Her calm manner belied her childlike capacity for fun | Yoshida Fernando

Last Monday the Monday Group met for the first time since the passing of Yoshida Fernando two weeks ago. We met to celebrate her life and mourn the passing of this unique individual, who had been a part of this group from its inception, nearly 20 years ago. We refer to ourselves informally as the ‘Monday Group’ because we meet on Mondays, just as we have done almost every Monday, since we came together as a group of trained counsellors, committed to such values as personal growth and social justice.

This group of about 12 could not be more diverse, because of the differences in our personalities, ages, ethnicity and religious convictions. Despite these differences however, we gelled as a group, sharing stories, comforting each other as we coped with our own personal crises and traumas, crying and laughing together in an environment in which we felt secure and accepted.

Yoshida was an intrinsic part of this group and her passing has left us stunned and bereft. It was two years ago that she first became ill and six months since she had a relapse. When she spoke of her illness to us, it was in her characteristic manner. She waited until the Monday meeting was almost over, allowing the noise and chatter to wash over her, as she sat in stillness and near silence.It was only then that she began to speak, calmly spelling out the details of her illness and the treatment she was to undergo.

The collected manner in which she delivered, what turned out to be a body-blow to the group, belied the gravity of her condition and fooled us into believing that she would beat the odds and be with us for many more years. The courage she displayed in the way she faced her illness, was something we all knew she possessed in large measure. For we had seen this slender, soft- voiced individual speak her truth clearly, fearlessly and unambiguously, when the occasion demanded it. At such moments, it was not she, but we, who were still and silent, letting the truth underlying her words seep into our consciousness, in a slow osmotic process.

Calmness and stillness had always been a part of Yoshida’s demeanour. Yoshida seldom spoke, but when she did, we listened. There was an economy of words in whatever she said; but these words were deeply felt and considered, spoken in a measured manner and tone of voice. Coupled with her slow and measured accent was a mind that was quick to grasp, not merely surface truths but whatever lay unspoken behind our words, for she would respond with a lift of an eyebrow or a smile that signalled to the speaker that she understood. And sometimes, later and in private, she would give a hug, a kiss and a stroke of the back to signal her understanding and fellow feeling. In private conversations, she would always listen with empathy, infusing her comments with humour when appropriate, or insights that would challenge the speaker to look deeper and further.

Yoshida’s calm manner was, however, not a mere façade. Instead it proceeded from her religious convictions, a reliance on the goodness of the God she believed in, with unswerving and unwavering faith. Yet, despite the fact that her faith defined and shaped her thinking and actions, within our multi religious group, this was never expressed in an overt or offensive manner. Instead she displayed sensitivity to the different beliefs of her friends, willingly opening herself to learn of and from other religions and faiths.

Yoshida was, however, not a boring saint. She was a multi-faceted personality whose company we enjoyed. When we went on trips together, a different side of Yoshida’s personality emerged, one that surprised us at first, until we became more accustomed to it. A child-like mischievous quality would emerge as soon as we set foot in the bus that would take us to our destination. She would sing the usual holiday songs, drumming quite spectacularly on the nearest object she could find that would make a noise and generally clown around. On one occasion, when our trip out of Colombo coincided with her birthday, she almost danced around on her toes in her excitement at the surprise party we had organised for her.

Yoshida remains in our consciousness as a vivid presence. There is a textured quality to our memories of her: the solid worth of her common sense offset by flashes of humour and child-like enjoyment of the good things of life; her long-sighted and thrifty management of finances alongside the thoughtful and generous gifts she would bestow spontaneously on a friend; the unruffled way in which she handled the multiple calls on her time and resources balanced by her ability to give her undivided attention to a friend. In the years to come, we shall hold fast to these memories of Yoshida.

‘She opens her mouth with wisdom
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue”- Proverbs 31:26.

Shriyani de Mel, Norma de Silva, Sister Canice Fernando, Sonia Fernando, Lilani Jayatilaka, Devika Karunaratne, Devika Lintotawela, Sameera Macan Macar, Ranjini Manuelpillai, Ranee Rajasingham and Chitra Simithraaratchy

Memories of living next door to the de Silva’s | C.R. de Silva

I got to know Bulla (C.R. de Silva) in April 1972 when I married and settled in the lane off Park Road, Colombo 5 where he lived. We lived almost in opposite houses on that lane where his extended family of uncles, aunts, cousins and brothers lived in three houses on the other side of the lane. In the first house lived his father, Justice K.D. de Silva, his mother, his brothers I.S. and Rohana (VRK). In the second house was his sister and brother-in-law, L.B. de Silva. In the last house was Ramsay Wettimuny and wife and their sons, the well known Ananda cricketers, Sunil, Mitra, Sidat and cousin Ishan.

Bulla’s eldest brother, Ananda, who lived in Kandy, enjoying a lucrative legal practice there, used to drop by his father’s house whenever he was in Colombo. Bulla had by then entered Law College and his friend, Mahinda Rajapaksa was a frequent visitor at his home. Another legal colleague, Mr. Muthukrishnan from Batticaloa who even then nursed political ambitions was also a visitor from whom I learned about Bulla’s exploits in Law College. His brother, the late VRK (Rohana), was my batchmate at Ramanathan Hall, Peradeniya. By then I.S. had married Dayaneetha and had moved out of the “Maha Gedera” at Park Road and was living Rajagiriya.

Justice K.D who headed the Press Commission which eventually led to the nationalisation of Lake House used to often host many a dinner. Frequent visitors at his home were two eminent legal relatives one of whom was another Supreme Court Judge as well as his cousin, Barrister Mahinda.

In the evenings whenever possible Bulla used to come to my place for a drink accompanied by MR when in Colombo. His elder brother Ananda from Kandy too used to join us. My relative Lal Rodrigo and an architect, Mr. Saunders, were the others in the group.

By that time (post-1977 ) MR had built up a wide legal practice in the South and whenever time permitted in Colombo, Bulla, MR and I often used to have lunch at Fountain Café. One particular incident which is clearly etched in my memory was when under the CRA scheme of Dr. N.M. Perera I had got down a Jaguar E- type sports car from my brother- in- law in Hongkong. The first drive of the car to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles was by MR.

Bulla and legal colleagues Tivanka, MR, Denzil and a host of other lawyers used to frequent places like Wadiya, Kinross Swimming Club and Moulana’s restaurant opposite Kinross.

I can remember the time at Law College when Bulla was courting his wife-to-be, Kamalini, and using a vintage Mercedes Benz, probably a gift from his father- in-law to be, which unfortunately broke down one day on Hulftsdorp Hill. I and few others had to push the car. Very soon Bulla married Kamalini and moved out of Park Road and to his father-in-law’s place in Edmonton Road, Colombo 5.

My contacts with him also decreased as I moved away from Park Road by 1981. At the AG’s department he handled many criminal cases of note. One case I personally attended briefly in court was Father Singarayar’s case where he was indicted for LTTE connections. Bulla was pitted against Bala Tampoe. I believe he even prosecuted Father Matthew Peiris.

By the 1990’s Bulla had climbed the ladder in the AG’s Department. In the first decade of the 21st century he had reached the pinnacle both in his official capacity as A.G. and as a senior practitioner in private practice. My connections with him were few and far between but he took time off a busy day in court to attend my daughter’s wedding in May 2008.

I visited Bulla in hospital on November 6 and when I gripped his hand he opened his eyes and nodded in recognition.

Methsiri Cooray

A teacher beyond compare | Kairun-Nisa Riyal

It was a gloomy Thursday morning when Rismi Riyal, a distinguished past student of Gampola Zahira College called me and conveyed the sad news of his mother’s death early that morning. Khairun-Nisa Riyal was a teacher at Gampola Zahira College at the time I was serving that institution as principal.

The news of her death not only engulfed me in a pall of sadness but also took me down memory lane. I vividly remember her as a dedicated, hardworking teacher, always ready to shoulder any responsibility that would lead to the betterment of students in both curricular and extra-curricular activities of the school.

Ms. Riyal was blessed with three promising children, Rismi, Ramzi and Fazana; she loved them and left no stone unturned, sacrificing whatever she could to bring them up. She endowed them with sterling qualities which stood them in good stead later in life. This love and concern for her children, she extended to her Gampola Zahira students who will remember her with a sense of gratitude. It is no wonder that she had been blessed with thirteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They all adored her. This, I believe is a reward from Allah for the deep and abiding affection she showered on all children.

I recall an unforgettable experience that teachers of Gampola Zahira of that era experienced some 42 ago. Gampola Zahira had just ended a week-long celebration called “Zahira Week”, to commemorate its 25th year, culminating in the college prize giving with Governor General William Gopollawa and his wife gracing the occasion as chief guests. As dusk descended on the town, the lights on the Gampola Zahira grounds were switched on signaling the start of the carnival which was expected to be a grand finale of the 25th year celebration of the College.

But, it was not to be. We were rudely shocked, when asked by the Police and the educational authorities to close school immediately as the JVP insurrection had erupted all over the country.

On the following day, we were informed that all schools would remain closed until further notice with only the teachers reporting at the school. This put us in a serious fix. What were we to do with the teachers when the students were not present? It was at this juncture a decision was taken after discussions with the agriculture teacher and other senior members of the staff that we should utilise this time to develop a model agriculture farm in a designated area of the school premises. This was a felt-need of the school at that time.

The staff, without exception participated in this laudable initiative by the teachers for the sake of the students. They did not mind soiling their hands and clothes preparing vegetable beds on which a variety of crops were grown. An experimental paddy field was also developed. A thriving live-stock and poultry farm also emerged much to the delight of both teachers and parents.
When the students returned after their enforced holiday, they were surprised to find a model farm being developed by their own teachers to enable them to get involved in practical and applied agricultural studies doing experimentations in their own farm. But the farm was not complete and much work was still to be done. It was at this time that Ms. Riyal joined the staff of Gampola Zahira. She took great interest in the farm and spent her spare time, weekends and holidays to help it grow.
She along with the other teachers encouraged and motivated the students and as a result the farm became a thriving entity and helped in enhancing the image of Gampola Zahira.

Soon this farm was adjudged the best model farm among the Government schools in the Kandy district. Students were also encouraged to set up home-gardens using the knowledge and know-how they gained in the college farm. I remember the day when Ms. Riyal proudly told me that she prepared food for her family using the produce bought from the college farm.

Teachers of the calibre of Kairun-Nisa Riyal make a change in the lives of children. They can with whatever meagre resources available to them and whatever circumstances they are in, contribute to the development of both values and skills to prepare themselves for a meaningful future.

Kairun-Nisa Riyal was an exemplary teacher any school would proudly have on its staff. Even more that ten years into her retirement, she, assisted by her daughter Fazana, was seen in the college premises supervising the improvement of infrastructural and learning facilities in the primary section initiated by her son Rizmi using his personal funds. At the Gampola Zahira’s annual students get-togethers, some of which I have attended, I have never missed seeing Ms. Riyal, though feeble, always gracefully seated surrounded by her grateful past students.

It is my prayer that Gampola Zahirians will continue to be inspired by their teachers who contributed their share to make them what they are today. Gratitude, after all, is the hall-mark of Islam.

May Allah grant her Jennathul Firdouse!

Dr. Uvais Ahamed

Grand old man of the anaesthetists of yesteryear | Dr. Bertram S. Perera

It is with nostalgia that I record the passing away of Dr. B. S. Perera, a Consultant Anaesthetist of the General Hospital, Colombo from 1954 to 1972. Dr. Perera graduated with an MBBS in 1945 and in 1947 began his career in anaesthesia. He proceeded to England on a government scholarship and in 1954 obtained the highest professional qualification in anaesthesia that was then available – the two part Diploma in Anaesthesia.

On his return to then Ceylon he was appointed Consultant Anaesthetist to the Colombo Group of Hospitals. He along with six colleagues comprised a group of pioneers in anaesthesia in our country. They included Dr. Anthony Lucas who passed the very first Diploma in Anaesthesia examination in 1934 and was considered the only qualified anaesthetist East of Suez. The others were Drs. J.L.C. (Laddie) Fernando, Claude Umagiliya, S. Ponnambalam, Jimmy Richards and Charles Herath Guneratne.

They all had the D.A. (London) qualification. When the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons of England was formed they were awarded the Fellowship of the Faculty of Anaesthetists. They were all gifted clinicians and contributed as teachers in the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. Later Drs. Ponnambalam and B.S. Perera went back to the United Kingdom on a refresher course in Thoracic Anaesthesia and they became the pioneers in thoracic anaesthesia in Sri Lanka. Lung surgery commenced in the Welisara Chest Hospital and closed heart surgery at Operation theatre ‘C’ of the General Hospital now the National Hospital of Sri Lanka.

I joined Dr. Perera in cardiac anaesthesia in Colombo as his House Officer in 1959 and that was the beginning of a close relationship. I used to seek his advice at different stages of my career and I recall with gratitude his travelling all the way from Australia to attend my inauguration as President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and returning the very next day.
When he retired from the state sector in 1972, Dr. Perera moved to Hong Kong where he worked at the United Christian Hospital for a short period before proceeding to Tasmania, Australia where he worked as a Consultant for many years.
He returned to Sri Lanka in 1994 and from 1997 to 2000 worked on a sessional basis at the Military Hospital, Colombo. He donated all his renumeration to the National Defence Fund and the Kobbekaduwa Trust Fund.

He served as the President of the Association of Anaesthetists of Sri Lanka in 1972 and was the Vice President of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Sri Lanka in 1973. He made several donations to the Sri Lanka Medical Association and to the College of Anaesthesiologists of Sri Lanka. The College of Anaesthesiologists conducts a B. S. Perera oration during the Annual Scientific Sessions every year.

He was an extremely popular and much loved person. He will be long remembered as an entertaining singer and an elegant ballroom dancer. His numerous hobbies included playing contract bridge, playing billiards and rearing Boxer dogs. He passed away at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka on October 10 a few days after celebrating his 96th birthday.

He leaves his wife Noeline, four children and several grand children and our sympathies go out to them.

May he rest in peace.

Dr. Thistle Jayawardene