He was born on 5 December 1907[1] in Chilaw in the North Western province of the country. He was the second in a family of five siblings and his mother died when he was very young. Godakumbura received his primary education at the school where his father was a teacher.
Educationedit
In the later years, he continued his studies Kingswood College in Kandy. Concurrently, he attended classes at Sangaraja Pirivena, Kandy where he studied Pali and Sanskrit. In 1934, he completed his BA (General) examination at the University of London in Sinhalese, Pali and Sanskrit. In 1936, he passed the BA (Hons) examination in Indo-Aryan Studies. In 1938, he was awarded the MA in Indo-Aryan Studies. In 1945 he was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of London for his thesis on Sinhalese Syntax. In 1954 he was awarded a D.Litt. from the University of London for his work in Pali, Sanskrit and Sinhala.
Teachingedit
After getting through the Cambridge Senior, he joined the tutorial staff of Kingswood College. He later joined Nalanda College, Colombo while also working as a visiting lecturer in the Department of Oriental Studies of the University College, Colombo. He was recalled to continue teaching at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London taking an absence of leave from government service. This ended in 1959 when he returned to take up the position as the Commissioner of Archaeology.
Commissioner of Archaeologyedit
Whilst based in Colombo, he joined the Department of Archaeology in the early 1950s as the deputy Commissioner when Professor (then Dr) Senarath Paranavithana was the Commissioner. Paranavithana was the first Sri Lankan to be appointed the head of the Department.[2] He was confirmed as the Commissioner when Paranavithana retired in 1956, although he was still in England. He subsequently moved back to Sri Lanka to take up the post of Commissioner, a role in which he continued to occupy until his retirement in 1967.[2]
Personal lifeedit
Godakumbura married Chandra née Ranhotti, whom he met during his days at University of Colombo, and they had one daughter. After separating from Chandra, he married Chandra née Rajapaksa in 1952, with whom he had two had sons and a daughter.
Later yearsedit
After retiring from the Archaeological Department Godakumbura served as the President of the Sri Lanka branch of the Royal Asiatic Society until 1970.[3] During this time he continued contributing to local and international publications.
Bibliographyedit
Godakumbra, Charles (1955). Sinhalese Literature. Colombo: Colombo Apothecaries' Company.
Godakumbra, Charles; Pali Text Society (London) (1958). Samantakūṭavaṇṇanā of Veheda. London: Luzac.
^"Past Presidents - Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka". Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
U. Tin Lwin, Dr. C.E. Godakumbura, 1907-1977 - Obituary, Journal of Burma Research Society, vol. 59 (1977), no. 1
Karunamuni, Muditha; Wettamuni, Rukshila (2007). . Colombo: Friends of Heritage. ISBN978-955-1623-01-2. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
December 15, 2023
charles, godakumbura, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, a. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Charles Godakumbura news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia s content policies particularly neutral point of view Please discuss further on the talk page March 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Doctor Charles Edmund Godakumbura 5 December 1907 7 February 1977 was the Commissioner of Archaeology in Ceylon Sri Lanka from 1956 to 1967 Charles GodakumburaBorn 1907 12 05 5 December 1907Chilaw Sri LankaDied7 February 1977 1977 02 07 aged 69 Burma Myanmar NationalitySri LankanEducationM A Ph D D Litt Alma materKingswood College University of Ceylon University of LondonOccupation s Academic HistorianKnown forScholarly works of Sinhala Language Sri Lankan History and archaeologySpouse s Chandra nee Ranhotti Chandra nee Rajapaksa m 1952 Children4 Contents 1 Early life 2 Education 3 Teaching 4 Commissioner of Archaeology 5 Personal life 6 Later years 7 Bibliography 8 External links 9 ReferencesEarly life editHe was born on 5 December 1907 1 in Chilaw in the North Western province of the country He was the second in a family of five siblings and his mother died when he was very young Godakumbura received his primary education at the school where his father was a teacher Education editIn the later years he continued his studies Kingswood College in Kandy Concurrently he attended classes at Sangaraja Pirivena Kandy where he studied Pali and Sanskrit In 1934 he completed his BA General examination at the University of London in Sinhalese Pali and Sanskrit In 1936 he passed the BA Hons examination in Indo Aryan Studies In 1938 he was awarded the MA in Indo Aryan Studies In 1945 he was awarded a Ph D from the University of London for his thesis on Sinhalese Syntax In 1954 he was awarded a D Litt from the University of London for his work in Pali Sanskrit and Sinhala Teaching editAfter getting through the Cambridge Senior he joined the tutorial staff of Kingswood College He later joined Nalanda College Colombo while also working as a visiting lecturer in the Department of Oriental Studies of the University College Colombo He was recalled to continue teaching at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London taking an absence of leave from government service This ended in 1959 when he returned to take up the position as the Commissioner of Archaeology Commissioner of Archaeology editWhilst based in Colombo he joined the Department of Archaeology in the early 1950s as the deputy Commissioner when Professor then Dr Senarath Paranavithana was the Commissioner Paranavithana was the first Sri Lankan to be appointed the head of the Department 2 He was confirmed as the Commissioner when Paranavithana retired in 1956 although he was still in England He subsequently moved back to Sri Lanka to take up the post of Commissioner a role in which he continued to occupy until his retirement in 1967 2 Personal life editGodakumbura married Chandra nee Ranhotti whom he met during his days at University of Colombo and they had one daughter After separating from Chandra he married Chandra nee Rajapaksa in 1952 with whom he had two had sons and a daughter Later years editAfter retiring from the Archaeological Department Godakumbura served as the President of the Sri Lanka branch of the Royal Asiatic Society until 1970 3 During this time he continued contributing to local and international publications Bibliography editGodakumbra Charles 1955 Sinhalese Literature Colombo Colombo Apothecaries Company Godakumbra Charles Pali Text Society London 1958 Samantakuṭavaṇṇana of Veheda London Luzac Godakumbra Charles 1964 Budupilima Buddha Statues Colombo Archaeological Department Godakumbra Charles Fernando W B Marcus 1965 Ancient City of Anuradhapura Colombo Archaeological Department Godakumbra Charles 1965 Ancient City of Polonnaruwa Colombo Archaeological Department Godakumbra Charles 1969 The Kotavehera at Dedigama Colombo Archaeological Department Godakumbra Charles 1988 Visuddhajanavilasini nama Apadanaṭṭhakatha Oxford Pali text Society External links editGodakumbura C E Charles Edmund 1907 1977References edit Birth and death anniversaries from November 29 December 5 Sunday Observer 28 November 2009 Archived from the original on 17 June 2016 Retrieved 29 May 2016 a b History of the Department of Archeology Department of Archaeology Sri Lanka Retrieved 2 February 2016 Past Presidents Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka 18 November 2009 Retrieved 2 February 2016 U Tin Lwin Dr C E Godakumbura 1907 1977 Obituary Journal of Burma Research Society vol 59 1977 no 1 Karunamuni Muditha Wettamuni Rukshila 2007 Charles Godakumbura Life and Works Colombo Friends of Heritage ISBN 978 955 1623 01 2 Archived from the original on 7 May 2016 Retrieved 31 January 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Godakumbura amp oldid 1187004845, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
