Appreciations
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The brightest light in our family will shine no more
Indrani Perera (Jayaweera)
A shining light in the Jayaweera family passed away on February 16.
Indrani, my elder sister, was born in Colombo on March 27, 1951 to Nonis Jayaweera and Charlotte Jayaweera from Kamburupitiya, Matara, the ‘lucky seventh’ in a family of 10. She was a beautiful and talented lady.
Indrani had her early education at Buddhist Girls High School in Colpetty, and completed her schooling at Anula Vidyalaya in Nugegoda in 1968. An athletics star, in 1968 she set the Ceylon record at the public schools athletics meet. In the same year, she entered the University of Peradeniya and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1972. Following this she joined the Singer company head office in Ratmalana.
Indrani married Prasada Perera at Fatima Church in Maradana in December 1974. They had met at the Peradeniya Campus and were drawn together by a common athletic bond. Prasada was the holder of the Ceylon record for 800m for a number of years before it was broken by Kosala Sahabandu. Indrani and Prasada were married for 46 years. They loved each other and it was a perfect match.
In 1975, Indrani and Prasada migrated to England and lived there for nine years, first in Newbury, then Reading. My brother Gamini was also in England. During that time their first child Veronica was born. In 1979 Gamini and Indrani invited me and my wife, Prasani, to settle down in London. In a foreign country far from home, we became very close and often visited each other on the weekend. Indrani loved cooking and knew all my mother’s secret recipes. Prasani and I enjoyed her food.
In 1984 Indrani and her family moved to Melbourne, Australia, and settled down in Wantirna South, living there for 36 years until four months before she passed away. In 1989 I followed and settled in Sydney. Over the years we met each other a number of times, in Sydney, Melbourne and Colombo. She was always very bubbly and lively, with a beautiful smile. It was a pleasure to be in her company.
Indrani and Prasada’s second child Chantella was born in Melbourne, and continued the family tradition of excelling in sport. She represented her country in basketball with the Emerging Opals, at the World University Games and the FIBA under 21 World Championships, all extraordinary achievements. Indrani was very proud of her daughters. She even attended the season opening of Chantella’s AFLW club, West Coast Eagles, at the MCG two weeks before she passed away.
Always ambitious, Indrani joined National Australia Bank as a mortgage banker, and was later promoted to bank manager. She was clearly well-loved and well-respected by her colleagues, evident in the vast number who attended her funeral.
Indrani battled cancer bravely for more than three years. She revealed her battle with cancer to me late in 2018. Before that we had attended my elder brother’s funeral in Colombo and she was her usual self. I never suspected that she had been going through this. I cried for hours and days after hearing this news.
Indrani, my sister, I can’t believe that you are gone forever. Last year when I visited you we talked about growing up in Kalubowila – how we went to school together in the mornings, how I picked you up from your English classes in Bambalapitiya. Your family came first for you and your family was your life.
It was too soon for you to go. I love you, my dear beautiful sister.
Goodbye my sister, until we meet again.
- Jayantha Jayaweera
An honourable officer and gentleman
HERBERT STANLEY JAYASURIYA
Herbie joined the Ceylon Police on January 5, 1960 as a probationary Sub-Inspector along with Tudor Wijeratne, Senaka Pilapitiya, Ranjith Benjamin, Vivian Jayaweera, Felix Silva, L. Landsburger, Felix Gnanandran, Noel Edwards, late R.L De Silva, Mervyn Weerakoon, Premachandra Jayawardane, Tissa Satharasinghe, B.R. Gomes and myself. We were fortunate to be blessed with a gentleman officer late V.T. Dickman, Rtd Senior Supdt of Police as our chief lecturer who was more knowledgeable in practical police work whilst the theory was handled by attorney-at-law M.D.S. Peter.
Herbie was from the word ‘go’ a hardworking and committed individual who excelled in his studies and sports. He was a brilliant leader who was capable of picking the right style at the right time and possessed the skill to obtain maximum performance in a co-operative environment. His qualities indicated that he was the most suitable to lead our batch.
He always gave priority to his religion and never failed to take us to church on Sundays whilst under training at the Kalutara Police Training College. Herbie proved to all of us that he deserved to be recognised as the Best Probationary Sub Inspector of our batch.
In December 1997, Herbie married Aloma with Vere, my brother being their bestman. They were blessed with two daughters Dilani and Roshanthi and two loving grandchildren Roshana and Revantha, besides having a very caring son-in- law in Ruwan, who did much for them especially when he was hospitalised and thereafter. Herbie certainly was blessed to have a caring wife in Aloma.
Herbie was first posted to Kandy Police Headquarters with Tudor Wijeratne and Vivian Jayaweera. After a short stint in Kandy he was posted to Katugastota Police station with Inspector Velu whom he said was very honest and strict. From here he was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) where most of his time was spent, except that he had to serve in the field on certain occasions during the 1971 insurgency and the LTTE war in the north. His final assignment was as Director Colombo Fraud Bureau where he was called upon to reorganize the operation as it had failed to live up to expectations.
Herbie having retired from the Police worked in the Central Bank as he had wide experience in exchange control cases that not many possessed. Later he worked as a consultant for an audit firm and with my company on several investigations.
Herbie was an excellent tennis player. He was the president of the tennis club in Frazer Avenue. Unfortunately, the Municipality took it over and his tennis came to an end. He was also one of the best singers in the Methodist church and the Baptist church choirs. He had an excellent sense of humour that he used to his advantage at his birthday get- togethers, or even classes or gatherings he conducted.
Herbie helped me to organise our 1960 batch to get-togethers at my residence and at the Senior Police Officers Mess. It was in 2017 that we had our last batch get-together at the Senior Officers Mess in remembrance of our late guru, Rtd Senior Supdt. of Police V.T. Dickman. We managed to publish a souvenir with several anecdotes and stories which was edited by Herbie with my help. Herbie excelled at this and he ensured we had a lot singing whilst he entertained us with his jokes.
We are certainly going to miss him at our next get-together and not forgetting his birthday celebrations on November 28 each year at the Senior Officers Mess along with his immediate family and close associates
He was accorded a fitting farewell by the Police Department organised by the Retired Senior Officers’ Association with service honours. The citation was read by a senior officer of the RSPOA, S.B.W De Silva, former Director Of Training Of the Police College and former Commandant of the Civil Defence Force. The citation said – “During his service he had been awarded many medals in recognition of his dedicated and loyal police career. He showed his prowess in special investigations, he imparted his knowledge and experience, provided strong leadership and contributed immensely to discipline. He was one of the finest officers to ever adorn the coveted office of his rank…… He was an officer who was a role model for his high level of honesty, integrity, impartiality and leadership.”
Rev. Dilip Fernando, a very close associate and friend of the Jayasuriya family said that Herbie was a gentleman police officer – a rare breed today. “He performed as a police officer always acting according to his conscience and never wavered in his actions, never succumbed to pressure from officers or politicians and always acted without any fear or favour whilst giving priority to his Christian values.”
Herbie firmly believed in the saying: “never be bullied into silence, never allow yourself to be made victim, accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself”.
Herbie, your family, friends and colleagues will miss you. We will always remember you as an honourable officer and gentleman.
- Nihal de Alwis