Appreciations

A man of many facets

H. C. Peiris

The scion of one of the well known and respected families in the country, he was the only child of J.L.D. Peiris. The late Hithakami Chidrupa Peiris, known affectionately as Chitru to his large circle of friends, was married to Ranee, a loving, devoted wife and mother to his two sons, Jaitra and Darup. A distinguished old Thomian who, like his father, contributed greatly to his alma mater, he was responsible for having David Paynter, the famous artist, paint the large mural depicting the Risen Christ, described as one of the most beautiful in the world at the Chapel of the Transfiguration at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. 

Deeply religious and an indefatigable social worker, Mr. Peiris was a Diocese's representative for the Chapel of Homagama, and the Deaf and Blind School, Seeduwa. He rebuilt St. John's Church, Homagama and brought a statue of St. John from Vanpoules, London. At the time of his death, he was engaged in renovating the shrine at Kompannaveediya junction, the Church of the Holy Rosary.

In 1961, the then Governor General Sir Oliver Goonetilleke requested Mr. Peiris to accompany South American revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara to the Yahalakelle family estate. Che Guevara was so taken up by Mr. Peiris' rubber plantation, that he not only planted a commemorative tree which still stands, but also spent time studying the manufacturing process of crepe sheets from latex.

The Havelock Tour Inn which was owned by Mr. Peiris was selected by the advance party for David Rockefeller's stay in the island. Mr. Rockefeller's visit, however, had to be cancelled for security reasons on the advice of the US Embassy. Mr. Rockefeller was to have been Mr. Peiris' personal guest. 

A man of great versatility, HC was advisor to Senator Sarath Wijesinghe when at his peak and establishing the first chocolate factory in Sri Lanka. Later, as director, he coined Kandoscar. This was shortened to Kandos by advertising agents. This was the harbinger for Sri Lanka to embark on the manufacture of quality chocolates measuring up to the highest international standards.

Mr. Peiris was the first Ceylonese Chairman of Delmege Forsyth Ltd., which at the time was headed by the Earl of Inchcape of the Inchcape Group, one of the first 100 companies of Britain. Incidentally, HC's father JLD was the first Ceylonese Chairman of British Ceylon Corporation (BCC).

HC was also the first Ceylonese Chairman of Darley Butler & Co. Ltd., and first Ceylonese Chief Executive and Chairman of E.B. Creasy & Co. 

Another milestone in his life was the creation, with World Bank assistance, of India-Ceylon Industries Ltd., of which he was Managing Director. It was to be one of the largest textile manufacturing companies in collaboration with Birla of India.

Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike during the 1970-1977 period invited HC to accept a special appointment to oversee around two million acres of the State Plantations Corporation and the JEDB. However, he politely declined the appointment. 

From 1964 to 1978, Mr. Peiris acted as attorney for Sirimavo Bandaranaike and her family in the management of their private business interests.

On the invitation of Dr. Anandatissa de Alwis, he served on the committee which submitted a proposal to the government on the establishment of a TV station in Sri Lanka shortly after the change of government in 1977.

Although a devout Christian, one of his very significant contributions was his proposal to the then Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake for the declaration of full moon poya days as public holidays — a proposal which was readily accepted and implemented.

Mr. Peiris was also offered the post of High Commissioner in London or Ambassador in Washington or any capital of his choice by the then President J.R. Jayewardene. He politely declined to accept the offer. He was appointed Hony. Consul General for Poland in 1995. 

He sponsored and established the family-owned Belvoir College International, a leading international college with more than 1000 children and 125 teachers. 

Apart from his numerous business, social and religious activities, Mr. Peiris found time for many hobbies. He had one of the finest collections of vintage cars, which included the two oldest cars in Sri Lanka. In the late 1950s, he imported the first air-conditioned car to Sri Lanka. As a collector of antique furniture, he owned rare and interesting pieces of furniture, including Governor North's writing table. A sideboard owned by Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War in 1854-1855, was among what is perhaps the best private collection of Dutch furniture in the country. He was also a collector of books, maps and paintings and amateur landscape gardener and interior decorator.

He was best known for his innovative contributions to the development of agriculture and the modernisation of the plantation sector in particular. 

The demise of this many faceted personality, a doyen of Sri Lankan business, will be greatly felt.

G.Wijesinghe

A giver of love

Dr. W.G.A. Silva (Anton)

He lost his mother when he was just seven days old. He never knew a mother's love but when the need was to give love, our family (mother and three brothers) still remembers with gratitude how he parted with it. 

Books are not enough to write about Thaaththa's humane qualities. The only joy we have on September 22 each year is that he earned and secured a place in the heavenly kingdom.

Son Rohan (Rhoni)

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