About C. W. W. Kannangara

Dr. Cristopher William Wijekoon Kannangara, (Sinhala ආචාර්ය ක්‍රිස්ටෝෆර් විලියම් විජේකෝන් කන්නන්ගර; 18 October 1894 – 23 September 1969) was a prominent Sri Lankan lawyer and politician who played a crucial role in the country's movement for independence in the early 20th century. He was known for his defense of detainees during the Riots of 1915, many of whom were emerging leaders of the independence movement. In 1931, he became the President of Ceylon National Congress and later served as the first Minister of Education in the State Council of Ceylon, where he introduced extensive reforms to the country's education system, making education accessible to children from all levels of society.

Kannangara's academic journey began in the Southern coastal town of Hikkaduwa, where he attended the Wesleyan school and later received a Foundation Scholarship to Richmond College, Galle. After working as a teacher in Mathematics at Wesley College, Colombo and Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa, he pursued a successful career as a lawyer in the Southern Province. His political career began in 1923 when he was elected as the representative of the Southern Province to the Legislative Council of Ceylon, and later to its successor, the State Council.

During his tenure as Minister of Education, Kannangara and the Committees of Education implemented significant reforms in Sri Lanka's education system, including the establishment of high-quality secondary schools through the Central Colleges scheme, benefiting underprivileged students in rural areas. He also played a key role in the submission of the Free Education Bill in the State Council, despite initial opposition to complete free education. Kannangara's contributions to education in Sri Lanka during the 1940s were truly remarkable and have had a lasting impact on the country's educational landscape.