Appreciations
|
|
|||
Let
not his glow diminish He
was an eminent Sri Lankan scientist best known for his untiring
work on mosquito taxonomy and epidemiology of mosquito borne diseases.
He dedicated a good part of his life in an attempt to bring a healthier
life to the rural people of Sri Lanka. At the time of his death
he held the post of principal researcher at the International Water
Management Institute (IWMI) Colombo. Shantha and I were batchmates at the University of Peradeniya, and his mischievous wit and sense of humour made our undergrad days interesting and eventful. Later though pursuing a bright and illustrious career, he remained truly human, and “down to earth” in every sense of the word. He was a devoted husband to Priyanie, his equally brilliant partner in life, and loving and dutiful father to Chaminda and Niranjali their beautiful children. I shall always admire Priyanie for the strength and courage with which she tried to nurse him hack to good health. Chaminda & Niranjali stood by her, and were pillars of strength. Shantha remained a true and sincere friend to many of us. He found time to chat and joke about the good old days and laugh heartily at the fun and mischief we had enjoyed, while being truly concerned about our well-being. Shantha had many talents to his credit. His wit and humour together with his exceptionally alert mind and intelligence made him a “perfect blend” a pearl of great price and indeed a “lovable human”. Life’s
clock cannot be reversed but his goals and ideals can be kept alive.
In order to pay a lasting tribute to this great person, a few of
us have formed a group, “Friends of Prashantha”. [For
details contact beafriendindeed@yahoo.com. A website is in preparation.]. Delicia Tillekeratne Her
friendship and hospitality were overwhelming After her husband passed away, it was left to Marie to bring up her two small children. As her children grew up she gave them a good education and did not hesitate to send them abroad for higher studies. She was a close friend of mine and we enjoyed more than 30 years of friendship. On important occasions she was there to assist me in every way. Her love and affection for all her friends and relatives transcended all barriers of religion, language, caste etc. and knew no bounds. Her home was open to one and all and her friendship and hospitality were overwhelming. She was a person of charitable disposition, loved by everyone. She will be missed at all times. During her illness her relations and friends flocked to see her not only in hospital but also at home in large numbers. Knowing well that she was afflicted by a dreadful disease, she bore it with fortitude and courage. The cross section of the large gathering that was present at home and in the burial grounds bore ample testimony to the love, affection and esteem with which she was held in society. While invoking the blessings of Almighty God on her soul, my family and I convey our deepest sympathies to her children. I close this appreciation by commending her two sons, who left no stone unturned to complete her final rites to perfection in the Roman Catholic section in the cemetery. She was laid to rest under the invocation of Jesus Christ. On
the waves of the sea shall be her deliverance Roshanara Sulaiman Embodiment
of traditional virtues She hailed from a respectable family and was educated at Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena. She was married to Lambert Stanley Attygalle Abeyratne and lived at Madapatha, Piliyandala, her husband's ancestral home. As a housewife, she found comfort in providing her husband with all the comforts. She was the embodiment, the personification of all virtues and qualities prescribed by our culture and tradition for a housewife. As a pioneer member of the Lions Club of Kohuwela she always prepared delicious dishes and desserts for the Lions Club parties. Many of her nieces and nephews who live in Sri Lanka and abroad remember with gratitude her genial disposition, magnanimity and hospitality and the way she entertained them during Christmas parties and other occasions. Nature blessed her with certain special qualities - modesty, reserve, gentleness, patience and forebearance. She never harboured a grudge. Her sincerity and steadfastness to her friends should serve as a lesson for all, especially at a time where changing loyalty and shifting attitudes are the order of the day. She was not content merely to give her four children a good education but also inculcated in them a deep sense of service to their fellow beings. In her life she reflected the message of Lord Jesus. I wish to quote the following in treasured memory of our darling mother and dearest grandmother. You
left us so suddenly S.A. Thank
you for the kindness Evan was the eldest son of the late Mrs. Florence Senanayake. I came to know him when we went to England in 1965. From day one I found him to be a genuine friend. We became close friends - he gave us valuable advice and guidance. He was a tower of strength to us in all the years we were in England. Humanity, friendliness, kindness were his obvious qualities - yet only few of us realised it. Hospitality and concern for others were his hallmark. Evan was a devoted husband, loving Dad, and grandpa - and caring brother. For me Evan was much more than a friend - I regarded and loved him as a brother. Evan, I am deeply grateful to you for your kindness to me - and for being my loyal friend and confidant. I miss you very much. Your demise has created a void - that can never be filled as you were a part of our lives. I thank
God for your life, love and concern for others. May you rest in
peace. Srima
She
nurtured the country’s nutrition programme for the poor The daughter of two much-loved paediatricians, Brighty’s mission in life was to uplift the health standards of our people wherever she could find the underprivileged, the poverty stricken, the helpless many, ignorant of the basic rules of good health. As a medical officer for many decades at the Medical Research Institute, Brighty focused on the field of nutrition, doing research on food values, writing articles for medical journals and for newspapers, lecturing, going on field trips and supervising projects with single-minded devotion. I remember the batches of voluntary rural trainees that she educated on nutrition and general health at the Lanka Mahila Samithi Training Centre at Kaduwela. She monitored their heights and weights, supplied them with iron and other supplements and infused them with her own enthusiasm. She helped them to improve not only their own quality of life but also that of their village sisters whom they were pledged to enlighten. Her dedication to the effective administration of the long-running Thriposha Programme sponsored by CARE and the successful results her hard work brought about, gave her immense satisfaction. The nutrition programme she carried out at Wanathamulla, which centred on malnourished mothers and their low birth weight babies, was close to her heart as was her long spell in later years at the La Sallian Centre in Mutwal, working among the poor mothers and children of the area. I have only a lay knowledge of her professional life, but no one can doubt her joyous commitment to it. President Premadasa conferred the title of Vidya Jothi on Brighty in the early nineties in recognition of her results-oriented work in nutrition. Just three years ago, I was privileged to participate in the celebration of her 80th birthday, organised by loving colleagues. She was presented with a beautifully printed and bound commemorative volume of research articles by eminent medical personnel, as a tribute to her life of service in the cause of better health for women and children. With all her professional interests, her family was her joy. Lakshman and she had to face a great tragedy — the death of their eldest son, Amal, due to bone cancer while still in his teens. Her three youngest sons have grown into fine, handsome men who do their mother the greatest credit. Her daughters-in-law loved her and could not do enough for her while her grandchildren adored her. During her final illness it was touching to see the love and care with which her family endeavoured to prolong her life, but sadly to no avail as she weakened and slipped quietly away. You could say that everyone who associated with Brighty counted her as a friend and responded to her vibrant zest for life, her sincerity and simplicity, her love of nature, her passionate concern for her country and people and, above all, to her warm and loving heart. Dearest Brighty, we miss you and mourn for you, but we shall find strength and consolation in your indomitable spirit and in the memory of the happiness you gave us. We say farewell in the cherished hope that we shall meet you again, someday, somewhere, in the Great Beyond. Anoja Fernando |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya
Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved. |
