P. B. Illangasinghe
{{Infobox person
| name = P. B. Elangasinha
| post-nominals = Rate Mahatmaya
| image = PB Elangasinha.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Punchi Banda Elangasinha
| birth_date = {{birth date|1888|4|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Pahala Walluwa, Illawathura,
Gampola, Sri Lanka
| death_date = {{death date and age|1960|9|22|1888|4|6|df=y}}
| occupation = Notary Public
| website =
}}
Punchi Banda Elangasinha, Rate Mahatmaya ({{langx|si|පුංචි බණ්ඩා ඉලන්ගසිංහ}}; 6 April 1888 – 22 September 1960) was a Sri Lankan notary public, traditional eye doctor, astrologist and musicologist. Best known for writing the anthems of Dharmaraja College, Hillwood College, and Rahula College as well as the first national anthem of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), “Sri Lanka Matha Pala Yasa Mahima Jaya Jaya” in collaboration with Lionel Edirisinghe{{Cite web|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/01/19/art04.asp|title=Artscope {{!}} Online edition of Daily News - Lakehouse Newspapers|website=archives.dailynews.lk|access-date=2012-07-19}}
Biography
P. B. Elangasinha was born on 6 April 1888 in Illawathura, Gampola and received his primary education at the Buddhist Mixed School, Gampola, and St. Thomas College, Mathara. He went to St. Thomas Teachers Training school before being appointed as the headmaster of Waebada Buddhist School. He pioneered and served as the president of "Samastha Lanka As Weda Sangamaya‟ (All Island Society of Traditional Eye Doctors) and "Samastha Lanka Sarpa Visha Veda Sangamaya‟ (All Island Society of Traditional Venom Doctors). Students were trained at his home to perform Buddhist Carols composed by him for annual Buddhist ceremonies. He served as a music director and a music exam inspector of "Jathika Gandharwa Sabha‟ (National Association of Musicians). He was also a member of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.{{Cite journal|date=1957|title=List of Members|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/45385491|journal=The Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland|volume=5|issue=1|pages=i–ix|issn=0304-2235}}
Elangasinha was selected to be a part of Lanka Gandharva Sabha's judging panel, along with SLB Kapukotuwa, Dr.OHD Wijesekera, Lionel Edirisinghe, Mudliyar EA Abeysekera and LLK Gunatunga to determine the country's national anthem.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/67545/history-of-sri-lanka-s-national-anthem-mired-in-controversy|title=History of Sri Lanka's National Anthem mired in controversy|access-date=2012-07-20|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=The Sunday Times Plus Section|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/990214/plus5.html|access-date=2021-10-30|website=www.sundaytimes.lk}} In a controversial decision, the song written by P. B. Elangasinha and set to music by Lionel Edirisinghe was announced to be the new National Anthem. The fact that a song submitted by two members of the selection panel had “won” the national song competition evoked widespread resentment and protests. It was seen as blatantly unfair. Although the song by the Elangasinha-Edirisinghe duo was broadcast over the then “Radio Ceylon” on the morning of Independence day as the national song it was not sung at the official Freedom Day ceremony due to protests.{{Cite web|title=Pride and tragedy|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170205/plus/pride-and-tragedy-226920.html|access-date=2021-10-30|website=The Sunday Times Sri Lanka}} While the song itself was flawless and above reproach it was the perception of favoritism in the decision to adopt it that fueled criticism and protests.{{Cite web|title=LankaWeb – THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF SRI LANKA|url=https://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2018/07/15/the-national-anthem-of-sri-lanka/|access-date=2021-10-30|language=en-US}} Thus the song which won the national song competition was unacceptable as far as the people were concerned.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/105071/-Tamils-Hail-Mother-Lanka-as-Sri-Lanka-Thaayae-in-Their-Mother-Tongue|title=Tamils Hail Mother Lanka as "Sri Lanka Thaayae" in Their Mother Tongue|access-date=2012-07-20|language=en}}
Elangasinha's service to his motherland earned him the honorary title "Rate Mahatmaya‟.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dharmaraja-na.org/Portals/0/DAANA/Docs/DAANA_DigitalPencil_2010.pdf|title=A Man Who"s Spirit Lives Among Rajans In Memory of Late P. B. Elangasinha (Rate Mahathmaya)|last=|first=|date=|website=dharmaraja-na.org|language=en|access-date=2018-05-09}}{{Cite news|date=1949-06-09|title=Ceylon Government Gazette, Part - I, No. 9983, Thursday, June 09, 1949|work=Ceylon Government Gazette|url=http://220.247.247.85:8081/handle/123456789/31533}}
References
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