In appreciation of an Oriental Scholar, P. B. Sannasgala

Professor PB Sannasgala (1915-1997) represented a generation of our scholars steeped in what was termed Oriental learning - Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhala and Buddhist Studies.

- BY K. N. O. DHARMADASA

Going through a Pirivena education he later obtained B.A; M.A. and Ph.D as an external candidate displaying his perseverance in the pursuit of knowledge. His contribution to Sinhala Studies was memorable. Above all, he has earned a niche in the history of Sinhala scholarship as the team leader who under many difficulties was able to bring the Sinhala Dictionary protest to completion after a struggle extending to 65 years.

Punchi Bandara Sannasgala was born on 16th of June 1915 in Haputale, then a sleepy village in the Uva Province and had the good fortune to get a good primary education and later came under the influence of erudite Buddhist monks who guided him to study Pali and Sanskrit in the Pravacanodaya Pirivena in Molligoda in the Kalutara District. At that time, it was a great seat of Oriental learning. It was here that he obtained the Pracina Pandit degree and it was in this institution that he cut his teeth as a Sinhala scholar.

In association with a scholar monk Pandit Nahalle Pannasena thero, Sannasgala brought out several books such as Kav Silumini Sahityaya and Sinhala Sandesa Sahityaya. It was during his time that Sannasgala came to know the giants in the field of Oriental learning such as Ven. Kalukondayawe Pragnasekara Thero of the Vidyodaya Pirivena, Prof. Gunapala Malalasekara and Prof. D.E. Hettiarachchi of the then University of Ceylon.

Sannasgala joined the Sinhala Dictionary project in the 1950's. He was associated with many of the notable scholarly activities of the time. For example, he was a joint secretary of the committee which was entrusted with the work of compiling a Sinhala Encyclopedia which was a project launched to coincide with the festivities of the Buddha Jayanthi Celebrations in 1955. He was a Founder member and office bearer of a Sinhala Lekhaka Sanvidanaya (Sinhala Writer's Association).

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