Appreciations

My brother, the late Professor Sunil R. Silva, who died six years ago, was a product of St. Thomas's College, Mount Lavinia, where he distinguished himself as a Queen's Scout of outstanding ability. On completing his schooling here, he went to the UK for further studies. Having completed his degree and PhD at Loughborough University, England, he went to live and work in Norway.

Sunil was a professor at Telemark University College, and he also ran the Telemark Institute, which was funded by Norwegian industry. His speciality was chemical engineering and his research was in particle technology. He was a good "beggar" on behalf of research, and he was much loved and respected by the members of the Institute. So much so that when he died suddenly of an aneurysm, the Institute announced his demise on the internet and invited, on Institute expense, my brother's associates based around the world to come to Norway for the funeral.

As a lecturer, Sunil travelled around the world. The fact that he retained his Sri Lankan citizenship caused him occasional hardship in some of the countries he visited. Once he was refused permission to enter Britain, although he had studied in the UK for seven years and was married to a British national, and despite the fact that he was registered for a course and had resident status in Norway. He was outspoken in his criticism of western countries' attitudes towards Sri Lanka, and often wrote on the subject to newspapers, such as The Daily Telegraph.

Back in 2001, I was driving along the Colombo-Horana road, on my way to our family estate, when I encountered floods at Rathanapitiya. As I was disinclined to drive through water-logged roads, I steered my car through the open gate of a house nearby. The occupants came out and I explained my situation. The young lady of the house invited me in.

I was entertained for at least three hours in that home, with hot coffee and conversation. I discovered that the gentleman of the house was a lecturer at the Katubedde campus. He was hoping for an opportunity to go overseas in order to work on his PhD. I said that my brother was a professor at a university in Norway and that he would be back for his yearly holiday, and that I would be happy to put in a word on his behalf. When my brother arrived in Sri Lanka, I told him about my chance meeting with the Rathnasiris. Things were soon set in motion for Mr. Rathnasiri to go to Norway to do his PhD at Telemark University College, where my brother was on the faculty.

I next met Mr. Rathnasiri around July 2002, when he came to my home to condole with me on the death of my brother. He wept as he said that the last thing my brother did on the day he died was to sign a letter for his wife and daughter to get a visa to join him in Norway. Mr Rathnasiri has since obtained his PhD. and returned to the Katubedde University.

Scientist, trailblazer, patriot and generous spirit