Appreciations
View(s):Revd Canon Udeni Suranjith de Silva
He was a true leader of the church and rural youth
Born on May 22, 1943 the Revd Canon Udeni Suranjith de Silva had his formal education at St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala, which is run by the La Sallian Brothers of the Roman Catholic Church. What he turned out to be later as he grew up, is a tribute to the commitment and the spiritual formation of the Christian Brothers of the De La Salle Community.
Revd Canon de Silva who was affectionately called Fr. Udeni, hailed from Moratuwa and was born to Shelton and Celita de Silva, prominent and faithful members of Christ Church, Kurunegala and later the Parish of the Cathedral Church of Christ the King. He was much loved by his younger brother, two sisters and their families. Fr Udeni was called to eternal rest on March 25, 2015, after a brief illness. This appreciation is from a younger colleague, who has always valued his commitment to humanity, loyalty to his Church and his simplicity in life. He was genuinely a servant of the Servant Lord, Jesus Christ. Even though he was a little senior to us, it is with deep affection and gratitude that I record the most profitable times we shared together. We worked together as Sunday School children, Sunday School teachers, officers of the Youth Movement, members of the Cathedral Servers’ Guild and later as clergy of the Diocese of Kurunegala.
Fr Udeni was ordained on May 5, 1970 and worked in almost all the parishes in the Diocese. The pride of his ministry was as the Director of Christodaya, a Community Development and Youth Empowerment Programme, from 1970 to 1988 under the guidance of the Rt. Revd Lakshman Wickremesinghe, the then Bishop of Kurunegala, until his departure in 1983 and later with the assistance of Rt. Revd Andrew Kumarage. Christodaya functioned as a training place for the poor and neglected young persons from the villages. The programme concentrated on training in agriculture, animal husbandry, farming and many other skills development programmes, which were otherwise not available for rural young folk. The youngsters were equipped to compete in the employment market, with development of their skills.
Fr. Udeni was installed as a Canon of the Cathedral to the Stall of St. Michael, on March 2, 2002. He has functioned as the Rural (Area) Dean of both the deaneries of Kurunegala and Kandy, giving leadership to the clergy under his care, in their ministries and personal lives. Before his retirement Fr Udeni worked as the Vicar of the Cathedral Parish in Kurunegala and of St Paul’s Church, Kandy.
Canon Udeni visited many countries to share his vision for the young persons in the country and his significant period was in the United Kingdom, where he was trained in the practical aspects of theological anthropology and community development and social involvement. His pastoral experience in the UK too was extremely useful in the later years. Fr Udeni was the Chairperson and the Convenor of the Peace Conference for Education, Dialogue and Action held on August 24, 2002, for the members of the Diocese.
The ‘simple rural farmer’ in Fr Udeni was the most effective in his pastoral ministry. His love for agriculture began from his schooldays. He could guide the bullock cart with much ease, even when very young. Animal husbandry and the environment were his hobbies and later his virtual life. He had a great vision for the simple rural folk, especially for the youth among them. Large numbers of young persons from the rural areas of Sri Lanka have became skilled young workers, under his care and guidance. He was invited to lead the movement of Habitat for Humanity in Kurunegala, from 1996 to 2002. No task or goal of any shape was too big or impossible for him. His determined efforts made the impossible, possible.
Fr Udeni was a genuine role model for pastoral ministry of the church. He possessed a natural attraction to people and was always available for them, completely neglecting himself in the process. His was a sacrificial life in the footsteps of his Master and Teacher, Jesus Christ. The success of his overall ministry was his great capacity for experimentation and innovation. Ability to mix tradition with novelty was his strength. He belonged to the high church tradition and valued the ancient rituals as useful and relevant tools, in the pastoral ministry.
With much love for his Alma Mater, he continued and strengthened his relationships with the Roman Catholic Church, strongly preserving and defending his Anglicanism. His love for the Anglican Church and especially the Diocese of Kurunegala was unparalleled. He was deeply hurt and genuinely worried and concerned about some of the deteriorating factors of ministry in the recent years. Many an occasion he was not hesitant to express his displeasure amidst opposing voices. Such fearless and commanding leadership kept him in good stead, until the final hours of his life before he was called to be with his Creator.
I have had the privilege of working with him as a priest and later as Bishop. I always encouraged him to put on paper all his innovative visions and how he mixed tradition with novelty and innovation, especially with respect to the ancient Anglican rituals. My desire was to have him pen down how such traditions and rituals would relate to the Sri Lankan context and especially to the Diocese of Kurunegala. However, it was not to be. That happens to be the only area that I have failed with my ‘elder brother’ and colleague, during our ministries that have spanned long years.
May the Good Lord grant him solace and tranquility. May his soul rest in peace and rise in Glory.
- Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe
Bede Tissera
The coconut growing community has lost a leader
The Coconut Growers of Sri Lanka were grieved to hear of the death of Bede Tissera, the founder President and the prime mover of the formation of the Coconut Growers Association. The Association was formed in 1994, 22 years ago.
Bede Tissera was well suited to give leadership at the time of the formation of the association as he was a full time Coconut Planter and hailed from a family in Pamunugama, where his father and uncles were owners of large coconut plantations in the coconut belt and pioneers in the planting of coconut lands in far away places of the intermediate zone of the country and produced entrepreneurs, who have flourished in business ventures.
At the time of the formation of the Coconut Growers Association, the prophets of gloom predicted its collapse was inevitable as the growers were spread throughout the length and breath of the country. The early years of its beginnings were shaky, but Mr. Tissera was not one to give up easily, he personally canvassed to get coconut growers to join the association and by the time he left the presidency after serving the maximum period of three years permitted by the rules, the association was in good shape and was beginning to be recognised by the authorities. Today, its membership is by far the largest in the coconut sector and perhaps in the entire plantation sector of the country.
Bede Tissera was a devoted family man, close to his children. His wife Gwen nursed him and was continuously by his side when he was hospitalised for nearly a month. During the last few years he was not in the best of health but continued to be present at the Annual General Meetings. At the 15th anniversary of the Association, he was honoured with a medal in appreciation of his contribution. During the 22 years of its existence only two others have been so honoured– they are Dr. Ray Wijewardane, well known for his contribution to the coconut industry and Agricultural Engineering and Dr. Athukorale, well known Cardiologist, who fought a lonely battle during the last two decades in defence of the consumption of coconut oil and its merits. A fact, that is now being acknowledged by health professionals all over the world.
Despite Mr. Tissera’s feeble health, he attended the last AGM held in July 2015 where he was given a standing ovation by the full house in attendance. Mr. Tissera will be long remembered by the coconut growing community. May he rest in peace.
- Denzil Aponso
ROSHIKA FERNANDO
You have not really gone away
We feel you presence every day
We hear you speak and laugh with glee
At every turn, your face we see
Your footsteps follow us everywhere
Death does not part it reunites
You still dwell in our hearts and minds
And always will till the end of time
We try to be brave and hide our sorrow
Smile through tears and face tomorrow
We know life has to go on somehow
But without you it won’t be the same some how
Lord help us to carry on each day
And cope with whatever comes our way
We love you, we miss you and always will be
Fondly treasured in our memory
We will meet in heaven above
United in God’s divine love
Affectionately remembered and missed by your grandparents Dennis Pappa and Chrissie Mamma.
- Dr. Dennis and Chrissie Aloysius
Chrisanthie Deraniyagala
Thank you for the unconditional love
O’ daughter of God
You who served at the beck
And call of so many of us,
No matter the hour of day or night,
Now lie dead with an abundance
Of wreaths around you.
You who were a former Director of NIBM,
You are not lost to us,
But gone ahead of us all,
And wait all our transfigured
Arrivals, there on those
Halcyon shores we term heaven.
Thank you for the unconditional
Love you showered upon us all.
May you rest in peace.
You will not be forgotten!
Our sympathies are with your family of sisters Rangini, Surani, Savithri and brother Ravi and their families.
- Sudhir Barr – Kumarakulasinghe
Alexander Reza
Many were the lessons I learnt from this flamboyant businessman
It was indeed a sad news to know about the demise of Alexander Reza on December 15 though it was not unexpected as he was bed ridden and lacking memory for the past few years. He was the biggest buyer for Sri Lanka’s Blue Sapphires in the 1970s and early 1980s. I had the fortune to be his young agent in Sri Lanka and learnt his business methods too.
He used to arrive by Swissair on a weekend and spend four or five days here. On the day of his departure he would hand over all the goods to the National Gem Corporation for testing and sealing. Once that was over he would wire his bank to remit money which would arrive in an hour and he would take the goods by hand to Geneva.
When dealers tried to describe the merit of their goods, he used to shut them down, “kamush, don’t teach me my business.”
I remember one incident. He offered $400 per carat for a parcel of sapphires to a senior merchant who wanted $600 and went off. Next day he came again and asked him to improve on his offer of $400. To my surprise, Reza said $400 was yesterday’s offer, today it was less. The man pleaded with him to give anything a little more than $400. He flatly refused and said $350 was today’s price, take it or leave it. With tears in his eyes the man held my hand and asked me to convince him. Reza gave me a stern look. Finally the man gave the parcel for $350. After he left Reza said, it is not for the $50; they must learn that my price is one price.
During one of his visits he came with a beautiful lady and introduced her to me as his second wife. One night we three were having dinner in the rooftop of the Intercontinental Hotel. A local woman was seated in one corner and looking for ‘clients’. Reza was looking at her frequently. Once when she went to serve her food he also went to the table. The woman muttered something to him. He laughed and returned. He whispered into my ear, “Shah you know what she said? Sir you have a Mercedes. Why you look at a taxi?”
- M. S. Shah Jahan