Appreciation
View(s):Rear Admiral (Retd) J.H.U. Ranaweera
An officer and gentleman
I feel it is a great privilege to write about a naval officer who spent a lengthy span of his life serving one of the prestigious armed forces in the country, the Sri Lanka Navy. For the past 40 years I have been blessed to have had a wonderful friend in Rear Admiral (Retd) J.H.U. Ranaweera, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, ndu.
My friendship with Rear Admiral (Retd) Upali Ranaweera dates back to 1974. I first met him, at the Naval dockyard in Trincomalee on September 11, 1974 around mid-day to be exact.
Upali was a mid-shipman when I joined the Sri Lanka Navy to begin my naval career and stepped into my allocated room in “D” block, which was also occupied by Upali and his colleagues. That was the beginning of a long friendship, until I received the message about his sudden demise on August 10, 2014.
The friendship we built was not limited to myself but it also extended to my wife’s family members. He was a regular visitor to our married quarters whilst we all were serving in the Eastern area. We shared numerous things and there were numerous moments filled with laughter which are still echoing around us. He was very sad when he learnt that we were leaving the Navy in 1991 to settle down in a different country, but he never stopped calling us regularly. The last time we heard from him was sometime this year.
There were moments Upali would become irritated over something as known to our close associates and preferred to be left alone. Such differences were mostly confined to the boundaries of the subject matter and undoubtedly impermanent. He was always appreciative and thankful even for the slightest help and assistance he received and ever ready to reciprocate. He always remembered the people who helpedmould him as a person. He never hesitated to apologise for mistakes made. I had great respect and admiration for his ability to banter pleasantly in gatherings suppressing the challenging situations.
Since joining the Sri Lanka Navy as a cadet in 1973, he progressed extremely well as a career naval officer, having served the country during extremely difficult and dangerous times until his retirement as a Rear Admiral. As one would appreciate, the promotions were not automatic, instead he earned them. As a sincere friend living so far away, I was delighted to observe his progress amidst difficult and very complex situations.
He always portrayed a smart officer in uniform characterised with gentle command.
I am sure Upali was proud of the massive support he received from his wife Hasitha. We remember how he proudly spoke of the fruition of his efforts in bringing up his two children – the expectations of any real father!
It is so sad to see his early departure in this journey of sansara, which is a certainty for all of us. We have no words to describe the sadness surrounding us for not being able to be present to pay our last respects to a much loved friend of ours.
I salute you and everyone else who made the supreme sacrifice towards building a peaceful country that every Sri Lankan is enjoying today.
May you attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.
Lt. Cdr (Retd) Wilson and Manodara Ariyawansa
Krishni Sourjah
You were a blessing to us all
Dear Aunty Krishni,
All we can talk about is you,
You left us so suddenly and we are still at a loss at what to do.
We will no longer enjoy your contagious laughter and cheer,
You were truly an Angel, we all held so dear.
You were one of a kind – patient, loving and sincere,
Always smiling, never complaining and spreading good cheer.
It’s just a minor hiccup you’d say,
And so, we never thought we’d see this day!
Your conviction and trust in the Almighty, puts us to shame,
He tested you so much but you just kept up your game.
You were a blessing to our family – a pillar of strength
Aunty Krishni we miss you so much.
You battled hard and you fought to your best,
Always believing there was a reason for all these tests.
You glorified Allah day and night,
Never ceasing to trust in His Divine Might!
You are now with The Lord of the Worlds,
In the best hands and care;
Smiling and spreading your light everywhere.
It’s not goodbye but see you soon.
-A niece
DR. P.M. JAYAWARDENE
A great surgeon and my loving brother
My loving Sydney Aiya was called to eternal life with Jesus on July 13, 2014. With an ache in my heart, I write this story of my life with him
My memories go back to many events that took place in our lives. When Sydney Aiya was at the Medical College, for weekends he came home. My father, who was particular about reciting our prayers, asked Sydney whether he recited the Rosary and his reply was “yes”. As I was very close to him, he told me that he recited the Rosary with “Hail Mary” recited 10 times, along with “Glory be to the Father” and “Our Father “and this way he completed reciting the Rosary. He made me promise him I will not mention this to Pappa.
When I attended College, Sydney Aiya was boarded at the CAM along with other doctors. He insisted that I be with him on Friday afternoons at the Old Joes Sports Club, when the cricket matches were played at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, main grounds.
When Sydney Aiya came home after getting through his MBBS, qualifying as a fully fledged doctor, what celebrations we had at home with Mamma preparing sumptuous meals!
As Sydney Aiya was the first medical doctor to pass out from Wattala soil, what happiness and joy that was brought to Pappa and Mamma and the rest of the family!
Sydney Aiya’s first posting as a medical officer was to Dickoya, Hatton as D.M.A. and my memory goes back to his new car, a Morris Minor, which was driven to Dickoya by brother Emile and myself joining him. The price he paid for the brand new car was Rs. 4,200. My school holidays were spent with Sydney Aiya. Every holiday I went up to Dickoya and most of the time Pappa and Mamma too joined, and other nephews and nieces too spent their holidays at Dickoya.
His marriage took place in 1954 when Sydney Aiya was at Dickoya. The reception was held at Galle Face Hotel with Sir Albert Pieris, Speaker to the House of Representatives and Sir Arthur Ranasinghe,the then Secretary to the Treasury as witnesses. After his marriage he was attached to the General Hospital as a House Officer.
In 1955, he was selected for a scholarship for further studies to England and along with his wife, Doris Akka went by ship to London. The ship anchored at Port Lisbon for 18 hours and they hired a car and drove to Fatima, where they made a vow to Our Lady of Fatima, as they had no children.
Within a year of their arrival in London Doris conceived. When this news was told to Doris’s parents in Sri Lanka, they could not believe it as the doctors in Sri Lanka had pronounced that Doris will not have children. They had their first child in December 1957, a boy, Kithsiri. As a thanksgiving on their way back to Sri Lanka, after Sydney Aiya obtained his FRCS, they visited Fatima to thank our Blessed Mother and to offer the child to her care and guidance. Returning to Sri Lanka they had two more children, Thushara and Laksiri, within a space of four years.
After Sydney’s return to Sri Lanka, his first posting was as Resident Surgeon at the General Hospital, Colombo. Subsequently, he was posted to the Badulla General Hospital. After serving in Badulla for five years he was attached to the General Hospital, Ratnapura.
His final posting was at Colombo South General Hospital. At that time Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike brought a rule that all medical doctors in government service will not be allowed private practice. Sydney Aiya retired from government service at the age of 45 years to start his private practice. He rose to a very high level of acceptance as one of the best surgeons in town, with his practice and consultations at Ratnam’s, Sulaiman’s and Wellawatte hospitals. These were the most popular private hospitals at that time and later he shifted to Durdans Hospital also.
Most of his old patients from Badulla and Ratnapura came all the way to consult him. It was the underprivileged and not the wealthy who saw him and the operations were done at no cost to most of the patients.
How much he helped his friends and relations with consultations and operations performed free of charge! How many came for his medical advice for minor and serious ailments! He attended on my two boys in their surgeries and myself on two occasions, My last surgery was performed when he was 91 years old.
Sydney Aiya was so noble a person that writing this appreciation is so very painful. “Deep in my heart, Sydney Aiya, you will stay, loved and remembered always.”
-Aloy