Appreciations

She was a Buddhist scholar

Tessa, beloved daughter of Arthur and late Anne Bartholomeusz, died in Tallahassee, Florida, on May 17 this year, at the age of 42.

Professor of Religion at Florida State University and an expert in the study of South Asian religions and languages, Ms. Bartholom-eusz received her Ph. D from the University of Virginia, after which she held positions at the University of Virginia and Indiana University, before joining the Humanities Faculty of Florida State University. She was elevated to status of Associate and then Full Professor.

She lectured on Buddhism, Gender and Religion, Hindi, Pali and Sanskrit. She is the author of several important studies on religion and politics of Sri Lanka. Her book Omen Under The Bo Tree has been a best seller (Cambridge University Press, 1992). It is the first major study of Buddhist nuns in South Asia. She has also authored a volume on Buddhist Fundamentalism (State University of New York Press, 1999), a volume that established the category of Buddhist fundamentalism in modern scholarship. 

At the time of her death she was engaged in a study of the Sri Lankan diaspora in North America.

Memories of my father

It was around 2.00 p.m on June 15, and we had just reached the remote coastal village of Kalametiya in the Hambantota District. Unexpectedly, an urgent radio message conveyed the sudden death of my father who had suffered a heart attack while having lunch. He had died instantly. I was shocked beyond words since I had met him at 6.30 the same morning while he was shaving and he had wished us a safe journey. Vivid memories of him flashed into my mind during the rushed four hour drive back to Colombo.

Hubert Danawardena Herat Gunaratne was born in 1924 into a large family of ten brothers and one sister in the village of Galmuruwa along the Madampe Kurunegala Road in the North Western Province. Four of his brothers become Consultant Doctors including the eminent Dr. V T of WHO fame while his only sister married the "Co-operative giant" Vincent Subasinghe of Sandalankawa. 

Like all his brothers, he had his formal education at Ananda College, Colombo. He then proceeded to the University of Madras in India and obtained a B A (Hons.) Degree in Economics and Political Science and an MA in Economic History.

After a five year stay in India, he returned to Ceylon and joined the private sector firm Freudenberg & Co. as the Asst. Secretary and Personal Assistant to the Chairman, the late Robert Senanayake. It was here that he met his life long friend Lakshman Jayakody (Ex. Cabinet Minister) who was also employed there and who later became bestman at his wedding. Thereafter, he joined the Labour Department as a Labour Officer for several years specialising in Industrial relations. 

During this period, he married Indranee Samarasinghe who was then a Graduate Programmes Producer at Radio Ceylon and daughter of the famous Pandit Veda Mudaliyar Samarasinghe of Borella. From Labour he did a short stint at the Ceylon Leather Corporation as the Board Secretary before joining the National Textile Corporation as the Personnel & Administration Manager in the mid 1960s from which point his career really flourished. He served the NTC for 25 years out of which the last 11 years were as the General Manager before retiring in 1990 at the age of 65. As the Personnel Manager, he had the opportunity of coming into close personal contact with former Prime Ministers Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Dudley Senanayake and the powerful Minister Felix Dias Bandaranaike regarding recruitment of staff for the giant textile mills of Veyangoda, Thulhiriya and Pugoda which were being set up in their respective electorates. 

The most striking childhood memories of my father were his great interest in Sinhala and Hindi music. He had a special liking for the songs of the late C T Fernando, Mohideen Baig and the Hindi "great" Talat Mahmood and could sing almost all of them. He was the livewire of every family or office party and no function was complete without his singing, merry making and dancing. He was also versatile in playing instruments such as the mandalin, harmonium, thabla and "Rabana" which he learned by ear. He was a person who enjoyed a daily evening drink and relished his meals.

Unfortunately, his eye sight started failing about three years ago which severely restricted his reading as well as his outside movements. He was compelled to stop driving which depressed him since he used to enjoy driving long distances even though plenty of drivers were available. During the last six months, his eye sight had almost completely failed and my mother was by his side 24 hours a day helping him with his daily routine including reading the news papers. 

He however strived to be fiercely independent and remained mentally alert till the very end and had sat down for lunch at precisely 11.30 on that fateful day as part of his daily punctual routine. He passed away peacefully at the age of 77 without having to suffer, after leading a full and vibrant life

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.

Mangala
(His only child)

A quiet worker

The life of the late Joe Fernando of St. Mary's Lane, Mattakkuliya is very much the story of a humble Christian.

Educated at St. Aloysius' College, Ratnapura, he taught at his alma mater for a while. After his death, his daughters found a yellowing piece of paper, a testimonial from his former principal tucked away in a file. It read, "He was much respected by his schoolmates and his moral character was beyond reproach". 

Uncle Joe retained these qualities to the end of his life. His career in public service took him on to work in the Ministries of Education and Public Administration, the Pensions Dept. and External Resources Dept. from where he retired in 1992. 

He continued to serve the needy after his retirement; his most important post-retirement role was that of advisor in all matters relating to pensions. 

Not only did he fill up the forms, but also used his connections in the department to expedite payments. 

His service to the parish of St. Mary's, Mattakkuliya where he lived for the past 32 years was equally selfless. As a parish counsellor, member of the Human Development Society, the first leader of the Charismatic Renewal in Mattakuliya and member of the Helpage committee, his was very much a silent service. In setting up a Montessori for the parish, Uncle Joe spent many unrecorded hours and days. Never did he seek prominence or recognition.

To his wife Celine, not only was he a faithful companion but in view of her declining health also devoted nurse. To Rossaine and Ranmali, Dadda was the source of strength and their most appreciative audience for all their achievements. To their friends in Mattakkuliya and elsewhere, so much younger to him, he was a good pal to whom they could turn to for words of wisdom.

He will be missed on St. Mary's Lane, not only by his wife and daughters but all those neighbours who enjoyed his quiet cheerfulness.

Kusum Athukorala

Crusader against injustice

Yogendra Duraiswamy, the eminent Sri Lankan scholar, well-known diplomat and former Ambassador and High Commissioner to Rome, China, Washington and India and several other countries passed away two years ago at the age of 75. 

Mr. Duraiswamy's academic brilliance, his persuasive eloquence, his missionary spirit, his amazing mastery over the intricacies of finance and administration as a foreign diplomat, district secretary and Government Agent of Jaffna were noteworthy. 

Yogendra Duraiswamy was born into an aristocratic family in Jaffna. His father, Sir Vaithilingam Duraiswamy was born in Velanai, an island on the west of Jaffna peninsula and his grandfather Ayampillai Vaithilingam was an engineer who spent his life in Malaya. Sir Vaithilingam Duraiswamy founded the Hindu Board of Education and was the Secretary of the Hindu Board which was responsible for establishing several schools. He was elected as the first speaker in the Legislative Council on account of his remarkable service to the nation. 

Yogendra Duraiswamy was educated at Jaffna Central College, Jaffna Hindu College and later at Royal College, Colombo from where he entered university. 

All throughout his career as a diplomat he sought mutual accommodation with other communities, so that the larger interest of the country did not suffer. He knew that the interest of one ethnic group could not be achieved without the well-being of the entire country. 

Yogendra Duraiswamy was a tireless crusader against social injustice, blind belief, and false religious practices. 

He was well-known for his impartiality, courage and unstinted patriotism. He was also a family man. In his wife Sivanandhini Duraiswamy he had a most constant and wonderful companion. Incidentally she is the President of the Siiva Mangaiyar Kalagam (Hindu Women's Society), the premier Hindu women's organization in Sri Lanka working in educational, cultural and social fields. His only son is highly qualified and is distinguishing himself in his profession at the World Bank. 

Maylai Pulolyooran

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