| Appreciations |
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He
had a huge appetite for living and working Atapattu, a keen horse-racing fan for most of his life, collapsed and died while attending Wednesday (October 22) night's Happy Valley meeting. “During his 19 years in Hong Kong, Atapattu, 51, became not only a pillar of the city's journalistic community but made countless friends from all walks of life. Anil was the consummate newspaper professional, a splendid wordsmith who could rewrite stories, weak headlines and design an entire business section while still hitting deadline," said the Post's business editor Simon Pritchard. "He was a great colleague and an island of calm in the high-stress world of newspaper production." Atapattu worked at the Post for eight years and played a vital part in making sure that the business section was both highly readable and got out on time. He also played a key role in the roll-out of the new editorial computer system. He began his illustrious career in his native Sri Lanka as a sports reporter with the Daily Mirror in Colombo, then rose rapidly through the ranks to become deputy editor of The Sun. In 1984, he blazed a trail for other Sri Lankan journalists when his talents won him a berth at The Hongkong Standard. He then served as night editor at the now-closed Eastern Express before joining the Post in 1995. Colleagues past and present have been deeply saddened at the news of his passing and have reflected on his life with great affection and admiration. "He was so cool under pressure, extremely level-headed-that's a great asset in this business and that's what people still remember him for in Sri Lanka as well as Hong Kong," said his close friend, The Standard's assistant editor Tyronne Henricus. And as a man "he was extremely warm and generous". Outside the office, it was difficult to find better company. Those who spent a night out with him found it almost impossible to buy a round of drinks. And with a huge appetite for living as well as working, it was amazing the number of lives in Hong Kong touched by his presence. There was,
however, far more to his good nature than just drinking-time bonhomie.
It is perhaps fitting that he should have passed on while engaged in one of his greatest passions. He was always searching for that big win at the races which would set him up for life. But perhaps the biggest win was for the countless numbers of people who were honoured to call him a friend. Atapattu leaves his wife, Esmenia, and daughter, Angelique, four; and from previous marriages, Nicola, 22, Svetlana, 21, and Robert, 14. -Courtesy South China Morning Post He was of the
rarest breed There is no use talking of a man who now lies, an empty shell. That can never be the Titus who was loved so well. We met, years ago, in Sharjah, and he was the kindly, gentle person who was appalled to know that I lived alone in a little apartment over the Safestway Supermarket. "This won't do," he said "and how do you eat?" He wasn't pleased. "You mean you come home, cook and sit to dinner alone? What is this nonsense?" Since that day, Titus, who ran his engineering consultancy at Ajman, would roll up to my flat in the evenings. "Come on. You must live a normal life. Let's go home." It became so regular - home to Titus' Dubai flat for dinner. I would insist on taking a taxi back even as late as 10 in the evening, but I always left with a particular warmth. We would sing songs around the piano and eat well and that welcome aperitif was always on the table. Nirasha, his only child, was then preparing to go abroad. She was truly her father's daughter, excelling in her studies. So was her father and Trinity College, Kandy, has his name on honour boards in the College hall. Titus and Yvonne were the only ones who came to the Dubai airport on the night I left the UAE. They were sad, but promised to return to Sri Lanka when they had settled Nirasha in a university in the UK. She was their life and brought them much joy and fulfilment. Titus was a true friend. He did not say much, but what are words when the heart is full? He had the gift of light and love that shone in his eyes and he never felt that anyone he gave of himself to should ever feel the obligation. To me, his Dubai home was home. It was the nearest thing to home I ever had while in the UAE and it was with mixed feelings of pain and joy that I sat back in the aircraft and thought of my passage back home from home! This is the Titus I will always remember. Why did he have to come back to Sri Lanka to die? It is something I find so hard to accept, but to this day, the little gift Yvonne pressed into my hand at Dubai airport adorns my home. "For your wife," she said and Titus smiled, and how was anyone to know that even then, the seeds of a terrible debilitator lay within him? He survived the surgical operations in Colombo but the ordeal of it all, the trauma was too much for his tired self. When he died, the angels would have wept. Of that I am sure. Titus was of that rarest breed -- the perfect gentleman, the kindliest of souls, a spreader of happiness. It is never right that such men should be called away. But I console myself in the thought that out there, where the stars turn and the galaxies glow ethereally, he continues his Sansaric journey and now there is only bliss and the beauty of the spirits of the ever living who surrounded him. Go with God, Titus. He accompanied you on your earthly journey. Now walk with Him and know your true reward.- Carl Muller A man who led
a simple life I knew Haleem Ishak from his young days. He used to travel to Wesley College, Borella from his ancestral home in Dematagoda in their buggy cart. Haleem studied under dedicated teachers during Rev. James Cartman's era. He was a member of the Sinhala Literary Union and good orator. After sitting the Senior School Certificate Examination he left school to take up his family business. In 1952, my first Tamil social drama titled, 'Modern Youth' with a cast of 30 including Luxshmi Bhai of Tower Hall fame in aid of the Wesley College Building Fund, was given a standing ovation. Chief Guest Sir Oliver Goonetilleke said, it was a 'classic show" and congratulated Haleem as the best actor and me as the best producer. When Haleem followed the footsteps of his father, the late N.M.M. Ishak, he was elected to the Colombo Municipal Council to represent the Kuppiyawatte East Ward in 1962, as an SLFP member. In 1966 too he was re-elected and remained a member until the Council was dissolved. In the parliamentary elections held in 1977, when the UNP won a landslide victory, Haleem was elected to the multi-member constitutency of Colombo Central, as an SLFP candidate, beating veteran CP candidate Pieter Keuneman. I served as his agent at the polling booth, in the Hulftsdorp court premises. Haleem was
an active member of the Wesley College OBU and held several posts.
He was elected OBU President from 1996 to 1999, and I served on
his committee. Pioneer in industrial
security service He was a visionary. In the mid 1950s, with prophetic accuracy he envisaged the future national need for an industrial security sector to supplement police duties. In 1956, Newton with his college mate the late Fuad Uduman, pioneered the first ever commercial and industrial security service. Beginning with a few watchers with batons, called the Watchman Service, they patrolled the streets of Pettah at night. With perseverance, they built this trade diligently. Today, industrial security is recognized and has been legislated by Acts of Parliament. Ajith Jayasekera |
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