Appreciations
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She
was loved for her gentle and affable ways Just a day prior to her final collapse, Ranee had been in excellent spirits and joined in the singing of her favourite hymns with family members and Rev. Paul, the English Pastor of St. Paul's Church, Kandy, who was accustomed to administer holy communion to her regularly every month. So it was indeed a great shock when we learned that she had passed away. Ranee hailed from a well-known aristocratic family in Tangalle where her father, John Senanayake (a first cousin of our first Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake) was the Deputy Fiscal and her mother was Cornelia Obeyesekere, kinswoman of Sir Christoffel Obeyesekere. From her early childhood, Ranee was nurtured in family traditions and graces, and grew up to be a strikingly beautiful young woman. She married Douglas Atappattu, Commissioner of Excise and was an exemplary wife, mother and housewife. She endeared herself to everybody by the concern and care she displayed for the impoverished and marginalised segments of the community. Hers was an open house to those in need, those who sought her advice and assistance. Ranee was a devoted and dedicated Christian who was loved for her gentle and affable ways. She ministered to those in need and gave generously of her time and resources. She solicited my prayers too for any project she had in mind. I will
miss that familiar ring on the telephone when she would speak to
me and inquire if I was also in prayer for what she had in mind. Ranee spent most of her time in the beautiful home of her younger daughter, Vijayalakshmi, married to Prof. George Dissanaike of the University of Peradeniya, both of whom lavished their love and unceasing care on their beloved mother and provided her with every comfort. Ranee's cup of joy overflowed when her grandson, Gishan and wife Padmika became the parents of two lovely twins and made her the proud great-grandmother at an early age. And
so, we bade our last farewell to a gracious lady as we tenderly
lowered her down to her final resting place to the strains of her
favourite hymn. "Swift to its close ebbs out life's little
day; Change and decay in all around I see: A Cousin Criminals
feared him and colleagues revered him I worked with him as a young Sub Inspector when he was Officer-in- Charge of Maradana Police, when Maradana was like the Wild West infested with criminals, pimps, prostitutes, pick-pockets, illicit liquor dens and brothels. Egodapitiya was a tough cop who controlled the area with an iron fist like a Sheriff. His deputies were Inspectors Lal Mendis, H. Y. De Silva and Sub Inspectors John Jayasinghe, I.K. Samarasinghe, Tassie Seneviratne, Sarath Borelessa, Sivasubramaniam and yours truly to name a few. He not only kept the criminals in check, but also his subordinates, who were also tough. He always looked after his subordinates. "Choppe" Dharmadas and "Madavi" Somapala were two notorious thugs who terrorised Maradana and they met their "Waterloo" in Egodapitiya. There were also other underworld characters such as Seeni Malli and Avandale Jamis who were bootleggers, Chuti Mahattaya, a violent extortonist, Uda Balung, a prostitute who ruled Junction Bridge, Maradana by night, who was feared by everyone and Letchumi, a provider of prostitues down Pitchers Lane. They were all kept in check by Egodapitiya who knew his Law and Police Orders like the palm of his hand. Egodapitiya was a product of Trinity College, Kandy and was a lover of sports. He excelled in soccer and cricket and was a keen rugby fan who never missed a Police match when I played and captained the Police rugby team. He was a source of inspiration. When he was HQI. Kalutara, he was a member of the Kalutara Division Cricket team which won the J R Jayewardene Trophy captained by Anton Joachim, a former Peterite cricketer, in the Police Inter-Division Cricket Tournament. During
the period he was HQI Chilaw, HQI Kalutara, OIC Maradana and OIC
Colombo Fort, he earned a reputation as a good administrator and
a fair cop who was respected by the members of public and feared
by the criminals. His wife predeceased him and he leaves behind his only daughter and family. Bernie Wijesekera, the well known sports scribe is married to one of his sisters and was very close to him till death... May he rest in peace.
S. Sivendran His
sterling qualities and thoughtful acts will not be forgotten His ever-caring wife was always by his side, sharing his pain and anguish and the children called from abroad every now and then to hear of his progress. On two occasions he steered through. However on the last occasion he had to bow down to God's will, his Creator and Redeemer, whom he faithfully followed through life. Though he is no more, his sterling qualities and affable manners cannot be forgotten by all those who knew him. He hailed from a family of educationists, he himself being a product of Trinity College, Kandy and a coloursman in Rugby. Completing his secondary education he joined the Colombo Municipal Council and retired as Assistant Assessor, having completed thirty years of service. The Church at St. Mary's Dehiwela that he frequented day after day will bear testimony to the life that he lived. On the day of his funeral the Pastor of St. Mary's dwelt in brief on his humble contributions to the various sodalities and religious organizations he was closely associated with. A man of moderate habits, drinking and smoking were never in his agenda, however he relished good food and tasty dishes with a bottle of coke or ice cream soda. On this the first anniversary of his death family members and friends would say, Thank you Lord for all what you have been to him and thank you Lord for all what he has been to us. Lazarus Gunayagam |
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