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| Rev.Canon H.V.Ivan S.Corea, Rural Dean of Colombo for the Church of Ceylon |
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| Rev Ivan Corea in 1927 in Ceylon |
| Rev.Ivan and Ouida Corea |
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| At the Diocesan Council - 1945 |
Vernon's parents were the much loved couple, Rev.Canon H.V.Ivan S.Corea and Ouida Corea of Sri Lanka.
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| An article on Mrs Ouida Corea written in a church magazine in Colombo in the 1940s |
A History of the Diocese of Colombo (The Centenary Volume) edited by Father Lorenz Beven, Archdeacon Emeritus and written
in in 1946 mentions Reverend Ivan Corea and Mrs Ouida Corea.
'In a letter to the Rev.Ivan Corea, dated November 7th, 1932, the Secretary of the London Missionary Society says that
the projected mission of the first Protestants to start work in the East was full of promise....'
'The writer wishes to make no invidious distinctions between G.B.Ekanayake's old pupils, all of whom are working wholeheartedly
for the Diocease in their respective spheres of labour, but he has perforce to take notice of the names of at least four men
who not only distinguished themselves in Theology, but also had the privilege of assisting their teacher in later years as
Lecturers in the Divinity School. They are, the late Canon James Weerasingha, B.D.(Lond), The Rev. H.E.C.Mendis, M.A.(Cantab),
the Rev. D.A.Karunaratne, M.A.(Oxon), and the Rev.H.V.Ivan.S.Corea, B.A., B.D.(Lond). The last name
has lately been honoured by the present Bishop by being called to the office and dignity of an Examining Chaplain to
the Lord Bishop of Colombo....'
The 'History of the Diocese of Colombo' also writes about Vernon's mother, Mrs. Ouida Corea:
'When the Jubilee (of the Church of St.Philip) Mission (in Kurana) approached, it was decided to build a Mission House
in memory of the Rev. Thomas Christian. A fancy bazaar, organised by Mrs. Ivan Corea, wife of the curate of the Parish, was
a splendid success, and the foundation stone for a Vicarage was laid by Bishop Mark Carpenter-Garnier in the presence of a
large gathering. In 1931 the Jubilee was celebrated in a fitting manner in a great procession of witness around the village....'
Vernon and his brother Ernest, were born in this vicarage in Kurana, Katunayake. They say the vicarage is still in existence
in Kurana.
Canon Ivan Corea was Vicar of St.Luke's Church Borella and St.Paul's Milagiriya.
One of Sri Lanka's outstanding musicians once dedicated his moving composition 'Piyaneni' (Father) in memory of the late Rev.Canon
Ivan Corea who died in Colombo in 1968. One of the earliest recordings of Piyaneni was in 1971 when Vernon Corea wanted to
release it as a record dedicated to Canon Corea. Clarence Wijewardene and the Moonstones recorded it at Auggie Ranaweera's
sprawling studio in Bambalapitiya. Acccompanying them on the organ was Helen Lucas, daughter of the great Ceylonese musician
Papa Menezes. Sadly the recording was never released. Many years later it was a hit for Annesley Malewana.
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| Canon Ivan Corea was Vicar of St.Paul's Church in Milagiriya, Colombo |
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| The front courtyard of St.Paul's Church, Milagiriya, the old vicarage was situated right of the tree |
Vernon's brother Ernest was a distinguished Sri Lankan journalist, a former Editor of the Daily News. He served as High
Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Canada and Ambassador in Washington. He now works for the World Bank in the United States of
America.
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| Ernest Corea, Vernon's brother was Sri Lanka's Ambassador in Washington. |
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| A Ceylon Daily News article on Ernest Corea |
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| The Daily News heralds Ernest Corea's appointment as High Commissioner to Canada |
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