Appreciations
View(s):To the greatest Amma who gave us nothing but the best
Dr.Tilokasundari Kariyawasam
It is one year since Amma left us, leaving a deep void in our hearts. During this year there is not a single day that went by when we have not thought of her. She was such an extraordinary person, her loss is heart wrenching.
My amma, Tilokasundari Kariyawasam, was an old girl of Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo and Ananda College Colombo. Later she entered the University of Colombo for her B.A in Mathematics. Whilst at University she took the main role in a drama named “Sunethra”.The drama was produced by my father, Piyadasa Kariyawasam. Through the play they got to know each other, which eventually led to marriage.
Her first appointment was as a teacher at Visakha Vidyalaya. Later, she completed her Masters Degree at the University of Peradeniya.In 1958 Amma was appointed as the Principal of Sangamitta Vidyalaya, Galle at a very young age of 29 years.She took Sangamitta Vidyalaya to great heights achieving a record of 164 pupils who entered the University in 1964.
In 1966 she was awarded a British Council Scholarship to read for a PhD in Psychology at the University of London.
Once she returned after completing her doctorate, in 1970, she was attached to Ananda Balika Vidyalaya in Colombo as Principal.In 1972 she was promoted to the post of Regional Director of Education for both Matara and Tangalle Zones of Education. Later, she became the Director for Teacher Training and Planning. She also held the post of Commissioner of Educational Publications for three years after which she was appointed as the Deputy Director General of Education.In 1989, she served as the State Secretary of Education and the Director General of the National Institute of Education.
My mother was blessed with three children. She was a great mother in every sense of the word. She had an inseparable connection with her family that was deep and symbiotic. Her family mattered to her the most as evidenced by the profusion of love and care bestowed on her husband, children and grandchildren. There was a lot of love that surrounded us in our happy home. Amma, you were just wonderful in a million different ways.
My mother was a constant presence from my formative years. She was not only a mother but a close friend, confidante and counsellor and she set us a great example.
Being a versatile person she became a culinary expert who prepared delicious meals for us.Mutton Biriyani was her specialty. The door of her home was literally open to her friends,relatives and acquaintances to walk in and enjoy her hospitality. She was generous beyond measure.
She was very keen to acquire knowledge. Her interests were eclectic. She was a voracious reader. Her example encouraged my children and I to emulate her.Every morning she would get up at 5 a.m. and start writing or reading. She was the author of many books which covered a variety of subjects such as Education,Psychology, Buddhism,Intelligence Tests, Children’s stories. She was the recipient of the Presidential Award three times.
She was a beautiful lady with a beautiful heart. She liked to dress extremely well and favoured beautiful, brightly-coloured sarees. She was conscious about her appearance even in her old age.
She had compassion and understanding and gave love, joy and happiness to all. She was ready to forgive and forget with a beautiful smile.
I was blessed and fortunate to be able to look after Amma at my home during the last four years of her life. My mother lived a complete and dynamic life.We take joy and pride in looking back as Amma lived her life to the fullest and gave us nothing but the best.
Amma! Your unconditional love was a blessing to my life.
Amma! to me you are the greatest mother in the world.
We will cherish your memory forever.
May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana!
Miuru Kariyawasam
You inspired us with your humanity and humility
Balasubramaniam Surendra
July 16, marks the 3rd month of the passing of Balasubramaniam Surendra, Suren as he was known to many of us. It was with profound shock and sadness that his family, countless friends and associates learnt of the news of his passing.
Suren was born with the proverbial silver spoon and was nurtured in a priviledged background, yet he never lost the common touch, nor the ability to empathise, feel and respond to another’s need. He had his education at S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia and following his professional studies he joined the family business which he was heading at the time of his untimely demise.
Suren was indeed a lively, sensitive, kind, gentle human being and always saw the good in everyone. Throughout his life he epitomised the values of kindness and uprightness. He was an honest and ethical human being who was respected by all those he associated with. He valued human beings over monetary gains and had a strong sense of commitment and duty towards the staff of the company he headed. I remember a staff member saying, “He would always greet us and inquire about our wellbeing and those of our families each day as he came into work”.
He believed in the dignity of all human beings especially the downtrodden. Following his death many were the tales of his selfless silent acts of charity and kindness which were done in total silence. A simple incident that comes to mind that demonstrates Suren’s empathy was -whilst we were trying to park outside his home during the funeral even the parking attendant appeared overcome with grief and commented that he would always greet him and see to his needs.
Suren had a tremendous zest for life and was happiest when surrounded by his family and friends.His subtle sense of humour brought much wit and light entertainment to the times spent with him and the laughter and the memories of those wonderful times will be cherished. He would always choose to talk about the funny side of life rather than dwell on the gloomy and dreary.
He was a dutiful, caring and beloved spouse to his wife Uma, a devoted and loving father to his children Aparna and Santheep, a wonderful brother to his sisters Shyama, Vanaja and an affectionate and doting Uncle to his nieces and nephews.
Being a diehard blue blooded Thomian, he greatly valued the kinship and camaraderie he shared with his STC batchmates.He was a generous host and together with his wife Uma hosted many get togethers which will be remembered by all. The widow of a batchmate who passed away recently told me that Suren had been a tower of strength to her and was always there for her family in their darkest hours offering her help and support following her bereavement. The countless number of relatives and friends who flew in from different parts of the world for his funeral all in the brief time of three days bore ample testimony to the respect and love with which he was held.
Today we live in a society that encourages and advocates hedonism glorifying self-interest, narcissism amidst an ethic that admires and values unbridled ambition, amassing material possessions, the abandonment of human decency with no respect for human dignity. Rarely are we privileged to encounter an individual such as Suren whose values, ambitions, character, priorities and motivations, run counter to the worldview of our time and age.
Reflecting on the life of Suren we realize that the world is indeed poorer for his loss. It is hard to believe that this larger than life personality is no more, yet the lives of the people he touched will inspire us to serve our fellow human beings with love, compassion and kindness and remember that every human being has his own worth and dignity.
Farewell dear friend and may you find eternal rest and peace.
“The first step to be a good man is this: you must feel the burden of the stones someone else is carrying”-
Mehemet Murat Ildan
WRS
A tower of strength and friend of the downtrodden
Ratna Kodagoda
Ratna Kodagoda, the beloved wife of the late Professor Dr. Nandadasa Kodagoda was a great lady in every sense of the word. She was gentle, kind and loving to everyone she had any dealings with.
She was a tower of strength to her three children, her grandchildren and all the nephews and nieces that she loved very much. She was always there for them and ready to help them in all their problems. She was a great friend to all of us and I still can’t get over the fact that she is not with us anymore.
It is three months since she passed away on April 6 just one day before her 82nd birthday. We were shocked when we heard the news that she had passed way after a brief illness.
She was instrumental in inaugurating the Kodagoda Trust after the passing away of her beloved husband. This Trust was started to help deserving medical students who found it difficult to continue their studies. With the help of her many friends she started many projects to help these students financially.
She loved her garden especially her flower plants. She loved animals too especially her pet dog.
She was one of the finest people I have ever met. She was full of sympathy for the poor and down trodden and always helpful.
I am sure her children Geethani, Ajith, Yasantha and her grandchildren miss her very much as we her friends also miss her.
So finally I say with Shakespeare –“Goodbye sweet lady and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
Ruth
Her zest for life will always be remembered
Girla Wimalananda
Aunty Girla whom we called Loontao Nanda is no more, but the spirit she unreservedly endowed makes her life one that is immortal to us.
Hers was a time on earth well spent. This octogenarian, the only girl of 14 siblings in her family passed away peacefully after a brief illness at a private hospital.
A native of Moratuwa, she came to live with her husband in Mount Lavinia, 70 years ago at the tender age of 14. She was the Ponds Beauty Queen of then Ceylon in her early twenties.
She indeed would have faced hard times bringing up five children, when her husband departed this world suddenly at a young age. However, the latter part of her life’s journey was truly amazing. Known for her hospitality and partying, she was always well groomed and dressed up at home, fit to attend a function at any time of the day.
Always cheerful and jovial she had an extraordinary heart for the poor and the needy. Many were the services carried out silently for the sake of the less fortunate and temples in the vicinity.
The only remaining member of a large family, she was very well looked after, receiving all life’s comforts and luxuries lavished on her till the end by her beloved children here and abroad, chiefly Keerthi and Janaka, a businessman cum hotelier.
Her last wishes included having her hands clasped in a posture of saying “Ayubowan” to all who paid their last respects to her, also to throw a party on the day of the funeral.
May God grant her eternal rest.
Maxie Perera