigalle in Bambalapitiya, the present day Creme House and performed to the wee hours of the morning. They were paid Rs.15 on a Saturday for entertaining customers from 7 pm to 7 am in the early 1950s.

Cliff Foenander was a close friend of Vernon’s. When Foenander was starting out as an entertainer in Ceylon, Vernon Corea helped make him a household name in South Asia by playing his records. Young people of the 1960s grew up to the songs of the sixties like Cliff Foenander’s ‘A Little Bit of Soap.’ Foenander found fame and fortune abroad working in the USA for 20 years – Cliff Foenander worked in Las Vegas in the 1960s and 1970s alongside Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis Jnr, Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald. He settled in Melbourne, Australia where he passed away.

Families went to see ‘Hatari’ (1962), ‘My Fair Lady’ (1964), ‘Mary Poppins’ (1964), ‘The Sound of Music’ (1965), at the Majestic, Savoy, Liberty, Regal and other local cinemas. It was a cinematic experience, sometimes massive queues formed on the roads nearby. Ceylonese children loved the films so much that some went to see ‘The Sound of Music’ in Colombo – not once but seven or eight times. In 2005 the ‘Sound of Music’ celebrated 40 years of popularity.

A hot favorite on Radio Ceylon was ‘Baby Elephant Walk’ from Hatari and the radio station also played all the favourites from the ‘Sound of Music’ and ‘My Fair Lady.’ They were probarbly the most favourite films of the decade in 1960s Ceylon.

People went to Perera & Sons in Colpetty to enjoy a piece of love cake, bacon and egg rolls, ‘mas paang’ and iced coffee and go in next door to the Mangarams shop to buy food, sweets and books. Perera & Sons have been in business in Sri Lanka for over 100 years as bakers on the island. In the 1960s and 1970s Perera & Sons employed people on bicycles who went all over Colombo selling their rolls. The sound of the bicycle bell brought people onto the little lanes as the ‘Perera & Sons’ man made his way on his bicycle.

1970s Ceylon was very austere. In 1970, according to the World Bank, 48 out of every 1,000 infants in Ceylon died at birth. There were food shortages and people were urged to grow more food. Ceylon became a Republic in 1972 and went through a name change going back to the ancient name – Sri Lanka. There was also an uprising on the 5th of April 1971 the People’s Liberation Front – the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna staged an uprising – on this day Vernon was attending a prize giving at St.Thomas’ Prep School in Colpetty. Also staying with his family was the BBC TV News Editor Michael Broadbent who suddenly found himself converying news to the BBC. Vernon had to rush back to the SLBC. The uprising was quelled by the Army.

In terms of family entertainment in the 1970s – families turned into both the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation and the BBC on their radio sets. The BBC World Service was a real lifeline – Ceylonese listeners appreciated the uptodate news of events happening all over the world – including events happening in their own country – the BBC World Service is one of the finest news services in the world. Young people loved to hear the deep voice of BBC Presenter Brian Matthew who fronted the BBC ‘Top of the Pops’radio program on the World Service. Then there was the BBC Pop Club and young teenagers in Colombo wrote in to join up. It even hit the news on the Pop Club program and a BBC man travelled to Colombo to interview young teenagers about the program in the 1970s. There were other popular radio programs on the BBC World Service – ‘The Clitheroe Kid’ – the BBC’s longest running situation comedy series evolving around the comedian Jimmy Clitheroe – was a hit in Ceylon. Another favourite was ‘Our Radio Doctor’ and a radio program on ‘Scotland Yard.’

Cricket caused great excitement in Ceylon. All the greats have been to Ceylon and played cricket here including the legend W.G.Grace. The 1960s saw some dashing Ceylonese cricketers gracing the scene including Anura Tennakon and Michael Tissera. Colombo went into a frenzy during the Royal Thomian ‘Battle of the Blues’ cricket match – the oldest unbroken cricket match in the world – the first encounter was in 1879 between arch rivals S.Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia and Royal College Colombo. This cricket match observed the ‘Thunderer’ the London Times caused even greater interest and excitement than even a test match played in Colombo.
Vernon being a Royalist got well behind the celebrations. Vernon used to drive a fiat – the Royal College flag took centre place at the front of the car. There were divided loyalties in the Corea household as one of his sons went to S.Thomas’ College Mount Lavina and the other went to Royal so both College flags were fixed onto the side windows – it was the same scenario at Maha Nuge Gardens.

There were many changes at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation was ‘born’ on January 5th 1967 when Radio Ceylon became a public corporation. The Prime Minister of Ceylon at the time, Dudley Senanayake, ceremonially opened the newly established Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporaton in 1967 along with the Minister of Broadcasting Ranasinghe Premadasa and the Director-General of the CBC, Neville Jayaweera.

By the 1970s Vernon had moved up the management ladder at the SLBC rising to Business Manager of the Corporation – he brought in millions of rupees in terms of revenue. In 1974 he was appointed Director News under the Director-General Ridgeway Tillekeratne. Vernon Corea left the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation to join Radio Worldwide – the radio arm of WEC in June 1975 and the family moved to London.

The first Experimental Television program in Sri Lanka

Vernon Corea created television history in Sri Lanka when he presented the first ever experimental television program in Colombo on 15th June 1972 – the experimental broadcast was carried out by the Radio Society of Ceylon.

The grainy pictures showed Vernon Corea presenting the first ever television broadcast in Ceylon. This is the historic script:

Des Kelly and Bill Forbes on Vernon Corea

Des Kelly, now in Australia and Bill Forbes in the United Kingdom were both top Sri Lanka-born stars who achieved fame and stardom in the world of popular music. Both released hit after hit – Vernon played them all in the 1950s and 1960s in the studios of his beloved Radio Ceylon.

Des Kelly and Bill Forbes pay tribute to the ‘master broadcaster….’

VERNON COREA

The Master Broadcaster

By Des Kelly

It is a rare privilege indeed to be called upon to put pen to paper with regard to a man who was revered in the field of broadcasting in “my lovely island home”. Sadly, I was not aware of his passing in 2002 as I was battling cancer during the same year and had to have my left kidney removed leaving me with only the right one – to which I am very attached.As I read of his many achievements throughout his illustrious career both in Sri Lanka and abroad, I am truly amazed by the various fields of accomplishment that he has taken in his stride without as much as a backward step but then, this was Vernon Corea as I knew him, not overly large in stature but truly a giant, indefectible as an intellectual with the added bonus of sound common-sense.

Well do I remember the magnificent studios of old Radio Ceylon with the heavily panelled sound-proofed doors, the well appointed interiors, the huge radio-microphones on their steel booms, the little red lights on the outside of each door flashing “on” to tell us that a broadcast was in progress and entry was not permitted. I still remember, very vividly, the office where, many times, Vernon interviewed me, giving me the invaluable advice that was needed before one actually went on air. He was a teacher and mentor extraordinaire and to this day, I feel quite comfortable being a part of a radio broadcast. Vernon Corea will always be fondly remembered by his colleagues and friends as a man who gave freely of his time to aspiring “artistes” and other radio personalities alike. I remember Chris Greet praising Vernon “to the skies” as he drove me to Radio Ceylon to do the first of my “Spot-Light” appearances. Chris Greet was a radio personality in his own right but, Vernon was always the “Top Man”, he used to tell me and although, at the time, there were many famous names in the broadcasting business in the 1950’s, Vernon’s dulcet tones on air were hard to match.

There has to be something very special about the name “Vernon” and also “Royal College”. Another famous “Royalist”, Vernon Abeysekera passed on into God’s “studio in Heaven” only last year. The latter Vernon was also very much into Radio and ended up as Director of Broadcasting in the S.L.B.C. I am very proud and felt privileged that both “Vernon’s” were good friends of mine. I will sum up by saying that there were three men who were all ex Royal College and who stood out to me as “The Gentleman’s Gentlemen”: Vernon Corea, Vernon Abeysekera and my own Dad who, although his name was Carl also boasted the “Royal” name. “Valé” to three gentlemen I knew and respected so much. Your respective moulds were smashed the moment you closed your eyes for the last time. God bless you. R.I.P.

BILL FORBES ON VERNON COREA

Bill Forbes spiralled upwards to stardom when he appeared on Jack Good’s ‘Oh Boy,’ a groundbreaking British pop music show from 1958-1959, in London with Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, Bill Fury and others. He released 12 hits for EMI Columbia among them ‘Too Young/It’s Not the End of the World,’ Sri Lankans still sing his ‘baila hit’ ‘Aacha England,’ recorded under the name of Kal Khan. ‘Oh to be in England!’ was a favourite of Vernon’s.

Bill Forbes met Vernon Corea in the early 1960s at Radio Ceylon. Forbes was mobbed by the Ceylonese and even had lunch with the Prime Minister of Ceylon at his residence, ‘Temple Trees’ in Colombo. Bill Forbes was very popular in Ceylon.

Bill travelled to Ceylon after his outstanding success in ‘Oh Boy’ Vernon was one of the first to interview him and play his hits on Radio Ceylon.Vernon also wrote about Bill Forbes in his Entertainment columns published in the Ceylon Daily News. Bill Forbes also appeared on Donovan Andree’s musical shows in Colombo in the early 1960s. He shares his memories….

‘ Friendly Vernon spun my discs together with Livy Wijemanne, Jimmy Barucha, Chris Greet, Nimal Mendis & Co – and I sincerely thank him and the others for their kindness.

It was lovely to read about Vernon’s achievements and his GOLDEN VOICE will always be remembered when Radio Ceylon is mentioned. His legacy will live on. My brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka all have a special set of good words for him.

May Vernon’s efforts in life musical and otherwise be remembered dearly…..’