Joseph Lionel Christie Rodrigo,

CMG CMG may refer to: Companies * Capitol Music Group, a music label * China Media Group, the predominant state radio and television broadcaster in the PRC * China Media Group Co., Ltd., publicly listed Chinese holding company in the media sector * ...

(1895 - 1972) was a Ceylonese academic. He was the professor of Western classics and dean of the faculty of arts of the University of Ceylon. Born in Panadura to J. A. G Rodrigo, Rodrigo was educated at

Royal College, Colombo Royal College, Colombo is a selective entry boys' school located in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Started as a private school by Rev Joseph Marsh in 1835, it was established as the Colombo Academy by Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton in Janua ...

, before moving to Trinity College, Kandy for his final year here he won the

Ryde Gold Medal "Look to the End" , mottoes = , founder = John Ireland Jones , established = , type = Independent Private , affiliation = Church of Ceylon, Anglican , grade ...

and the Ceylon Government Scholarship to read classics at

Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. One of Oxford's oldest colleges, it was founded around 1263 by John I de Balliol, a landowner from Barnard Castle in County Durham, who provided the f ...

, where he gained first in greats and a MA. At Oxforwd he was contemporary of

S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike ( si, සොලොමන් වෙස්ට් රිජ්වේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක; ta, சாலமன் வெஸ்ட் ரிட்ஜ்வே டயஸ் ப� ...

. He then qualified as a Barister from the Gray's Inn and gained a Diploma in Journalism from the University of London. Returning to Ceylon, Rodrigo became the editor of the ''

Ceylon Morning Leader The ''Ceylon Morning Leader'' was an English language daily newspaper in Ceylon. In 1907 the De Soysa family bought the proprietary rights of the defunct ''Ceylon Standard'' and started publishing the ''Ceylon Morning Leader''. Ownership of the n ...

'' owen by his uncle

A. J. R. de Soysa Alfred Joseph Richard de Soysa, also known as A. J. R. de Soysa (15 February 1869 – 1939) was a Ceylonese landed proprietor and politician. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon. Early life and education He was the second of ei ...

, succeeding Armand de Souza. He then moved to academia, becoming the headmaster of Wesley College, Colombo. He then joined the Ceylon University College as an assistant lecturer. He was appointed professor of

classics Classics or classical studies is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, classics traditionally refers to the study of Classical Greek and Roman literature and their related original languages, Ancient Greek and Latin. Classics ...

in 1947 and then dean of the faculty of arts of the University of Ceylon. He served in the board of governors of Trinity College and Ladies College; chairman of the Church Missionary Society Schools and education officer in the Ceylon High Commission in London. He was appointed a Companion of the

Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, George III, King George III. ...

in the

1956 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1956 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 2 January 1956 to celebrat ...

. Rodrigo married Evelyn Fernando, daughter of Dr Solomon Fernando, who was one of the first western qualified physiscans in the island, and her mother was a daughter of Charles Henry de Soysa. They had three daughters and two sons, including Dr

Nalin Rodrigo Jayatissa Nalin Rodrigo was a Sri Lankan Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Surgeon, Medical Teacher and Medical Administrator., Family, early life and education Rodrigo was a great-grandson Sir Charles Henry de Soysa. His father Professor J. L. ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodrigo, J. L. C. 1895 births 1972 deaths Academic staff of the University of Ceylon Members of Gray's Inn Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford Alumni of Trinity College, Kandy Alumni of Royal College, Colombo People from Panadura People from British Ceylon Sri Lankan academics Sinhalese people Sri Lankan journalists Ceylonese Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George