Appreciation: Late Dakshitha Thalgodapitiya
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Dakshitha Thalgodapitiya
The late Dakshitha Thalgodapitiya was a kind hearted person who wanted to help others in his life-time.
He was introduced to me while I was functioning as the Director of the National Construction Association in Sri Lanka (NCCSL). Later when I was working as a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCI) he worked as the Chief Executive Officer. This was during the period of the ethnic conflict. During this period thousands of youth from the Batticaloa West area which is known as “Paduwankarai Pradesham” were in an unhappy situation, not knowing what to do.
Mr. Thalagodapitiya was so helpful, that he reacted immediately and talked to the GIZ (German Technical Organisation) Authorities and established a Vocational Training Centre at the Sri Lanka Red Cross Complex and worked hard to provide professional training on Carpentry, Masonry, electrical wiring, etc to the youth so that they get employed and avoid the situation that prevailed during the ethnic conflict.
I do not know how the people of Paduwankarai are going to thank him for the valuable support rendered by him.
Mr. Thalagodapitiya began life as an Accountant of Ceylon Textile Corporation and at several other institutions. Since he was an efficient administrator, he held the post of Chairman of several state institutions and was also a Director of a number of institutions. Mr. Thalagodapitiya won the Young Entrepreneur’s National Award in the 1970s. In 1977 when the new Government came in to power he was appointed the first young Chairman of a State corporation.
Mr. Thalagodapitiya played a key role in the construction of the Parliament at Jayawardenepura and beautifying Sri Jayawardenepura and the surrounding areas. He also played a key role in initiating the concept of Gam Udawa of the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa. It is also necessary to reflect on Mr. Thalagodapitiya’s involvement in a project which involved the rehabilitation of irrigation tanks and canals. He was an expert in his field. Mr. Thalagodapitiya not only looked after the large construction contractors but also uplifted the small and medium contractors. We should appreciate this. We pray his soul rests in peace.
N. Suntharesan
Past council member of CCI and NCCSL