The Compassionate-Leadership.org website recently published ‘Life Lessons: 7 Tips from My Father,’ written by Vernon’s son on the lessons Vernon taught his children.
You can see the website entry at:
https://compassionate-leadership.org
The historic record library of Radio Ceylon (SLBC)
Radio Ceylon, (Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation), has a historic record library – possibly the oldest record library of a radio station in Asia.
“The English Records Library boasts of over 78,000 records at present. A former broadcaster once remarked that the SLBC has some records where even the master copies have been destroyed in the UK.” (Sunday Observer” newspaper of Sri Lanka)
Ernest Corea, Distinguished Editor and Esteemed Diplomat Passed Away
By Philip Fernando
Ernest Corea, one of Sri Lanka’s distinguished newspaper editors and accomplished diplomats passed away yesterday in USA after a long bout with diabetes. He was editor of The Daily News and Sunday Observer and later headed the embassies in Canada and USA. He was awarded the Deshabandu Class 1 National Day honour for meritorious diplomatic service. He was a stout defender of the freedom of press.
News is sacred, comment is free, was their credo.
Ernest’s dedication to that dictum is etched in our collective memories. Every new batch of would be journalists that Esmond hired every year, went through the grueling drill of having to master the norms of the trade.
I was assigned to cover the election campaign of Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike in 1970 and the assignment took me to all parts of the country. Ernest was a source of strength whenever I called from some outstation town. He would say be accurate at all times. I remember the day after Election Day, I called in after interviewing the winning candidate Mrs. Bandaranaike at Horogolla. Good show—get back home safely—were his words.
Ernest was born in 1932 to the Reverend Canon Ivan Corea and Ouida Corea. He spent his early life in Borella, a suburb of Colombo. He was educated at Royal College, Colombo and the University of Ceylon and later served with the United Nations in Washington DC and in the Congo (Zaire).
Editor of Daily News in 1966
He joined the editorial staff of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. (Lake House) direct from university, eventually becoming Editor of the Ceylon Daily News from 1966-1970 and the Ceylon Observer from 1970-1971. Immediately before holding those positions, he was Chief Administrative Officer of the Editorial Department at Lake House.
Ernest was Features Editor, foreign affairs specialist, and editorial writer of the Straits Times of Singapore. He later served as Director of the Publications Division at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa, Canada. Subsequently, he was the founding Director of the IDRC’s Cooperative (North-South) Research Programs Division.
President J. R. Jayewardene in 1978 appointed Ernest as High Commissioner to Canada and few years later he was Ambassador to the United States of America, Cuba and Mexico. He negotiated several deals in ensuring external support for the country’s development programs.
JR gifted a baby elephant to Reagan
He was responsible for organizing the first, and up to now, only official state visit of a President of Sri Lanka to the US, at the invitation of President Ronald Reagan in 1984–all paid trip through our USA. JR presented a baby elephant to Reagan during that visit.
After leaving diplomatic service, he worked for the World Bank’s Secretariat of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and after retirement, as a Senior Consultant, when he co-authored Revolutionizing the Evolution of the CGIAR with CGIAR Director Francisco Reifschneider and Chair Ian Johnson.
He published two books: ‘Non-Alignment – the dynamics of a movement,’ and ‘North-South: Beyond Dialogue’.
He was Chairman of the Commonwealth Select Committee on the Media and Development, and was a life-member of the Asia Society’s advisory group in Washington DC.
He returned to journalism after retirement, serving as Global Editor of InDepth NewsAnalysis (IDN) and a member of its editorial board as well as a columnist and Co-editor of IDN’s current affairs magazine, Global Perspectives. During this period he also served President of the Media Task Force of the Berlin-based Global Co-operation Council.
Ernest is survived by his wife Indra and sons Lester and Andy and grandchildren Carl, Sophie, Wilson and Percy. He was preceded in death by his brother Vernon Corea and Lester’s late-wife Doris.
Note: My former Lake House colleague Thalif Deen provided some of the data mentioned here.
Ernest Corea – Editor, Diplomat par Excellence – A humble tribute – The Island Newspaper, Sri Lanka
On December 13, 2005 the highly respected former Editor in Chief of The Ceylon Daily News (1966- 1970) and a former High Commissioner to Ottawa and former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Washington , Ernest Corea wrote to me following my appointment as the Editor in Chief of the Daily News. “Bandula: Please accept heartfelt congratulations from my wife Indra and myself, both “Daily News” alumni, on your appointment as editor-in-chief of our old paper. I hope you will be able to raise its standards, improve its writing, and broaden its perspectives. I have just returned from a conference in Morocco, and am fighting off a bad cold. I will write again as soon as I am fully recovered. Meanwhile … go to it! – Ernest Corea”
I got to know late Corea thanks to the introduction given by our permanent man (I say permanent because the Sri Lankan government Reps come and go but, he continues) seated inside a glass house in New York, the evergreen Thalif Deen. Like Thalif, Ernest became an inspiration to me. He continuously sent me emails giving me ideas to work on. On two occasions, Ernest Corea sent me books, one was on development journalism and another book he had purchased from the World Bank Bookshop in Washington. His emails were full of encouragement and guidance. I wonder how many other Daily News Editors had that privilege. Ernest Corea wrote to me when I was wronged (I know Thalif use to brief him) by the Media Minister at the time, Anura Yapa. There were times when he called me and told me to continue with the good work and to be fearless and careful.
I have lost many of the correspondence between Ernest and me. However, this is what he sent me when I was appointed as the Consul General of Toronto by President Rajapaksa. In fact, I received his email just three days after I assumed duties as the Consul General . “Bandula: welcome to North America. Good luck and best wishes in your new responsibilities. I am glad that you are away from the murky world of journalism in Sri Lanka. Ernest Corea” Note the words, ‘Murky world of journalism in Sri Lanka’. That came from none other than the highly respected former Editor in Chief of The Daily News and The Sunday Observer. He watched from far away in the United States how things were happening in Sri Lanka. He was saddened. He called me many times when I was in Toronto and encouraged me. Canada, too, was one of Ernest’s favourite places, having served there as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Ottawa. This was another email he sent me, “Dear Bandula, I presume you are settling into your new responsibilities comfortably and wish you the very best. Your new HC will be there shortly. (He was referring to Daya Perera.) He is an old friend and I am confident that you will enjoy working with him. From my past years as High Commissioner in Canada, I have learned that they appreciate a low-keyed approach from their partner and also that they respect processes and procedures. You have a helpful crowd of Sri Lankans there and I am sure you will find them helpful. Best regards etc.”
It was easy for me to get in touch with Ernest from Toronto and I informed him that things weren’t easy and its much different from his times in Canada. He both knew about the clashes with one of my superiors and that it wasn’t possible for me to maintain a low key in Canada with the onslaught by the LTTE and its rump in Toronto during the height of terrorism and the well oiled propaganda machine. He understood it and appreciated what I had to do. I am sure he was better briefed by that gentleman diplomat HMGS Palihakkara, who was our Permanent Representative to the United Nation in New York at the time holding fort for Sri Lanka, against all odds.
I had the privilege of meeting Ernest Corea and his wife Indra when I was posted to New York as the Deputy Permanent Representative. They hosted me to lunch at a place the name of which I cannot remember now. It was a great honour for me to have met the humble and unassuming former Editor turned diplomat. We had a long discussion. It was very informative. I told Ernest though I wasn’t of his calibre I wanted to fashion myself like him as a former Editor of the Daily News turned diplomat. He smiled. Here was the man responsible for organising the first, and up to now, only state visit of a President of Sri Lanka (JR Jayewardene) to the United States as a special guest of President Ronald Reagan in 1984. What more and Frank Sinatra sang ‘My Way’ for the visiting Sri Lankan President. I think Ernest did it his way.
I always had words of encouragement from Ernest Corea who was saddened by the turn of events. We exchanged a few emails thereafter, but we lost touch and it surely was my loss. I salute you, Sir. May you rest in peace!
(Ernest Corea, one of Sri Lanka’s most distinguished journalists and diplomats, died on May 11, 2017 after a long illness)
http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=165259
Ernest Corea: From editor to diplomat par excellence – Sunday Times Sri Lanka
Ernest Corea, who passed away in the US last week, distinguished himself in two professions: journalism and diplomacy – even as he artfully deployed his journalistic skills to advance the country’s foreign policy in two western capitals.
At Lake House, he served as Editor of the Daily News (1966-1970) and later Editor of the Ceylon Observer (1970-71), two of the most influential dailies of the 1960s and 70s. And after he left Lake House, he was Features Editor and Foreign Affairs columnist at the Straits Times in Singapore. As part of a renowned journalistic triumvirate, Ernest followed in the heavy footsteps of two of his legendary predecessors: Tarzie Vittachi and Denzil Peiris. But Ernest went one step further – and ventured into the world of diplomacy.
As Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States in the 1980s, Ernest fought a relentless battle against a group of Tamil expatriates who were furiously lobbying US Senators and Congressmen to espouse the cause of a separate Tamil state in the north and the east.
With a supreme command of the language – and a wordsmith in his own right – Ernest fast gained a reputation for his thorough professionalism on the job with his uncanny ability to talk to American officials in their own idiom, an A-plus in Washington’s inner circle.
Ernest succeeded in convincing the US administration to host an official state visit to Washington DC in June 1984 by President J.R. Jayewardene, the only Sri Lanka political leader to be given that privilege. Quick with his devastating punchlines, Ernest was ever ready to provide headline-grabbing sound bites to news reporters.
When Amnesty International rushed to judgment with a highly critical report on human rights violations in Sri Lanka after a hasty nine day probe, he took a broad swipe at the London-based human rights organization: “Even rabbits don’t produce that fast,” he said, triggering a headline in the Daily News. In July 1983, Ernest convinced the US State Department to disassociate itself from a resolution passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives calling for the divestment and withdrawal of all public funds and pension revenues from American business organizations in Sri Lanka.
When Ernest authored a publication titled “Beyond Conflict,” a group of London-based separatists released a vituperative 24-book response titled “Dear Sri Lanka’s Ambassador – Your Slip is Showing”.
Asked for a response, he told the Daily News: “I do not believe either in polemics or propaganda. I will not, therefore, dignify the polemics and propaganda which splatter the pages of this particular literary curiosity with a reply.”
As a non-career diplomat, Ernest was Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada for three years and later Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States for eight years, winding his career as a Senior Consultant at the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Secretariat, an affiliate of the World Bank. Before his stint as High Commissioner in Canada, he was Director of the Publications Division of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa.
Jayantha Dhanapala, a former Sri Lankan envoy to the US and later UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, told the Sunday Times: “Ernest’s personal rapport with President Jayewardene and Foreign Minister Shahul Hameed gave him special access and influence. The fact that under his watch JR was the only Sri Lankan head of state to be accorded a state visit to the USA with a state banquet at the White House remains a tribute to Ernest’s effectiveness and professionalism.”
“Yes Ernest and I were in close contact,” admitted Dhanapala. “We did not always agree – especially on JR!” Ernest’s sense of humor and lively interest in global issues enabled him to maintain a warm empathy with the career diplomats in the Sri Lanka Foreign Service who remained his firmest friends when he retired in Washington D.C. after working for the World Bank on the development issues close to his heart, said Dhanapala, in a tribute to Ernest.
Ernest had the distinction of being one of the first reporters from Lake House to cover the United Nations just after Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) joined the world body in December 1955. As he recounted his days at the UN back in 1956, he described himself as a young and relatively junior journalist on the Ceylon “Observer” assigned to cover Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike’s first and, tragically, last appearance at the United Nations.
Barbara Crossette, a former Chief Correspondent of the New York Times in South East and South Asia, told the Sunday Times: “I got to know Ernest in diplomacy and my husband was drawn to him through their association at the World Bank. Everywhere, he was open and accessible to all.”
“For me as a journalist, he was always generous with practical advice and introductions when I asked about contacts in Sri Lanka or in international development through CGIAR. (He really taught me the complexities of Sri Lanka before I was ever there later as the civil war became more brutal, and I always was sympathetic to the place and its people in the years that followed, when I made many trips to the island.)” One anecdotal addition stands out, said Crossette, who was later UN Bureau Chief for the New York Times. “At some point, when I was an editor in New York, he arranged to bring Jayewardene to the New York Times for a lunch with editors to talk about Sri Lanka.
When the cars arrived at the door of the Times, Jayewardene got out with a flourish, dressed in his customary national dress. Around Times Square, it would normally have been hard to attract attention, but people stopped in their tracks to watch him sweep into the building, with Ernest more or less leading the procession. “I remember that the president offered a baby elephant as a gift to the Times. If I recall correctly, someone said perhaps it would be better if we supported one at the elephant sanctuary in Sri Lanka. And the story ended there.” But JR did gift a baby elephant– but to President Reagan at a formal ceremony at the White House lawn. Since the elephant was the symbol of the ruling Republican Party headed by Reagan, the ceremony hit the front pages of virtually every newspaper in the US, a publicity gimmick which was another tribute, this time to Ernest Corea the journalist. Ernest is survived by his wife Indra and sons, Lester and Andy, and grandchildren Carl, Sophie, Wilson and Percy. He was preceded in death by his brother Vernon Corea and Lester’s late-wife Doris.
Thalif Deen
New York
The Wasington Post on Ernest Corea
ERNEST COREA
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Ernest Corea, one of Sri Lanka’s most distinguished journalists and diplomats, died peacefully at home on May 11, 2017 surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife Indra; sons, Lester and Andy (Michelle); and grandchildren, Carl, Sophie, Wilson and Percy. He was preceded in death by his brother, Vernon Corea and daughter-n-law, Lester’s wife, Doris.
Mr. Corea was born in 1932 in Sri Lanka. He was educated at Royal College, Colombo and the University of Ceylon and later served with the United Nations in Washington DC and in the Congo (Zaire). He joined the editorial staff of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. (Lake House) direct from university, eventually becoming Editor of the Ceylon Daily News from 1966 to 1970 and the Ceylon Observer from 1970 to 1971. After leaving Sri Lanka, Mr. Corea was Features Editor, foreign affairs specialist, and editorial writer of the Straits Times of Singapore.
He later served as Director of the Publications Division at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa, Canada. He was appointed to the diplomatic service of the government of Sri Lanka by President J. R. Jayewardene in 1978 and served his country as High Commissioner to Canada and as Ambassador to the United States, Cuba and Mexico. He was responsible for organizing the first, and up to now, only state visit of a President of Sri Lanka to the US, at the invitation of President Ronald Reagan in 1984. After leaving diplomatic service, he worked for the World Bank’s Secretariat of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). He returned to journalism after retirement, serving as Global Editor of InDepth NewsAnalysis (IDN) and a member of its editorial board as well as a columnist and Co-editor of IDN’s current affairs magazine, Global Perspectives.
A memorial will be held during the summer at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Springfield, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 6320 Hanover Avenue, Springfield, VA 22150 (designating the Hypothermia Prevention Program).A memorial will be held during the summer at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Springfield, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 6320 Hanover Avenue, Springfield, VA 22150 (designating the Hypothermia Prevention Program).
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ERNEST COREA (Age 84) Newslanka London – Ernest Corea – a tribute
http://www.newslanka.net/a_tribute_to_ernest_corea.html |
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By Ivan Corea
I have so many recollections of visiting Lake House in the 1960s – at the time Uncle Ernest was Editor-in-Chief of the Daily News in Colombo. There was such a sense of community like one big Lake House Family. We visited him in his office saying hello to George Mason, Phillip Cooray, Edward Arambawella, Errol de Silva and others. Uncle Ernest knew Reggie Fernando (the founder of Newslanka) very well as Reggie himself was an ex-Lake House man. Lake House journalists used to visit us in Maha Nuge Gardens – the conversations were riveting! Once I had a problem with one of my knees and a Lake House journalist, Thangarajah ( I called him “Uncle Thsnga”) said he knew of a herbal remedy and he brought with him some leaves, put them in hot water and placed them on my knee – it certainly helped.
Ernest Corea a man for all seasons
My cousin Lester sent me a message on the 11th of May, my uncle Ernest had gone home. He knew Jesus and he was in heaven. Here on earth I thanked God for his life. His favourite psalm was read out to him. ‘The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.’
David’s Psalm 23 gives us that assurance that God’s goodness will follow us throughout life and we will dwell in His house forever. Uncle Ernest was at peace. Childhood memories of our days in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) came flooding back. It was fun to be around Ernest Corea. My sister Ouida called him ‘Uncadaddy.’ Our eyes lit up when he strode into Maha Nuge Gardens in Kollupitiya where we lived. The atmosphere changed when he walked in. Uncle Ernest was here.
Lake House newsroom
I think the atmosphere changed in any room he walked into. He was gracious, kind, caring and compassionate. We loved visiting him at Lake House when he was Editor-in-Chief of the Daily News. We ran up those stairs to his office saying hello to George Mason and Phillip Cooray on the way. Aunty Indra who was his Secretary had her desk on the side. Many of the Daily News journalists used to come and say hello to us, among them Errol de Silva. There was a sense of community, in the Lake House newsroom.
Uncle Ernest drove a Triumph Herald. We simply adored that car. We used to clamber into the back seat and he used to take us to the legendary Fountain Café run by Elephant House and situated in Colombo-2. We were clamoring for those amazing Fountain Café hotdogs and the best ever vanilla ice cream. Uncle Ernest bought them for us and we joined many families in the car park at the back. They were the simple joys of life. Going to the movies, sing song sessions with Uncle Ernest on drums, Dad on his harmonica, Vernon jr and yours truly on our Prep School recorders. Hours of jokes, fun, laughter and enjoyment.
Uncle Ernest was born in 1932 in Borella. My father, Vernon Corea was his only brother. His parents were Reverend Canon Ivan Corea and Ouida Corea. He grew up in the historic vicarage of St. Luke’s Church, Borella. A visiting Archbishop of Canterbury once stayed in that vicarage with my grandparents. The brothers were inseparable. Even later in life they remained extremely close. They also got into a great deal of mischief. When I quizzed Uncle Ernest about these ‘stories,’ he denied all knowledge of them! There was the story of a Bishop of Colombo visiting St. Luke’s Church, Borella. After the church service, he had problems starting his car – to find that sand had been poured into his petrol tank! The finger was clearly pointed at young Vernon and Ernest!
On the 5th of April 1942 Commander Mitsuo Fuchida of the Imperial Japanese Air Service led his Japanese zero bombers in a daring attack on Ceylon. Commander Fuchida had also led the raid on Pearl Harbour. It was called the Easter Sunday Raid. My grandfather, Reverend Canon Ivan Corea was preaching that Easter morning, at St. Luke’s Church in Borella. Revival had come to St. Luke’s in the 1940s and the church was packed to the rafters. Military and medical folk were also in the congregation, celebrating Easter.
The RAF hurricanes (who were based at the Colombo Racecourse nearby) engaged the Japanese zero bombers high over the skies above St. Luke’s Church, Borella. Having heard the dogfight in the skies, Vernon and Ernest ran out of the church to see what was going on!
It was fascinating to talk to him, even recently after Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. He had a mastery of the English Language and a wealth of knowledge on current affairs.
Journalist and diplomat
Ernest was educated at Royal College, Colombo, where his uncle J.C.A. Corea was the first Ceylonese Principal. He then went on to the University of Peradeniya where he graduated with a Bachelor of English degree in 1955. Soon after University he joined Lake House as a journalist with the Ceylon Observer from 1955-1959. He then served with the United Nations in New York and is said to have covered the first and last address to the UN General Assembly by President S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. He went on to be appointed a Research Officer at the United Nations Information Center in Washington DC in 1960 and served in the Congo now Zaire as Economic Reports Officer of the United Nations from 1961-1962. He returned to Lake House and Esmond Wickramasinghe appointed him Assistant Editor of the Daily News in 1963.
Ernest Corea went on to become Editor and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily News from 1965-1970. He was also Editor of the Ceylon Observer for a year. He was also Chief Administrative Officer of Lake House from 1964-1965. He left Lake House moving to Singapore to take up the post of Foreign Editor of the Straits Times Group in Singapore from 1971-1975.
He served as Director Division publications International Research Center, Ottawa, Canada, 1975—1978. President J.R. Jayewardene appointed him High Commissioner Sri Lanka in Canada and Sri Lanka ambassador to Cuba, 1978—1980, Sri Lanka ambassador to United States Washington, from 1980-1986. The Commonwealth Secretary General Sonny Ramphal asked him to Chair the Commonwealth Committee Communications Development from 1980-1982.
He was truly a man for all seasons and was highly successful as a journalist and a diplomat. His biggest triumph was to secure the first and to date the only State Visit of a President of Sri Lanka to the United States of America, when President J.R. Jayewardene was invited to the Rose Garden of the White House by US President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Uncle Ernest saw the immense PR coup for Sri Lanka when the Sri Lankan Government wanted to gift President Ronald Reagan a baby elephant.
The Washington Post observed: ‘Acting as go-between in the arrangements has been Sri Lanka’s ambassador, Ernest Corea, who as a former newspaperman recognizes the picture possibilities of two presidents with the very live symbol of each of their political parties. Corea was brought into the act when his foreign ministry awakened him at 2 one morning last winter. Asked whether Reagan might like to have his own elephant as a state gift, Corea thought the official was talking about an elephant statue. The caller assured the sleepy envoy he was talking about a real elephant. Corea woke up very quickly.’
The State visit was a huge success for Sri Lanka, Ronald Reagan even invited J.R.’s favourite singer, Frank Sinatra to sing ‘My Way,’ at the State Banquet in the White House.
US Ambassador Howard B. Schaffer, husband of Ambassador Teresita Schaffer paid a stunning tribute to Uncle Ernest recently on his blog ‘Southasiahand.’ In an entry titled: ‘The Importance of Being Ernest, Ambassador Schaffer said: ‘As deputy assistant secretary for the subcontinent in the old Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian affairs I had worked closely and admiringly with Ernest during his Washington years.
I recall that one of the things that most impressed me about the way he went about his diplomatic chores as the representative of a small power in the capital of a big and powerful one was his talent in befriending people who could provide him access to U.S. government VIPs when he needed high-level help. It is an important asset for diplomats to have as they navigate the city’s brutally competitive foreign affairs scene.
Open and accessible to all
One of those Ernest cultivated was a tough, formidable woman named Millie – I can’t recall her last name – who made officers throughout the State Department quail. Millie was secretary to the even more formidable Larry Eagleburger, then undersecretary of state for political affairs, and was an effective guardian of the gates of his seventh floor Department suite. Ernest made it his business to get to know her well and would often stop by to chat her up during his visits to Foggy Bottom.
One otherwise quiet morning I was informed by a distraught Embassy Colombo that the Government of Sri Lanka in its wisdom had declared one of the embassy’s junior officer’s persona non-grata and ordered his prompt removal from the island. He was charged, as I recall, with making inappropriate public comments about the Sri Lankan president. It was clear to me that we would have to follow the time-honoured practice of reciprocity and expel an officer of equivalent stature from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington.
I was going down the Diplomatic List to identify a proper scapegoat whom we could cast into the wilderness when an urgent phone call came in. It was from Millie. She informed me that (unbeknownst, of course, to me) Ambassador Corea had just met informally with Under Secretary Eagleburger and discussed the PNG issue with him. Mr. Eagleburger, she recounted, had decided that it would not be necessary or advisable to practice reciprocity in this case and the NEA Bureau should take no further action on the matter.
I asked Millie what had led Eagleburger to make this ruling. She said she understood that he recognized that Sri Lanka was a small and friendly country. After talking with Ambassador Corea he had concluded that the United States had better things to do than beat up on the island’s junior diplomats.
A diplomatic win for an effective ambassador, and further evidence of The Importance of Being Ernest.
Uncle Ernest asked Dad and yours truly to visit Washington when he relinquished his post as Ambassador in 1986. We spent a wonderful time at his residence and visited the Embassy.
At a farewell dinner at a Thai Restaurant in Washington DC I was mesmerised seeing the roll call of diplomats, congressmen and women at the function – even staff members of the office of the fearless Stephen Solarz, chairman of subcommittees on African affairs and later Asian and Pacific affairs in Congress.
The distinguished journalist, Barbara Crossette who was Chief Correspondent of the New York Times writing about Uncle Ernest, said: ‘Everywhere, he was open and accessible to all.’
Leading the tributes was former Lake House journalist Thalif Deen, (one of his closest friends) who has written extensively about Uncle Ernest’s life and times in the world of journalism and diplomacy. US Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Atul Keshap released a message:
‘A generation of U.S. diplomats and I convey heartfelt condolences to the family of Ambassador Ernest Corea, diplomat and journalist extraordinaire…’
My mind goes back to a night in the 1960s. My father was driving our Fiat 1400 after a dinner engagement in Colombo. We were going down this road and what appeared to be an extension of the road turned out to be a massive ditch. The car crashed into the ditch, splitting into half. Mercifully we were all alive – but injured. Subsequently a Sri Lankan newspaper wrote that many people over the years had perished in this ditch and we were the first to come out alive. That was a miracle. The first person to rush to our aid was Uncle Ernest, in his sarong, driving his Triumph Herald. It was curfew and the military were on the streets, Uncle Ernest had to show his Daily News curfew pass and say that he was taking us to hospital as we were involved in a very bad accident. They took one look at us at the back and waved us through. Uncle Ernest had no sleep that night as he saw to our medical needs, such was his love and compassion. This memory is firmly etched in my mind. And so, I say farewell to a wonderful uncle and mentor. I have learnt so much from him. He has gone to a far, far better place, trusting in the promises of God of ‘no sickness, death, pain or sorrow in Paradise on Earth….’
A Service celebrating the life of Ernest Corea will be held on 8th July at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Springfield, Virginia, USA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 6320 Hanover Avenue, Springfield, VA 22150, USA (designating the Hypothermia Prevention Programme)
http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/06/05/features/117941/ernest-corea-%E2%80%93-man-all-seasons
Vijith Kumar Senaratne mentions Vernon Corea in his new book ‘Rasa Mathaka Asiriya,’ published in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan author Vijith Kumar Senaratne has mentioned Vernon Corea in his new book ‘Rasa Mathaka Asiriya,’ published in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The Daily Mirror newspaper of Sri Lanka also mentioned this in a feature by Gamini Akmeemana, published on the 7th of March 2017. Here is the article:
http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/-Rasa-Mathaka-Asiriya-a-work-of-nostalgia-125025.html
“Rasa Mathaka Asiriya” by Vijith Kumar Senaratne is an absorbing collection of essays on a number of professionals in spheres as diverse as photography, broadcasting, teaching, music and the plastic arts. While some of the faces in this galaxy are well known, others have hardly ever been known to the general public. Composer Premasiri Khemadasa is a known face but few would have heard of sitarist Piyadasa Athukorala, who performed in almost every major concert in the 60s and 70s including Victor Ratanayake’s Sa, and contributed those unforgettable opening melodic refrains of the song ‘Sinidu Sudumudu Thalawe’ from the film ‘Sath Samudura.’
Author Senaratne, with two previous books to his credit including one on pioneer singer Sunil Santha, has researched extensively his subjects and their careers, thereby bringing out a plethora of fascinating detail. In the meandering tone of a natural story teller who loves telling his stories, Senaratne mentions that Sunil Santha gave away his thriving music class to young Amaradeva at a time when he himself was quite short of money. Or that Leela, Sunil’s wife, saved a couple of Tamil neighbours from a mob during the July 1983 riots, and that she died holding the hand of her old friend Dr. Thilokasundari kariyasasam. Sitarist Athukorala went on his father’s shoulders to see Rabindranath Tagore lay the foundation stone for the Sri Pali school in Horana. Photographer and film producer Chitra Balasuriya’s Chitra Studio in Gampaha was a haven for actors and musicians, paving the way for films such as Parasathu Mal and Thunman Handiya.
The career of flutist Weerasena Pieris, whose mellifluous tones can be heard in songs such as W. D. Amaradeva’s Pipunu Kusuma and Victor Ratnayake’s Thotupola Aiye, was cut short when he was attacked with a knife as a political reprisal. Announcer Gunathunga K. Liyanage pioneered the broadcasting of Hindi songs on SLBC’s Sinhala commercial service, introduced direct phoning during live programmes into Sinhala medium broadcasting, allowing scholar Edwin Ariyadasa to comment directly while news of man’s first steps on the moon were being broadcast.
Palitha Perera, better known for his cricket commentaries, was put in charge of SLBC’s first FM Broadcast ‘City FM.’
When it comes to the teaching profession, Maya Abeywickrema rendered invaluable services as a music teacher, widening the scope of Western music education in our schools and initiated the National Youth Orchestra, producing many fine Western classical musicians. Prof. J. B. Dissanayake made the study of Sinhala an attractive proposition and wrote books in English for those studying it as a second language.
Hemapala Perera, adept protagonist of the mandolin and tabla though better known for flute playng, went blind at a tender age due to a botched innoculation. Nimal Mendis, composer of ‘Master Sir’ and ‘Ganga Addara’, wrote and performed the music with his UK band for songs by British jazz singer Mary Marshall. Mendis and his wife Ranjani made several documentaries too, including Dawn of Terror and Stop Killing, Start Singing.
Singer Irene Malini Ranasinghe, now largely forgotten, comes live in these pages. She made her mark as a playback singer in the films “Mee Messo” and “Arunata Pera.” Singer Wasantha Sandanayake was actively involved in film making, working in films such as ‘Wahal Dupatha’ and entertaining people with Tamil songs whenever the film locations were in the hills.
“Rasa Mathaka Asiriya” is an absorbing collection of essays on a number of professionals in spheres as diverse as photography, broadcasting, teaching, music and the plastic arts”
Narada Disasekara, though he became one of our best known singers in the 60s, studied science and joined the SLBC as a recording technician, achieving such fame in that profession that he recorded Ravi Shankar and was sought out by Sunil Santha to record his lament when PM S. W. R. D. Bandarnaike was killed. Narada got his break as a singer in the film ‘Sikuru Tharuwa’ thanks to film star Punya Heendeniya, who convinced music director R. Muttiswamy to give him a chance to sing. Some of M. S. Fernando’s slower songs such as ‘Bola Bola Meti’ came out of a creative necessity, due to a SLBC ban on fast rhythms during the Ridgeway Thilakaratne era.
Radio announcer Elmo Fernando was so enamoured as a schoolboy by Prosper Fernando’s Hindi songs programme that he habitually ran 15 minutes from home to school after hearing it to the end. SLBC’s Vernon Corea noticed this young enthusiast and handed him over to Karunaratne Abeysekara who took him under his wing. In the same era, prolific musician and multi-instrumentalist Douglas Ferndinands lived in a house along Park Road, Havelock Town, which was more recently occupied by politician Douglas Devananda.
The book is filled with many such anecdotes and reminiscences.
Published by Agahas Prakashakayo, 717/2, Madinnagoda, Rajagiriya, the book is available at leading bookshops including Sarasavi, Gunasena, Sooriya, Vijitha Yapa and Surasa Maradana.
Reverend Canon Ivan Corea mentioned in ‘The Most Dangerous Moment of the War – Japan’s attack on the Indian Ocean’ book
Vernon and Ernest Corea’s late father, the Reverend Canon Ivan Corea has been mentioned in a book, ‘The Most Dangerous Moment of the War – Japan’s Attack on the Indian Ocean, 1942,’ by writer John Clancy. The book mentions that Reverend Canon Ivan Corea was preaching in a service at St. Luke’s Church Borella in Sri Lanka when the Japanese zero aircraft attacked Colombo on the 5th of April, 1942. RAF Hurricane Aircraft engaged the Japanese zero aircraft high above the church that morning.
Vernon Corea 1927-2002 
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