From Punch Cards to Progress: My Journey into Programming in 1979 Sri Lanka

 IBM 029 Card Punch Machine

 In 1979, I found myself at the crossroads of tradition and technology—writing FORTRAN IV code on paper, punching it into cards, and running my final year project on a borrowed IBM mainframe. It was the dawn of computing in Sri Lanka, and I was fortunate to be part of it.

The Project That Started It All

My final year thesis at the University of Colombo was titled: “Multiple Regression Analysis for Survey on Housing Condition in Sri Lanka.”

This wasn’t just an academic exercise—it became a consultancy project for the Department of Mathematics, thanks to the generous support of two remarkable mentors:

• Prof. V. K. Samaranayake, my Computer Programming course teacher

• Dr. Kevin Seneviratne, my tutor and project supervisor

Both offered their expertise free of charge, driven by a shared vision to advance computing in Sri Lanka.

Programming with Punch Cards

Before the age of screens and keyboards, programming was a tactile experience. Here's how it worked:

• I wrote the code by hand on paper.

• Then, using the IBM 029 Card Punch Machine, I punched each line of FORTRAN IV code onto individual cards.

• The survey data was also punched onto cards, creating a complete deck of program and data.

Each card held one line of code or data, up to 80 characters—matching the format of the dump terminals we used. Editing meant physically removing, replacing, or inserting cards. To keep the deck organised, we drew diagonal lines across the side and used printed line numbers to sort them if they were ever dropped.

Error Checking and Compilation

When I pressed a key on the punch machine, it stamped 2-bit binary holes into the card, representing ASCII characters. These characters were also printed at the top of the card, making it easy to spot typos.

The Census and Statistics Department of the Government of Sri Lanka, located near the university, allowed us to use their IBM System/360 Model 25 mainframe. Their card reader translated our punched code into machine-readable format, and their FORTRAN IV compiler processed our programs.

If errors were found, we’d punch new cards, swap them into the deck, and resubmit. This cycle was slow and meticulous—I received my final results just one week before my thesis deadline.

The Culture of Card Decks

We were part of the tail end of the punch card era. Most of us kept our decks in personal boxes, which we filed away once the project was complete. FORTRAN IV required one card per statement line, and large programs meant large headaches.

I still remember the day Dr. Kevin Seneviratne accidentally dropped his box of punch cards—a moment of chaos that every punch card programmer dreaded.

The Shift to Interactive Computing

By 1980, things began to change. The university received a Data General NOVA/4 minicomputer on loan, followed by the Data General S/140 with four dumb terminals. These systems allowed for interactive programming, and the punch card machines quickly faded into history.

Preserving the Legacy

Today, the Computer History Museum at the University of Colombo School of Computing proudly displays the IBM 029 Card Punch Machine and punch cards I once used. It’s a tribute to the early days of computing in Sri Lanka—and a reminder of how far we’ve come.

Final Thoughts

My programming journey began with paper, punch cards, and perseverance. It was a time of collaboration, innovation, and resilience. Despite the limitations, we achieved meaningful results and laid the groundwork for future generations.

I’m proud to have been part of that pioneering era—and even prouder that our tools and stories are now preserved for others to learn from. Dr. Kevin Seneviratne and I in the Photograph (Photo Archive Library (c) Turrance Nandasara)

The IBM 029 Card Punch Machine, a symbol of early computing, now proudly stands on display at the Colombo University Computer Museum.

Our memories are lit by the glow of vacuum tubes and the hum of early circuit boards — the heartbeat of minicomputers that shaped our journey into computing.

Dr. Kevin Seneviratne and I are reminiscing about our shared history, framed by the iconic IBM XT desktops that once defined our formative years — proudly housed at the Computer Centre in the early 1980s. Those early days not only sparked our passion for computing but also forged a lasting friendship built on curiosity, collaboration, and mutual respect.

A moment captured at the Colombo University Computer Museum during Dr. Kevin Seneviratne’s visit to UCSC — honouring his role in the history of computing at Colombo. Photo credit: Siromi Aruna, Ashintha Rukmal, and Turrance Nandasara. Dr. Shiromi Arunathilaka is also featured in the photograph.