Appreciations
View(s):A leading educationist, he was a keen sportsman too
Shelton Grenville Senarath-Dassanayake
Shelton was born at Katuwellagama walauwa, Katuwellagama, a village close to Katana. His father was Proctor Fredrick Senarath-Dassanayake of the same place, and his mother hailed from Debaraliyadda walauwa in Pannala. They had six children and Shelton was one before the last.
He had his secondary education at Maris Stella College, Negombo and obtained his bachelor’s degree in science at the University of Poona in India. Back in Ceylon, he had a three-month stint teaching at the Polgahawala Central College and soon after was absorbed into the Inspectorate of the Education Ministry. This enabled him to gain a post-graduate diploma in education at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya.
Hard-working and loyal to his superiors, he was able to work himself up the ladder and become a Director of Education. This gave him the opportunity to further his education and training for well over a year at the University of Leicester in the UK.
He was selected as the Head of the Technical College, Maradana, the oldest technical college in the country. After some years as Director of Education at the Ministry of Education, he joined the Ministry of Fisheries as a Director and worked there until he left the government service. He then got the opportunity to serve as Director of Examinations at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, until retirement.
He never shirked responsibility and even during difficult times, when employees were given notice by chits not to attend office, he went to work, facing the challenge.
Shelton was a keen sportsman. He won colours and many awards at the University in tennis and table tennis and played for the Education Ministry A team, winning several tournaments. After retirement and giving up competitive tennis, he used to play friendly games at the Fort Tennis Club next to the Rowing Club. In New Zealand where he migrated to, he made sure to pass his tennis skills to his grandchildren and they, too, won tournaments at their local tennis club. He was also a member of the Sri Jayawardenepura Lions Club and treasurer for quite a while. He was involved in many of its welfare projects.
I was hopeless in cooking and sewing. My husband, however, tolerated my lack of expertise in these areas and always saw to it that I had domestic help. When the cook went home for the Sinhala New Year, he made sure that the nearest food outlet supplied us with meals. He would eat what was laid on the table and I am very grateful for his understanding.
My mother lived with us. When she underwent eye surgery, Shelton on his way to office visited her every morning, to see to her needs. When I went to see her in the evening, the nurses asked whether I was the daughter-in-law. That shows how well he treated his mother-in-law.
He believed in the Buddhist Dhamma, and it was when he was President of the Dayaka Sabhawa, that the new Sanghawasa together with the library was built at the Nugegoda High Level Road junction – Siridhammaramaya temple, endowing scholarships for the best students at the Dhamma School.
In 2002, he joined his daughter’s family in New Zealand and was with them until a stroke made him stay for a while at the Rest Home Hospital, where he passed away. While in NZ, he was involved in the Sri Lankaramaya temple activities together with the Maha Sangha Nayaka Thera. They were firm friends, and he was Shelton’s last visitor (other than family), who casually came to see him, a week before his death.
Shelton loved and cared for his family. He fulfilled his obligations and duties to them. His mind was free when the time came to say goodbye. As a believer in the Dhamma, his wish was to attain Nibbana, and we all hope that this wish is already granted.
September 17 marked his seventh death anniversary.
Wife Pearl
A cop who was always forthright
TASSiE SENEVIRATNE
Tassie who was born on December 12, 1935 joined the Ceylon Police on April 1, 1958, as a probationary Sub-Inspector, along with many others who were recognised sportsmen, like P.B.G.Aluwihare, Dhanasiri Weerasinghe, S. Sivendran, S. Boralessa, George Matahnagaweera, and C. Navaratnam.
Tassie served in many parts of the Island and I remember he together with former IGP Ernest Perera and the late Henry Perera was in a team entrusted with customs intelligence to prevent smuggling. He was specially picked by the then IGP along with the late Ernest Perera and the late Henry Perera (Rtd SSP) due to their high standard of integrity. During his period in the service he was an active member of the Officers’ Mess and also the Senior Officers’ Mess, and after his retirement played an active role in the Retired Senior Police Officers’ Association (RSPOA).
Tassie was a prolific writer and always made useful contributions to the print media especially about the Police Department. He had no qualms about expressing his views to any superior, politician or colleague and held no grudges. He played an important role along with Transparency International providing them accurate information on matters pertaining to the Police Department. He published many books, including his memoirs, with great enthusiasm.
I recall him convening a meeting along with Retired Senior DIG Selvaratnam, Upali Seneviratna (Rtd SP) and several other retired Senior Police officers at the Senior Officers’ Mess and making an appeal to the IGP N.K. Illangakoon to bring some relief to the families of the 650 policemen massacred by the LTTE, when they were led by posthumously promoted SP Ivan Boteju, as they were ordered by the IGP at the insistence of the then President to surrender to the LTTE. I was also invited to join the team and we did much ground work to get details of the families and their plight. But the IGP, unfortunately from whom much was expected, dodged the issue and to date nothing has been done by the Police Department to the disappointment of Tassie and all concerned.
Since I had the necessary document many appeals were made to the Human Rights Commission but nothing materialised.
Tassie was always concerned about others especially officers
junior to him not getting a fair deal. He was large hearted and had great compassion. He was a good leader and believed in taking the bull by
its horns.
I came to know Tassie long before he joined the police. It was in 1954 that we attended an “ Outward Bound Training Camp”. A camp organised by Dr Hayman, Principal of S. Thomas’ College, Gurutalawa. Tassie represented S. Thomas’ with Jolly Somasundaram, E.B. Wickremanayaka
(junior) and several others whilst I was the only Richmondite. We underwent training in swimming,
boxing, horse riding, hiking, compass reading, hockey, basketball etc.
His death is indeed a loss to many of us, who depended on his advice when we needed any. His articles in the Sunday Times were very factual, informative and well researched.
Tassie always believed in setting boundaries and teaching others how to respect them by pointing out when these boundaries were crossed. He learnt to ask in an honest, direct and uncomplicated way. He maintained his dignity and treated others with respect
Tassie, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Nihal de Alwis
She added energy and colour to all our fun-filled activities
Manoranjani Munasinghe
Our paths crossed in the lower grades of our alma mater when we learnt, played, sang and formed friendships at Mother Visakha’s feet. When Manoranjani passed away on 21.11. 2021, the news sent shock waves through the close-knit circle of friends who were her classmates of the ’70 O’ L batch of Visakha Vidyalaya.
She had many roles to play as daughter, sister, wife and mother and she fitted into them all exceptionally well. Even as a young girl, she could be relied upon to do her duty by her family. She belonged to a family of professionals and academics and she made her mark as an entrepreneur. Her creative talent and innovative technique stood her in good stead in her work.
Her friends cherished their friendship with her and in turn she would do them many a good turn which would give them lasting happy memories.
Her demise has left a void in her immediate family. She was very keen that her son should continue in his higher education and establish himself in his chosen career. Her family and friends will rally round him. Mano was also devoted to her extended family.
She was keenly involved in all the activities and events organised by her batchmates of the ’70 O’ L Group. It was the pioneering effort of Indrakanthi Perera (Kotelawela) and Kumari Dayananda (Gunesekera) supported by Nirmaleeni Rajapakse, Nilmini Nandasena, Devika Jayawardena and others, which brought the batchmates to come together and engage in social service, work and religious observances. We met annually at get-togethers to foster fellowship in the group in a spirit of unity and sisterhood. Manoranjani went on trips together with her friends and joined them on pilgrimages. It was only when she took part in a short play staged at a get-together that we realised she had so much talent for drama and acting. Mano added energy and colour to all our fun-filled activities with her lively conversation and warm companionship.
She was together with us in 2019 when our dear friend Chandani hosted a few friends to lunch at Hotel Galadari. Afterwards she would drop us home, driving her spacious vehicle. She was our transport solution provider!
Going back in time to 2018 at the past teachers’ felicitation and reunion lunch, a memorable event attended by Mrs Sita Siriwardena, Mrs Mallika Perera, Mrs Lalitha Withanachchi, Mrs P. Seneviratne, Mrs U. Tennakoon, Mrs R. Raddalgoda, Mrs J. Gunawardena, Mrs J. Robertson and Mrs Swarna Mendis among others, she made sure they had a pleasant journey back, dropping them at their homes in her vehicle.
When we had another get-together with Mrs Chulasinghe and another Botany teacher, Mano was very keen to get down and walk the teachers to their doors carrying their parcels for them.
Our batchmate Bisheka De Silva and friends offered an almsgiving to the priests of the Sri Kalyani Dharma temple on Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo to bestow merit on her, Saumya Gunesekera and Devika Jayawardena and other batchmates who had passed away.
May Manoranjani attain Nirvana.
Her batchmates of the ’70 O’L Group
of Visakha Vidyalaya
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