Appreciations
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Remembering
a charismatic entrepreneur & business tycoon Upali Phillip Wijewardene hailed from an aristocratic Buddhist Sinhala family in Kamburupitiya, in the Matara District. His father, Walter Wijewardene was from Sedewatte Walawwe, Kelaniya. His family was responsible for the restoration of the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya, Kelaniya. His mother was from the Godawakande Wijesinghe family, Kamburupitiya whose ancestor was Prince Kirthi of Morawake, who reunited the island of Sinhalay as King Wijayabahu 1 of Polonnaruwa. Upali was educated in Royal College where he excelled in studies and sports. He played tennis for his college, University and clubs. He entered Cambridge University, and obtained an M. Sc. (Hons) in Economics. Soon after his return to Ceylon, he joined Lever Brothers Ltd,. in Colombo as a management trainee.He learnt business, manufacturing and human resources management in large industrial and commercial complexes. He performed his duties efficiently working for the European Directors of Lever Brothers (Ceylon) Ltd. then. The late senator Chandrasena Wijesinghe encouraged him to take to business and on his advice, he started a small industry manufacturing confectionery. Later he expanded his Upali Group business empire to encompass electronics, radio/TV, consumer goods, motors, gem mining, plantations, agri-business, tourism and printing and publishing. In 1978, President J.R. Jayewardene appointed him as Chairman/Director General of the Greater Colombo Economic Commission. He started a Ruhuna Awakening Movement of Sri Lanka with its base in Kamburupitiya to provide vocational training for unemployed youth in the Southern Province. At the time of his untimely death, he had business interests and industries in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Britain, Europe and the US. The people of Sri Lanka mourned him for the services he had rendered to the masses irrespective of political affiliations. Such men are rare now. Capt.
L.B. Lanka (Wilbawe) Jayaratne Great teacher
and friend I still recollect the manner in which his batch was taken around the campus in their first year. It was Professor Rupasinghe who led this procession of first years. From his waist upwards, he was wrapped in a thick cardboard resembling a tin with the words "Lactogen Baby" written on it in large letters. Thereafter in 1976, I met him in the Faculty as a colleague. His marriage to Anula, a friend of mine strengthened our friendship. Prof. Rupasinghe counts nearly 30 years of service to the Faculty of Education of the University of Colombo. At the time of his death he was the only senior professor of the Faculty of Education. He had been the Head of the Department of Social Science for nearly 18 years and had served as the Dean of the Faculty for five years. His area of specialization was comparative education. He could walk into lecture halls without a scrap of paper and teach on contemporary problems and issues, citing examples from his own research studies. His knowledge of contemporary systems of education was immense and unsurpassed. He had a fine memory, whether on his own subject matter, University acts or students not submitting assignments. Over the past three years I happened to share the large room on the ground floor of the old building with him and other members of the Faculty. Prof. Rupasinghe would be seated at his table by 8 a.m. usually the first to arrive. He would have his breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea in this room. If he was not at a class, he would be surrounded by graduate students, undergraduate students, staff members and others who had come to the faculty. Not every lecturer is approachable to students at all times of the day. There are scheduled hours for student consultations. But to meet Prof. Rupasinghe one did not have to make prior appointments. He would receive them any time of the day including during the lunch hour. He was a much-loved teacher, who supported the training of graduate teachers and undergraduates in the profession. It was during Professor Rupasinghe's administration that the Faculty ventured into part-time in-service post-graduate training programmes. The post-graduate weekend diploma, the post-graduate diploma in counselling, the master of education part-time courses all started under his able leadership. The weekend diploma programme helped to instil professional training to nearly 10,000 graduate teachers of the country. Teachers serving in remote areas, in difficult areas gained access to professional training through this programme. It was a national task he shouldered to help to clear the backlog of untrained graduate teachers in schools. Prof. Rupasinghe excelled not only as a competent teacher and able administrator, but also as a researcher of repute. He had a large number of research studies to his credit, both on an individual basis and in collaboration with other staff members. At the time of his death he was involved in about three national studies. Graduating with an upper second class in a special arts degree in Geography in 1964, following it with a distinction pass and a gold medal awarded to the best student at the Post-Graduate Diploma in Education in 1972, Prof. Rupasinghe was an erudite scholar. He was also a kind teacher, a simple personality, and a close friend. We in the Faculty miss him and mourn his untimely, unexpected demise. His death is a great loss to the Faculty, the University of Colombo and to the field of education in Sri Lanka.
Prof. Chandra A gentle man
but a tower of strength He was attached to the Ceylon Transport Board in various capacities such as Depot Superintendent, Supply Officer etc. These duties he did with diligence and devotion. He was not only popular among his colleagues but also loved and respected. His gentle disposition and manners won many friends. Soft spoken, humble and with a ready smile, he was a tower of strength to his family, a loving husband and a devoted father. Although he was in his seventies, he was bubbling with energy and young, both in mind and body. On my last visit, he told me that he had to undergo surgery. The same evening he was snatched away. Yes, there is no armour against fate. Lazarus Gunanayagam She
was more than a teacher It was a boon,
that I did treasure - Gillian, her daughter, sobbing over the 'phone from Perth, told me it was her dear mother's wish - that I be informed of her passing away. During the last days Gillian would keep up our correspondence whenever possible, as she has done for over 50 years. Even after the Driebergs left our shores, we have written and visited whenever they came to Sri Lanka. She would often request me to pray for her - it was with joy I did and likewise, I knew she was praying for me and my family. Mrs. Drieberg, and her husband Allan, who pre-deceased her nearly four years ago (they were a loving couple), were really concerned about my welfare. What a grand gesture, from a teacher, towards a mere pupil. When I was warded in hospital, after an accidental fall they sent me money as I was handicapped. Many were the gifts that they brought me and my family members on their trips, to this island after they migrated to Australia. We had the joy of meeting her parents Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Walker, as well as her husband's parents Mr. and Mrs. C.B.F. Drieberg. Mrs. Drieberg was more than a teacher to me, she was a special friend. To all her family I offer my heart-felt condolences, and write this as a tribute in appreciation and treasured memory, of a loving soul A
most loving pupil |
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