“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?” – Satchel Paige. The words certainly resonate as we see the light of each new day. Would our age be measured in productive days spent, would the lazy Saturday morning count, but if you ask the gentlemen and ladies who were honoured at [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

For what they’ve done, to hear their stories

By Shaveen Jeewandara
Senior citizens who have contributed to society are felicitated
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“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?” – Satchel Paige. The words certainly resonate as we see the light of each new day. Would our age be measured in productive days spent, would the lazy Saturday morning count, but if you ask the gentlemen and ladies who were honoured at the awards ceremony organized by the NGO Forum on Ageing, they’ll tell you the unmistakable truth: Age is measured in the wealth of good deeds.

Anne Abayasekera (above seated) and centenarian Daya Pasqual (below)) receiving their awards. Pix by Susantha Liyanawatte

Held on September 30 at the BMICH, the event felicitated senior citizens who have contributed immensely to society. Each one of them has moulded a legacy – one that inspires many more to follow in their footsteps.

“The idea was the brainchild of Mano Candappa, and we felt it was time that the senior citizens of this country be given the recognition they deserve,” said Estelle Joachim, the President of the NGO Forum. “The younger generation needs to hear their stories and be inspired to carry on the work for our future generations.”

The awardees of the night were, Deshabandu Patrick Amerasinghe, 80, Percy Abeysekara, 76, Dr. N. R. De Silva, 78, Onally Gulamhusein, 88, Daya Pasqual, 91, T. Perinpanayagam, 75, Nihanchandra De Silva, 75, Dr. C. G. Uragoda, 84, Appaturei Velupillai, 100, M.B. Werapitiya, 92, Anne Abayasekera, 87, Vajira Chitrasena, 80, Dulcy De Silva, 79, Vijitha Fernando, 86, Venetia Gamage, 77, Kusum Gunathilake, 80, Indrani Iriyagolla, 79, Sybil Jinadasa, 84, Dr. Connie Pallewela, 82, and Dr. Selvi Perera, 78.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Dr. C. G. Uragoda, 84, says that retired people should always think about what they are going to do next – it could be gardening, it could be reading, it could also be looking back and feeling proud of the things you have done. Formerly Chest Physician at Ragama and Colombo Hospitals and also Director of Clinical Studies, his life has been full of purpose.

Entrepreneur Patrick Amerasinghe, 80, who is still very active tells us that this initiative is commendable. “We are the lucky bunch who have finally got recognition, but there are millions more whom the world should know of. “Our lives were spent enriching society, and that’s exactly how it should be,” he says.

“Now it’s time for the younger ones to take responsibility and take care of us.”For Kusum Gunathilake, 80, who has been a teacher her entire life, the satisfaction of teaching is multiplied by the number of years in her age. Having initiated Girl Guide companies in several schools, she can be proud of the fruits of goodwill that she has sowed over her lifetime. “We are old, but we are not broken in spirit,” she says with gusto. “I’m still ready to teach English to anybody who wishes to learn it – and I never charge for it. The satisfaction I gain is more than enough.”

It is high time that we realise the worth of our senior citizens. Being an ageing population the country needs to understand and implement measures to take care of our elders – for a society is as good as how it treats its elders.




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