Kularatna Bulathgama (Upali), a veteran Journalist celebrated his 93rd birthday this year.
Upali was delighted to reminiscence his early days and his illustrious journalist career, well over 60 years.
He was born at Kuruvita, Ratnapura, on July 16, 1928. In a family of three daughters and three sons, he was the fifth child of reputed Building Contractor “Charles Ayya” (P.A. Bulathgama), and Ganegama Yasohamine.
Initially, Upali began his primary education at Higgaswatta Sinhala Vidyalaya. Later he was admitted to St. Aloysius’ College and Seevali Maha Vidyalaya, Ratnapura.
Seevali Maha Vidyalaya, which was beside the Kalu Ganga, became a green pasture for him.
Some of his classmates at Seevali, later became eminent figures. Among them were Prof. Ariya Rajakaruna, Henry Tennakoon (Cartoonist), Jayavilal Wilegoda (The cinema critic).
Since there was no age barrier for schools, when Upali attended English classes, there came a well-known elderly poet by the name of Ven. Pandita Bambarakotuwe Suddharma Thera. He too, joined his class.
Due to the presence and association Ven. Suddharma Thera, he became enthusiastic in poetry and literature. Henry excelled in composing verses of paradox and poems involving love affairs among students and or more current issues. Under the guidance of Suddharma Thera, students also formed a poet’s circle in Ratnapura. It was named as “Seevali Kala Kawaya”.
Upali moved by English poet Henry Longfellow’s “East Wind and the Morning Star”, composed Sinhala verses as “Peradiga sulagha ha irabatu taruwa”. He had mailed it to “Silumina” weekly newspaper.
To his surprise it appeared as the lead article in features page. Upali expresses indebtedness to the then Silumina Chief Editor Srilal Liyanage.
Encouraged by this, Upali continued to compose verses and had won the prestigious State Award “Kala Bushana”. Meanwhile, he had been conferred with several honorary titles as “Kivi Pathi Prathibha Pranama”, “Kawya Parameshwara” and many more.
Language classes
He is grateful to late Ven. Henpitigedara Gnanaseeha Thera who conducted oriental language classes at his Pirivena.
While serving as a teacher and an Art Inspector of Schools, Upali devoted his time to work as a part time Lake House correspondent in Kandy.
 Upali with Viharadhipathi Thera of Kathaluwa Buddhist Temple where the historic printing machine imported from UK in 1860 by Upali’s ancestor Most Ven. Bulathgama Dhammalankara Maha Thera |
He remembered the days and events of his early days as a journalist, 60 years age.
When he first joined Lake House, the Managing Director was Mr. Esmond Wickremesinghe, a lawyer, renowned journalist, moreover a political maestro. He was the eldest son-in-law of the founder of Lake House D.R. Wijewardene.
His wife, Nalini Wickremesinghe, was also a member of the Board of Directors. Those days our salaries were paid by cheques bearing her signature. At the time we never imagined that her son Ranil Wickremesinghe, would be the Prime Minister of the country.
Simultaneously, just finishing his overseas studies a handsome youngster assumed office as Chairman, Lake House. It was a memorable event.
He was none other the founder’s youngest son Ranjit Wijewardene.
In 1973, Lake House was taken over by the Government. Anyhow it paved way for the emergence of yet another powerful Media Organisation, the Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. Upali pays tribute to “Loku Sir” the Silumina Chief Editor Piyasena Nissanka. He had encouraged and molded Upali, to keep in line with the Journalistic Ethics from the beginning.
There were stalwarts in the news field such as M.A.D. Silva, Dharmapala Wethasinghe, D.F. Kariyakarawana, Meemana Prematilake, B.A. Siriwardana, Wimal Abeysundara, Benedict Dodampegama, Wimalasiri Perera, Pujitha Wijetunga, Sisira Kumara Manikkarachchi, Hema Gunawardana, Sumana Saparamadu and several others. Upali attributes, to have been a permanent resident in Kandy as the “secret of his success” as a journalist.
Not only because Kandy is a sacred town and a World heritage, but also for being a centre where the country’s intellectuals often gathered.
Among his long-standing contacts were Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya campus, Sir Nicholas Attygalle Prof. Senerath Paranavitharana, Prof. D.E. Hettiarachchi, Prof. Ediriweera Sarathchandra, Dr Sri Ram Mandala, Prof. W.S. Karunaratne, Gunadasa Amarasekera, Dr. Harischandra, Wijeyatunga, K.H.M. Sumathipala and several others.
They divulged hot news that was of public interest and national importance.
During the school days of this writer, Dr. H.S.S. Nissanka, a renowned journalist was one of the teachers at Dharmaraja College Kandy.
He trained us to put up wallpapers during the five days of the week. The papers had five titles and editorial groups viz ‘Nirmana’, ‘Shakthi’ and ‘Prathibha’.
Inspired by this exercise, we took special interest in reading national newspapers. ‘The Elephant Havoc in Kandy’, eclipse in late 1950’s, devastating floods, Sri Dalada Perahera, Miracles of Sri Dalada Maligawa, Queen’s visit, Buddha Jayanthi and General Elections etc. are still memorable.
At the time news stories around Kandy mostly appeared under the bylines of Russel Gunasekera, Y.B. de Silva, M.I. Marikkar, Ariyawanse Pathiraja, K. Bandaranayake, Cyril Wimalasurendra, Ariyaratne Vithanachchi, L.B. Senaratne and Kularatne Bulathgama.
Mainly involved in our school wallpapers were my senior colleagues Deltota Chandrapala, Makadawala Wickremasinghe, D.C. Karunaratne, P.B. Elangasinghe, Percy Jayamanne and myself.
As “Coming events forecast by their shadows”, years afterwards we all became career Journalists under one roof at the Newspaper Head Office.
What is more interesting is Kularatne Bulathgama still continued to work with us. We all loved and respected him. One day, when I was the Pictures Editor, Upali thanked me for a small favour. I reminded him that he had done me a great favour in the past.
Prize giving day
Though not known before, on a prize giving day in 1961, I first spoke to him to request whether he could take a picture of mine when I receive the prize.
Kumar Wethasinghe
 Upali with late Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake at the historic Mahiyangana Temple |
He just noted down my name and address. One week later a letter came with my negatives enclosed with.
In terms of fourth estate, I wonder whether this topic turns into wheels within wheels.
As matter of fact, the very first Sinhala Newspaper “Lanka Lokaya” was published 160 years ago in June 1860 at the Paramanda Pirivena, Galle.
According to Ven. Pandit, Polwatte Buddhadatta Thera, during 1850, Bandaranayake Wijesinghe Weerakone Mudiyanselage Bulathgama Maha Disawa’s son became a Bhikkhu and was ordained at the Malwatta Chapter as Bulathgama Dhammalankara Sri Sumanatissa (1795 – 1891). “Bulathgama Hamuduruvo” having left Kandy for Galle established a Dhamma school named Vijayananda Pirivena and built a Vihara at Giniwella, Kathaluwa.
Col. Henry Olcott’s official diaries record that on his landing in Sri Lanka, accompanied by lady Helena Blavatsky, Ven. Bulathgama Hamuduruvo has administered Pansil to them to embrace Buddha Dhamma.
When Bulathgama Hamuduruvo went abroad King Chulalankara of Thailand, was delighted and impressed of the erudite Bulathgama Hamuduruvo’s sermons. The King also donated $ 212 as a gift.
On his return to Sri Lanka, the Bulathgama Hamuduruvo determined to revitalise the status of colonially suppressed Buddha Dhamma and Sinhala culture.
Accordingly with the Kings donations and help of a local philanthropist arranged to import a printing machine from England at a cost of $ 400 in 1860.
Thus, historically Bulathgama Hamuduruvo pioneered to print and publish the very first Sinhala Newspaper titled “Lanka Lokaya” (Light of Lanka) at Paramananda Pirivena, Galle. Following the Hamuduruvo’s demise, it was his pupil Pandit Dharmaratna who published “Lakmini Pahana” second Sinhala Newspaper.
Ironically and coincidentally Upali is a direct descendant of the Bulathgama family. As “Birds of a feather flock together”, Upali and his younger brother Late Ananda (Renowned Photographer), embraced journalism as their lifeline.
Upali now lives in Kandy with his wife Manel Vishakha, only son Col. Sampath and his siblings.
Once a schoolboy poet, over the past six decades, Upali has carved his name as a poet, a versatile writer, and a veteran journalist in service to the motherland.
Let’s salute Upali, with a sheaf of Bulath!
Wishing him health and longevity!!