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Appreciations
A beloved family man and respected lawyer Jun Uncle,
as he was known to my children, was a friendly, loving person with
a welcoming smile for all. Proctor Junaideen
was married to my sister as well as being a second cousin of my
husband, so our family ties were very close. Born in Balangoda,
Proctor Junaideen passed out as a lawyer and practised in Ratnapura
where he had a successful career. In March 2003,
he would have celebrated 50 years at the Bar in Ratnapura -- signifying
a career of dedication and commitment that is no mean feat in today's
world. His wife, my
beloved sister, and his family are yet to reconcile themselves with
his irreplaceable loss. He served his
country and community He was a founding
father of the All-Ceylon Muslim League and founder member of the
UNP. He also founded the Ceylon Muslim League Senate to help youth
to prepare themselves as future leaders. He contested
the Kalkudah seat as a UNP candidate in 1947 but was unsuccessful
in entering Parliament. Saleh served
as a member of the Local Government Service Commission, Board of
Education UNESCO National Commission and Hospital Committee, Colombo
Group of Hospitals. He was Deputy President of the All-Ceylon Muslim
League at the time of his death. A leading businessman, he was proprietor
of M.A.C.M. Saleh & Sons, jewellers and gem merchants. His friends
were his family and his family his friends Many still
speak of some facets of his life that we knew nothing about. We are constantly
reminded of the eulogy given by a dear friend who said that his
friends were his family and his family his friends, capturing the
essence of his being. As his children we are also reminded of his
sacrifices for our wellbeing, his humour and wit without malice
and his pride without a shade of arrogance. Letters and
conversations have given us an insight on this. We wish our
father peace and tranquillity in the cycle of Samsara. A dedicated
teacher, wife and host Hyacinth, was
born in Mount Lavinia and attended the Girls’ High School there.
Later she was a senior teacher there for about 35 years. Until a few
months ago, she was active and conducted private tuition classes
at her residence. Her students passed their exams with flying colours.
She was a much-sought-after teacher, especially by the old girls
of the school who wanted their children guided by her. So much so,
that she could hardly cope with the demand. She was an
English trained teacher and had a degree. She taught English, English
literature, history and the social sciences. She was married
to former Deputy Legal Draftsman V.K.U. Ramanayake, the third son
of the late V.K.V. Ramanayake, ex-Dibula Korale Mahathmaya of Talawakelle. Hyacinth was
a great strength to her husband who was then engaged in the Somawathiya
development work in Polonnaruwa. Hyacinth was well versed in the
art of cookery and could prepare any dish -- eastern, western, Chinese,
Indian or Pakistani -- in no time. She was indeed a very good host. Hyacinth is
survived by her husband and sons Mettanga and Vajira, daughter Sashikala
and grandchildren. She had travelled
widely in the UK, Malawi, some European countries and India. She
had gone on pilgrimage to Buddhagaya, Saranath and Lumbini several
times and visited almost all Buddhist religious places in Sri Lanka.
She was planning to go to Australia but it was not to be as she
fell sick. She was a benefactor
of the Galkissa Dakshinaramaya Temple and helped it acquire land
for its expansion, funded by Albert Edirisinghe, who is a Buddhist
bhikku. She was buried
at the Galkissa General Cemetery before a large gathering of friends,
relatives and past and present pupils of Girls' High School. May she attain
the supreme bliss of Nirvana. |
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