M. J. Perera
Encyclopedia
Mapatunage James "M. J." Perera was a Sri Lanka
n civil servant where born on 03 February 1915 with nine members of Family in Udumulla, Padukka
. He created broadcasting history by being the first Ceylonese Director General of Radio Ceylon
, the oldest radio station in South Asia
, taking over the helm from John Lampson of the BBC
.
Perera witnessed the transformation of Radio Ceylon as King of the Airwaves in South Asia the radio station was the market leader and the number one radio station in the region during the 1950s and 1960s, with a loyal base of millions of listeners. Radio Ceylon enjoyed huge success under his leadership.
Clifford Dodd
, an Australian administrator, was appointed (via the Colombo Plan
) as the first Director of the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon and he contributed to the station's popularity across the Indian sub-continent.
M.J.Perera was also appointed the first Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation,the island's television station and the country's first competent authority.
Born on 24 December 1914 in Padukka, he was educated at Rajabisheka Vidyalaya (Primary education) - Padukka Nalanda College Colombo and at the University of Ceylon
. He became an assistant Government Agent
and went on to become the Permanent Secretary
of the Education and Cultural Affairs Ministry and later as first Chairman of the Rupavahini (Television) Corporation, retiring from the Sri Lanka Administrative Service
after 48 years public service.
"Livy's golden years on radio" by Noel Crusz
"Cultural orthodoxy and popular Sinhala music" an article by Dr. Tissa Abeysekara
"At the Berliner Ensemble" Henry Jayasena Column
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...
n civil servant where born on 03 February 1915 with nine members of Family in Udumulla, Padukka
Padukka
Padukka is a town in the district of Colombo in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It has a population of roughly 8,000. Elevation 44feet....
. He created broadcasting history by being the first Ceylonese Director General of Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.- Edward Harper :...
, the oldest radio station in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, taking over the helm from John Lampson of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Perera witnessed the transformation of Radio Ceylon as King of the Airwaves in South Asia the radio station was the market leader and the number one radio station in the region during the 1950s and 1960s, with a loyal base of millions of listeners. Radio Ceylon enjoyed huge success under his leadership.
Clifford Dodd
Clifford Dodd
Clifford R. Dodd was an administrator and radio expert, with twenty years experience in broadcasting in Australia, before he arrived in Sri Lanka. He was sent by the Australian Government under the Colombo Plan to work in Radio Ceylon...
, an Australian administrator, was appointed (via the Colombo Plan
Colombo Plan
The Colombo Plan is a regional organization that embodies the concept of collective inter-governmental effort to strengthen economic and social development of member countries in the Asia-Pacific Region...
) as the first Director of the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon and he contributed to the station's popularity across the Indian sub-continent.
M.J.Perera was also appointed the first Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation,the island's television station and the country's first competent authority.
Born on 24 December 1914 in Padukka, he was educated at Rajabisheka Vidyalaya (Primary education) - Padukka Nalanda College Colombo and at 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...
. He became an assistant Government Agent
Government Agent
A function called Government Agent exist or existed in the past in several countries, such as* Sri Lanka - see Government Agent * Canada - see Government Agent...
and went on to become the Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
of the Education and Cultural Affairs Ministry and later as first Chairman of the Rupavahini (Television) Corporation, retiring from the Sri Lanka Administrative Service
Sri Lanka Administrative Service
The Sri Lanka Administrative Service is the key administrative service of the Government of Sri Lanka, with civil servants working for both in the Central Government as well as in the provincial councils. It was formed as the Ceylon Administrative Service in 1963 as the successor to the Ceylon...
after 48 years public service.
Civil Service Career
- Director-General of Radio Ceylon,
- First Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation
- Founder Chairman of Paddy Marketing Board
- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education
- Chairman National Library Services Board
- Chairman State Fertilizer Manufacturing Corporation
- Chairman River Vally Development Board
- Vice Chancellor University of Peradeniya
- Director Cultural Affairs
Further Reading on M.J.Perera
"When life was simple" As told to D.C. Ranatunga by M. J. Perera former Civil Servant and Permanent Secretary to the Education and Cultural Affairs Ministry"Livy's golden years on radio" by Noel Crusz
"Cultural orthodoxy and popular Sinhala music" an article by Dr. Tissa Abeysekara
"At the Berliner Ensemble" Henry Jayasena Column