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Appreciations He served Lanka
by promoting joint ventures He played an
important role in putting Sri Lanka on the world map as a safe and
profitable place for investment at a critical juncture in the economic
development of the country. Just after the 1977 elections, the country
was opened to foreign investment under a liberal and outward looking
regime. However, attracting investments at that time was indeed
a Herculean task. Many of the
industrialised countries had closely followed Sri Lanka's past history
of nationalisation, socialism and extreme forms of anti-foreign
sentiment, that it took a very hard sell to convince investors to
take a new look at the country. Gilbert Jayasuriya
worked very closely with the Foreign Investment Advisory Committee
(FIAC) which came under the purview of the Ministry of Finance.
The FIAC was the government agency in the 1970 and '80s responsible
for the promotion and approval of foreign investment in the country
other than in the free trade zones. He strongly believed in working
closely with the public sector and always joined in endeavours to
develop the country. He was elected president of the Federation
of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and from that point onwards
he worked with the FIAC to attract investments. His mission was
a great success. Joint private-public
sector missions were sent to several industrialised countries. Many
foreign investment missions also visited Sri Lanka and Gilly was
able to convince investors of the advantages of investing here. Very few people
are aware that Gilly participated in some of the investment promotion
missions spending his own funds. He never promoted his own business.
His only aim was to bring investors to Sri Lanka, for them to choose
any partner they wished. Another notable contribution was his encouragement
of joint ventures so that the local private sector could benefit
from the flow of foreign investment. With the passing
away of Gilly, the country has lost a very patriotic and sincere
man who always put country before self. May his journey
through Sansara be short. A man of peace
and his Jaffna memories Nilhan, though
he was ailing for sometime, kept his grace, humour and generosity
till the end. I first came
to know Nilhan in the early 1950s when as a young boy he was living
with his parents at Charles Place. His mother, Daya, and my sister,
Mabel, were colleagues at University College, Colombo and became
good friends. A friendship which was to grow stronger even after
they left the university and Daya's marriage in 1937 to Warusavitharana
Abraham de Silva who later became the Deputy Director of Irrigation.
Their home in Charles Place was open to us as ours in Jaffna was
to them. Nilhan was
the eldest in a family of five sons. He had his education at Royal
and Ananda. During school vacations, Nilhan with his brothers would
come to Jaffna and live with us. Mabel was at Vembadi and I was
at Vadukoddai. Both Jaffna and Vadukoddai became their favorite
vacation homes. Jaffna in the
early 1950s was a tranquil place. The wide-open spaces interspersed
with lagoons, beaches and open oceans were an invitation to the
boys who were full of energy and excitement. I remember well the
times when after breakfast the boys would go exploring the countryside
for miles on their bicycles, have sea baths at Casurina beach and
return home with a ravenous appetite for a rice and curry meal with
fish, crabs and prawns and Jaffna mangoes for dessert. The late evenings
were spent listening to Aunty Mabs reading stories. It was, perhaps
this early experience that gave Nilhan the breadth of vision and
deep sense of affection for Jaffna and her people. In later years
Nilhan would return to Jaffna and speak of his disappointment over
the deepening crisis in ethnic relations in the country. During
the July 1983 riots, Nilhan helped in a large measure to provide
shelter and transport to many traumatized people in Colombo. After his education,
Nilhan was employed in the commercial sector with the CFT, working
in the imports and exports section. With ample opportunities to
travel, he made several friends, not least of whom was Melody Wijetunge
whom he met in Switzerland. In December
1980, Nilhan and Melody were married. They have a son Michael Melhan
who is at the University of Leeds, UK. Nilhan had
a busy life as an administrator. He was an active member of the
Wildlife Society of Ceylon and the Orchid Circle of which he was
President and life member. His pride and
joy beside his wife and son was his estate 'Nimple Tree' at Dodangoda.
Here he would
retreat every Saturday to relax and unwind. In the midst of trees,
shrubs and creepers many of which he himself had planted, he found
peace and comfort which could not be found in his busy life and
sweltering heat of Colombo. Nilhan had
a generous heart and a great sense of humour, always smiling and
willing to help. He was sensitive to the needs of others. He loved his
country, fervently hoping for the return of peace and stability.
It is sad that when this is on the threshold he is not around to
see its fulfilment. As a wonderful
husband, father and reliable friend Nilhan will be missed not only
by the family but by many friends as well. Those who knew
him and whose lives have been touched by him will continue to cherish
his memory. "To live in the hearts of those left behind is
not to die". Education was
his forte Mr. Warawita
was born on July 26, 1935 to an illustrious and affluent family
from Ambalangoda. He was the second in a family of six. Mr. Warawita
had his primary education at Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda. Later
he moved to Ananda College, Colombo where he had a brilliant academic
career. After completing his school education he entered the Maharagama
English Training College from where he passed out with honours.
He excelled in Mathematics and English. His first appointment
as a teacher was to Godauda Maha Vidyalaya. He got a transfer to
Walasmulla Central College where he became the vice principal. Afterwards
he was appointed as a lecturer at the Mirigama Training College.
He also served as a lecturer at Musaeus Training College, Kalutara,
for a short period and worked at the Curriculum Centre of the Ministry
of Education. His last place of work prior to retirement was Bolawalana
Training College. While working
he continued his studies and obtained a B.Ed degree and a Diploma.
Later he was appointed an Inspector of Teaching Institutions in
the Education Ministry. He was an ardent
Buddhist. Being a benefactor of Buddhist activities, his contributions
to the temples in the vicinity were laudable. His untimely
death was a shock to all. "Born
of the sun An exemplary
principal Wonderful mother
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