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Vernon Corea, Sri Lanka's pioneering broadcaster, died on September 23rd, 2002 aged 75 years. He was born in Kurana, Katunayke on September 11th, 1927. A descendant of Dominicus Corea, King of Kotte in the 16th century, his parents were the late Canon Ivan Corea and Ouida Corea, one time Rural Dean of Colombo for the Church of Sri Lanka and Vicar of St. Lukes Church, Borella.
Vernon was educated at Royal College, Colombo where he played a full role in the life of the school from debating society to playing tennis. He was also educated at Bishop's Theological College in Calcutta, India but decided not to pursue ordination.
Vernon Corea returned to Sri Lanka and went into teaching at Uva College, Badulla where he met his wife, Monica, who was also a teacher. After the death of their first born son, Vernon and Monica moved to Colombo. He worked briefly for Car Mart and then joined Radio Ceylon as a Relief Announcer in 1957. He took to radio and his career spiralled upwards. Vernon soon established himself as one of the most popular announcers of Radio Ceylon.
He presented some popular radio programmes in South Asia: Two for the Money, Kiddies Korner, Old Folks at Home, Maliban Bandwagon, Dial-a-disc and many more.
Vernon was also instrumental in introducing Sinhala music into the English Service. Together with his cousins Sangabo Corea and Vijaya Corea he made Clarence Wijewardene, Annesley Malawana and other talented Sri Lankan musicians, household names.
Vernon's career at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation progressed up the management ladder as Business Manager of the Corporation and in 1974 he was appointed Director News. Vernon also spent six months in the UK on a scholarship with the Nuffield Foundation and received training at the BBC.
The family moved to England in 1975 when Vernon and Monica became the first Asian missionaries at the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade founded by the all England cricketer C. T. Studd. They worked for the radio arm of WEC, Radio Worldwide who were stationed in Upper Norwood South East London at the time.
After a spell in religious broadcasting Vernon was invited to present the first ever Asian programme in English. "London Sounds Eastern" on BBC Radio London. The programme was very successful and Vernon interviewed Pandit Ravi Shankar, the President of Sri Lanka, among the whole host of distinguished personalities. "London Sounds Eastern" built up a huge following and Vernon was reaching new audiences.
In 1978, Vernon Corea was appointed as the first Ethnic Minorities Adviser for the British Broadcasting Corporation and held it until his retirement.
The BBC were trying to be more inclusive and Vernon brought with him a whole new picture within Britians multicultural mosaic.
Vernon valued diversity and he certainly changed views at the BBC. The introduction of the BBC's new Asian Network is largely due to the pioneering work carried out by Vernon in the late 1970s and 1980s at the BBC.
Vernon was a committed Christian, his faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ was non-negotiable. He had a deep and abiding faith in Christ. The joy of the Lord was Vernon's strength. He was a man who was not depressed or down and he attributed his state of well-being to Jesus Christ.
He has left a magnificent legacy to Sri Lankan and British Broadcasting with 45 years of service to public service broadcasting. The London Times (8th October 2002) and the London Guardian (October 15th) paid tribute to the pioneering work undertaken by Vernon Corea who has dubbed, "The Golden Voice of Radio Ceylon".
With 520,000 autistic people in the UK and 30,000 in Sri Lanka, Vernon supported the Autism Awareness Year campaign launched by his son and daughter-in-law.
He leaves his wife Monica, his children Ivan, Vernon and Ouida. He was the father-in-law of Charika, Fidelma and Praveen and he adored his grandchildren Charin, Rohan, Mark, Emily, Rebecca, Jeremy and Rachel.
Vernon's brother Ernest was Sri Lanka's former Ambassador to the United States of America and one time Editor of the Daily News, one of Sri Lanka's oldest newspapers.
WEBSITES ON VERNON COREA
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