Rare footage of Dominion Prime Minister of Ceylon, D.S.Senanayake with Dominion Prime Ministers in the garden of 10 Downing Street in London – the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee. This was filmed in 1948 – just after the ending of World War II and Clement Attlee had won the election defeating Sir Winston Churchill. Accompanying the Prime Minister of Ceylon is Sir Oliver Goonetilleke also in the garden of 10 Downing Street in London.
Lord Louis Mountbatten moved his base to Ceylon in April 1944. Here Lord Mountbatten arrives at the RAF Base in Koggala, Sri Lanka during World War II.
Lord Louis Mountbatten moved the RADIO SEAC operations from New Delhi first to Kandy and then to Colombo during World War II. This was Ceylon’s first ever wartime radio station and it played a vital role from 1944 – 1946. During this time Vernon and Ernest were teenagers, living at the Vicarage of St.Luke’s Church in Borella. Like many Ceylonese families and many listeners all over the world they tuned into on their wireless sets to the BBC. One day that young teenager in Borella, listening with his family to the BBC, would be the Corporation’s Ethnic Minorities Adviser and BBC Local Radio’s first ever Asian Programmes Officer.
Radio SEAC played a vital role during World War II broadcasting for 18-20 hours on the 19 meter band at 15.120 mhz. A poweful shortwave transmitter was set up in Ekala, the announcers operated from the studios in Colombo.
Radio programs and important announcements including the speeches of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Lord Louis Mountbatten were beamed from Ceylon right across India, Burma, Malaya, Singapore. It went a long way in boosting morale of the troops stationed in these countries. David Jacobs and Desmond Carrington (who later fronted programs on BBC Radio 2 in London) were the popular English announcers of Radio SEAC operating from Ceylon – they introduced request programs and programs for loved ones back in the United Kingdom. The songs of Bing Crosby were very popular with the forces at the time – they sent in so many requests to Radio SEAC.
Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten was the favourite Uncle of His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales who has himself visited the island of Sri Lanka. Vernon Corea met Prince Charles in the 1980s when he was the BBC’S Ethnic Minorities Adviser.
Here is a rare film of Independence Day in Ceylon in 1967 at Galle Face Green in Colombo with the Prime Minister of Ceylon Dudley Senanayake and the Governor-General of Ceylon William Gopallawa – on the side of the platform is Lord Louis Mountbatten with former Governor-General of Ceylon Sir Oliver Goonetilleke watching the proceedings:
Ceylon Independence Day 1967
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/video/1967-ceylon-independence-day-162414861.html
Newspaper article from 17th April 1944 stating that Admiral Moutbatten had moved his headquarters to Ceylon:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/48792713
Lord Mountbatten addresses the personnel on board the USS Saratoga in Trincomalee Ceylon in 1944:
http://research.archives.gov/description/520888
Ceylon Celebrates Independence – The Times of Ceylon Souvenir from 4th February 1948.
Ceylon’s first Prime Minister D.S.Senanayake raises the flag on 4th February 1948 on Independence Day at the Independence Hall in Colombo.
The Flag of Ceylon was raised outside Independence Hall in Colombo by the Prime Minister of Ceylon D.S.Senanayake on 4th February 1948.
The Independence of Ceylon – on 4th February 1948 – the ceremony in the Independence Hall in Colombo.
See the historic footage of the Independence Day Ceremony on 4th February 1948 at Independence Hall in Colombo. The Prime Minister of Ceylon, D.S.Senanayake raises the Sri Lankan flag. Sri Lanka gained her independence from the United Kingdom in 1948. Don Stephen Senanayake was Ceylon’s first Prime Minister.
The Corea Family fought hard for the Independence of Ceylon including Vernon’s grand uncles – C.E.Corea and Victor Corea and uncle Sir Claude Corea who are all national heroes of Sri Lanka. They were freedom fighters of Ceylon. Vernon Corea was 21 years old when Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain.
Watch the British Pathe films – Ceylon Gains Independence 1948
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/ceylon-gains-independence
The Duke of Gloucester (Prince Henry) and Duchess of Gloucester attend the official flag-raising ceremony in Colombo, marking independence of Ceylon. L/S pandal archway decorated with coconuts and bearing placards of welcome to the Duke and Duchess. C/U coconuts and pineapples. L/S Duke’s aeroplane arriving. Troops lined up on the airfield. L/S plane taxiing in, a truck alongside. C/U plane showing name “Endeavour”. M/S the Duke and Duchess walking away from the plane and receiving salute. They are greeted by the Governor General of Ceylon, Sir Henry Monkmore and Lady Monkmore. Various shots meeting Ceylonese ministers with plane in background. L/S Duke and Duchess inspecting the RAF Guard of Honour. L/S the RAF march past.
General views of coastline with palms and fishing boats. L/S inside the Assembly Hall, Duke of Gloucester on the platform. L/S crowd outside. Exterior shot of the Assembly Hall. M/S the Duke rises to speak. M/S audience fanning themselves with programmes. L/S procession through the streets on way to Kandy. C/U crowd. C/U Sri Lankans using newspapers as sun shields. L/S Sri Lankans lining the route under palm trees. C/U Sri Lankan women and children. C/U Sri Lankans in tropical bushes. L/S personalities arriving for the opening of the Assembly (not named). Various shots Prime Minister Mr. Senanayake making a speech at the flag base, pan to crowd. C/U Duchess of Gloucester, Lady Monkmore and Mrs. Senanayake (wife of the Prime Minister). L/S Assembly Hall. C/U flags and figureheads. M/S Prime Minister of Ceylon speaking at the flag base.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/ceylon-independence
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/video/1948-ceylon-independence-121413895.html
Here is an interesting feature on Sri Lanka’s Independence Day published in the Sunday Observer in Colombo:
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/02/03/plus01.asp
Signing of the Declaration of Independence Agreement in 1948: Seated- Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore, Governor of Ceylon, D.S. Senanayake, Prime Minister. Standing-C.H. Mulhall, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, Sir Arthur Ranasinghe (Photo courtesy Sunday Times Sri Lanka)
The Prime Minister of Ceylon D.S.Senanayake with Lord Soulbury at the State Opening of Parliament.
Vernon Corea 1927-2002 
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