Appreciations
View(s):Dispensation of justice in spirit and letter of the law was his forte
Phillip Leo Perera
As the first death anniversary of Phillip Leo Perera passed recently we remember our good friend with love and gratitude. The news of his death came as a terrible shock to us on October 28 last year. It was just a week before that we had a long chat with him on the phone on his dear wife Melanie’s birthday. Though we lived thousands of miles away over the past 18 years, we kept in touch via email and regular chats on the phone.
Leo was an intelligent well read person with whom a conversation on any subject was possible. We used to have long chats on politics, judiciary, judicial decisions and many other areas that interested us. He was a good communicator and was well informed on anything. Although he was a strict disciplinarian, he was a soft-hearted man who would help anyone in need.
We first met him and his family on a European tour by Pilgrimways and ever since we have been good friends. We still remember an incident on that tour when he went out of his way to obtain a temporary Passport for a group member who lost his. Leo was a loving and devoted husband to his sweet and charming wife Melanie. He would affectionately call her “Amma”. They first met when she was on the staff of Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya having graduated from the Peradeniya University. After marriage she gave up her career to be a dutiful wife and a loving mother to their sons Prasanna and Rohan. The two sons were the light of his life and he spoke very highly of their achievements in studies and tennis. He was a happy and proud father for their successes in life. He was also blessed with a granddaughter Dyana whom he adored. He took care of his parents and was a good son-in-law to Melanie’s mother who lived with them until her demise. He was a deeply religious man and would never miss a Sunday mass.
After graduating from Peradeniya University, Leo joined the Police as an ASP. He was a brilliant, fearless and dedicated Policeman. Men of his calibre are a rare breed. During the 1971 insurrection he showed his courage and dedication when he was in the thick of a JVP stronghold. He held the fort bravely to defeat the rebels. He used to relate how he saved the Kurunegala Police Station. He said it was God’s will that saved him as no bullet hit him in the cross fire.
Dispensation of justice in spirit and letter of the law was his forte and he didn’t bow down to political pressures. In 1989 when he was a Senior DIG Ranges he was appointed DIG Elections for the presidential elections. Enforcing the law he directed the removal of all political posters displayed by the two leading candidates which was not to the liking of the party in power at the time. As a result he had to suffer the consequences when he was forced to retire at the age of 54.
He joined Hatton National Bank as its Director Security after his forced retirement. Since he had a passion for Law and Justice he joined Law College and having completed his exams was admitted as an Attorney at Law a few years later. He built up a fair practice in a short time.
He was a man of many talents. He was an accomplished Horseman. He was sent by the Police to handpick the finest horses from the stables in Australia for the Police force. He was a keen angler, a fine tennis player and singer. He would sing songs of Sunil Shantha like the original.He enjoyed his life to the fullest and was a happy man to the end.
May his soul rest in peace.
Hemal and Swarnamalie Perera
You will stay within my heart
RANJIT ERIYAGAMA
It is two years this 14th of December
I feel I have lost someone so close so wonderful
and dear
You were the perfect gentleman and as
compassionate and kind a person as I could ever wish
to find.
Although you have left this world you will stay within
my heart till my last breath. Even though you have left
me forever my love for you will be everlasting as are
my memories of you.
May you attain the supreme bliss of
nirvana.
Wife Sreema
You left behind a legacy of laughter and wonderful memories
Morgan Fernando
Part and parcel of the Sri Lankan identity, for me at least, was the presence at any family gathering, of a trademark group of uncles, most often assembled in a corner with some spirits to keep them going.
As a boisterous juvenile, I was often asked by them to visit the kitchen and smuggle out some cutlets or whatever the ‘bite of the moment’ was. One of these colourful characters was my dear Uncle Morgan who left this earth last year, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, good times and wonderful memories.
The second son of D. Jason Fernando, Morgan Fernando was a member of the 1950 Group of Royal College and was mighty proud of it. His popularity during his College years was boosted by his legendary antics that included carrying a coffin draped with the Thomian Flag around the SSC; a bold act in comparison to the era.
Following his undergraduate studies at Loughborough University, where he pursued Chemical Engineering, my Uncle returned to Sri Lanka and joined the ranks of the prestigious British American Tobacco Company. He continued to be in its employ up until the early 80s when he retired.
My uncle’s next venture was into the field of packaging and his fledgling company AMJ Industries was soon to become a notable player in the market.
Throughout his life, my uncle had a penchant for being sociable and it was commonplace for him to be fondly referred to as ‘the life of the party.’ His well-placed sense of humour and unique personality set him apart and made life’s moments much more enjoyable and memorable.
A firm fixture at the Royal-Thomian Cricket match and the Royal-Trinity Bradby Encounter, my Uncle was very much a loyal son of Royal College till his last breath.
He enjoyed his outings and one of his most firm commitments was meeting up once a week for more than a decade with the ‘tobacco crowd’ as he used to call them. They would meet to rekindle good times and in high spirits, discuss light topics such as politics, religion or current affairs with much enthusiasm.
Another of his passions was doing the rounds with his visiting friend Peter, an ardent birdwatcher and university mate from his days at Loughborough. One can only imagine Peter eagerly looking through his binoculars out into the wild, as my Uncle would pour himself a shot and enjoy the moment.
Even at family functions that were declared ‘dry’ my Uncle would be famous for his oversized ‘gadolbage’ mobile phone, that unbeknown to many housed a secret hip flask within, perfect for his occasional top ups!
Following the unexpected demise of his devoted wife Jayanthi, my uncle battled on keeping his morale up, always going the extra mile to keep in touch with his peers and friends. His talent as a chef also blossomed during this time, when he became famous for his pork knuckle amongst others, cooked to perfection in his self-titled ‘Cholesterol kitchen.’
I would like to conclude this reminiscing of the late Morgan Fernando with a joke that appeared in the 1999 book that the group of1950 and he published, entitled ‘Right Royal Rugby Jokes’:
“Farewell – When I die, I want to go like my grandfather, peacefully in his sleep at Kadugannawa. Not screaming like his passengers”.
Harin Jason ‘Boycy’ Fernando
He made the world a happier place
Rev. Father Derrick Mendis S.J
To one of his younger cousins of the Mendis clan
Simply Derrick Aiya, omitting volumes that made the man,
He lived and breathed a celebration in the race he ran
With a poker face, twinkle in his eye no one knew his game plan
Until….. he drew out from those around the giggles, the chuckles, laughter without rein
And then came the Derrick Mendis brand of laughter as infectious as a raging flu
Never failed to release tensions, flaring stresses one may be going through
Yes, out of his lasting legacies if I were to pick but one
Was to make the world a happier place for the young, the old, the sick, the wounded, powerless, voiceless, lord or serf… bar none
Admirable was his love of mother Lanka, his native land
Pride oozing out of every pore, he spoke of her beauty and magnificence so grand
Many a watering hole off the beaten track he would describe firsthand
Where he sat at the waters’ edge with his beloved ukulele, his travelling band
Numerous friends he has made island-wide, lasting ones not mere lines drawn in the sand
With humility and love he would embrace the lifestyle of a farmer, fisherman, always willing to give a helping hand
Academic excellence must have been in his veins, for sureIy who imagined he had time for books
A jubilant Derrick appears after the results are out, passed with flying colours he’s off the hook
Derrick aiya in all your accomplishments you stood tall
What an inspiration to us all!
Derrick aiya, you left us when you had your Damascene moment rather early in life
Alas! we sighed we lost him, now preparing for priesthood, coming out all pious and priest-like
How wrong we were: the family, friends, country and world at large gained a uniquely qualified, compassionate, God loving human being elevated in stature, a Derrick renewed
Larger than life, you were still the life of the party your musical talent, sense of humour guaranteeing everyone was on board and ‘in the mood’
Charmaine Akka (Rev. Sister Charmaine), it’s an underestimation to say
He was your pride and joy as was to the rest of the family at home and away
A devoted sister you were, close to him always as in the final days
With Derrick’s cousin/buddy, fondly referred to by him as Eggie (Rev.Father Egerton Perera S.J)
Till the last rays of sunshine went strangely dim, you were with him; to you both we say, THANK YOU.
Derrick aiya, you will live in our hearts forever.
Mathew 25:23 (KJV) His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Loise de Silva