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Appreciations

Those visits were more than food for thought
Kodagoda Aratchige Richard Perera
My close association with the Kodagoda family and in turn Uncle Richard came about when Devika and I were in Grade 9 and they lived at Havelock Road. Those were the days when parents closely monitored whom their children associated with - be they classmates or otherwise.

My father who had one set of rules for his son and another for his daughters saw eye to eye with Uncle Richard. Therefore, every time I wanted to visit the Kodagodas, I was permitted to do so. In fact, there was a standard joke he used to crack about "Perera and Sons" saying that food must be the incentive for my requests to visit this particular friend's home. While their fridge was always full of goodies, it was the friendship and the camaraderie that prevailed in that home which drew me there. Particularly between uncle and his children, which in turn he extended to their friends.

The Uncle Richard I knew was a man of few words amongst adults, but was always witty, gentle and kind with us children. I was to learn later that he had entered Imperial College in London to read for a degree in engineering, which he had abandoned to pursue a love of flying and trained to get a pilot's licence. I as a teenager of the '70s, found his 'devil may care' attitude to convention interesting. But where his daughters and their friends were concerned, it was one of extreme convention and tradition.

In retrospect, I feel he regretted his folly in not completing his degree because he encouraged all three of his children to pursue higher education, and wanted them to be geared for a life of independence and saw professional qualifications as a passport to a good life.

I happened to be a particular favourite (I thought so) among his children's friends. May be it was because I was a great chatterbox or may be because I knew a little bit more than my classmates about books. All of us were always warmly welcomed with a broad and beaming smile, which spoke volumes. When a dearly loved sister of mine died under tragic circumstances, this quiet, reserved and highly private individual emerged from his self-imposed seclusion to condole with us. He was very compassionate and understanding during the time of grieving. He too was a man who loved his sisters very dearly and empathized with my loss. Shortly after that I lost my father too. I was barely an adult then and Uncle Richard took it upon himself to constantly monitor my progress and encouraged me so much so that all examinations I attempted between March 1977 and September 1979 I passed with distinction. This was for a daughter's friend.

One has to have known him to really understand the depth of his love for his own children and his concern for their welfare. Coming from an illustrious business family of yesteryear where timeless traditions held sway, this dark short but handsome man strode like a colossus in the eyes of those who were privileged to know him. He was a man who valued his privacy and guarded it zealously and this restricted his social life to those who were nearest and dearest to him.

When he died his legacy to the world was not a cleverly run business empire. What was left behind was far more valuable than anything material. In the lives of his children Umesh, Roshini and Devika who carry on the timeless values that he imparted of honour, dignity, compassion and true friendship, Uncle Richard lives on. He is a man who "truly lives on in the hearts of those who loved him”.

He died 25 years ago, but the memories he left behind are cherished by his children and all those who knew him.

An iron fist in a velvet glove
C.T.M. Fernando
"Some are born great , some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them"- Shakespeare -Twelfth Night
The late C.T.M. Fernando was born great and achieved greatness as a revered teacher and rare scholar of Pali, English and Sinhala. His study of phonetics at Edinburgh made him better than all contemporary educators of English in the school system.

What is more important is that Mr. Fernando moulded and shaped the future of thousands of schoolchildren and teachers in Sri Lanka as a principal, Director of Education in Tangalle and Chief Education Officer Kandy. He gained experience in these fields by serving in the most remote parts of the island as well as the most sophisticated institutions.

Three prominent central schools, Weeraketiya Central, Udakarawita Central and Seevali Central in Ratnapura were fortunate to have been led by him at a time when central schools were considered centres of education. With his wealth of experience in school administration as well as provincial director level Mr. Fernando was appointed Principal of Royal College in 1981.

During his stewardship at Royal College, he added the flavour of his remarkable personality to administration, giving discipline paramount importance. Mr. Fernando was a leader who was guided by his own conviction. I recall with a sense of pride and fear the day he observed a lesson of English in my class, without prior notice. All the teachers who joined the Royal College staff had to face a tough interview with him and the teachers of English were not spared from the toughest interview of their professional career.

The staff meetings conducted by the late Mr. Fernando were erudite orations with quotes from Homer, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Chekhov as well as Gurulugomi, Wettawa Thera and Martin Wickramasinghe. Mr. Fernando recognized students with exceptional character than those who excelled only in studies. He set standards on the dress code for teachers and promoted well grooming. Meticulously clad and with his commanding personality he made himself a living example for the students and teachers. Hidden behind the apparently iron fisted man was a sympathetic, humble friend, colleague and father. He was humble enough to take a seat with the rest of the parents at the Royal College while attending a parent-teachers’ association meeting and expected his son’s teacher to treat him as just another parent.

The following lines epitomize this well-known educationalist, principal par excellence and wonderful person.
"Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime
And departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time….."
-Longfellow-A Psalm of Life

Lakshmi Attygalle

She found happiness in the little things in life
Soma Amirthanayagam
It's already one year since my beloved mother passed away. There is a sense of disbelief in the manner in which she passed away that revisits me all the time.

It was Sunday and I dropped my parents at Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Polhengoda for the 6.00 p.m. service. At 6.30 p.m. I received a call on my mobile from a friend of mine, that my mother had taken ill during the service. Something told me it was all over as I sat at the wheel to drive over. Amma who was hale and hearty minutes before had now succumbed to God's call.

I praised God for taking away my mother in such a blessed manner-a fitting way to reward someone who believed in God, and loved God in a special manner. My mother found happiness in the little things in life. As soon as I was born she gave up a lucrative job to take care of me. When I was old enough she kept herself busy by doing voluntary service at the National Y.W.C.A. and at the Colombo Ladies’ League. I can recall the countless number of people she guided and helped all those years. She was relentless in her instructions to me from my early days: "Love your God with all your heart and treat all those you come into contact with love and respect". Not only did she preach these words but I've seen her practise this unto her dying day.

My mother was determined and bold and nothing could deter her from achieving what she wanted. When I was undergoing a personal crisis she wrote thus:"When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high
and don't be afraid of the dark, at the end of the storm is a golden sky
and the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone."

My mother loved to cook and enjoyed her sewing. She created a home that was warm and happy, a home where anyone was always made to feel at home.
She enjoyed listening to music and I recall a proud moment in her life when she saw my son Drushika on stage at a Mary Anne Singers’ concert. That was her final public appearance, a week before she passed on.

My gratitude to her I cannot express in a concise appreciation such as this. But this I can say, I'm proud she was my mother and although she's not with me I can feel her presence moving within me day after day.

Pradeep
Amirthanayagam

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