Appreciations

The recent demise of C.R. Dias Desinghe, better known as Chitty to his friends and colleagues was a great shock to me. My acquaintance with him dates to the 1950s. He belonged to a family of lawyers. His father Edmend Dias Desinghe and his two brothers Raja and Keerthi were all lawyers practising at the Kandy Bar. At that time it would have been a rare occurrence for four members of the same family to practise at the same Bar.

I am indebted to the Dias Desinghe’s for the support they gave me in my legal and political career. I recall with gratitude when I first contested Parliamentary Elections in July 1960, it was Chitty’s father Edmend Dias Desinghe who proposed my name as the SLFP candidate for the Senkadagala seat. He gave me all the moral support in my election campaign.

Chitty from the outset of his legal career showed signs of becoming a leading lawyer. As an advocate in addressing Court he was articulate and his eloquence could not be matched easily by his colleagues. He was one who was devoted to his profession and always worked hard for his clients. Hence he won the confidence of his clients and the respect of the Judges. I may not be wrong in stating that by the mid 1960s and the ’70s he had become a leading advocate. He not only had a lucrative practice in Kandy but was also sought highly in other outstation courts like Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Kuliyapitiya, Gampola, Nuwara Eliya, Kurunegala etc. Apart from his active legal practice he was a keen tennis player at the Kandy Garden Club. He also excelled in Billiards and Snooker at the Club. He was the Vice President of the Club for a long time and later served as a trustee.

In the late 1970s Chitty got involved in politics. He was a strong campaigner for the UNP in the 1977 elections. The then Prime Minister J.R. Jayewardene appointed him as the Sri Lanka Ambassador to China in recognition of his capabilities and services. After he completed his term of office in China, he was appointed as High Commissioner to Malaysia. In both capacities he rendered yeoman service to his country.

On his return to Sri Lanka he served as chairman of several corporations – Leather and Mineral Sands. Subsequently in the late 1980s he resigned from these posts and contested the Central Provincial Council elections. He was elected as a member of the Kandy District in which capacity he served for nearly five years.

Chitty was married to Ratna Devi, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Don Peiris Weerasinghe of Nugegoda. He was blessed with a daughter and three sons.

Law, politics and sports were all up his sleeve