C.W.W. Kannangara
Encyclopedia
Crestoper William Wijeyekoon Kannangara (Sinhala:සි.ඩබ්ලිව්.ඩබ්ලිව්.කන්නන්ගර) (October 13, 1884 - September 23, 1969) was a Sri Lankan
lawyer and politician. Rising up the ranks of Sri Lanka's movement for independence in the early part of the 20th century, he became the first Minister of Education in the State Council of Ceylon
, and was instrumental in introducing extensive reforms to the country's education system that opened up education to children from all levels of society.
Born in rural town in Ambalangoda,southern Sri Lanka, his academic prowess enabled him to win a scholarship to Richmond College
, Galle
, a prestigious national school at the time. Initially working as a lawyer after leaving school, he entered politics as the movement for independence was gathering strength in Sri Lanka. Kannangara was first elected to the Ceylon Legislative Council in 1923 and then to the State Council. He also served as the President of the Ceylon National Congress.
As Minister of Education in the State Council, Kannangara introduced extensive reforms to the education system of Sri Lanka throughout the 1940s. They befitted thousands of underprivileged students in rural parts of the country by making education free for all students. He also began a central school
s scheme, which established high quality secondary schools in rural areas of the country. Kannangara's significant achievements in areas of education have led him to being commonly referred to as the Father of Free Education in Sri Lanka.
and Ambalangoda in the south of Sri Lanka. The son of John Daniel Wijekoon Kannangara, the Deputy Fiscal Officer in the Balapitiya Courts, and Emily Wijesinghe, he had his primary education
at the Wesleyan Missionary School in Randombe.
Kannangara showed great educational promise as a child, and his achievements were recognized by Rev. J.H Darrel, the Principal of Richmond College
, Galle who was the chief guest at a prize giving of the Wesleyan Missionary School. After noticing that Kannangara won most of the available prizes, he is said to have remarked “Son, you may have to hire a bullock cart
to take home the books you collected at this prize giving.” Darrel also gave Kannangara a chance to sit for a Richmond College Foundation scholarship exam. Excelling in Mathematics
in the exam, he won the scholarship, receiving an award for free board and lodging at Richmond College. There he received the education of an elite school of the times, instruction far superior to that offered at his rural school.
Kannangara was regarded as an excellent all-round student at Richmond, leading the Ceylon and British Empire
list in Mathematics at the Cambridge Senior Examination
in 1903. He also captained Richmond College in first eleven cricket
in 1903, and was a member of the school soccer team the same year, winning colors for his performances. He was also regarded as a fine debater and actor. After leaving school, he taught Mathematics first at Richmond College and then Prince of Wales College
, Moratuwa and Wesley College
, Colombo. While teaching he studied law, passing out as an Attorney at law
in 1910. He set up his first law practice in Galle
the same year. He married Edith de Alwis Edrisinha in 1922.
Kannangara joined Anagarika Dharmapala
's historically significant Temperance movement
, and worked actively with its leaders, including Sir D.B. Jayatilleke, D.S. Senanayake, F.R. Senanayake and Arthur V. Dias
. He rose to national prominence as a lawyer defending leaders of the Sri Lankan independence movement and others who were persecuted by the colonial British
administration during the period of martial law
which following the Riots of 1915. This also drew him into national politics, and in 1923 he entered the Legislative Council of Ceylon
, winning a bye-election on April 13, 1923 for a seat in the Galle District
made vacant by the demise of O.C. Tillekaratne by 1969 votes to 115. He was reelected the following year polling 4,177 votes, opposed to 2310 for his nearest opponent. Following the recommendations of the Donoughmore Commission
, the State Council was established in 1931, succeeding the Legislative Council as the national legislature. Kannangara was elected to the State Council in 1931 and again in 1936. He also became the President of the Ceylon National Congress in 1931.
For the first time the State Council, which had its members elected via universal suffrage
, compromised of Executive Committees and Ministers. Kannangara was appointed as the first chairman of the Executive Committee of Education in the State Council and thus became the first Minister of Education of Sri Lanka in 1931. Apart from Kannangara, the Executive Committee of Education consisted of H.W. Amarasuriya, W.T.B. Karaliyadda, A. Ratnayaka
G.R. De Zoysa, P.E. Madawela and Dr. S.A. Wickramasinghe. He is also notable for being the first minister to wear the National costume in the State Council. During World War II
he was a member of the War Council.
for all children in the country, irrespective of social class
, economic condition, religion and ethnic origin. In 1942 a special committee was appointed with Kannangara as chairman to report on the status of education in the country. Among the recommendations for providing “lasting value to the nation” given in the report, which was published in 1943, were that
As Minister of Education Kannagara was placed in charge of implementing the recommendations. Among the reforms he introduced, which came into operation on October 1, 1945, were to make education free of charge for all students, to ensure that every student was provided with instruction in the religion of his/her parents, to prevent teachers from been exploited by managers of schools by having their wages paid directly by the government and to make adequate provisions for adult education
in the country.
He also established a series of central schools
(Madhya Maha Vidhyala), modeled on Royal College, Colombo, in locations outside major cities. These took high quality secondary education
to the rural outstations of the country. His objective was to create a central school in every electorate in the country, and as such, while in 1941 there were three central schools in the country; by 1945 the number had increased to 35, and to 50 by 1950. In 1943 Kannangara also launched an annual scholarship program, which provided the opportunity for the 20 best performers of the scholarship exam to get free board and lodging in Central School hostels.
During his 16 year period as Minister of Education, he also upgraded ancient pirivena
s, educational establishments for Buddhist monks, and established the University of Ceylon
, the first University
in Sri Lanka. Further, Kannangara took steps to abolished the two tier school system, where English was taught to privileged students and the vernacular
language was taught to the rural masses. While he laid emphasis on teaching Swabasha (native languages) in schools, he also advised that students should learn English to compete in the modern world.
in the country, especially from socially and economically privileged groups who has enjoyed the significant advantages offered to them by the British. Significantly, this included a number of C.W.W Kannangara’s political colleges, including D.S. Senanayake, the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Kannangara spoke for six and a half hours to convince other members of the council to vote for the bill, and was supported in his efforts by Dudley Senanayake
, A. Ratnayaka
, J. R. Jayewardene, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke and Dr. N. M. Perera
. There was also a public campaign launched by Dr. E. W. Adikaram, Dr. G. P. Malalasekera and Mr. L. H. Metthananda to support the bill, which was eventually passed in the State Council in July 1945.
, at its first ever convocation
in 1946.
His achievements in parliament in the field of Education did not however transfer to popularity among the people of his electorate, and he lost his seat in parliament in the General Elections of 1947. Ironically he was defeated in the poll for the Matugama
electorate by Wilmot A. Perera
, the founder of the popular local school Sri Palee College
.
Kannangara was then appointed Ambassador to Indonesia
, a post in which he served from 1950 to 1952. He returned to politics again, and was elected to parliament from the Agalawatta Electorate in 1952, defeating S.A. Silva. He was appointed Minister of Housing and Local Government in the new cabinet. He was likely denied the position of Cabinet Minister of Education as some leading figures in the government did not wish to give him the opportunity to carry forward further reforms to the education system.
C.W.W. Kannangara retired from active politics in 1956, and died on September 23, 1969. There are number of instituitions named after him in Sri Lanka.
A statue of C.W.W. Kannangara was erected at the Ministry of Education
.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
lawyer and politician. Rising up the ranks of Sri Lanka's movement for independence in the early part of the 20th century, he became the first Minister of Education in the State Council of Ceylon
State Council of Ceylon
The State Council of Ceylon was the unicameral legislature for Ceylon , established in 1931 by the Donoughmore Constitution. The State Council gave universal adult franchise to the people of the colony for the first time...
, and was instrumental in introducing extensive reforms to the country's education system that opened up education to children from all levels of society.
Born in rural town in Ambalangoda,southern Sri Lanka, his academic prowess enabled him to win a scholarship to Richmond College
Richmond College
Richmond College is a primary and secondary school in Galle, Sri Lanka. The school was established in 1814 by Christian missionaries. Richmond College is now a well established institution with a reputation as one of the finest schools in Sri Lanka...
, Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, a prestigious national school at the time. Initially working as a lawyer after leaving school, he entered politics as the movement for independence was gathering strength in Sri Lanka. Kannangara was first elected to the Ceylon Legislative Council in 1923 and then to the State Council. He also served as the President of the Ceylon National Congress.
As Minister of Education in the State Council, Kannangara introduced extensive reforms to the education system of Sri Lanka throughout the 1940s. They befitted thousands of underprivileged students in rural parts of the country by making education free for all students. He also began a central school
Central school
In the English education system, central schools were selective secondary education schools between the more prestigious grammar schools and the secondary schools.Central schools were first established following the 1918 Education Act....
s scheme, which established high quality secondary schools in rural areas of the country. Kannangara's significant achievements in areas of education have led him to being commonly referred to as the Father of Free Education in Sri Lanka.
Early life
Crestoper William Wijekoon Kannangara was born on October 13, 1884, in Randombe, a rural village between BalapitiyaBalapitiya
Balapitiya is a coastal area in south west Sri Lanka. It is located in the Southern Province in Sri Lanka. Situated 80 km South of Colombo, it is about a two-hour drive from the capital. It is the nearest city to the Maduganga River....
and Ambalangoda in the south of Sri Lanka. The son of John Daniel Wijekoon Kannangara, the Deputy Fiscal Officer in the Balapitiya Courts, and Emily Wijesinghe, he had his primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
at the Wesleyan Missionary School in Randombe.
Kannangara showed great educational promise as a child, and his achievements were recognized by Rev. J.H Darrel, the Principal of Richmond College
Richmond College
Richmond College is a primary and secondary school in Galle, Sri Lanka. The school was established in 1814 by Christian missionaries. Richmond College is now a well established institution with a reputation as one of the finest schools in Sri Lanka...
, Galle who was the chief guest at a prize giving of the Wesleyan Missionary School. After noticing that Kannangara won most of the available prizes, he is said to have remarked “Son, you may have to hire a bullock cart
Bullock cart
A bullock cart or ox cart is a two-wheeled vehicle pulled by oxen . It is a means of transportation used since ancient times in many parts of the world. They are still used today where modern vehicles are too expensive or the infrastructure does not favor them.Used especially for carrying goods,...
to take home the books you collected at this prize giving.” Darrel also gave Kannangara a chance to sit for a Richmond College Foundation scholarship exam. Excelling in Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
in the exam, he won the scholarship, receiving an award for free board and lodging at Richmond College. There he received the education of an elite school of the times, instruction far superior to that offered at his rural school.
Kannangara was regarded as an excellent all-round student at Richmond, leading the Ceylon and British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
list in Mathematics at the Cambridge Senior Examination
Senior Cambridge
The Senior Cambridge examinations were General Certificate of Education examinations held in Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, India, and Jamaica. They were preceded by the Junior Cambridge and Preliminary Cambridge examinations.-India:...
in 1903. He also captained Richmond College in first eleven cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
in 1903, and was a member of the school soccer team the same year, winning colors for his performances. He was also regarded as a fine debater and actor. After leaving school, he taught Mathematics first at Richmond College and then Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College is a former university college, which was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. PWC merged with St. Dunstan's University in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island....
, Moratuwa and Wesley College
Wesley College, Colombo
Wesley College, Colombo is a Methodist educational institution in Sri Lanka.In 1858 Rev. Joseph Rippon wanted to establish a superior educational institution for the Wesleyan Methodist Mission in South Ceylon. On March 2 1874 Wesley College, Colombo is a Methodist educational institution in Sri...
, Colombo. While teaching he studied law, passing out as an Attorney at law
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in 1910. He set up his first law practice in Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
the same year. He married Edith de Alwis Edrisinha in 1922.
State council
Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala was a leading figure of Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was one of the founding contributors of Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalism and Protestant Buddhism...
's historically significant Temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
, and worked actively with its leaders, including Sir D.B. Jayatilleke, D.S. Senanayake, F.R. Senanayake and Arthur V. Dias
Arthur V. Dias
Arthur Vincent Dias , commonly known as Arthur V. Dias, was a philanthropist, temperance movement member and an independence activist of Sri Lanka . A planter by profession, he is known for the jackfruit propagation campaign he pioneered throughout the country, which earned him the name "Kos Mama"...
. He rose to national prominence as a lawyer defending leaders of the Sri Lankan independence movement and others who were persecuted by the colonial British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
administration during the period of martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
which following the Riots of 1915. This also drew him into national politics, and in 1923 he entered the Legislative Council of Ceylon
Legislative Council of Ceylon
The Legislative Council of Ceylon was the legislative body of Ceylon established in 1833, along with the Executive Council of Ceylon, on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission. It was the first form of representative government in the island...
, winning a bye-election on April 13, 1923 for a seat in the Galle District
Galle District
Galle is a district in Southern Province, Sri Lanka.- Geological background :Its area is , in which is water and is land. Galle District bounded on the North by Benthara river, South and West by the Indian Ocean and East by Matara and Ratnapura Districts. Topography of Galle District is very...
made vacant by the demise of O.C. Tillekaratne by 1969 votes to 115. He was reelected the following year polling 4,177 votes, opposed to 2310 for his nearest opponent. Following the recommendations of the Donoughmore Commission
Donoughmore Commission
The Donoughmore Commission was responsible for the creation of the Donoughmore Constitution in effect between 1931–47 in Ceylon...
, the State Council was established in 1931, succeeding the Legislative Council as the national legislature. Kannangara was elected to the State Council in 1931 and again in 1936. He also became the President of the Ceylon National Congress in 1931.
For the first time the State Council, which had its members elected via universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
, compromised of Executive Committees and Ministers. Kannangara was appointed as the first chairman of the Executive Committee of Education in the State Council and thus became the first Minister of Education of Sri Lanka in 1931. Apart from Kannangara, the Executive Committee of Education consisted of H.W. Amarasuriya, W.T.B. Karaliyadda, A. Ratnayaka
A. Ratnayaka
Abeyratne Ratnayaka was a Sri Lankan politician. He was the first Cabinet Minister of Food, Co-operatives and Home Affairs in independent Ceylon and the last President of the Senate of Ceylon, a Member of Parliament & State Council. He received his primary education at Dharmaraja College Kandy...
G.R. De Zoysa, P.E. Madawela and Dr. S.A. Wickramasinghe. He is also notable for being the first minister to wear the National costume in the State Council. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was a member of the War Council.
Education reforms
Executive Committee of Education to exercise its powers to create new regulations paving the way for the establishment of a new system of education in Sri Lanka. The new system was expected to ensure that education was provided with equal opportunitiesEqual opportunity
Equal opportunity, or equality of opportunity, is a controversial political concept; and an important informal decision-making standard without a precise definition involving fair choices within the public sphere...
for all children in the country, irrespective of social class
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
, economic condition, religion and ethnic origin. In 1942 a special committee was appointed with Kannangara as chairman to report on the status of education in the country. Among the recommendations for providing “lasting value to the nation” given in the report, which was published in 1943, were that
- Education should be free from the Kindergarten to the University.
- The mother tongue should be used as the medium of instruction in the Primary Schools.
- English should be taught in all schools from standard III.
- A curriculum for the child which would develop its "head, heart and hands" should be introduced. In other words, the education of the emotions is as necessary as the education of intellect and practical ability for the well-beingQuality of lifeThe term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
of the child.
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
in the country.
He also established a series of central schools
Madhya Maha Vidyalaya
Madhya Maha Vidyalayas or Central Colleges were established by the late Minister of Education Hon. Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara, as part of his initiative in establishing free education in Sri Lanka....
(Madhya Maha Vidhyala), modeled on Royal College, Colombo, in locations outside major cities. These took high quality secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
to the rural outstations of the country. His objective was to create a central school in every electorate in the country, and as such, while in 1941 there were three central schools in the country; by 1945 the number had increased to 35, and to 50 by 1950. In 1943 Kannangara also launched an annual scholarship program, which provided the opportunity for the 20 best performers of the scholarship exam to get free board and lodging in Central School hostels.
During his 16 year period as Minister of Education, he also upgraded ancient pirivena
Pirivena
Pirivena is a monastic college for the education of Buddhist priests in Sri Lanka. These have been the centers of secondary and higher education in ancient times for lay people as well. Today 561 Piriven are founded and maintained by the Ministry of Education...
s, educational establishments for Buddhist monks, and established the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
, the first University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in Sri Lanka. Further, Kannangara took steps to abolished the two tier school system, where English was taught to privileged students and the vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
language was taught to the rural masses. While he laid emphasis on teaching Swabasha (native languages) in schools, he also advised that students should learn English to compete in the modern world.
Opposition
Kannangara however faced significant opposition to his move to establish free educationFree education
Free education refers to education that is funded through taxation, or charitable organizations rather than tuition fees. Although primary school and other comprehensive or compulsory education is free in many countries, for example, all education is mostly free including...
in the country, especially from socially and economically privileged groups who has enjoyed the significant advantages offered to them by the British. Significantly, this included a number of C.W.W Kannangara’s political colleges, including D.S. Senanayake, the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Kannangara spoke for six and a half hours to convince other members of the council to vote for the bill, and was supported in his efforts by Dudley Senanayake
Dudley Senanayake
Dudley Shelton Senanayake was a Ceylonese politician, who became the second Prime Minister of Ceylon and went on to become prime minister on 2 more times during the 1950s and 1960s.-Early life:Dudley was born on 19 June, 1911 as the eldest son to Molly Dunuwila and Don Stephen Senanayake, who...
, A. Ratnayaka
A. Ratnayaka
Abeyratne Ratnayaka was a Sri Lankan politician. He was the first Cabinet Minister of Food, Co-operatives and Home Affairs in independent Ceylon and the last President of the Senate of Ceylon, a Member of Parliament & State Council. He received his primary education at Dharmaraja College Kandy...
, J. R. Jayewardene, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke and Dr. N. M. Perera
N. M. Perera
Nanayakkarapathirage Martin Perera, better known as Dr. N. M. Perera, was one of the leaders of the Sri Lankan Trotskyist Lanka Sama Samaja Party...
. There was also a public campaign launched by Dr. E. W. Adikaram, Dr. G. P. Malalasekera and Mr. L. H. Metthananda to support the bill, which was eventually passed in the State Council in July 1945.
Post Independence
In appreciation of his services rendered to education, Kannangara was conferred an honorary doctorate by the University of CeylonUniversity of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
, at its first ever convocation
Convocation
A Convocation is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose.- University use :....
in 1946.
His achievements in parliament in the field of Education did not however transfer to popularity among the people of his electorate, and he lost his seat in parliament in the General Elections of 1947. Ironically he was defeated in the poll for the Matugama
Matugama
Matugama is an electorate in the Kalutara district of Sri Lanka. It is located 64 km to the south of Colombo.- History :Matugama is part of the Pasdun Korale , created when King Parakramabahu the Great drained the Kalu Ganga basin...
electorate by Wilmot A. Perera
Wilmot A. Perera
Wilmot A. Perera was a Sri Lankan statesman and philanthropist. A Member of Parliament, he was Ceylonese's first Ambassador to China....
, the founder of the popular local school Sri Palee College
Sri Palee College
Sripalee College, Horana is one of the main mixed schools in Sri Lanka. The current number of students of Sripalee College is over 3,500. There are classes from grade 1 t0 13.-History:On 20 May 1934, under the wishful patronage of Mr. Wilmot A...
.
Kannangara was then appointed Ambassador to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, a post in which he served from 1950 to 1952. He returned to politics again, and was elected to parliament from the Agalawatta Electorate in 1952, defeating S.A. Silva. He was appointed Minister of Housing and Local Government in the new cabinet. He was likely denied the position of Cabinet Minister of Education as some leading figures in the government did not wish to give him the opportunity to carry forward further reforms to the education system.
C.W.W. Kannangara retired from active politics in 1956, and died on September 23, 1969. There are number of instituitions named after him in Sri Lanka.
A statue of C.W.W. Kannangara was erected at the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (Sri Lanka)
The Ministry Of Education is a ministry of the Government of Sri Lanka that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka...
.