Practical English For Post Primary Classes and Public Examinations

Practical English by W. H. Samaranayake is a landmark in the history of English-language education and educational publishing in Sri Lanka. First published in 1940, the book was written for post-primary students and those preparing for public examinations. Bibliographic records identify it as a work focused on practical English usage, while later editions have continued to serve Sri Lankan learners. Samaranayake approached English teaching from the perspective of an experienced educationist. The book is structured around the practical needs of students, helping them develop the language knowledge and written skills required for both education and examinations. Its approach reflects an era when mastery of English was an important part of academic advancement, while its emphasis on practical application made the book accessible to a wide range of learners. The importance of Practical English extends beyond its role as a textbook. Along with Samaranayake’s celebrated English with a Smile series, it became widely used in Sri Lankan schools and remained in demand for decades. Expographic’s history records that these books were widely used as English-language textbooks in Sri Lanka for nearly half a century. A profile of W. H. Samaranayake in the Daily Mirror similarly describes Practical English as an invaluable guide for generations of Sri Lankan students and teachers. Today, Practical English is not only a useful English-learning text but also a significant piece of Sri Lanka’s educational heritage. It offers readers an insight into the traditions of English teaching that shaped generations of Sri Lankan learners.