Sri Lankan broadcaster Vernon Corea and the Corea Family lived in the oldest house in Colpetty, Kollupitiya, Colombo-3 – 5 Maha Nuge Gardens. The house has now been demolished. This is what Colpetty would have looked like in the early 1900s.
Colpetty, Kollupitiya, Colombo-3 probarbly in the early 1900s.
Maha Nuge Gardens in Colombo, Sri Lanka was such a powerhouse – community life at its very best.
People taking a stroll down this quiet lane in Kollupitiya may not be aware that Maha Nuge Garden is rich in history, it was the home to one of the oldest addresses in Colombo – No 20 Colpetty and this where the pioneering Sri Lankan broadcaster Vernon Corea lived from around 1964 to 1975. Maha Nuge Gardens was a powerhouse of politics, media, music, commerce and broadcasting. The Corea Family enjoyed some of the best moments of life together as a family at No 5 Maha Nuge Gardens.
Vernon’s children have always maintained that living in Maha Nuge Gardens was an education in itself. People from all walks of life have been down this lane so rich in history. The Governor General of Ceylon William Gopallawa,the Prime Minister of Ceylon Dudley Senanayake, Finance Minister J.R.Jayawardene, Speaker of the Parliament Shirley Corea as well as members of the Rodiya Community – the poorest of the poor in Sri Lanka have been to 5 Maha Nuge Gardens when Vernon’s father the Reverend Canon Ivan Corea passed away in 1968, they came to pay their respects to a priest who had championed the rights of the poor. So many people have been to Maha Nuge Gardens – from Rukmani Devi and husband Eddie Jayamanne to Clarence Wijewardena, Annesley Malewana and the Moonstones – people from the East-West Centre in Hawaii to the Editor of BBC TV News. So many people came to see Vernon for advice or just to have ‘a chat’ with the popular broadcaster.
Vernon was also the life and soul of the Maha Nuge Gardens Community. People were in and out of each others homes, Christmas was an exciting time down Maha Nuge Gardens – there were Christmas parties and even shows. This was community life in Sri Lanka at its best. People cared for each other and looked out for each other. It was like being a member of a big family.
The street was previously known as ‘Captains Gardens,’ and 1st Lane, Colpetty. Sir Harry Dias Bandaranaike bought the property ‘Alcove’ from Sir Anthony Oliphant, Chief Justice of Ceylon, who lived here with his family during the British Era. Sir Anthony Oliphant and his son Laurence Oliphant have been credited with introducing tea to Ceylon and being the first to grow tea plants on the Oliphant Estate in Nuwara Eliya. His son Laurence who became a well-known author and international traveller, spent his early childhood in Captains Gardens.
After purchasing ‘Alcove’ from Sir Anthony Oliphant, Sir Harry Dias renamed Captains Gardens to Maha Nuge Gardens because of the huge Banyan (Nuge) tree on the property. This was the beginning of the Maha Nuge Gardens connection with the Bandaranaike dynasty in Ceylon. Sir Harry Dias Bandaranaike was the first Sinhalese to be called to the Bar in England, the first Sinhalese to be appointed a Judge to the Supreme Court in Ceylon, he was also knighted by the King. Sir Harry also served as an Official of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.
The very second house in Maha Nuge Gardens was the residence of the hugely influential and powerful politician, Felix Dias Bandaranaike, nephew of Prime Ministers Solomon Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Felix Dias Bandaranaike was Minister of Justice in the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Administration, from 1970 to 1977, when the SLFP won the elections. His residence was heavily guarded by the Sri Lankan Army when the JVP launched a (failed) revolution in April 1971 after installations came under attack in Colombo. The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike and politicians have all visited Justice Minister Felix Dias Bandaranaike, at his residence, in the early 1970s.
Finance Minister of the Government of Sri Lanka, Dr. Sarath Amunugama speaking in Colombo in 2005 said: ‘Many of us here will also recall those lovely birthday and Christmas parties at Maha Nuge Gardens or Gamini Wickramanayake’s Farm in Navinna where FDB went out of his way to make us all feel at home. Those are memories we share of a colossus of the politics of his time whose life was tragically cut short.’
Samuel(Sammy)Dias Bandaranaike, cousin of the Prime Minister of Ceylon, S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike, owned several properties in Maha Nuge Gardens. He worked for several years in the Agricultural Department in Sri Lanka and was very much a charismatic figure in the local community.
The well-known Sri Lankan musician, Elmer de Haan lived here in an upstair flat, owned by Roland and Esther Dias Abeysinghe. He was a famed concert pianist and composer and lived down the lane for several years in the early 1970s.
No 5 Maha Nuge Gardens was once referred to as ‘The Snuggery.’ The property was known as “No 20, Colpetty” in the 1900s, it stretched from Galle Road, with its lawn stretching eastwards right down to the Beira Lake. No 5 was twice its size when it was first built, with kitchens, servants quarters and stables stretching along the Northern perimeter, forming the top stroke of the T-shaped layout of the house.
The upper story of this historic building was added in the early 1900s to provide rooms for a parson from England. At the time the residence of the Bishop of Colombo (Church of Sri Lanka) known as ‘ Bishop’s House,’ was situated in the adjoining property.
According to the Centenary Volume of the Church Missionary Society, published in the 1900s called: One Hundred Years in Ceylon 1818-1918, there is a reference to ‘The Snuggery,’ the historic home was rented out in 1906 as the headquarters of the CMS in Colombo.
Sri Lanka’s distinguished musician, Nimal Mendis wrote:’ Vernon became more than the Radio Journalist to me. He was to become a friend, not only he, but his entire family. I remember the hours spent with them in their home in Maha Nuge Gardens in Kollupitiya.’
The block of four flats at the back of No 5 was designed by the world famous Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, when he was just starting out as a young designer. The old No: 5 was demolished in 2006, to make way for a new home.
Also residing in Maha Nuge Gardens was the pioneering banker E.C.G.(Lyn) Wickremasinghe who was General Manager of the Bank of Ceylon in Colombo. After his retirement he was appointed Director-General of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Centre (BMICH) in Colombo, the premier conference venue on the island.
The residents of this lane fostered a real community spirit and racial harmony – for many years the families held annual Christmas parties – it was a gathering of the local Maha Nuge Gardens community.
In terms of youth culture, the young people who lived down Maha Nuge Gardens were featured on the BBC World Service in 1972 as they had formed the only branch in Colombo of the BBC World Service Pop Club.
The lane received international coverage in April 1971 when on a visit to the island, BBC Television News Editor Michael Broadbent stayed here. Broadbent suddenly found himself in the middle of a (JVP) revolution and relayed news from Maha Nuge Gardens to the regular BBC news bulletins.
This is a very historic picture – The original No 20 Colpetty – one of the oldest addresses in Colombo. Vernon Corea lived in what was left of the original home called 5 Maha Nuge Gardens in the 1960s and 1970s.
This photograph was taken in the early 1970s when Sri Lankan broadcaster Vernon Corea was living in the historic house – 5 Maha Nuge Gardens.
No 5 Maha Nuge Gardens in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
This is a photograph of Sri Lankan broadcaster Vernon Corea taken in the early 1970s at No 5 Maha Nuge Gardens.
Ernest Corea’s two sons Lester and Andy Corea at 5 Maha Nuge Gardens in the 1970s.
Vernon’s daughter, Ouida Corea with her cousin Andy Corea at 5 Maha Nuge Gardens in the 1970s.
A side view of the historic home – 5 Maha Nuge Gardens in Colombo on the right hand side was an annexe room called the ‘Down Room.’ Vernon Corea and his family lived here from the 1960s to the 1970s before they left for the United Kingdom.
BBC TV News Editor Michael Broadbent with Vernon Corea and his family at 5 Maha Nuge Gardens in 1971. Broadbent suddenly found himself in the middle of a JVP Revolution and relayed news to the main BBC bulletins from Maha Nuge Gardens.
Broadcaster Vernon Corea with his daughter Ouida at 5 Maha Nuge Gardens – this was the first day of Ouida’s school at Methodist College in Colombo.
A Christmas Party down Maha Nuge Gardens in Colombo Sri Lanka. Vernon Corea might possibly have been Santa Claus at the party.
A talent show at a Christmas Party in Maha Nuge Gardens
John Piyadasa and Vernon Corea at 5 Maha Nuge Gardens
Reverend Canon Corea with Vernon Corea’s children in Maha Nuge Gardens in the 1960s.
The front door of No 5 Maha Nuge Gardens – a historic home in Colombo.
Vernon Corea (left) with Indra Corea’s family in Maha Nuge Gardens.
Vernon Corea and his family with top BBC Executive David Barlow at 5 Maha Nuge Gardens. David Barlow was seconded to Sri Lanka and worked with the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in the 1970s.
Vernon Corea’s Message on Clarence Wijewardena’s ‘The Lotus Album’ of the 1970s
Clarence Wijewardena and the Super Golden Chimes in Sri Lanka in the early 1970s.
In the early 1970s, Sri Lanka’s King of Pop, Clarence Wijewardena, walked down Maha Nuge Gardens in Kollupitiya to meet Vernon in his residence. At the time Clarence Wijewardena was at the height of his popularity, on the island of Sri Lanka. Clarence asked Vernon to write an Open Letter which was published on the sleeve of ‘The Lotus Album.’
The best selling album also featured Indrani Perera, Anil Bhareti, Lilanthi Karunanayake and Annesley Malewana.
The legendary SLBC broadcaster was remembered at the spectacular ‘Mul Roo Handa Awards,’ at the BMICH in Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Vernon Corea passed away 10 years ago on 23rd September 2012 but he is still remembered in Sri Lanka – the land of his birth. In December 2011 the Voice of Lanka Foundation organised the spectacular ‘Mul Handa Awards’ at the BMICH in Colombo – in front of a distinguished crowd. The opening sequence of this impressive award ceremony featured the legendary Radio Ceylon and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Broadcaster – photographs of Vernon Corea and his family in a Radio Ceylon/SLBC studio in the early 1960s, Vernon Corea meeting another iconic broadcaster Karunaratne Abeysekera flashed in front of the massive audience at the BMICH as a group of singers sang a song in appreciation of radio.
In the audience was the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Hudson Samarasinghe, the Chairman of ITN Rosmund Senaratne and distinguished broadcasters Vijaya Corea, Elmo Fernando and Sumana Nellampitiya – Vernon has helped all of them. Vijaya Corea’s break in broadcasting came when Vernon Corea asked him to take the place of Craig Thompson, presenter of ‘Kiddies Corner,’ as he had fallen sick – this happened in the early 1960s and Vijaya Corea received a special award at the ‘Mul Roo Handa’ awards conducted by the Voice of Lanka Foundation. An award was also presented to veteran SLBC broadcaster Elmo Fernando who hails from Chilaw. Elmo has visited Vernon so many times in the 1960s and 1970s when Vernon resided at 5 A Maha Nuge Gardens in Kollupitiya, Colombo-3. Vernon has also worked with Sumana Nellampitiya at the SLBC. She is also a veteran Radio Ceylon broadcaster.
Thirty broadcasters received special ‘Mul Roo Handa,’ awards from the Voice of Lanka Foundation. The awards ceremony was telecast on ITN Sri Lanka – the Independent Television Network. You could watch the ITN Sri Lanka Television programme on the ‘Mul Roo Awards’ on youtube:
Christmas in Maha Nuge Gardens was a very special time. There were so many visitors to Vernon Corea’s residence – 5 Maha Nuge Gardens in Kollupitiya, Colombo -3, from friends and relatives to Radio Ceylon colleagues to choirs who came carol singing…….Vernon rejoiced in the birth of Jesus Christ, a Saviour to Mankind.
Vernon would change the face of his front lounge – he was also a gifted artist and he would transform the back wall with a massive mural, over the years, Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus, the Three Wise Men, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer and Santa Claus have all taken centre stage at 5 Maha Nuge Gardens with a massive Christmas tree cut from the front garden.
Vernon enjoyed Christmas and he recorded so many Christmas radio programmes and they were broadcast over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation from 1956 to his last Christmas in Sri Lanka in 1974.The family attended the Christmas morning service at St.Luke’s Church, Borella. In the 1960s Vernon’s father Reverend Canon Ivan Corea and brother Ernest Corea also used to attend Christmas Services at the Church followed by a massive family get together.
The great artistes have all sung their Christmas songs on Vernon Corea’s radio programmes across South Asia – from Bing Crosby, Jim Reeves, Elvis Presley, Nat King Cole, Cliff Richard to Andy Williams and the Osmond Brothers to Boney M. They were favourities on the SLBC. Vernon has also compered countless Christmas and New Year Dances over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon.
Here are some of the Christmas hits on Vernon Corea’s radio programmes to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.
S.P.Mylvaganam of Radio Ceylon was a close friend of Vernon Corea and they shared broadcasting ideas
S.P.Mylvaganam was the first Tamil announcer of Radio Ceylon. Myle was a close friend of Vernon Corea and they collaborated on many broadcasting ideas. Mylvaganam has visited Vernon Corea at his residence at 5 Maha Nuge Gardens in Kollupitiya, Colombo-3. He was one of Sri Lanka’s great broadcasters.
Information on S.P.Mylvaganam from Wikipedia:
S.P.Mylvaganam was the first Tamil Announcer of the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon. He was hugely popular not only in Ceylon but right across the Indian sub-continent. Mylvaganam received bags full of fan mail from India.
Listeners liked his relaxed style and they recognised his voice instantly when he uttered one word ‘ Vannakam ‘ – in Tamil, it means ‘ Welcome.’ His wife, Chenthimani Mylvaganam, was the first lady news reader at Radio Ceylon. It was through his wife that Mr Mylvaganam was introduced to announcing .He presented a range of Tamil programmes on the Commercial Service. He was trained by the Australian administrator Clifford Dodd who came to work for Radio Ceylon under the Colombo Plan and by Livy Wijemanne.
Mylvaganam belonged to that select band of announcers of Radio Ceylon who enjoyed iconic status in South Asia. Radio Ceylon, now the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, is the oldest radio station in the region.[1]
He helped popularise Radio Ceylon in India – millions tuned into the station. In a time where announcers arose above narrow racial barriers, Mylvaganam had close friendships with Sinhala announcers who worked on the English and Sinhala services. He worked very closely with Vernon Corea on radio programmes and they shared ideas together. Mylvaganam was popular right across South Asia.
Mylvaganam was very involved with Tamil stars of the time such as Shivaji Ganeshan, MGR and other popular stars, such was his pulling power on the Indian sub-continent. He and his wife were the catalysts who brought MGR and Saroja Devi to Sri Lanka on his first visit in October 1965, to judge a beauty pageant in Kandy, sponsored by the Independent Newspapers Ltd.It still remains very vividly in many peoples memory the day MGR and Saroja Devi visited Mylvaganam’s residence in Colombo. The railway tracks, the streets and the beach were spilling with crowds shouting and screaming to see MGR and Saroja Devi.
In an Indian film titled “Boologa Rambai”, the comedian Thangavelu goes to heaven and the first thing he hears is the voice of Mylvaganam and says “Oh! He has come here too”. He was the first Tamil Disc Jockey in the sense of western radio.
The Clarence Wijewardena classic hit, ‘Piyaneni’ is on youtube on the Goonewj Channel. Clarence wrote the song as a tribute to Vernon Corea’s father, the late Reverend Canon Ivan Corea. ‘Piyaneni’ went on to become a huge hit across South Asia.
The Sri Lankan music legend, the island’s King of Pop, the late Clarence Wijewardena, composed this massive hit, Piyaneni, in memory of Vernon Corea’s father, the late Reverend Canon Ivan Corea who championed the rights of the poor in Sri Lanka. Reverend Canon Corea was Vicar of St.Luke’s Church Borella and St. Paul’s Church Milagiriya. He worked tirelessly to support the poorest of the poor — the Rodiya Community in Sri Lanka.
Clarence Wijewardena
Clarence and Annesley Malewana recorded the song in the presence of Vernon Corea at Augie Ranaweera’s recording studio in Bambalapitiya, Colombo, in Sri Lanka in 1972.
Annesley Malewana
Wijewardena used the rhythmic pattern of the Bossa nova for ‘Piyaneni’.In the 1960s Clarence Wijewardena was mentored by the legendary broadcaster of Radio Ceylon, Vernon Corea who helped him to reach the pinnacle of fame in the music world in Sri Lanka. Vernon Corea also played the music of Clarence Wijewardena, Annesley Malewana and the Moonstones not only on his radio programmes on Radio Ceylon, but also on his popular programme ‘London Sounds Eastern’, on BBC Radio London in the late 1970s. He was invited by Clarence to write on a 1970s Lotus LP sleeve. Vernon Corea wrote: “We have all shared the treat of your lovely Lyrics, your tuneful compositions, your friendly presentation and your spontaneous sense of sharing with your followers, your treasury of talent. Keep going, keep growing, keep glowing”.
Reverend Ivan Corea as a Curate in the 1920s in Kurana, Katunayake in Sri Lanka.
Reverend Ivan Corea was a much loved priest who worked for the poor in Sri Lanka. Clarence Wijewardena had visited Vernon Corea’s residence in Maha Nuge Gardens in Kolpetty, Colombo in the 1960s and met Reverend Corea prior to his death in 1968. Maha Nuge Gardens was a power house in politics, music, broadcasting and commerce from the 60s and 70s and many distinguished members of Sri Lanka lived there. Vernon Corea lived at No.5 Maha Nuge Gardens.
Clarence Wijewardena and Annesley Malewana first visited Vernon Corea at 5 Maha Nuge Gardens in Colombo-3 in 1967. Their manager was Vernon's cousin, Sri Sangabo Corea who asked Vernon to help promote them over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon.
‘Piyaneni’ went on to become a hit in South Asia. Wijewardena’s partner Annesley Malewana who was a member of the ‘Moonstones’ and the ‘Super Golden Chimes’ has sung ‘Piyaneni’ across the world including London, Melbourne and Los Angeles. Annesley Malewana talked about the hit song ‘Piyaneni’ in a newspaper interview in Colombo, Sri Lanka:
“When we toured England in 1994 to hold musical shows, Vernon Corea who was in England requested me to sing this particular song. When I got on to the stage and started singing Vernon broke down and all of us were moved by this incident. Wherever we go, most people in foreign countries requested me to sing this song. Now I dedicate that song to my late father,” he said.
Source: Wikipedia and WordPress.com
Vernon Corea of Radio Ceylon - photograph taken in the 1960s.
Ernest Ignatius was a rising young Anglo-Indian singer/songwriter in the 1960s – he was born in Goa and was a cabaret artiste in India. In 1969 Ernest Ignaitus released what was to be his all time hit ‘I Married a Female Wrestler.’ In the 1960s Radio Ceylon was ‘King of the Airwaves,’ so any song played over the radio station became an instant hit. Radio Ceylon was THE hit machine in South Asia and many Indian artistes sent demo copies to the station situated in what was known as Torrington Square in Colombo-7.
Having released ‘I married a Female Wrestler’ in India, Ignatius flew down to Colombo in the hope that Radio Ceylon would play his record. Ernest Ignatius visited the station and was introduced to Vernon Corea – they went into a studio to listen to the record. Vernon could sense a hit and he just loved ‘I Married A Female Wrestler.’ He recorded an interview with Ignatius and played the song. He then gave the song repeated airplay on the Commercial Service and on the All Asia Service of Radio Ceylon. ‘I Married A Female Wrestler,’ was beamed back to India and millions of listeners tuned into Vernon Corea’s radio programmes – the song was a huge hit in South Asia and it remains in the memories of so many South Asians even those now living as far afield as the United States, the United Kingdom and even Australia – thanks to Vernon Corea and Radio Ceylon.
Ernest Ignatius visited Vernon Corea's home at 5 Maha Nuge Gardens in Colombo-3
His family recall that Vernon invited Ernest Ignatius home to dinner to 5 Maha Nuge Gardens, Colombo-3. That evening Ernest sang ‘I Married A Female Wrestler’ to the Corea Family, no band, just his voice. Vernon’s family were thrilled to hear it first hand, in their home.
Many years later when Vernon joined the BBC he met Ernest Ignatius in London.
Radio Ceylon had ensured that ‘I Married A Female Wrestler’ spiralled upwards as a massive pop hit right across South Asia such was the popularity of the radio station.
Ignatius went on to become a star in the United Kingdom, acting in ‘The Bill,’ ‘Hotel Babylon,’ appearing in Cilla Black’s ‘Surprise, Surprise’ on British Television and starring in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s ‘Bombay Dreams,’ in the West End.
Here are the lyrics to the Ernest Ignatius hit, ‘I Married A Female Wrestler’ his all time classic hit:
I Married a Female Wrestler
I’ ve married a female wrestler
As massive as can be,
She had bulging muscles,
Which quite facinated me.
She said she loved me truly
But also said by heck,
If I ever catch you fooling around
I’ll break you loving neck.
Ahy ahy yo, what shall I do,
How shall I save my skin,
I have married a FW
Now look the mess I’m in.
Sometimes to show affection,
She takes me on her lap,
She hugs me just little bit,
I feel my bones will snap,
Sometimes she hugs and kisses me,
Until I’m out of breath,
Oh my goodness, I’m afraid
She’ll strangle me to death.
Chorus.. Ahy ahy yo……. mess I’m in.
One day we were invited
To a fancy dressing ball,
She came dressed as Darah Singh,
We wrestled thro the hall,
We wrestled through the fox trot
I was powerless to resist,
we wrestled through the tango,
But I fainted in the Twist.
(Chorus)
To make things worse I have fallen
For the pretty girl next door,
She is skinny but I love her like I never loved before
But If my wife should find out
The thought just makes me rave,
My friends you’ll have to buy some flowers
And put them on my grave.
Chorus.
Listen to the original version, now on You Tube, the song was first played on Radio Ceylon by Vernon Corea and sung by the Goan star Ernest Ignatius:
A Sri Lankan musician, Chandimal and his group ‘Southern Connection’ have also released a version of ‘I Married A Female Wrestler’ – on You Tube.
Even to this day the song is being played over the airwaves of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).
Vernon Corea 1927-2002 
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