Appreciations
View(s):Charles Rex de Silva
Power of Rex, sculptor of people
Editor fostered culture free from fear of failure
I would have walked on hot coals for Charles Rex de Silva, my editor, mentor and friend. And, I am certain many of my colleagues from the golden years of the SUN and WEEKEND newspapers in the 1970s-’80s would have done the same.
Rex was multi-talented: a brilliant journalist, artist, cartoonist and most importantly one of the finest human beings I have known. His passing this week has left many of his colleagues and friends with heavy hearts.
Rex was a sculptor of people; he shaped and promoted many journalistic careers and still remained self-effacing despite the knowledge that he was the role model for all his bright young charges hoping to make their way in the world.
For me, the lesson well learned was to treat everyone with dignity and respect and I hope I lived up to his precepts in the 40-plus years I have been fortunate enough to follow a profession that makes a real difference in the world.
Rex rescued my career that was under threat of being short and sweet. It was early 1974 and I was still a rookie journo in awe of a man wearing denim, chain and bracelet and with the two top buttons of his shirt undone.
His slight Afro style, hair streaked with grey, made him a super-cool, yet imposing figure and when you looked into his eyes you could see the kindness shining through.
Our world had come crashing down in ’74 when the Government shut down the Independent Newspapers presses under the guise of emergency regulations and we were jobless.
But Rex must have seen something in me as he recruited me to work part-time on a variety magazine, Honey, he launched to keep the fires of good journalism burning.
When emergency regulations were lifted three yearslater we were all recalled to the fold as Independent Newspapers readied itself to publish again.
I remember that day, as clear as it was yesterday, when the company brains trust gathered to discuss the SUN masthead design; there were a lot of views and disagreements and then Rex arrived and placed his version of the SUN and WEEKEND mastheads on the table. That was the end of the discussions.
He had such a commanding presence and I thought to myself at the time “this is where I want to be”.
Rex gave all his young journos every chance to succeed. He trusted us implicitly to do the job and we in turn made the fourth floor of the newspaper building our second home.
We worked long and rewarding hours but not without financial benefits – Rex saw to that. We stayed late into the night, just as he did, making great use of late deadlines and often scooping the other dailies with breaking news gathered from the wire services.
There was no greater reward than to arrive for work next morning and see Rex’s beaming face – the SUN had risen first with the news again.
It was not all work and no play as the SUN and WEEKEND editorial teams were one big, happy family. Birthdays were celebrated, and it was often Rex who dug into his pockets to buy a cake.
He always was up for a laugh and delighted in conjuring some innovative April fool’s day pranks. He involved himself in his team’s lives and my family and many other families got to know him and his charming wife Ranjini and two sons, Nishan and Dilan, very well.
He was a father figure too and a couple of my colleagues told me how he was the groom’s witness at one wedding, and gave the bride away at another as her father had passed away.
Rex was one of the most versatile journalists to grace the profession in Sri Lanka. Hard news, columns and opinion pieces came easily to him, and he was a valued correspondent for the German news agency Deutsche Press Agentur.
He had a dynamic style of writing and quick wit, and what I admired most was the ease with which headlines came to him. I remember seeking his help after covering the inaugural cricket Test between Sri Lanka and England in 1982.
Sri Lanka had the better of England for most of the Test until the Englishmen turned the tables and had a convincing win in the end. Struggling with a headline, I went to Rex who glanced at my report and then said, “Let’s go with ‘Empire Strikes Back’.” It was simply brilliant.
My career as a journalist in Colombo was free of anxiety and free of the fear of failure – those who worked for him thrived in the knowledge no new idea would ever be shot down.
Rex taught us to trust our instincts and have confidence in our skills, and this stood me in good stead for the rest of my career. Rex remained my mentor even after I migrated to Australia in 1984 to reunite with family.
During my early days of adjusting to a new life, and working in a small regional newspaper in Queensland he would always have reassuring words and put everything into clear perspective.
I often would think that if I travelled half-way around the world who would I want to meet the most. It always came down to Rex so I could tell him how grateful I was for the faith he reposed in me.
It took 30 years but I had the great joy when my family and I had lunch with him in New York last December. It was typical of Rex’s generosity that he and his daughter-in-law, Sam, drove three hours from Philadelphia to Manhattan to keep this date. The circle was complete.
Tears are being shed at the loss of a great man; a journalist and role model par excellence, loving husband, father and doting grandfather but there also will be comfort in the thought there are many of us still around who were touched and taught by the master of his craft.
-Lawrence Heyn
(The writer worked at the SUN and WEEKEND between 1972 and 1984 before migrating to Brisbane, Australia. He has been a journalist for more than 43 years)
Admiral Clancy Fernando
We salute you for your bravery
November 16, 2015 marked the 23rd death anniversary of Admiral Clancy Fernando. My memories of him are still fresh although 23 long years have passed.
He was one of the greatest Navy Commanders we had during my 35 years in the Sri Lanka Navy.
He was a fearless leader who directed the war against the LTTE from the front until his untimely death. I once heard him stating when addressing sailors that “We are fighting the war with the LTTE and not with the innocent Tamil people in the North and East.
Hence, we always have to be careful of the safety of the civilians and their belongings.” His concern for innocent civilians made a lasting impression on me about the kind-hearted person that he was and his thoughts of humanity as the highest ranking officer of the Sri Lanka Navy at that time.
I first met Admiral Fernando in 1978 at the Coordinating Headquarters, Polonnaruwa in the aftermath of the cyclone which devastated the Eastern Province.
He was the Coordinating Officer appointed by the Government in charge of flood relief operations in the East. I was a newly promoted young Midshipman under training who was sent to Polonnaruwa with a few other batchmates for disaster relief operations.
I realised immediately that he was a very intelligent and committed Naval Officer of a very high calibre. He was very sympathetic and kind to all the troops working in the hot sun till sunset to bring back normalcy to innocent men, women, and children in distress due to the cyclone.
While the Admiral was busy with rehabilitation work, his charming wife Mrs. Monica Fernando and the three children Nishan, Dinukh and Sashi very frequently visited the devastated areas to give him moral support as he was bearing an enormous responsibility.
Since I was entrusted with logistics and secretarial duties at the Coordinating Headquarters I had ample opportunities to interact closely with Admiral Fernando and his family.
It was a pleasure to work under him as he was very methodical and a strict disciplinarian – a classic example to us young officers.
I always respected his qualities since he was an officer who looked after the welfare of the sailors. Thereafter, I had a couple of opportunities to work under him while serving at the Eastern Naval Area Headquarters and found him a very creative person with novel ideas and innovative thinking.
He believed training was one of the high priority areas and tremendously improved the facilities at the Naval and Maritime Academy.
I was forced to learn service writing, to perfection, as Admiral Fernando was very particular about proper service writing when forwarding letters and documents to him for signature.
He also made a tremendous effort in obtaining more training slots and courses for officers and sailors from friendly foreign Navies.
I also had the opportunity in joining Admiral Fernando in his social work which he devotedly carried out for many Buddhist temples in the East during the height of war.
I remember with gratitude, his commitment towards ‘Tissa Viharaya’ the temple inside the Naval Dockyard in Trincomalee, where he took an immense interest to develop the buildings and to commence a Dahampasala for the benefit of the children living in the Dockyard.
He was also instrumental in the resettlement of displaced persons in villages alongside the Trincomalee – Habarana road affected by frequent terrorist attacks.
I had high regard for his leadership qualities. As Commander of the Navy he visited the warfront regularly giving directives in situ. He believed what he saw with his own eyes and always ensured quality living standards for officers and sailors.
Admiral Fernando as Commander of the Navy immensely supported the Seva Vanitha Movement of the Sri Lanka Navy headed by his wife Mrs. Monica Fernando to implement welfare activities for the families of sailors killed in action and disabled during the war.
He was equally concerned about the serving officers and ratings and planned to set up a pilgrims rest at Anuradhapura to be managed by the Seva Vanitha Movement.
Although he could not make it a reality the building acquired by him for the purpose was redeveloped as the Rear Headquarters some time later.
His wife, also a devout Buddhist was always behind her husband supporting him in all religious and welfare activities.
He also contributed to the development of sports in the Navy. He was a committed sports administrator when holding senior appointments at Naval Headquarters.
A product of Prince of Wales College, Clancy Fernando excelled in studies and sports. He joined the Royal Ceylon Navy as an Officer Cadet in December 1957 and left for Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, UK for training.
After returning from UK he was made Sub Lieutenant and posted to the naval fleet. He was a versatile young officer who accepted many a challenge in life and made his career path an interesting and successful one while rising to higher ranks in due course.
He specialised in Communication at the Indian Naval Signal School ‘Venduruthy’ at Kochi, India and made an immense contribution towards upgrading the Secure Communication in the Sri Lanka Navy where he developed the Cryptographic System at a very crucial period in the late sixties/early seventies.
He was a Graduate from the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, India and also obtained his Masters Degree from the prestigious National Defence College in New Delhi, India.
He was also a Member of the British Institute of Management, the Nautical Institute of UK, Royal Naval Institute of Navigation and a Master Mariner in merchant shipping.
Admiral Fernando was a distinguished career officer who commanded almost all the Ships and squadrons in the naval fleet including the flagship SLNS Samudra Devi.
He was also the Master on merchant vessel ‘Lanka Kanthi’ belonging to the Ceylon Shipping Corporation when she was manned by the Sri Lanka Navy in the early 80’s.
Admiral Fernando commanded many shore bases including the largest shore base in the East SLNS Tissa. He was also the Commandant of the Naval and Maritime Academy and also commanded the largest Naval Command in the East prior to taking over the Sri Lanka Navy. During his 34 years of unblemished service he was awarded many medals.
A committed and loving husband to his wife Monica, he was a kind and loving father to his children Nishan, Dinukh and Sashi.
Sir, you were a “Great Hero” who sacrificed your life for the country and our future.
We will never forget the valuable lessons that you imparted and we salute you Sir for your bravery.
May you attain the Supreme bliss of Nirvana.
-Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Saman Molligoda
Dr. Vimala Navaratnam
A good friend and doctor
Ever since Dr. (Mrs) Vimala Navaratnam delivered my youngest daughter Sharmini on February 15, 1963, we became good friends.
I cannot say how I laboured that whole day, from morning to evening, and she patiently sat at my bedside till I eventually delivered.
In January 1983, she also delivered our grandson, Rajeev. That was an event I cannot forget. As my daughter-in-law entered the nursing home, there was a power failure, and the generator too refused to work.
I heard Dr. Navaratnam ring another nursing home, and soon doctor and patient were whisked away in an ambulance, while I followed in a car. But everything ended well.
When I had my hysterectomy in August 1967, she knew I was scared and reassured me, “Don’t be frightened. I will be with you throughout while you are in the operating theatre,” calming my fears.
She never accepted payment from both my mother and my mother-in-law, saying she never charged widows. I don’t think she accepted money from me or my family either.
When I published my first book “Of Cabbages and Things” Volume 1, in 2001, I gave her a copy. She rang me to say she enjoyed reading it. In 2011, when I was 85 and published Volume Two, with the same title, I again sent her a copy.
She took the trouble to ring me and say I had made a mistake in the spelling of a disease then prevalent.
She attended our Silver wedding, our Golden Wedding, our 60th wedding anniversary, our 65th wedding anniversary, and our grandson’s wedding in 2008.
When I stopped visiting her, I used to ring her with my problems.
Last year, on October 31, I rang to wish her on her birthday. She was surprised, and asked me how I knew the date. That would have been just before she left for London where she died.
My sympathies go to her children and loved ones.
Her first death anniversary falls on November 23.
-Therese Motha