Plus - Appriciations

It was on July 26 at 4.45 p.m. that we said "bye" to each other and then within minutes you had left this world. Never did I think it was your final 'bye' to me. We cannot imagine that you are no more, as we still feel your presence.

Why did you have to give in your resignation so suddenly to this world at the age of 49 years? You always said 50 not out. Yes, you have proved that life is uncertain but death is certain. It is truly said that the good die young. Words are insufficient to express our thanks and gratitude to you for all what you have been and done for us. You were a wonderful friend and loving brother to me.

Though you were younger than I, I always considered you as an elder brother for advice and guidance when the need arose. You always helped and supported me whenever I faced a problem. You encouraged me to carry on with my job whenever I was hurt or depressed. You were kind and understanding, concerned, caring and protective.

Caste, creed, race or wealth did not matter to you when it came to helping anyone in need. You were sympathetic to the poor and readily opened your purse or gave in kind. You did have a temper which was short-lived just like a bottle of soda when it was opened. Though you were an executive you sometimes did the work of a peon or a labourer when an urgent job had to be done.

You never missed a function, picnic or trip. You would attend any funeral no matter what the distance was. You were a rugger fan and never missed a rugger match of your old school, Isipathana.

Amidst all your office duties you faithfully fulfilled all your duties and obligations to your wife, sons and other family members. You were unselfish, honest, loyal and dedicated and gave your time and life for your job at Lake House and ended it at your desk that evening. You were a workaholic.

Dear Tissa, I will miss you always. The good qualities you had will always be beautiful memories to remember and treasure until my dying day. I thank God for your life. May your soul rest in peace.
Shilani

S.A. Jinadasa, a distinguished, senior government servant passed away on September 3, five years ago.

It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I write these lines about Mr. Jinadasa who served the people of this country to the maximum as a dedicated and devoted public servant.

Mr. Jinadasa joined the Sri Lanka Administrative Service in 1967, after his graduation from the University of Peradeniya. He had an ambition to serve the people of Rajarata and found the opportunity to do so when he was appointed DRO Nuwaragam Palatha West in the Anuradhapura District.

In 1971, he was appointed to the post of Deputy Commissioner in the Marketing Department where he worked hard to find solutions for the marketing problems encountered by the vegetable cultivator in the hill country. It was under his supervision that the jathika pola became a popular marketplace at the Race Course premises when several food items were scarce in the country.

He did not restrict the availability of such essential food items only to the elite in Colombo. He mobilized lorryloads of essential food items to reach the weekly pola sites in far and distant corners of the country.

As Commissioner Local Government he was entrusted with a heavy load of work by the then Prime Minister and handled everything to win the admiration of everyone, paying special attention to the city of Kataragama to keep it in proper condition.

He held many posts. He was chairman of the Central Environmental Authority, chairman of the State Timber Corporation, chairman of the Agriculture Authority and Deputy General Manager of Mahaweli just to mention a few. Finally he was handpicked by President R. Premadasa as his Senior Additional Secretary in the Presidential Secretariat. His duties included the conducting of the Presidential Mobile Service apart from attending to education and religious affairs.

Whatever he undertook he handled with competence, commitment, honesty and responsibility and he was a brave fighter for principles. Those who knew him would endorse that integrity, was the stamp of his life.

He never hankered for personal gains even when he was deprived of his rights. In every institution he worked he was respected and loved by those who worked under him.

He was a simple man and quite unassuming. He respected all religions. When the High Priest of Dimbulagala was in need of alms, he sent lorryloads of dry rations every month to the Pirivena in Dimbulagalla.

The young priest of Aranthalawa who survived the terrorist attack was looked after by Mr. Jinadasa personally and was entrusted to a Pirivena in Balagalla. Officers of his calibre are indeed rare.

His loss even after five years is felt deep in the hearts of those who knew him. Once, as the Chairman of the Timber Corporation he handled the planting of Na trees on the way to Parliament. Every time flowers bloom on those Na trees, the fragrance of his good work wafts in the air.

May he attain the Bliss of Nirvana

Grace has won the promised crown through God’s grace. She stood true to her calling and was faithful to her mission. The prospect of suffering and giving up one’s life for the cause of Christ is not pleasant, but for a Christian, death is not the end; it is the prelude to a new and joyously endless life.

It had been so with Grace, our dear sister in Christ. Most assuredly, she is living on, in a new existence, where she is strong and free of pain.

Her ministry involved visiting and sharing the unsearchable riches of Christ, with the sick, aged, lonely, bereaved and the house-bound. Unmarried, living all by herself, she had no attachments for worldly possessions and desires.

The cosy comfort of her drawing room, decked not with flowers and ornaments but with Bible verses and scriptural calendars, creating an atmosphere of holiness and serenity, drew women young and old for fellowship, Bible study and counselling. Her years were fruitful and her good work without fanfare.

She was also called into doing one of life’s greatest ministries – the Ministry of Intercession. It is the crowning ministry of the Christian life. Being an intercessor is not easy. It cut into her time, made demands upon her energy, taxed her patience, and forced her to re-arrange her priorities. A deep concern for others was her main motivation and this led her to plead for the needs of others. Her sincerity towards her Creator is a lasting legacy she has left behind. No doubt, many who are grieving her absence are those to whom sound doctrine of our God and Saviour has been given and to whom knowledge of the Bible has been imparted by her.

Grace was an inspiration to those who helped and watched over her during her lingering ailment that took her life on July 7, this year. She was thankful to God in every circumstance. She used to say, “I am thankful that though I am led into this physical difficulty, God has certainly not deserted me in it.” As a good and faithful servant of God, she has received a ‘Well done’ from her Master and entered into His joy.

“I bade earth ‘Good-bye’ one day
‘Welcome Home’ Jesus did say
Heaven’s streets are of pure gold
Oh! What beauty I behold
In this place of great splendour
I am with my Redeemer.”