Appreciations
View(s):Her dedicated service to Mallika Nivasa Samithiya will be etched in our hearts
Lakshmi Perera
It was with profound sadness that I received the news of the death of my good friend and contemporary Lakshmi Perera. She had attended the centenary celebrations of the Mallika Nivasa Samithiya held at the BMICH only a few weeks earlier, where she was presented an award for her 53 years of dedicated service to the society.
Always duty conscious and very straightforward, whatever she did came straight from her heart. The word ‘no’ was not in her vocabulary. She was always positive. At a fund-raising event, she organised a buffet lunch which continued to be held at every avurudu pola. This was a great success.
It was during her tenure that the 75th Jubilee of the Mallika Nivasa Samithiya was celebrated at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute with the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike as the chief guest.
She also organised a series of activities following the jubilee celebrations, including a successful two-day residential seminar with the Minister of Social Services as the Chief Guest. All NGOs caring for the elders from various parts of the country were invited.
Lakshmi represented the affiliated societies — the Central Council of Social Services and All Ceylon Women’s Conference. As a member of the All Ceylon Women’s Buddhist Congress, she regularly attended all its meetings.
At a new year celebration for less fortunate children in the neighbourhood she had organised traditional games and lunch for them as well as gifts of books, toys and a till to encourage them to save. Recalling the various events and activities held during her period in office, I am amazed. She would always take up a challenge and had enormous organisational ability coupled with energy and unbounded enthusiasm.
I express my gratitude to her for all what she has done for the society.
Dear Lakshmi, with all the merit you acquired may you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.
Indrani Munasinha
A true Hardian at heart
Kithsiri Gunawardhana
A few days ago our good friend Kithsiri suddenly left us, having lived more than the Biblical three score and ten. He appeared to be very healthy but the light burnt out so quickly one morning and his near and dear could hardly believe what overcame them.
He was indeed more than a friend to all, not only by word but by deed as well.
Kithsiri had an inquisitive engineering mind, always eager to learn the mechanisms that turned the world. As a young adult, he enrolled at the Hardy Institute at Ampara to follow a course in mechanical engineering.
In the 1960s and also earlier, the Hardy Institute, besides classroom instruction, provided on-the-job training to students at middle technician level in a multitude of engineering and agricultural activities scattered around the Gal Oya valley. There were excellent state of the art workshops. These development activities were a part of a huge national undertaking, the fruits of which are being enjoyed by the present generation.
The Hardy Institute is named after the Canadian Professor Evan A. Hardy, who devoted the latter part of his life to the creation of the Institute and making it a centre of excellence, attracting students from many countries in South and Southeast Asia under the then existing funding mechanism – the Colombo Plan. It was in this environment that Kithsiri cut his teeth.
Kithsiri’s interests went beyond engineering and the classroom. He was an avid naturalist and often walked into the surrounding jungles. Once, over a four-day period, he walked round the Senanayaka Samudra along with a group of like-minded nature lovers.
In later years, Kithsiri was a live wire in the Old Boys Association that was keeping the Evan A. Hardy flame alive — not sparing time, energy, and even personal resources. Kithsiri was the encyclopedia for all past and current news relating to the Institute and also news of old students scattered around the globe.
Independence Day on February 4 was always marked at the Hardy Centre at Ratmalana with flag hoisting and kiribath; Kithsiri giving the rallying call to members living nearby. In recent years he singlehandedly took care of the centre and also its not too well caretaker. The boot of his car was occupied by the grass cutting machine and other gardening tools.
His interactions were not only with old Hardians. His suggestions for improvement were welcomed by the Hardy management at Ampara. The current students were not overlooked either as he arranged a number of scholarships for those in need. He used to visit the Institute to participate in various student activities.
Kithsiri spoke little but achieved much on the ground. May his life be short in samsara and may he attain nibbana.
Ranjit Wijewansa
An engineer who led from the front
K. SATGUNASINGAM
One of the pioneers of the Mahaweli Development Scheme, K. Satgunasingam passed away on February 5.
He was involved in the scheme from the inception of the Mahaweli Development Board (MDB) that was formed in 1970, when the design works commenced with only local inputs on a 30-year original programme with minimal foreign consultancy assistance. The organisation was led by Mr. Manamperi as the founder chairman and R. S. Cooke as General Manager. Among the senior engineers from the inception, the names of K.R. de Silva, A. Maheswaran, A. J. P. Ponrajah, Buddhadasa, Douglas Laddhuwahetti, Munidasa Gunaratne, Sivasubramaniam and K. Satgunasingam come to my mind.
During these early stages up to 1977 during Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s government, all the works were handled by local engineers under the Mahaweli Development Board (MDB). Some of the work accomplished during this period were the Polgolla diversion phase of the scheme consisting of the Polgolla barrage across the Mahaweli river, a five-mile long Polgolla Ukuwela tunnel and the Ukuwela power station. The water diverted from this project was diverted via Suduganga to the Bowatenna part of the scheme which included the Bowatenna reservoir, Bowatenna power station, a five-mile long Bowatenna tunnel and the Huruwewa feeder canal and the rehabilitation and new extension canal work for the Kalawewa, Kandalama and Huruluwewa irrigation system which were fed by the diverted water from Mahaweli.
With the change of government in 1977, J. R. Jayewardene, as the then Prime Minister, one day walked into the then Chairman R. S. Cooke’s office with the entire Cabinet and indicated his intention to telescope the entire Mahaweli Scheme from 30 years to six years, with financial assistance from the UK, Canada, Germany, Sweden and other nations. I was one of those who were fortunate to have witnessed this rare event, as a young engineer at MDB head office.
This led to the formation of the Mahaweli Authority (MASL). MDB was assigned the responsibility of doing the development of the canal system and farms under them while the major proposed reservoirs were entrusted to the consultancy and construction organisations of the respective donor countries. Mr. Satugunasingam as the then Additional General Manager (Design) handled all the design works of MDB (later renamed Mahaweli Engineering and Construction Agency (MECA), as the engineering arm of MASL).
This was the period when I had the opportunity to work under him in order to gain design experience as part of my training for obtaining full professional recognition as a chartered engineer. This gave me the opportunity to have a closer acquaintance with him. He was a member of the Institution of Structural Engineers (London) which was a qualification possessed only by a few in Sri Lanka at the time. His long period of exposure with reputed engineering organisations in UK had given him a high level of design related knowledge, and we were able to benefit from this.
He was exemplary in his personal attitude. Though many at his level were not personally involved in field investigations, he himself led the way for young engineers by walking into virgin forests infested with elephants in such areas as Maduru Oya for field investigations to verify first hand the actual field conditions before proceeding with the design. He was very honest and dedicated to his work, and also very concerned and kind towards his staff, going out of the way to help them, of which I too was a recipient on many occasions. He expressed his personal affection for us in many ways. I used to hear him walking along the corridor calling, “where is our fair lady Lanka?” looking for one of his juniors.
He was a victim of the 1983 riots, but it did not embitter him. He continued to remain in and serve the country with a sense of integrity. After his retirement, when he once saw me on the road, he told me that on a visit to a Mahaweli worksite just out of concern, he found that the design work for a structure was very poor and advised me to take more care with the public works since we are responsible to the public whom we serve. This gives a glimpse of the calibre of person that he was, in a society that is self-centred and corrupt to the core.
I feel fortunate to have served and learned from icons such as Mr. Satgunasingam!
K. Theivasagayam
Memories will live on as will the tea you nurtured
Sam Rajiah
On January 18, 2022, the curtain came down on the life of a truly legendary planting icon Edward Samson Rajiah, at age 97, bringing to a close yet another era of professionals who were respected, admired and revered throughout their association with the tea industry.
A proud product of Trinity College, Sam joined the Ceylon Garrison Artillery as a commissioned officer before moving to the Tea Research Institute as an Assistant in the Plant Pathology division in 1947.
Those initial years with the TRI laid the foundation for a career that was largely influenced by science and research, and so it was no surprise when he took on his first billet as Asst. Superintendent on Gonakelle Estate in 1950 under the agency of George Steuart and Company. He favoured clonal tea to seedling, the benefits of which took time to catch on in the region and eventually did with remarkable results.
Consequently he carried with him from Gonakelle, to Viharegala, Hellbodde and Spring Valley an unfailing commitment to nurseries, and replanting as seedling tea gave way to VP clonal tea with telling results on yields. Indeed the industry was flourishing.
Following nationalisation of plantations in 1975, he served on the Regional Boards of both the Janatha Estates Development Board and State Plantations Corporation, yet another indication of the esteem in which he was held.
I first met Sam when I moved to Haputale on retirement in 2008 at his well appointed Othakadde bungalow midway to Bandarawela from my home.
His charmingly gracious wife Ranji (nee Paulraj) welcomed me equally and soon I became acquainted with the truly admirable work they were both doing on behalf of the Church of Ascension in Bandarawela, in steering a day care centre for the poorest of four to five-year-olds and a home for destitute elders.
The former was a revelation for the love and care they extended to those young children regardless of ethnicity or religion who were provided with a nutritional breakfast and lunch, school bags, books uniforms and shoes, and taught in all three languages, for one year before the following batch was carefully chosen and admitted, which prompted me to support that venture as well.
Soon I became part of the family, with son Jeremy a popular figure in the industry, and Angela whose compassionate nature led to her working alongside children with special needs and providing a home for destitute canines.
Sam’s deep abiding faith in God stood out like a beacon in all his actions. When I chauffeured him and Ranji in September 2019, on a sentimental visit to Spring Valley 40 years after he relinquished his posting there, the reception from the labour and retirees plus office staff reflected the reverence with which Sam was regarded! That visit was facilitated by one of the loyal and grateful juniors he nurtured, Rohan Weerakoon who had climbed the ladder of success to become the CEO of Balangoda Plantations in the region.
I attended both their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries. Christmas lunch annually at Othakadde was an experience in itself. The presence of another icon Ken Murray enhanced the laughter and extended eating time to well past 4 p.m. as the stuff that cheers got generously refilled amidst great stories from their halcyon days.
Sam’s soulmate Ranji through these challenging and rewarding years earned her the name “Rock“ for her steadfast support to him. Her amazingly devoted nursing care in his final weeks was a further indication of the strong bond that bound them together on that long journey.
She will miss him as indeed we all will.
Rest in peace my friend.
We will cherish the great memories while the tea you nurtured and left behind continues to flourish.
S. Skandakumar
Studies and songs; a friend from fun-filled Pera days!
DR. ATHULA KAHANDALIYANAGE
I lost my good friend and batchmate, Athula Kahandaliyanage a few days ago. I am devastated and still can’t believe that a person so alive and so active as Athula could one day be no more.
I first met him in 1973 when we entered the Peradeniya Medical Faculty together. Although a fresher, he exuded so much confidence that at first I thought he was in the senior batch. Even in those early days he stood out as a leader and it was no surprise that he was unanimously chosen as our batch representative. It was perhaps an indication of things to come, the VIP posts he would hold in the future.
I well remember our batch trip to Dunhinda. I decided not to go as a trek to Dunhinda in the 1970’s was challenging even for the abled, and with my disability I just would not make it. When Athula heard of it he said “You must come! You could anyway enjoy the trip to and from Dunhinda and could stay in the bus while we walk to the falls.” So I went along.
Once at Dunhinda, Athula wouldn’t hear of me staying in the bus, and he and another batchmate Ranadeva, held me on either side and literally half carried me to the falls, the three of us singing along as we went. Thanks to Athula and Ranadeva I enjoyed that batch trip to the fullest.
We were study mates – six of us would get together in the evenings to study. Athula would bring his guitar along, I would get my guitar out, and our study sessions always ended up in a singing session. His songs still ring in my ears- his favourite being a hit of that time “Rock Me Gently”. Athula didn’t seem to study very hard but with his high degree of intelligence he didn’t need to, and got through all exams easily and with honours.
Our friendship lasted all these years, and he always kept in touch. The day that he was appointed Secretary to the Ministry of Health was the same day that I was inducted President of the College of Anaesthesiologists. Athula took over the duties at the Ministry in Colombo, and in spite of all the work he had to undertake, he made it in time for my Induction in Kandy. I was touched indeed.
He overflowed with fun and humour and wherever he is I know he will be enjoying himself with his music, perhaps he will learn to play the harp and sing with the angel chorus……..And probably lead them in song?
Into the freedom of the wind and sunshine you went…Into the dance and song of the planets we had to let you go…. I miss you but want you to be happy…. Go safely, go dancing, go running home……And we will surely meet again on that beautiful shore and sing our favourite songs together……..
Dr. Carmeline Fernando
Special and unforgettable
SHIRANI CLARINE PERERA (CHERRY)
Cherry, a relative but more a close dependable friend has left behind a legacy for her precious children Rajeeve and Sitara and all of us who were blessed to know her.
She drew her strength from God alone and absolutely nothing could deter her from serving her Creator in all the ways she could with a smile.
She carried her cross valiantly to the end leading a life of service mingled with love. She sacrificed to support and also encouraged others to support those in need including the deaf and Blind, less fortunate children with their education and women’s welfare.
This was possible because she released all of her burdens and cross to God and went forward on her journey.
Cherry, you were special, unforgettable. You had to leave when you received your call but you are now safe in the arms of Jesus.
Christine Fernando
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