Appreciations
View(s):Erudite, yet humble and simple man
Jayampathy Samarakoon
The demise of Dr Jayampathy Samarakoon, ‘Sam’ to his friends and colleagues, was a deep shock. It is difficult to fathom that he is no more – most disturbing is we have lost a great mind that we turned to when we wanted wisdom.
Sam was a product of Trinity College where it is said that he was always looking for new ‘things’ – for the curious mind. He got his BSc in Zoology from Colombo, and had an academic career at the University of Kelaniya, where he taught ecology and fisheries biology. He was a recipient of a Fulbright-Hays Scholarship and completed his PhD at the Illinois State University, US. His doctoral work was on ecology of estuarine fish – a theme close to his heart. Later on, he won a Commonwealth Academic Fellowship and spent a year at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne working on tropical coastal ecology. Later, he was felicitated by Trinity College OBA for his pre-eminence in ecology and environmental sciences and for outstanding national and international service.
I first met Sam when I was a visiting lecturer at the University of Kelaniya; I have to admit that those short meetings were rather perfunctory. I really met him later on when he was attached to a Dutch consulting company which had undertaken a study on the Muthurajawela wetland. I was at the meeting representing the Coconut Research Institute as there was an interest to expand coconut cultivation in some parts of the wetland. Sam was there to expound the virtues of sustainable management of the wetlands to support the community. The meeting ended, but we kept on talking – my first introduction to practical aspects of wetland management and coastal ecology. I went away with a deep satisfaction of talking to someone who knew his ‘onions’, and we would continue to meet on and off, primarily at Muthurajawela and on occasion in his office in Colombo to discuss many matters, including planting coconut in the homegardens of those abutting the wetland.
In due course, Sam produced a number of papers for the Greater Colombo Economic Commission, which I think was the agency with an interest in the Muthurajawela wetland. He produced the profile of the wetland and extended his studies to the Negombo lagoon, a very rich repository of fish providing livelihood to many.
Sam’s recognition of the utility of wetlands was different. Normally, wetland management takes a predominantly conservation approach without due regard to the consideration of socio-economic situation of the dependent communities. He was mindful of the impacts of conservation approaches on the livelihoods of communities and their well-being, and always had a balanced view of these two aspects. Small fishing communities living near the Negombo lagoon will bear testimony to the empathy shown by Sam.
The tsunami of December 2004 devastated the coastal areas in many parts of the country causing the tragic deaths of nearly 35,000 people. Sam’s knowledge was most sought after during the post-tsunami period, when the need of the hour was to restore the ecosystems, bring about sustainable management, and provide a framework for the Government to act in the future.
Sam was responsible for the initial damage assessment of the coastal ecosystems. He tirelessly spent time to provide critical views on restoration of ecosystems. It was a time when many organisations received overseas funding for ecosystem restoration, and a popular activity was to plant mangroves. There were cries to plant a million mangrove plants. It is in this backdrop that Sam provided much-needed technical expertise to warn of the consequences of haphazard planting of mangroves in our lagoon and coastal systems. For example, in Batticaloa and Negombo lagoons, people planted mangroves for land accretion and then expanded their dwellings. Sam undertook studies to provide answers to these many questions – land accretion, changes in hydrology, etc. which proved very valuable to framing guidelines for mangrove planting and their management. In this connection, his immense contribution to the policy document, An Appraisal of Mangrove Management in Micro-tidal Estuaries and Lagoons in Sri Lanka by IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature, Sri Lanka Office is much valued as it provided the policy-makers with directions on lagoon management. Yet, there were some who were not very happy – questioning why mangroves cannot be planted if there is money!
During my tenure at IUCN, I was fortunate to be associated closely with him on post-tsunami work. He was a veritable store-house of knowledge. I looked forward to our many forays into coastal areas, both in Sri Lanka and elsewhere – simply for the many hours of erudite discussions in the evenings. I learnt a great deal from Sam on coastal ecosystem management, and many of us are eternally grateful for his simple ways of sharing knowledge. Unlike some other scientists, Sam’s arguments (and counter-arguments), be it on ecosystem management to community issues to buying a motor car, were always evidence-based.
Above all, Sam was a simple and humble person, always smiling and ready to help others, particularly young professionals who came his way. He was the devoted husband of Priyani, a loving appachchi to Indika and Priyanka and to Sanjiv and Rohan – they will find Sam’s loss irreparable but can take solace in that he was a good man who helped others and lived well, and who will be remembered forever for his contributions to the country.
He will be sorely missed – may he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.
Ranjith Mahindapala
Administrator, scholar, writer and ardent Buddhist
H.A.P. Abeyawardena
Dr. H.A.P. Abeyawardena who passed away on August 28, this year, had his primary education at the Bilingual School Mirissa and secondary education at Rahula College Matara.He obtained his B.A.(Hons) in 1954 and M.A in 1957 from the University of Ceylon.
He joined the Government Service in 1955 as an Assistant Commissioner of Local Government and held several key positions as the Government Agent, Director Cultural Affairs and Additional Secretary and retired from public service in 1988 after an illustrious career of 33 years.
Dr.Abeyawardena was the author of several research papers and books. Among his research papers, ‘Legal Environment for Local Government in Sri Lanka’ was published by the Post Graduate Institute of Management. But his magnum opus was ‘kadaim poth vimarsanaya’ his thesis accepted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Sri Lanka, subsequently translated to English as “Boundary Divisions of Medieval Sri Lanka”.
Dr. Abeyawardena says he undertook the study of ‘kadaim’ books as there was a significant amount of historical writings in Sri Lanka but these documents had hitherto not been subject to any scientific study. Although the main objective of the ‘kadaim’ books had been the exposition of the boundaries, Dr. Abeywardena had unearthed a wealth of information on other features such as regional history, traditions, origin of place names, caste organisations, administration of settlements, prominent personalities and notable institutions. Prof. Emeritus, D.E. Hettiarachchi who wrote a foreword to this publication states, “Dr. Abeyawardena deserves the admiration of all for having presented to scholars such a comprehensive research work while engaged as a busy public servant.”
Due to his knowledge, experience and expertise in district and local administration Dr.Abeyawardena was the obvious choice of the government in 1998 to head the Commission of Inquiry on Local Government Reforms. It was expected to inquire and report into the existing system of local government and on the reforms required and amendments necessary to the existing laws relating to local government. It was also expected to report on ‘the reforms necessary to ensure a uniform system of law applicable to the entire country’.
A comprehensive report prepared under the leadership of Dr.Abeyawardena with many vital recommendations had been submitted to the then Government . But only a few recommendations had been implemented.
On the Heritage Project of the Central Bank, Dr. Abeyawardena produced three highly researched monographs, Ruhuna Paraveniya (Heritage of Ruhuna), Sabaragamuwa Paraveniya, (Heritage of Sabaragamuwa) and Kandurata Paraveniya (Heritage of Kandurata).
Coming from the same village as Ven.Panditha Mirisse Gunasiri Maha Thera, he came under his influence from childhood. He attended the Daham school at Sunandaramaya Mirissa which was founded by the venerable Thera and passed the Dharmacharya examination. He knew his Buddhism and practised it and wrote about it. His Bhavana Meditation –the methodology to attain enlightenment was published by AHAS Publishers. In his autobiography “Sesatha” he says that Buddha’s teachings had always nurtured his thoughts and actions, especially in his dealings with the public, as an administrator.
Following the teachings of the Buddha, he practised “giving up”. He donated his library collection to the National Library and also had made arrangements to donate his mortal remains to the Medical College Colombo which had been duly done by his close relatives on his passing away.
Dr.Abeyawardena was a rare human being.
Dr.P.G.Punchihewa
Successful diplomat who inspired all who knew him
R.C.A. VANDERGERT
Ten years have lapsed since the passing away of Rodney Clement Austen Vandergert. The lawyer diplomat joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1961. He first functioned as Assistant Secretary and then Deputy Director and Director in various divisions in the Ministry of Defence & External Affairs and also served in various capacities in Sri Lankan missions abroad.
I came into contact with him in the latter part of the 70’s when he was the Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was a pleasure to have worked under him as he was a gentleman par excellence. He held successful diplomatic appointments as High Commissioner to Canada and later as Ambassador to China. He also held high positions in the Foreign Ministry as Director, United Nations Division, Director-General, Political Affairs and finally as Secretary, Foreign Affairs.
He always looked placid and relaxed even in problematic situations. His inspiring friendliness, courtesy and patience won the hearts of all who worked with him He never spoke in an aggressive tone or used harsh language. His face was always lit with smiles.
Rodney Vandergert was a devout Christian who practised what he preached. The high degree of honesty plus integrity of character with devotion to duty and simplicity in no small measure, earned the respect of all who came into contact with him.
May he rest in peace.
Vivian Fernando
You are always in my heart
Major Raja De Silva Amarasekera
It was on the 24th of October 2008 that I lost you
Not only did I lose you, but I lost my self too
What a lonely and sad life I have lived for the past eleven years
The only thing that keeps me sane are the memories of our life together
The happy times we shared and your caring ways
Though you are no more by my side
You are always in my heart till death claims me
May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.
Your everloving wife
If I could sit with you one more time
Linnette de S. Wijeyeratne
The vacuum you created six months ago
The ache you left behind will never go
But what yet comforts me to know
Is that you are free from all pain and sorrow
Mum you moved the ocean so that I could sail smoothly
You raised me up so that I could reach the mountains
You made me strong so that I could face the world bravely
You raised me up to be more than I could be ….
You guided me in handling troubles when burdened
You taught me to move on when life was challenged
The sound moral values you inculcated in me
Has made me upto be more than I could be ….
O Lord thank you for loaning her to me for 97 years
Those lovely memories will only see me through
But if I could only sit with her for one more time
I will hold her tight and say how much I miss her
Mum sowed, reaped and collected the yield
You completed the tasks in God’s harvest field,
Now that you have entered the heavenly gates
Rest easy and rest well Mum with Dad and Anne .
Vinodini Jayawardena