The Commonwealth Secretariat Website

The Commonwealth Secretariat in London, UK.

For all those interested in the Commonwealth of Nations – here is the Commonwealth Secretariat website:

http://thecommonwealth.org/

CHOGM 2013: Better Than Before – An Education Video on the Commonwealth of Nations

Commonwealth Leaders will be attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo from 10th – 17th of November 2013.

Commonwealth Secretary-General His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma who is spearheading CHOGM 2013. (Photo courtesy of the Commonwealth Secretariat)

Educational video about the Commonwealth of Nations.

Teachers: use the accompanying educational package http://rcs.ca/rcs_brochure/

Produced by Absolut Media.
Commissioned by the Edmonton Branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
htttp://rcs.ca

Historic footage of the Independence Day Ceremony of Ceylon – 4th February 1948

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.

Sri Lankan Film Director G.D.L.Perera’s ‘Rata Giya Aththo’ teledrama

Vernon Corea knew the celebrated Sri Lankan film director G.D.L.Perera who directed ‘Rata Giya Aththo.’ (Photograph courtesy Sunday Observer Sri Lanka)

Vernon Corea knew the celebrated Sri Lankan film director G.D.L.Perera very well. G.D.L.was living in London in the 1980s – at the time Vernon was the BBC’s first ever Ethnic Minorities Advisor and he was also presenting his hugely popular radio programme, ‘London Sounds Eastern,’ on BBC Radio London 206. He has mentioned the iconic teledrama ‘Rata Giya Aththo’ by G.D.L. Perera in 1980 on the BBC. G.D.L.’s teledrama was filmed in the United Kingdom and in Sri Lanka. Vernon also met G.D.L. at several functions in London in the 1980s.

Here are some clips on youtube of G.D.L.Perera’s famous teledrama ‘Rata Giya Aththo.’

Scenes from ‘Rata Giya Aththo in this television documentary on the life of film director G.D.L.Perera:

Vernon was also invited by G.D.L. to a special screening of his English Language children’s film in London called ‘Peter of the Elephants.’

Vernon Corea’s Broadcasting Legacy – he trained broadcasters from all over the world

Vernon Corea passed away ten years ago, on the 23rd of September 2002, he left behind a magnificent broadcasting legeacy. He has trained broadcasters from all over the world during his glittering career of 45 years in broadcasting.

Vernon has trained broadcasters in Sri Lanka, trainee broadcasters from across South Asia and broadcasters in the United Kingdom when he led training courses at the BBC Training Institute in the United Kingdom.

The picture shows Vernon with broadcasters from South Asia.

Vernon Corea has trained broadcasters from around the world.

Legendary Broadcaster Vernon Corea on ‘Pause for Thought’ on BBC Radio 2 The Derek Jameson Show in 1987

Derek Jameson was a very popular BBC Broadcaster in the 1980s. Jameson knew Vernon Corea who was featured on his show. Vernon was the BBC’s Ethnic Minorities Adviser in the 1980s. (Photo courtesy of Phil Guest on Wikipedia)

Vernon Corea was a distinguished broadcaster of Radio Ceylon/SLBC and the BBC.

These are rare recording of the legendary broadcaster Vernon Corea on ‘Pause for Thought’ on BBC Radio 2 on the Derek Jamieson Show on BBC Radio 2. The Derek Jameson Show was extremely popular in the 1980s and millions of listeners tuned into the show – they all heard Vernon Corea on ‘Pause for Thought.’

Listen to the studio banter between Derek Jameson and Vernon Corea.

Vernon Corea of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation with Commonwealth Broadcasters in London

Vernon Corea of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation with Commonwealth Broadcasters in London in 1970.

The Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations

Photograph shows Vernon Corea, the pioneering broadcaster with the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation here with broadcasters from across the Commonwealth in London,United Kingdom in 1970. Vernon was selected by the SLBC to represent Sri Lanka on a six month course with the Nuffield Foundation. He also represented Sri Lanka and the Director-General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation at a major Commonwealth Broadcasting Conference in London in 1970.

Sri Lankan star Marizelle Goonetilleke to sing at Vernon Corea’s Memorial Service in Colombo on 29th September at 5 p.m.

Top Sri Lankan music star Mariazelle Goonetilleke will sing at Vernon Corea’s Memorial Service at St. Paul’s Church Milagiriya in Colombo.

Top Sri Lankan musician Mariazelle Goonetilleke joins other stars like Rukshan Perera and Nimal Mendis in paying tribute to Vernon Corea, the legendary broadcaster from Radio Ceylon, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the BBC – Mariazelle will sing at the Memorial Service for Vernon Corea – marking his tenth death anniversary on Saturday 29th September 2012 at 5 p.m. Mariazelle has headlined concerts all over the world. Vernon wrote about Mariazelle in his EMCEE Column in the Ceylon Daily News in Colombo in the 1960s. Mariazelle has also met with members of Vernon Corea’s family in the United Kingdom.

The 10th Death Anniversary of Vernon Corea

The legendary Radio Ceylon and SLBC Broadcaster Vernon Corea

Vernon Corea had a glittering career spanning 45 years in public service broadcasting in Sri Lanka and in the United Kingdom. He was a pioneer of Radio Ceylon and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

The tenth death anniversary of the legendary Radio Ceylon and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation broadcaster, Vernon Corea falls on 23rd Sepember 2012. Vernon Corea passed away in New Malden in Surrey in the United Kingdom in 2002. His broadcasting legacy is still remembered in Sri Lanka and in the United Kingdom.

Wimbledon Village

Vernon Corea and his family lived in Sheep Walk Mews, The Ridgway in Wimbledon Village in South West London. The pioneering broadcaster was also a Lay Reader at Emmanuel Church in Wimbledon Village. He was also the Ethnic Minorities Advisor to the BBC in the 1980s.

Vernon Corea trained broadcasters in 22 BBC local radio stations around the United Kingdom during this time and pioneered the way in terms of training broadcasters from minority ethnic communities – they are now in mainstream broadcasting at the BBC.