A good man who gave shelter to many

Dilshan Bandaranayake

I was attending a funeral when I heard the shocking news that our beloved nephew Dilshan Bandaranayake had died in an accident. It was so sudden. We could not believe Dilshan had gone from our midst forever. Only a few days earlier he had called to ask me to convey his condolences to a family that had suffered a bereavement. He had no contact number to get in touch with the family directly.

Dilshan always addressed me as Baappa, a word filled with human warmth, and whenever he uttered it, my heart filled with joy. Just looking at him made me happy. Dilshan took up planting at a young age, and became a businessman later. In his career moves he had the backing of his parents Gamini and Indra, who adored him.

He was a dynamic young man, bursting with energy and enthusiasm. He was born to give, and was always deeply concerned about those near and dear to him. He would take his wife Niroshini and their children Nilesh and Kavya regularly to visit his grandparents and relatives.

Whenever I had to purchase or dispose of a vehicle, it was Dilshan who did the needful, without fuss. Once, when my vehicle was damaged in a road accident, he undertook to repair it at no cost to me, because I did not have the necessary insurance cover.

Dilshan was a thorough gentleman. Like a huge tree, he gave shelter to many. An honest businessman and humble person, he was a friend to all, rich or poor. No glory hunter, he lived a quiet life with his family. Despite his young age, he was an example to older people who learned from him to speak gently and keep their temper.

By Sunil R. Wickremeratne