Appreciations
View(s):A good man who would always help others
Rama Velupillai
Several years ago I asked a friend for advice about getting our antique chairs repaired. He told me, “I will introduce you to Rama Velupillai. He knows all about furniture. He is a good man and he will help you”. This is how I met Rama.
He not only expertly repaired our damaged chairs, he and his wife Gloria soon became our dear friends. Later on both became my patients. When I think of Rama, who died last month, I remember the words of my friend “He is a good man – and he will help you”– because this sentence neatly sums up Rama Velupillai.
Rama was born on October 29,1926 into one of Batticaloa’s most prominent families. His father Samuel Velupillai, a well-reputed lawyer was said to be the first Batticaloa man to graduate from Cambridge University and qualify as a British barrister. Batty folk knew Rama’s father not as Samuel Velupillai but simply as “Barrister Velupillai – or “Barry”!
From their imposing mansion Highbury House in Lady Manning Drive, Rama started schooling at St Vincent’s Primary School. To this day I am still not sure after which St Vincent this school was named – St Vincent de Paul or St Vincent of Saragossa. While St. Vincent de Paul is the patron saint of charity, the martyr St Vincent of Saragossa was the man who showed tremendous calmness and fortitude when facing torture and death.
Rama embodied both these traits -being given to unpublicized charity and being calm and unflappable in times of adversity.
From St Vincent’s Primary he was sent as a boarder to S. Thomas’ College on the other side of then Ceylon. Rama always came home, however, for the school holidays. It was during these vacations as a young boy that he developed his love of craftsmanship and woodworking, spending many happy hours watching and working with the carpenters in the workshops of his father’s coconut estate. His knowledge and skills as an expert woodcarver and furniture-maker were all acquired from these local craftsmen.
After schooling Rama entered the University of Ceylon and on graduation obtained employment as an administrative officer in the Health Department. During his career there he served as financial secretary of the Colombo Group of Hospitals and as hospital secretary of Angoda government hospital.
While working as a government administrator, Rama did not neglect his love of woodwork and furniture making, indulging in this as a hobby in the large shed in his Colombo home. In 1970, at the age of 44, Rama finally decided to quit government service and make a business of his hobby. Initially through Walker Sons’ subsidiary Jones International and later through his own company called ‘Lucky Woodware’, he established a factory making wooden handicrafts and later furniture for export. This he did with great success until 1983 when his factory was burned down – this terrible incident made him decide to leave Sri Lanka and start a new life for his family.
Migrating to Melbourne in 1984, he found a job in the Tax Department and worked there until he retired. Woodworking however was never far from his heart; anyone who has visited the Velupillai home will remember the car-less garage at the side of their house where he spent many happy hours indulging in his hobby of carpentry.
That is the story of Rama’s life – but this is not the whole story. My friend had observed “He is a good man – and he will help you”.
Not many know that while he had his factory in Sri Lanka Rama helped many young men learn the trade of carpentry – nurturing and mentoring them, freely passing on his knowledge and experience.One example of those he helped were the boys from St Vincent’s Boys Home in Maggona – an institution managed by the Catholic Church to care for underprivileged children. Rama had a friend serving there, Father Vedanayagam, who came to see him one day and asked if he could train some of these boys in carpentry. Rama readily agreed, taking several on as apprentices. Today, many of them have their own carpentry businesses – and they all still refer to him as “Our Guru” or “The Boss”! As one of them observed, “We are able to stand on our feet today entirely because of Mr Velupillai.He took us in – and looked after us”
Writing about Rama, one cannot fail to mention his wife Gloria who gave him a happy home (and excellent food!) during their 60 years of life together. In the society into which Rama was born, an ideal marriage was considered one taking place between cousins –the children of a brother and sister, termed by anthropologists ‘cross-cousin marriages.’
When Rama entered the Ceylon University, there were no halls of residence like today. He found a private home in Bambalapitiya within walking distance of the University where he could stay as a boarder. Fortunately for him (though unfortunately for the mothers of his various female cousins) Rama happened to meet and fall in love with the good looking girl who lived next door to his lodgings – Gloria de Silva.
Barrister Velupillai and his wife Sornamma were not amused – and neither were Bernard and Laura de Silva!
But after the Barrister and his wife met Gloria (and as Rama told me, after she cooked a meal for them) they gave their blessings to the union, which took place on December 27, 1957. When I once asked Rama why he chose that date, he quietly told me with a chuckle “Then I can get away with buying her just one present for both Christmas and the Anniversary”.
It was our privilege to attend the diamond wedding anniversary of Rama and Gloria last December – an event I felt worthy of great celebration. How many couples these days are privileged to reach their diamond wedding anniversary? Rama with Gloria raised two boys who have done well in their chosen spheres, he had grandchildren of whom he was very proud, he lived a good life during which he and Gloria shared what they were fortunate to receive with so many others.
Rama knew that a man’s true worth is measured not by the amount of money and wealth he accumulates but by the number of people he has helped along the way. What better epitaph can a man have when his time comes to leave this earth than
“He was a good man – and he helped others.”
Dr Sanjiva Wijesinha
A pioneer in the industry field, success never eroded his simplicity
M.M.C. Wickramanayake
M.M.C. Wickramanayake, a legend who worked tirelessly to put Sri Lanka on the world industry map passed away peacefully in Kandy on July 6, 2001 on his 89th birthday. This July 6, would have been his 105th birthday and 16th death anniversary.
The father figure of Sri Lanka’s industry and commerce, Mr. Wickramanayake was among the first to recognize the potential of the garment industry, its ability to contribute to Sri Lanka’s economic growth and generate direct and indirect employment. He was a pioneer in the knitwear industry establishing Sterling Jersey Company in 1953 under the brand name ‘Kosala’.
Born in Unanwitiya, he started his career in Kandy as a manager at his uncle’s tobacco leaf business. His life exemplified an inspirational success story of a self-made man. As Chairman of Kosala Agencies Ltd. M.M.C pioneered importing re -conditioned cars to Sri Lanka in 1976. In 1978, his company became the first private permit holder to operate a private omnibus service. They operated a Kandy-Colombo luxury bus. Under his stewardship and visionary leadership the Kosala enterprise diversified into varied sectors.
He was founder director of City Stores Ltd., Silverdale Hotel Ltd., Sinhaputra Finance Ltd., Kandy Trading Company Ltd., Service Kandy Ltd., and Beehive Food Canning Ltd.
He was also the founder director and managing director of Kandy Ayurveda Pharmacy Ltd. from 1943 to 1987. He was the founder member of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Small Industry and its Vice President from 1963 to 1965 as well as Vice President of the Kandy Merchant Chamber from 1963 to 1973.
M.M.C. Wickramanayake’s achievements and success never eroded his simplicity and old fashioned charm. His death left a void which the country will find difficult to fill.
May he attain Nibbana!
S. Wickramasinghe
We will always love him and carry the baton he has now passed on to us
Bertie kulatilleke
Bertie was not only my beloved husband but also my best friend. I met him by accident when I was 14 years old and he was 20. The spark that was ignited at the very inception lasted 56 years. On August 26 this year, we were to celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary. We married in 1971. Our eldest son Roshantha was born in 1973 and Shanil in 1977.
Bertie started his career at Associated Motorways (Sisil Refrigerators) in Kalutara.
His mentor was his cousin Rohith Caldera with whom he lived during the first part of his life, in Nugegoda. He lost his father at the age of five. He travelled to Kalutara every day together with his friend Ian Dias Abeysinghe. His next job was at Glacio (subsidiary of Rowlands) at Nawinna,Maharagama. Rohith guided him into selecting Refrigeration and Air conditioning, an industry which was just starting up. I think he selected Maharagama as I too lived there.
After we married Bertie received a scholarship for training in Refrigeration and Air conditioning at Hittachi Corporation, from Asia Bunka Kaikan Dosakai of Japan. This was the time he fell in love with Japan and decided to serve ABK by starting up Japan Sri Lanka Technical and Cultural Association with Ian Dias Abeysinghe, who was the Founder President. JASTECA eventually became his life as they provided Japanese Management Systems to our country. Ian selected him to travel to Japan and canvass for the forming of the Sasakawa Trust with the late Ryoichi Sasakawa. He was successful and was a Founder Member of the Sasakawa Trust.
Subsequently, working closely with Ian they decided to form the JASTECA Trust. Ian passed away and Bertie carried out his wishes and became the President of the JASTECA Trust. In 1995, he fully computerized our label factory into a state-of-the art facility and with the direction of BOI, set up Universal Labels (Pvt) Ltd. He was appointed to many Boards such as the Cancer Hospital Committee of which he was the Treasurer and as the Chairman of the Advisory Board to the Sri Lanka Police-Maharagama and its suburbs. The last of his appointments was “Friends of the Accident Service”, National Hospital Colombo.
From Rowlands he moved to Elephant House and here too he found a group of friends who lasted a lifetime. He always involved me in everything and all the spouses of his friends became firm friends. Our children continued these friendships and now our grand children are continuing them as well.
All my life I was business oriented and spoke to Bertie often about starting on our own. He was very open to this idea and when at Elephant House, he picked up the idea of starting woven labels to service the garment industry which had just got off the ground. In 1980, we established Uni-Tag Industries Ltd on our property at Maharagama.
Bertie, by then was at Delmege and was appointed the Managing Director of Lanka Lite (subsidiary of Delmege) in Koralawella Moratuwa. As we started expanding, I asked him to resign and work full time with me, in 1985. We were partners in marriage and in business.
Bertie made me what I am today. He gave me space to develop my talents and as I used to say jokingly, he gave me enough rope that I did not end up hanging myself. He shared all my interests and helped me at my time of need by solidly standing behind me. When my brother suddenly passed away aged 44 in 1989, he helped me to move into the airline business and run it efficiently.
Bertie was a gentle, loving and kind man who never used a harsh word in his life. He was a wonderful husband to me and father to Roshantha and Shanil. He was much loved by his three granddaughters, Manisha, Shania and Maia. He managed our staff efficiently and was always available to them after work, to help them sort out their personal problems. June 25,2017 was the saddest day in my life. I watched over him as he passed away so peacefully into Sansara. He went as quietly as he lived.
I have lost my best friend and partner and the boys their beloved father. We do not mourn his death but we celebrate his life. May he now find the peace and tranquility he so richly deserves. We will always love him and carry the baton he has now passed on to us. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.
“Death is the gateway to eternal life”.
Indira
Man of letters and academic is no more
DR A. MUHAMMAD MA’RUF
Dr A. Muhammad Ma`ruf, a distinguished academic with superlative credentials, passed away last week in the United States.
A former Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Ceylon Peradeniya (1966-1968), he was also an Islamic scholar. His academic career spanned several Universities, including Temple University, Department of Religion where he audited a course in Islamic Jurisprudence; University of Chicago, Department of Anthropology; and University of Pennsylvania, Department of Anthropology where he received a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology in 1976.
His lectures and the scores of academic papers he authored included Dream Interpretation in Sufism Past and Present; Medical Anthropology and the history of Sri Lankan Unani Healing Traditions and Lifestyles; Fall 2001 Crisis in Sri Lanka, History & Background; “Heart” or the “Mind” in Islamization?; Why Muslim Anthropology Students Should read Al-Shafi’I and Ibn Khaldun; Islam, Democracy, Governance and Human Rights; Western Anthropology: a Critique of Evolutionism & Taking Another Look at the Story of the Elephant and the Blind Men.
Dr Ma’ruf also served in administrative positions, including Chairperson, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences (1981-83 & 1985); Acting Dean of Arts and Sciences (1983); and Faculty Co-Chairperson, University 2 Planning and Self-Study Commission (1985-87). 1981 – 1989; 2000-to the present.
He leaves his wife Meharun Nihar Kany, daughter Aishah Maryam, Pharmacist for CVS, sons Khaldun Zamani, Network Engineer for NTT, Adam Qutb, Project Manager for Virta and son-in-law Garrett Mailley, Programmer Brandywine Senior Living.
GW