Appreciations
View(s):Tribute to my boss, mentor and close friend
Somasiri Ekanayake
I pen these lines in profound sorrow as a tribute to my one-time boss, mentor and close family friend Somasiri Ekaanayake, affectionately called Leslie who passed away on August 12, at the venerable age of 96.
Hailing from a respectable family in Matale, Leslie was the son of a Doctor and was a bright student at St. Thomas College, Matale. He lost his father prematurely and armed with success at the matriculation exam, he renounced the idea of higher studies and joined the Home Ministry where he worked for a short while before joining the Colombo Port where he had the opportunity to familiarise himself with all Port operations and procedures. He went on to join the Food Control Department from where he retired prematurely as Asst. Food Controller in the early ’70s on being invited to join as deputy head, General Superintendence Company, the then Sri Lankan agent of Societe Generale de Surveillance S.A. Geneva, (SGS), the world’s leading commodity inspection and certification organisation. The responsibility of running the company soon fell on Leslie’s shoulders as the Managing Director was on the verge of retirement. This was a time when the country’s exports covered a wide range of products in addition to tea, rubber and coconut products. These exports generated a constant demand for the company’s certification services.
With the liberalisation of trade, he set up new divisions in the company for inspection of other products and recruited experienced staff to handle these operations. He arranged specialised training for selected staff members with SGS affiliates in other countries. These new divisions proved to be major revenue earners.
Leslie’s business correspondence was matchless and inspection certificates crafted by him were benchmarks for others to emulate. Leslie belonged to a class of men of high ethics, courtesy and humility. Blessed with a charming personality, he had the endearing quality of attracting all those who came into contact with him. He was thus able to attract a large number of clients who sought his advice. His readiness to help won him their respect and admiration.
Absolute honesty, kindness and empathy were his hallmarks and as MD he never gave himself any airs. He led by example and when the company moved to a new premises, he was seen giving a helping hand to his staff who volunteered to arrange the company’s furniture.
Leslie had a strong sense of commitment to the welfare of the staff. This liberal attitude extended to approving overtime payments and the annual increments. Leslie also had a hand in the allocation of company shares to all employees in their company.
Leslie was blessed with a happy family with his loving wife Amara, two sons Tilak and Milinda and daughter Dhammika. His sons were abroad at the time of his passing but he received the best of attention and care from his wife and daughter.
Leslie led an exemplary life. He could not harm anyone even by word. His passing has left a great void in our lives. I can no longer enjoy his warm friendship and wise counsel. I can only reminisce about the happy times, working together, accompanying him on numerous occasions to attend on board cargo vessels to survey import cargoes or occasionally entertain clients at the Capri Club. He has left us but he will live on in the hearts and minds of all those whose lives he touched.
The sorrow of his passing can only be assuaged by reflecting on the universal law summed
up in the words of Lord
Buddha – ‘Transient are all
component things’.
May his sojourn in Sansara be short till he attains the bliss of Nibbana.
Douglas Pandita
Goodbye Ma, it was indeed a great innings
Placida Fernando
Usually on every January 8, I trek to the Borella cemetery in the morning to participate in the remembrance of my friend, Lasantha. However, this year I didn’t go as I was by my mother’s side as she was slowly, surely and peacefully moving to the “great unknown”.
My mother, Placida Fernando passed away on January 8, 2022 at the age of 99.
There were so many aspects to her personality and her activities were varied. She was best known as a teacher at Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena. Starting life as a young teacher, she got herself trained at the Bolawalana Training College, Negombo and then joined the faculty as a lecturer. Upon marrying my father Clive M. Fernando of the Lake House Advertising Dept, she left her job and subsequently joined the tutorial staff of Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena in 1954. Starting as the sports and netball teacher she continued to be a class teacher for over 35 years.
Neither the ties to the school nor to teaching ended with her retirement. On her retirement she started Sri Lanka’s first ever Past Teachers’ Association which continues to provide a great forum for all retired teachers of Good Shepherd Convent to meet and keep in contact.
She worked until she was 95 years on a programme in the Convent called “Mary’s Friends”, which supported orphans and economically deprived students, funding their education up to university graduation. She continued as an English language tuition teacher and was known as “Teacher” by everyone in the Mattakkuliya area where she lived. This activity ended with the onset of COVID-19.
From all what I have heard about her childhood, she had been very active and in many ways a mischievous even rebellious child. In her adult life she was a social activist and also a prominent political worker. When I view “the Aragalaya” of today. I am reminded that she led an “Aragalaya” in 1960. That was at the time when the ‘schools takeover’ took place. She led the Mothers’ Union in a protest march to Temple Trees where then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike resided. She proceeded to lie across Galle Road stopping the traffic, which I think was quite an achievement for a woman of that era.
Another activity which she initiated, but of course of a more sublime nature was the English choir at St. Mary’s Church, Mattakuliya. This choir has now completed 40 years and she sang in it till a few years before her death
She loved to sing and at all family gatherings or parties she was on the floor, singing and dancing and keeping everyone entertained. She was a bit of a “show-off”, I have to admit. Another aspect of her life was public speaking on political platforms. She addressed meetings along the coastline from Chilaw up to Moratuwa at a time when female political speakers were not common.
With the passing of time her activities were curtailed to in and around Matakkuliya.
One of her greatest joys was the numerous large black labradors she had up to the very end.
I vividly remember her animatedly watching cricket matches on television and cheering on her heroes like the Master Blaster. It came as no surprised because she was a proud product of Moratuwa and they say that the ABC of Moratuwa is Arrack, Baila and Cricket. Sometimes seeing one of her heroes miss a century by just one or two runs was something she would deeply rue.
She too missed completing her century by just a few months. If she had lived, she would have been 100 years on September 18. But we mourn not her loss. I, my sisters Kusum and Pavi, wife Priyani and children Janeen and Yolani feel singularly blessed to have had someone like “Miss Placida” in our lives and that too for so long. To us she was Ammi, Ma, Mafia and Tanti.
Goodbye Ma, it was indeed a great innings.
Devsiri Fernando
A friend for all seasons
Ismeth Magdon Ismail
Ismeth Magdon Ismail affectionately known to all his University mates as Magi is no more.
Charming and kind to the core, Ismeth breathed his last on July 29 after an illustrious sojourn as a mechanical engineer, accountant and lawyer for 77 years.
His was a solemn and peaceful life as a successful Managing Director, true professional and brilliant bridge player.
I was privileged to know Ismeth from 1963 as a batchmate and group mate at the Engineering Faculty and later as a bridge partner for many years.
For the past six decades, Ismeth was an inseparable friend and dear brother to me.
I used to come down to Colombo from Peradeniya to partner Ismeth at bridge tournaments and he would not allow me to stay with any of my relatives in Colombo but always insisted I stay at
his residence in
Pathiba Road.
I always loved the fruitful conversations we had after dinner. Ismeth was ever hospitable and treated his friends and neighbours and those who worked under him with abundant cordiality.
His greatness was
his simplicity and quality of helpfulness.
Ismeth Magdon Ismail belonged to a fast diminishing group of individuals of high ethics, decorum
and integrity.
He was a friend for all seasons who will live in our hearts forever. May his soul rest on peace.
Dr. H.H.J. Keerthisena
A brother like no other
Vernon Clifford Kern
The relationship between two siblings is the best relationship in the world. We may have brothers and sisters who are very close to our hearts. It is with a heavy heart that I pen this tribute for my wonderful and loving brother – Vernon Clifford Kern who passed away on September 8.
As kids we laughed together, fought, cried and did not always show the love that we had inside. We shared our dreams and plans and some secrets too. We grew to find we have a love that is very strong…a love shared by our family that will never fade away. He was my brother not by choice but by the nature of our birth and I could not have chosen a better one.
My brother was a comfort to our mom and dad when they were alive. He was so devoted to them that I always felt it was OK to run away from home. I knew my parents would not miss all others so long as Vernon was around. He loved his family profoundly and was a devoted son, husband, father, brother, uncle and friend, always a family man.
The most endearing quality about him was his genuine concern for the welfare of the people who worked for him. He cherished his schooldays at Royal College and the values he was taught at home and in school; to stay humble; cultivate good qualities and of hard work. He stood by the strong religious values instilled by our loving parents.
When I spoke to him a few days before his demise, I never thought it would be my last meeting with him. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to say how much I appreciated and loved him. God knew that you did not deserve the pain that awaited you had you stayed on.
Only those who love can tell the pain of parting without farewell.
To hear your voice, to see your smile, to sit and talk with you awhile, to be together in the same old way, would be my dearest wish today, but loving memories never die. Thank you for everything. I love you so much.
Rita Kern
Thank you Sir
K.S. Sivakumaran
I was deeply grieved when I learnt of the passing away of K.S. Sivakumaran, the bilingual literary and film critic.
I met him twice, once at a literary event and the other at his residence when I called to thank him for his critical notes on two of my books which appeared in the print media. These valued notes I have placed them as blurbs in the books. At the time, I was also fortunate to receive his book on ‘Cinema’ which he presented to me. With the brief encounters I had with this gentleman I found him an amiable person always with a smile.
As a novice in the field of literature, Mr Sivakumaran’s encouraging words on my writing was a stepping stone to continue in my hobby. Thank you Sir.
‘Om Shanthi’.
Yasmin Jaldin
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