Ernest Poruthota

Poruthotage Raymond Ernest Alexander Fernando (Sinhala: පෝරුතොටගේ රේමන්ඩ් අර්නස්ට් ඇලෙක්සැන්ඩර් ප්‍රනාන්දු) (31 August 1931 — 16 June 2020), often known simply as Ernest Poruthota, was a Catholic priest.

Popularly known as "Priest of the Sinhala Cinema", Poruthota rendered a yeoman service to Sri Lanka's cinema industry and was the founder of Sri Lanka OCIC organization.

Poruthota was born on 31 August, 1931 in Marawila, Puttalam as the eldest of the family.

His father Poruthotage Jokinu Fernando from Boralessa was a teacher at the Government Teachers’ College in Maggona before being transferred to Marawila.

His father has also published several books such as Kayika Vidyawa, Saddharma Rathnavali Deepika, Sinhala Mosthara Nirmana and Iganweeme Mooladharma.

He was also a painter.

His mother Mary Margaret Peiris was from Seeduwa.

Ernest has 3 younger sisters - Stella, Marilyn, Cristobal - and one younger brother, Earl.

He received his primary education at the Marawila Roman Catholic School and then went to Francis Xavier English School in the village.

Then he attended St. Aloysius Junior Church in Borella and St. Bernard's Church in Borella in 1942.

He was later inducted into the National Diocese of Our Lady of Ampitiya, Kandy.

On 2 February 1957, he was ordained by the Most Reverend Thomas Cardinal Cooray at St. Lucia Cathedral, Kotahena.

From 1957 to 1959, he worked as a Pisces Father at St. Lucia Cathedral, Kotahena.

He left the National Cathedral in 1957 with a broad knowledge of cinema by referring to the English textbook on cinema.

He also brought "Sarasaviya" and "Visithura" cinema papers every week.

At the end of each year, he conserved them in his library using a thick wall.

In 1958, while serving in the Kotahena Parish, he wrote the book Wurthiya samithi Viplawaya emphasizing the importance of the absence of trade union politics.

Then he worked as a Pisces Father at St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa from 1959 to 1960 and later at St. Joseph of Pamunugama in 1960 and finally at Dehiwala St Mary's Church from 1960 to 1962.

Rev. Fr. Poruthota then became the pastor of several parishes including Dehiyagatha (1962–66), Kelaniya (1967–74), Kalutara Kalmulla (1974–82), Kotte (1982–87), Wattala (1991–97) and Dehiwala (1997-2004).

The Second Vatican Council, founded by Pope John XXIII in Vatican City in 1962, issued 16 ordinances in 1965, following the 1963, '64 and '65-year conferences.

Father Poruthota was involved in conducting pilgrimages of Sri Lanka in Sinhala language instead of Latin.

Therefore, he played an important role in instilling this new revolution into the Sri Lankan Catholic Church as well as the lay people.

In 1963, he published the book Gihiya.

It broadly commented on the Catholic lay, glory and power.

Then he wrote the book Kithunu Peraliya, which analyzed in detail how the views of the Second Vatican discourse affect Sri Lanka.

In 1964, he wrote the social book Suraawa and then wrote Bhawyawadaya Saha Lankawa.

The latter explained the impact of Jean-Paul Sartre's influence on the literature of the sixties.

In 1965, Poruthota wrote two more books, Cardinal Cooray and ''Kri.Sha.

Kramaya''.

In 1965, he had published his book titled Chithrapati Gena.

It is said that Father Poruthota was the first to bring Gokkola and wedding drums to the church in 1967 for a wedding reception which was held at the Bolawalana Church in Negombo.

The Most Venerable Mapalagamagama Vipulasara Thero was a close friend of his, where Poruthota contributed to the Buddhism as well.

Since the early stages, Poruthota had a keen interest in cinema.

The Ceylon Film Critics and Writers Association was founded in 1967, with the guidance of Poruthota.

In 1970, Pope Paul VI visited Sri Lanka and the government asked Father Poruthota to write a book on Pope's visit.

As a result, along with the Hon. Jayalath Balagalla, Poruthota launched 456-pages and 404-pages books with two-volumes titled Katholika Samaaja Dharshanaya.

He died on 16 June 2020 at the age of 88 while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.

His body was kept at the Archbishop's House until 6:30 pm on Wednesday.

His remains were then brought to St. Philip Mary Church, Katukurunda on 18 June 2020.

The funeral took place at Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kalutara.