Regarding the question of paternity of free education raised by my good friend Prof. Carlo Fonseka in the Midweek Review of 7th October (Who was the ‘real’ father of free education?), I wish to draw his attention as well as that of interested readers to the following two extracts from the Centenary Volume on Education in Ceylon published by the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs in 1969. Both extracts are from Part II of the publication.

The first one is from Mr. K. Alvapillai’s contribution under the title The Special Committee on Education. Mr. Alvapillai C.C.S., it should be remembered, was the Secretary to both the Executive Committee and the Special Committee on Education. These are his words in regard to free education: "The idea originated with that confirmed democrat, Mr. A. Ratnayake, (now President of the Senate), and he was strongly supported by the Chairman of the Committee."

Mr. A. Ratnayake, however, in his own contribution to the above publication says, "The most revolutionary proposal viz., to make education free from Kindergarten to the University came from a private member. I had the privilege of moving this motion in the Special Committee that was appointed to consider educational reforms. Their recommendations were adopted by the Executive Committee and finally implemented by the Government." Thus we find Mr. Ratnayake very graciously passing on paternity to an unnamed State Councillor!

Until some researcher wades through Hansards of the State Council etc. and tells us who that private member was, we may lay the question of the "real father of free education" to rest, and let Mr. Kannangara, the real catalyst of the change, take both the bouquets and the brickbats for making free education a reality!