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Life is never
the same without you What beautiful
memories to leave behind, A great agricultural
scientist with a holistic vision But brief mention of these were indeed made by friends and colleagues of Ernest in articles about him that appeared from time to time since his death at the age of 74 on December 10, 1995. This note, therefore, is essentially one of retrospection on the development of Ernest's thought and vision in the context of his tenure at Maha Illuppallama where he earned an enviable reputation for both scholarship and hard work. Way back in the forties, only few people outside the Department of Agriculture would perhaps have heard of Maha Illuppallama, the site of a large departmental farm growing food crops under the government's wartime food production drive. It was to this remote station, 12 miles from Kekirawa in the North Central Province, and where living conditions were primitive and research facilities minimal, that the earnest young Abeyratne came in 1944 as a research officer. At that time, Ernest's decision to join the Department of Agriculture would no doubt have come as a surprise to those who, in conventional manner, would have expected him with his C 7 and Trinity upbringing, complemented with a 1st class B.Sc (London), to adorn the Civil Service. His decision to pursue agriculture instead was indeed a fortunate one for this country. Maha Illuppallama farm, when Ernest Abeyratne assumed duties there was a veritable "dust bowl" in the making through use of heavy ploughs and harrows regardless of the resulting increase in soil erosion. Ernest soon realized that tillage in this manner should be replaced by methods of land preparation designed to minimize the erosion hazard. He found unsatisfactory the tillage based on Indian experience that was then in use in the so-called "Dry Farming Schemes" in the NCP. Therefore, Ernest looked critically at the chena system that, at the time, was being condemned as a wasteful and inefficient form of land use. This inspired him to examine in depth, the inter-relationships between climate, topography, soils, crops and human settlement within the Dry Zone framework. This holistic approach made his research unique and atypical of that era. Ernest came to appreciate the land capability classification and farming practices that had evolved in the Dry Zone. In a paper published in 1956, he stated: "It is clear that the basic principles of land use in ancient Ceylon were sound, and are in accordance with modern utilizaition principles." This publication helped to acquaint the generality of agricultural scientists in the country with the concepts behind such "native" terminologies as gangoda, godahena, wi-hena, wel-yaya and mul-potha. (It would seem in retrospect that this perhaps was the earliest citation of an item of so-called "indigenous knowledge" that scientists today are hunting for with foreign aid). In the initial years when facilities were minimal, Ernest worked mainly with middle and lower level technical staff. He subsequently built up a team of qualified research personnel, beginning with a soil scientist, and proceeding thereafter to bring in such disciplines as Agricultural Engineering, Soil Conservation, Agrostology, Agronomy and Plant Breeding. It is evident in the manner of assembling his team that he focused on establishing an integrated unit compatible with his holistic vision. Impressed by the research in progress under Ernest's leadership, Professor J.B.S. Haldane, Chief Guest of the SLAAS in 1962, remarked that Maha Illuppallama was the only worthwhile research centre he had seen in this country. Ernest's vision found expression in print for the first time in a lengthy paper titled "Dry Land Farming in Ceylon" that appeared in Volume 112 of "The Tropical Agriculturist" in 1956. Then in 1962, Dr. Abeyratne in his capacity as President of Section B of the SLAAS delivered an address titled "Prospects for Agricultural Development in the Dry Zone", which incorporated the findings of his research team and substantiated the theoretical concepts presented in the paper of 1956. These papers are of undoubted seminal value and are drawn upon for inspiration even today by many researchers. And it is mainly on their account that the present generation of agricultural scientists and students know of Dr Abeyratne, at least by name. Dr. Abeyratne,
unlike many other scientists though, was never a prolific writer. In the second, he states: "In the transformation of the village economy to a more productive economy, care should be taken to see that the principles on which the traditional system is founded are not overlooked but are used as a basis for future development. This would mean in practice the intensification of agriculture within the existing pattern by the use of modern techniques adapted to the dry zone environment in place of the older techniques.” In the context of these two statements, the impact of the Mahaweli Programme on agricultural development in the Dry Zone becomes a matter worthy of assessment. Today, Dr. Ernest Abeyratne is no more, but Maha Illuppallama, which has become synonymous with his name, remains to perpetuate his memory. In the annals of the public service there seems to be no other officer than Dr. Abeyratne whose name and place of work have become so closely associated. Due to Dr. Abeyratne's efforts in creating an agricultural research station of international standing, Maha Illuppallama is today almost a common household name. Dr.
S. T. W. Kirinde Independent,
straightforward and impeccably honest Having been posted to Customs as a trainee cadet in 1962, he later returned to serve two more terms as an Additional Landing Surveyor and Deputy Collector. He rose to be the Senior Deputy and ended up as the Principal Collector of Customs in 1974. It was my good fortune to have been able to work under him during the Customs phase of his career and later on, in the Presidential Tariff Commission for several years. One of Mr. Cumaranatunge's most valuable contributions to the 'modernization' of Sri Lanka Customs and for the facilitation of our foreign trading activities was the introduction of the "Brussels Tariff Nomenclature'' also known as BTN which replaced the outdated alphabetical classification of goods. The leadership he gave in this exercise, with the expertise he had developed by then in relation to key aspects of Customs work, enabled the smooth transformation to the new classification system followed at that time by almost all other countries engaged in international trade. All his decisions, whether as Principal Collector of Customs or as Deputy, were well considered, fair and in keeping with the letter and spirit of the Customs Ordinance. Never did he vary his orders because of pressure from any quarter. Due to this admirable but rare quality, the price he had to pay was rather heavy. He was transferred out of Customs with less than twenty-four hours’ notice to administer a government textile mill which was notorious for labour disputes. However, in no time he was able to transform this institution into a disciplined and viable industrial establishment and also earn the affection of the workforce. As Additional Secretary to then Trade and Shipping Minister Lalith Athulathmudali, Mr. Cumaranatunge acted as principal advisor in the planning and execution of two major projects, which continue to bring immense benefits to the community. One of them is the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Scheme and the other the first full-fledged Duty Free Shopping Complex, which besides being a new means of attracting extra foreign exchange into the country is benefiting large numbers of Sri Lankan workers returning from abroad. Having served under Mr. Cumaranatunge earlier, as an assistant in Customs, it was my good fortune to serve under him once again in 1981 when he was appointed by President J. R. Jayewardene as chairman of the first Presidential Tariff Commission. Although it was a difficult task to perform, it was an enriching experience to work once again under this exemplary, hardworking administrator. He gave due consideration to written as well as oral representations made to the Commission, for which he had no restrictions of time. The recommendations made to the President were always well reasoned and balanced. In June 1989, he left the PTC to assume duties as alternate director to the Asian Development Bank in Manila. In one of the several letters he wrote to me from the ADB head office, he had this to say; "My work in the ADB keeps me fully occupied and I seem to be attracting work like a magnet. When another staffer retired, they decided not to fill the vacancy and asked me to do his work also. Since we were real ‘beasts of burden’ in the old Sri Lanka public service, I took it in my stride." Yes, he enjoyed work and he influenced all those who worked for him with his style of work ethics. Much has been said and written about Mr. Cumaranatunge by his friends and Civil Service colleagues. One of them, Chandi Chanmugam (former Secretary to the Treasury) summed up his career well when he stated, "He stood alone, answerable to no one except his conscience. The discipline he imposed on himself was rigorous and he expected no less of others.” Another colleague, Buddhi Gunatunga, who headed the last Presidential Commission on Tariffs and Trade in a personal tribute to Mr. Cumaranatunge on the completion of their assignment in a difficult environment said: "We kept the ship on an even keel thanks to your wise guidance, technocratic excellence and steadying influence. No one knows or appreciates more than I, the tremendous part you played in this dicey venture." He was always
independent, straightforward and impeccably honest and was undoubtedly
one of the ablest administrators who adorned the country's public
service. Gaya Cumaranatunge has gone beyond the sight of his wife Lakshimi, and sons Chandi and Milo and his other dear and near ones, but the memories of him, like the fragrance of the lemon grass of the horse-cart will continue to linger on. Ben Isaac |
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