Claude Pananwala - An Appreciation
Claude Pananwala of Pananwala Walawwa Talatu Oya passed away a few days ago after a brief illness. He was a son of Abeyratne Banda Pananwala , a former Basnayake Nilame - Kandy & Hanguranketha Pattini Devalayas (1941-1963), Maha Vishnu & Aluthnuwara Devalayas (1963-1973) and Vimalawathie Mapitigama , daughter of M.B.Mapitigama of Meedeniya Walawwa, Kegalle and Tikiri Kumarihamy Hurulle of Morakewa Walawwa, Horowapathana. Educated at Trinity College, Kandy and in Australia, he was employed for a considerable period and later managed his family properties. He had a deep and abiding concern for the fate of elephants in the wild, and for farmers whose crops were destroyed by marauding elephants. Over ten years ago, he even proposed the establishment of a Presidential Task Force to make a comprehensive study and recommend ways and means to bring relief to farmers and spare the lives of both farmers and elephants. His propo...