Appreciations

He made STC a dynamic entity

After a long illness contracted on a visit to Peru in South America, Rohan N. Hapugalle passed away in his home at Maradana on January 3. Had he lived, he would have celebrated his 65th birthday on May 22.

Immediately after the landslide victory of J.R. Jayewardene's UNP government in July 1977, came Hapugalle's appointment as Chairman of the Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation or STC. After a splendid stint of over five years at STC, he resigned on February 7, 1983, the very day I joined as an accountant, having faced him earlier with trepidation at a pleasant but intense interview. Very much senior to our 61-Group at Royal College, Colombo, Hapugalle hailed from the Class of 48.

Hapugalle was synonymous with STC, and his contribution is unparalleled in its 31-year history.

He made significant changes, thawing STC from a rigid monopoly of trade quotas to a flexible and dynamic business entity, as prevalent in the private sector. He saw STC survive against formidable and fierce private sector competition, and emerge as a major trading organization engaged in the import of top-flight technical products spread over an islandwide distribution network via a decentralized system of sales representation.

The light blue-tiled multi-storeyed STC head office stands as a landmark on Navam Mawatha, due to Hapugalle's efforts.

Then Trade Minister Lalith Athulathmudali's aim to provide the public with affordable TVs became a reality with Hapugalle importing a consignment from Tokyo in 1979. History was made when 12", 14" and 20" General colour TV sets were sold by STC at Rs. 1,625, Rs. 4,975 and Rs. 8,150! In similar fashion, Hapugalle made deep inroads into the transport industry procuring Honda - 185TNR motorcycles, low-pricing them and disposing them like hot cakes, forcing local agents to drop their prices. 

The import duty withdrawal on bicycles in July 1979 saw STC importing standard type RMI push bicycles from India, forcing market prices to take a drastic downturn. Hapugalle helped the transport problem by supplying 50,000 push bicycles on tender to the CTB, 15,000 to Government Stores and flooded the market, stabilizing prices. Such was Hapugalle's business acumen.

He saw to it that rigid government tender procedures were modified to suit the times, while all imports from recognized and reputed foreign firms were established on an agency basis to ensure a continual flow of trade. The agencies Hapugalle established in his golden era at STC were legion: Boge Shock Absorbers, Boosey & Hawke Musical Instruments, Canon Photocopiers, Crocodile Mammoties, Diato Office Supplies, Everest Helmets, Forty and ORWO Color Film, General TV, Lion Office Equipment, Medico Solar Control Film, Pitney Bowes Marking Systems, Plessey Telephone and Intercom Networks, Tixo Office Products, Twyford Bathroom Suites, UTP Welding Electrodes, Yokohama Tyres and Tubes; the list is long and laudable.

He established retail sales points at the Mount Lavinia Supermarket Complex, Hyde Park Corner and Panchikawatte and a duty-free shop in Kollupitiya. The Mandarins at Old Moor Street saw him as the writing on the wall after STC successfully established the trade in ferrous and non-ferrous metals. His vision was varied and various: setting up a library and a trade intelligence service, trade in tea chest panels, plantation industry needs, export-packaging, sports goods, artists' materials, cement, chemicals, household supplies, lab equipment and X-ray film, arms and ammunition and commercial explosives. STC's assertive participation at the Mahapola trade fairs islandwide showed him as a merchant par excellence.

May he reap the good of what he sowed!

Firoze Sameer

Man of equanimity and tact

Justice Izzadeen Ismail who passed away at 84, known to his friends as Izza, was one of the most senior Judges of the Supreme Court. His equanimity and tact gave him the edge over many of his peers and contemporaries and a foremost place in the realm of law and justice. 

He hailed from St. Joseph's College. It was evident as he climbed up the line as Magistrate, District Judge and Supreme Court Judge that he had the talent and the ability to reach the topmost rungs of the judiciary.

I first met him in 1953 when he was Hambantota Magistrate sharing government quarters with Douglas Liyanage. 

Theirs was a friendship cemented by two spells together in Mannar and Hambantota. Moreover common interests, such as bridge and mutual friendships, provided support for a long association. In government service friendships formed in the remote outstations survived longest. 

Izza had the qualities which contributed vastly to lasting friendship. I had the good fortune to be his neighbour when he was Kandy District Judge. When I was out for a short period on duty, his vehicle and driver were at the disposal of my family. 

After retirement, Izza chose to continue his legal work. In 1989, he was appointed Chairman of the Public Service Commission of the Western Province where he worked until his death. Here too, his tact, understanding and sympathetic attitude came to the fore.

His wife Soorya and two daughters, Sherma and Imara, stood by him throughout, while his sons-in-law rallied round. 

Both daughters took to law and are no doubt upholding the father's traditions. 

Through a strange coincidence his birthday was on Christmas Day. Hence it was a subdued birthday last year.

J.S.F.

A life filled with goodness

The candles have dimmed, the final hymn is over, 
And the dust of time has settled on your grave, 
Yet, we can never forget all that you have done for us, 
The many sacrifices you have made, 
The selfless service you have given to us, the members
Of the Bar Association, stand out like jewels in a diadem. 
You were a tower of strength to the legal profession
And you went about your work in a silent manner
Without the trappings of showmanship. 
Yet your efficiency was evident, 
And success in everything you did was a foregone conclusion. 
We are reminded of the fable of King Midas of Greek mythology
In that 'everything you touched turned to gold'. 
Your death was so sudden, so unexpected, 
And brought home to us the reality of the uncertainty of life. 
All that matters when the call to the great beyond comes, 
Is not how powerful, mighty or rich you are
But how you lived your life on earth. 
And your life was filled with goodness and so transparent
That we have no doubt that the Lord and Master
Whom you served so faithfully on earth, 
Would have welcomed you into his arms in Paradise. 
The legal profession has lost a stalwart, 
The country a brilliant lawyer and 
We have lost a genuine and sincere friend.

Shammil J. Perera