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He was a national
figure While in Standard VII, he launched a magazine for Matale schools called 'New Broom.' Later he organised the Matale Students' Union of which he was elected first president. Being interested in adult education and teaching of English he was responsible for establishing a number of educational institutions in Matale and Kandy districts particularly in backward Muslim localities. He was the director and principal of Winchester College, Matale (named after a famous Public School in England) which prepared students for foreign and local examinations conducted in English. My brother was also elected President of the Central Ceylon Muslim Assembly and it was through this organisation that the Kandy Muslim Teacher Training College was inaugurated. At that time there was a dearth of Muslim trained teachers. In 1956, my brother became actively involved in politics and joined the UNP. He entered the arena of national politics when he successfully contested the general elections in March 1960. Since then he was returned to power in eight elections, counting 39 years as an MP. This was one of the longest unbroken parliamentary records in the country. He was appointed to the Cabinet in 1977 when the UNP came to power and became the first Foreign Minister of this country. Since independence the portfolios of Defence and Foreign Affairs had earlier been held by the Head of Government. By this time the Middle East boom had begun. Restrictions in the issue of passports and the existence of exit permits discouraged employers from recruiting people from Sri Lanka. The Central Bank annual report of 1977 states that only 10,000 workers had gone for employment in the Middle East. One of my brother's first ministerial decisions was to remove all restrictions on passports and open Embassies in Middle East countries. Today more than one million Sri Lankans are employed in the Middle East. Throughout his long and unparalleled stint of nearly 15 years as Foreign Minister, he spearheaded a number of discussions abroad and at home to settle many national and international disputes. He was involved in at least three of the major attempts made in those 15 years to resolve Sri Lanka's intractable armed conflict through negotiation - the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement of 1987, the Premadasa - LTTE talks of 1989/90 and the All-Party Conference of 1990-1992 of which he was Vice-Chairman. He was the Chairman of the Ministerial Conference of the Non-aligned Movement from 1977-1979. He also visited many countries in Asia as an envoy of the United Nations to solicit support for a UN Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy. He served on the UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Studies for 10 years. He was an ardent advocate of internationalism and regionalism. He was also a proponent of greater understanding among South Asian nations for the resolution of common problems and played an active role in the formation of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC). In 1981, he inaugurated the first meeting of Foreign Secretaries of South Asian countries held in Colombo to explore prospects for regional co-operation. As a Cabinet Minister, he tried to respond to problems in a practical and positive manner, more professionally rather than as a dogmatic intellectual. He had enormous drive and a stupendous capacity for hard work. He established himself as a national figure because of his proven competence and leadership potential. Happy birthday brother. May Allah Almighty
grant the highest felicity to this departed soul in Jennathul Firdous. You
inspired and guided us Here in England we speak of you with love and pride. Years may pass
and time may fly but memories of you will never die and shall live
in our hearts forever. The Queen Mother:
An Elegy He gave much
to science In the mid 1960s the then Vidyodaya University had a limited science faculty and student agitations were directed towards the lack of quality among the teaching staff. It was then that the faculty was redesigned with the input of quality scientists. The late Dr. G.C.N. Jayasuriya left the MRI to head the faculty as Dean and Professor of Chemistry. The late A.C.J. Weerakoon joined him as Professor of Zoology, from the Department of Fisheries where he was Director of Research, the late O.S. Peries, then Deputy Director of the Rubber Research Institute, joined in as Professor of Botany and P.W. Epasinghe as Professor of Mathematics. P.C.B. Fernando complemented the staff by relocating himself from the Department of Physics, University of Colombo. Vidoydaya University soon became the University of Sri Jayawardenapura and began a pioneering effort which resulted in the output of enterprising science graduates. "PCB" taught physics and with his Colombo University colleague Professor M.L.T. Kannangara began research in connection with the earth's magnetic field. Soon his contribution became legendary. PCB came from "academic" stock. His father was a Professor of Medicine and his mother an outstanding educationist. But in his early days at Royal College - the days of Bradby and Corea - his scholarly activities were less evident than his prowess in sport. His elder brother who was a diligent student used to dread the time when physics master Cecil Belleth signalled him out to complain about the disinterest of his younger brother.. In time PCB entered university and the award of an exhibition indicated the growing capability in physics. PCB has given much to science and to scientific bodies such as the SLAAS. His influence in building new generations of scientists was considerable. PCB was one
of the nation's leaders in science and scientific education, but
not for him the media accolades that are reserved for politicians,
and often even the notorious. There is something so wrong in our
present value systems, one wonders, if the generation that PCB taught,
will have a hand in putting that right? Remembering
a brave son of Lanka The Sinhala New Year in 2000 was a period for celebration but by the third week of April, fighting had escalated in Elephant Pass. Bhathiya, a veteran of the Vaddamarachchi campaign was not a novice in this battle in Jaffna. Young Bhathiya after commanding the cadet platoon at Royal College, Colombo was awarded the Col. T.G. Jayawardena Memorial Shield for the best Cadet Sergeant in 1978. Later he opted for a military career. Being a member of a family with a military background, he joined the Sri Lanka Army as an officer cadet in 1979. In November 1998, Brigadier Bhathiya was appointed Commanding Officer of 541 Brigade at Elephant Pass. By the end of 1998, the LTTE, having won at Killinochchi were pounding Elephant Pass. Bhathiya led his valiant troops, facing wave after wave of attack until "tactical withdrawal" took place. This gallant and brave son of Lanka died due to lack of water, not due to an enemy bullet. He breathed his last on the night of April 22, 2000 at the Palali Military Hospital. Needless to say, Bhathiya who commanded two brigades in this battle was admired by his men. He, in turn, spared no effort in looking after them. Bhathiya was a loving husband to Sashika and beloved father to daughters Druvinki and Sachini. Bhathiya lived for what he believed, fought for Sri Lanka and faced an untimely death. But his memory will live with us forever. May be attain
Nibbana!
Some mothers
tell me "But you
are a lucky mother Yes, But still... He was a versatile
leader The Elephant
Pass battle His trade marks
were practicability and humane qualities He was closest
to his father Even after ten
long years Mine own son, May you be blessed
with long life |
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