A mighty oak has fallen
Some chroniclers may want to depict the recent passing of my noble friend and neighbour, Harendra Sherman de Silva (aka HS) aged 74 years, with the time worn expression “a mighty oak has fallen”. For someone who is sturdy, tall, and walks with measured tread and head held high, this epigram describes the death of HS both metaphorically and literally perfectly.
Being the eldest son of a successful entrepreneur Mr. Sherman de Silva who founded M/s. Sherman Sons Ltd., HS entered Royal College, conveniently located a mere stone’s throw from his home, in 1952. He enjoyed an outstanding sporting career at Royal College captaining both the athletics and the first XV rugby football teams.
Harendra Sherman de Silva
He was the first to participate in ten successive Bradby Shield games, a record he held for over 50 years I believe, and on leaving school he went on to represent the first XV of the elite Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club, in the premier tournament of the sport in the country namely, for the Clifford Cup, alongside his schoolmate, now a successful business tycoon Ken Balendra. Despite their success both on and off the field Bala and HS remained most humble. In effect, they were exemplary and well-rounded Royalists.
A little known fact concerning his sporting career at school was that he played for the College junior cricket team as a wicket-keeper until a freak on-field accident, most likely, put a damper on his future aspirations in the game. It happened this way. The opposition batsman was bowled, and after clipping the bails, the ball hit the wicket-keeping HS flush on his mouth! There was pandemonium as the injury resulted in profuse bleeding and the match was held up for a short while until first-aid was administered. Unfortunately, I was the offending bowler.
Elected House captain, his top-drawer conduct coupled with his sporting record enabled him being appointed a College Prefect.
After leaving school it was natural that he – being the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman de Silva – stepped into his father’s shoes at Sherman & Sons and held the reins successfully for a number of years, and was honoured by the prestigious Ceylon Chamber of Commerce when appointed as their Chairman. His experience in commerce enabled him to be invited to hold office in various Boards of Directors varying from a manufacturing company to a banking institution.
However, despite his responsibilities in the commercial world, HS’s prime interest in life was his commitment to the practice of the teachings of the Buddha. A daily meditator he was naturally a tower of strength for the welfare and sustenance of the Sangha around the country and sometimes even outside Sri Lanka. Many are the times, similar requests of mine for similar donations, are met with alacrity and not much later HS would be at my doorstep with a cheque in hand!
It seems paradoxical that a person in the world of commerce, especially as it is today where profit has to be earned at all costs being the final motive, could be deep into the practice of the Dhamma. Was he able to juggle between these two practices without falling between the two proverbial stools? He certainly did, because HS was aware of what the Buddha preached for those involved in proper livelihood as stated in the Anguttara Nikaya Book of eights: “Whatever be the means by which a clansmen earns his living – whether farming, trade, raising cattle, archery, government services or some other craft – he should be skillful and diligent, possess sound judgement in order to carry out and arrange it properly”
‘HS’ was blessed by having wife Neleeka by his side for almost half a century (they were to celebrate their golden anniversary on 15 April 2015) who was a mother hen to him. She always worried about his health and well-being and kept a close watch on his medications etc., etc.., up to the end when her final words was, after kissing him on his forehead in his deathbed, were: “Hare you have been a good man.” HS was a very lucky man indeed.
In addition to Neleeka, he leaves behind sons, Lavindra and Janath, and his siblings the late Jayanthi, Lalith (Australia), Kamal, Kumudini (USA), Sanath, Gihan, Niroshan and Nilanthi, and daughters-in-law Ritu and Elizabeth and grand-daughters Isabella and Aryana.
May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana!
Mahinda Wijesinghe