Appreciations
View(s):Hema Jayasinghe
A Principal to be emulated by all
Hema Jayasinghe, respected and loved by all Visakhians young and old, gave her dedicated services as Principal, Visakha Vidyalaya for 17 long years and thereafter as well, until her untimely death on February 26.
Mrs. Jayasinghe took over the reins of Visakha Vidyalaya at a crucial time succeeding Susan George Pulimood, who had brought up Visakha to super grade level -the only girls’ school to reach such status at the time. She was Visakha’s first Sinhala Buddhist Principal. The charming young beauty coming from a family of illustrious parents of the hill capital – G.D.A. Abayaratna and V.E. Seneviratne, both educationists, walked into the portals of Visakha with confidence and glamour, dressed in her traditional Kandyan attire.
When Mrs. Pulimood’s retirement was near, speculation was rife regarding a replacement. Everybody expected the new Principal to be one from Colombo. The Minister of Education at the time, I.M.R.A. Iriyagolla, may have done a survey of all Principals outside Colombo and found the appropriate Principal for Visakha, in Hema Jayasinghe, then Principal of Kandy Girls’ High School. All Visakhians are most grateful for this decision taken with much foresight. Everybody at Visakha gave her a very warm welcome. The entire staff assembled in the Old School Hall and Mrs. Pulimood led the new Principal in, introducing every single member of the staff including the minor staff. Hema Jayasinghe, grasped the picture with great ease and earned the respect and love of all at Visakha from day one.
Perhaps it was difficult for her to leave Kandy and Girls High School, her alma mater where she was comfortably settled with her young family of three kids at the time and her husband Dr. K.H. Jayasinghe, a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya.
She started off her administrative work at Visakha with the support of Chandra de Zoysa, the then vice principal and a very efficient and dutiful staff. At the time, the Principal of Visakha was all powerful and did not have to pay heed to any unfair requests from politicians or Education Department officials. She was able to scrutinise the suitability of any new appointee according to the requirements of the school and select the best. The school did not have a principal’s bungalow nor vehicles, hence she had to spend for all these on her own which she did ungrudgingly.
The school general assembly had to be held in the large quadrangle near the main gate, where the Jeremias Dias Hall stands today. She used to march up to the dais gracefully to address the staff and students. Once she happened to mention a comment made by her little daughter, Dulsiri, “Amma, you walk up to assembly like a peacock with pride and have a full glance of all the students”. Very correct. I was the class teacher of both her daughters Malathi and Dulsiri in their Ordinary Level grades.They were well disciplined and clever. Dulsiri ended up as the Head Prefect during the tenure of Principal Eileen Siriwardena, her successor.
There was no “madam” talk at Visakha all along and she was simply Mrs. Jayasinghe to all students, teachers and parents. The minor staff addressed her as “loku nona mahaththaya”. It was the same during Mrs. Pulimood’s time. Hence there was more respect, sisterhood and closeness, as one family. Hema Jayasinghe was pleasant to work with, always greeting everyone with a smile but yet she was firm.
When Badiudeen Mohamed was Minister of Education, a circular was received by all government schools that teachers should curtail all mass private tuition classes or retire from government service. This was presented to the staff immediately. Two staff members opted to retire and a few at the time, gave up conducting private tuition altogether. Hema Jayasinghe was very pleased with the circular as it ensured that the students got the best of attention from all teachers even after school. The merit they gained was immense though there was no monetary gain. Enforcing this order was a great deed of the Principal, which was much appreciated by all parents.
The hostellers at the time were mainly children of planters and government servants stationed away from Colombo. It was customary to take the hostellers on a three day trip. The matrons had to organise it and the Principal kept a close eye on the arrangements. Once the trip was to Anuradhapura and Jaffna. Three matrons and I were in charge with one parent accompanied by old Jinasena, a hostel employee. Arrangements in Anuradhapura were looked after by a parent, Minister K.B. Ratnayake. In Jaffna it was the Principal’s choice-Chundikuli Girls College where the Principal was her good friend and her elder brother’s sister-in-law Mrs. G.E.S. Chelliah. Oh what a warm welcome that was! It happened to be their sports meet and she had even arranged events for our Visakhians to participate in, followed by a musical evening. We all enjoyed their hospitalityand culture very much. The regard Mrs. Chelliah had for Mrs. Jayasinghe was immense.
The annual founders’ day Pirith and Dana pinkama has been an important event in the school calendar. After a few years at Visakha she invited the Most Venerable Malwathu- Asgiri priests with permission from Venerable Narada Thero of the Vajiraramaya. The venerable priests and drummers travelled down from Kandy. All at Visakha were very appreciative as it was a rare opportunity and honour for mother Visakha. By this action she displayed to the Venerable Sangha from the Hill Capital the great Buddhist culture at Visakha.
The past pupils extended their fullest cooperation to Mrs. Jayasinghe at all times. Even with her busy schedule she never failed to grace all occasions of the Visakha Vidyalaya Old Girls’ Association. I had the pleasure of being the Joint Secretary and thereafter the Vice President of the VVOGA under her for one term and her support was unlimited, other members being Dr. Nanda Gamage Joint Secretary and Clodagh Fernando, Treasurer (the first science graduate produced by Visakha) and Padmini Karunaratne,Vice President, a senior member.It was during her tenure that the three storeyed massive building complex was erected replacing all the temporary prefabs with the serene precincts of the Bomaluwa neatly incorporated at its western end.
Construction of the Jeremias Dias Hall reached completion at the tail end of her tenure and was inaugurated during her successor Eileen Siriwardena’s time with much pageantry and glory. Hema Jayasinghe, Susan George Pulimood and Clara Motwani, three great past Principals graced the occasion. By this time Hema Jayasinghe the model Principal was the deputy director general at the Ministry of Education along with Mrs. Thilokasundari Kariyawasam.
She had her second son, Sanjaya, the youngest of her four children whilst at Visakha. She had the great joy of seeing five lovely adorable grandchildren blossoming in their youth. The void created by the sudden demise of their doting grandmother, they’re bound to experience in the years ahead. She was a dutiful wife and mother whilst managing her duties as Principal. After retirement, her husband who was seriously ill was nursed and looked after by her with much care to the very end.
The last time Mrs. Jayasinghe attended a school function was a felicitation ceremony organised by the past teachers where she addressed the gathering. It is sad to believe that she is no more. May she attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana in the shortest time.
-Rukmani Raddalgoda
nee Seneviratne
MALINIE TISSERA SINHABAHU
A strong pillar of kindness
and principles
It is with great sorrow that I write a few words of appreciation for my beloved mother Malini Sinhabahu. Amma was born on December 23 and raised in Wadduwa. The third child out of seven siblings, she was always a bright student and stood out as a scholar at a very young age. I remember Amma reminiscing about her schooldays at Wadduwa Central College many times.
She was only 14, a determined little girl when she wanted to sit for the English medium SSC examination. My mother truly made her school proud by obtaining the best results from the entire Wadduwa Central College that year. The school honoured her achievement by declaring a school holiday, for Amma to step up and present an English speech for the entire school at the prize-giving. She left the gathering in complete awe. Amma always brought back those memories with a warm smile.
Upon completing her studies, she was appointed as an English teacher at Dodangoda Junior School in 1948. She also completed her training at Maharagama Teachers Training College with First class honours. Amma not only mastered her education but won the hearts of her colleagues and students during her 38 years of service. She served as a part-time English lecturer at Musaeus Teachers Training College in Kalutara as well.
Amma was a strong pillar of kindness and stood by good principles. When she was appointed by the Kalutara Bodhi Trust to teach English to children in daham schools in the Kalutara area, she was delighted and even went on to teach English to the village children. Upon her retirement from Kalutara Vidyalaya in 1986, her extended years of service were appreciated in 2009, by the Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha together with the OBU of Kalutara Vidyalaya.
Amma always advised us to be good and do only good. She was a strong lady who mothered five children. I was the eldest daughter along with two younger brothers and two younger sisters. She always provided for us and is the reason for who we are today.
Towards her later years, my parents moved to Colombo, donating our native home in Dodangoda, to the Sangha, who converted it to a beautiful aranya. Now known as ‘Pichchamal Senasanaya”, it is headed by Venerable Kotapola Amarakiththi Thero.
Amma always thought of the wellbeing of her children and grandchildren. She stopped at nothing to see us shine. Our world stood still when she passed away on October 9, 2014, leaving us with only her memories to cherish.
Dearest Amma, you made so many sacrifices for our wellbeing, happiness and success throughout your 88 years of existence. I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done. The vacuum in our lives can never be filled or replaced. Although I find it difficult to accept your loss, you will always be the queen of our hearts. Your memories will stay evergreen. We love you Amma. May you attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.
-Nirupamal Sinhabahu
Suraweera Bandara
A great teacher with an
exceptional character
Suraweera Bandara who passed away recently was a great teacher who had an exceptional character. He was admired by every one of his pupils.
He passed away on January 19, after a brief illness, just before his 90th birthday. Mr. Bandara’s father was a public officer known as ‘ Korale 
Mahattaya of Poonahela Walawwa’ of Bulathkohupitiya where he was born and bred. Mr. Bandara was a product of the late 1940s of the old University of Ceylon, of both Colombo and Peradeniya. Having obtained a B.A. Honours Degree with a class in 1948, he served in several schools, to my knowledge including Seethawaka Vidyalaya, Avissawella, Balangoda Ananda Maithreeya Central College and finally as the vice principal of Dharmaraja College, Kandy , from where he joined the Ministry of Education as Director of Education. After retirement, he continued to serve as a visiting lecturer in English language at the University of Peradeniya.
Mr. Bandara during his service at Balangoda Ananda Maithreeya Central College was closely associated with the great scholar monk, Most Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maithreeya Mahanayake Thero. The teaching in this college was in the English Medium and he was entrusted to make it a Sinhala medium school after 1957.
He was a popular writer who had written several books including novels such as ‘Wijayasrahanaya’ and several Dhamma books.
I’m garlanding this great teacher as a past pupil with these few words with due respect:
“Teachers plant the seeds that last a lifetime”.
May he attain Nibbana
-W.A. Siriwardena
G.P. de Silva
Centenary birthday remembrance
He always stood out with his fair skin
‘Suddah’, ‘Sudu Maama’ to kith and kin
Compassionate eyes and a smile that could win
To his six kids, Thaththa was their handsome king.
Stuck in Nairobi in the Second World War
Cricket on airfields having prints of lion’s paw
Fed a tame crocodile that had massive jaws
Before a lass from his village made him a model in-law.
From the South to the capital with his life’s mate
Portuguese name shed from each birth certificate
Drove us to school on the verge of getting late
O’Level mathematics he taught us on a slate.
Had walked to school for miles along the beach
When walking together he was often out of reach
Songs of village dramas, ever willing to teach
We rattled along with him ascending to a screech.
Airline Manager, in uniform looked so smart
Home maker ‘Wije’ so dear to his heart
In our growing years played a crucial part
Growing merry with us, especially after a quart.
He repeatedly said that we were his pride
By his ground rules, we had to abide
Never raised his voice, or took anyone’s side
A disapproving look was all we needed to hide.
Exercising by dawn, doing yoga and head-stand
A cigarette after meals of the strongest brand
Opting for a drink, evening seemed to blend
If he ever got annoyed it disappeared like quicksand.
Billiards, cricket, tennis: a master of sport
For kids’ prize givings, loved to play escort
If Amma was indisposed, he willingly held the fort
Nursing her to health, he was the caring sort.
Built a solid house where anyone could tread
People were treated to at least jam and bread
Generous and gentle, an asset to the kindred
If you lived today, you ‘d celebrate a hundred.
Amma coped well in spite of her great loss
In our beautiful home, she is still the boss.
Healthy and alert, as sweet as candy floss
Thoughts of Captain GP give her the added gloss.
Some grandkids have only heard our narration
They dote on Aachi, engrossed in meditation
We know each one strives for spiritual liberation
All of us should meet at the final destination.
-Dr. Saroja Siriwardene
(On behalf of the Ginigalgodage siblings)
Daisy Candappa
She was a simple and
unassuming person
Appreciations are written to mark the passing away of people whose personal life, calibre, deeds and achievements during their life time are an example and credit to themselves and source of pride to their kith and kin. Daisy was one such person. Although it may seem unconventional for me to pen a tribute to my mother-in-law, my respect, regard and admiration for her makes me do so. Daisy who was called Aunty Daisy by all who knew her and Mummy by all her family members, Grandma and Great grandma answered God’s long awaited call recently at the age of 92 after a brief illness.
Born in Kotahena, she hailed from the well-known and respected Colombo Chetty family, the Casie Chetties. She was educated at Good Shepherd Convent Kotahena. She was third in a family of eight children, three girls and five boys all of whom had predeceased her. Daisy married Anthony Candappa and they enjoyed wedded bliss for over 45 years prior to his demise.
Daisy always preferred to live a simple life and was very gentle, kind, compassionate, soft -spoken and understanding and above all, a very unassuming person, truly sincere in whatever she did. Daisy was a devout Catholic for she knew the essence of the teaching of Lord Jesus and her entire life witnessed a true and steadfast confession to the Christian faith.
Although she never liked to be in the limelight she played an active role in the religious and social activities of her parish church at Rajagiriya. She always believed that prayer could do what this world cannot dream of.
Daisy was always accepted as a woman of rare, unblemished, sterling qualities and won the admiration of all those who came to know her. She had a very humane heart from which the warmth of human kindness flowed unendingly.
Having been a member of the family for nearly five decades, I had never seen her with an angry face, but always cheerful and happy. The great challenges in life did in no way deter her but were met with determination, dedication, perseverance and sacrifice. Like to all other people, life was not a bed of roses, but she overcame any situation with firm conviction, self-reliance and confidence. She was a voracious reader and never failed to read good reading material, the weekly issue of the Catholic Messenger and other newspapers.
Daisy was mother of five children, three daughters and two sons, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Yet another noteworthy feature in her life is that she had numerous inborn talents which she put to good use not for any pecuniary gain but to keep herself occupied and for fund raising in her parish church to help the needy through the main social arm of the church, the Society of the St. Vincent de Paul. She could be considered an expert in handicrafts and making of soft toys.
Daisy was a good seamstress and she conducted classes to impart her knowledge to the less fortunate girls in the Parish on a voluntary basis so that they could be gainfully employed. Sadly she was compelled to restrict her movements and involvements in social activity in the latter part of her sunset years due to failing health. Yet she was active and never idle throughout her life.
Though Daisy is no more, those who were fortunate to have met her will cherish her memory for a long time. She passed away in peace and without struggle for her life was without conflict. Although Daisy is no more, her beautiful memory will forever remain in the hearts and minds of all those who knew her.
The large, distinguished and representative gathering present to pay their last respects give ample testimony to her popularity and unblemished life. May the gracious Lord grant her eternal rest and perfect peace. “Farewell dear mummy, may a choir of angels sing thee to thy well-earned rest”. May the turf lie gently over her mortal remains.
-Francis Vethanayagam
Gamini Karunaratne
An excellent trade unionist
For thousands of us, Gamini’s friends, the news of his untimely death was shocking and unbearable. He took part in the historic 1972 Bank strike when he was still a probationer at Bank of Ceylon and emerged as a budding leader in the then battered Ceylon Bank Employees Union where he rose to prominence meteorically during the 1980s. He remained a formidable force there until his death.
In his career as a trade unionist he was wise enough to draw inspiration from the legendary leaders like De Mel, Sivasubramanium, Oscar Pereira, Basil Noir or Asoka Perera of the orthodox school on the one hand and bold enough to be the voice of the reformists on the other. He walked the tight rope between the two generations of union activists without vacillating in allegiance to the cause of Bank employees, with commendable skill characterised by bravery and tact, so much so that he was able to stay afloat through the changing fortunes of the successive governments as well as the CBEU power struggles.
He was a gifted speaker and his clever use of Sinhala idiom and sharp wit was often untranslatable into English. He challenged, perhaps threatened and held demonstrations against the successive bank managements. However he had the tact to keep a rapport with those who mattered at the highest levels so much so that as time passed, they found Gamini to be an amiable person with whom they could sit together and iron out irritable issues in a mutually rewarding manner not necessarily privately but before they crystallised into uncompromising demands. Thanks to Gamini, the State Banking sector in general and the Bank of Ceylon in particular may have saved thousands of millions of rupees which would have otherwise been wasted in combating agitations and unquantifiable losses of employee productivity.
On retirement from BOC he was invited in 2010 to overlook the affairs of two institutions namely the Sussex College Network and the Agro Development and Credit Company troubled by the “Ceylinco fiasco”. True to his upbringing as a trade unionist Gamini had been concerned not so much about physical assets of these two entities but particularly about how to secure the employment of over 1,000 employees and the destiny of over 6,000 innocent children at Sussex and nearly 100 employees and a large number of recipients of micro credit in the other company. As a trade unionist he had a great sense of accomplishment being a part of a process that helped retain the jobs of employees of these threatened institutions. It is a sad irony of fate that he had to breathe his last while at work at Sussex.
Personally, Gamini was a good friend bankable for a help he would pull all his weight to fulfil. At his home all were welcome. He had a truly lovable family – he found Padmini to be his perfect partner and took enormous satisfaction seeing his two children Inoka and Hasitha excel in their chosen professions.
He loved social service and had busy evenings and weekends with Lions’ projects and EAP Group’s Jana Sarana Foundation and the Punarjeewa programme that benefitted immensely by his presence. His loss is irreparable but his unseen presence would no doubt continue to inspire us his friends.
May his journey in Samsara be smooth and free of jerks until he attains the supreme bliss of Nirvana.
-Ubayawansa Warnakulasooriya
Dr. Chatra Weerasinghe
In memory of my
good friend
We met each other at Visakha
About six decades ago…
She entered Medical College Colombo,
I to Colombo Uni for Bio.
Bright and intelligent that she was
Every exam she passed with a class…
Then to the staff of Medical College
Where she showed her colours…
MBBS was followed by a schol to UK
Where in Biochem she got a PhD
With three pretty daughters and a cricketer hubby
She migrated to Melbourne Australia
And was appointed to Monash Uni…
Unsatisfied with the Uni career
She wanted to practise medicine
And soon was a popular doctor
Among her patients in need.
To a higher pedestal then she stepped
With her intelligence and cleverness
And a post-grad in Child Psychiatry
She completed with flying colours!
She was generous, loving and kind, gracious and unassuming
A helping hand to those in need and to me, a loving friend…
But alas, she could not help, the sickness that overcame her,
And twelve long years ago… to all her loved ones
She bid adieu on April 23, 2003!
In her Samsaric journey, may She attain Nibbana!
-Piyawathie Jayasuriya