A down to earth managing director

A.K. Nesaratnam

A.K.Nesaratnam known among his close friends as either "Nes" or AKN passed away at a private hospital during the first week of January this year at the age of 87, after a brief illness. I had the good fortune to work for him as his secretary for a brief period in the early eighties when he was the managing director of the Siedles Group of Companies.

Mr. Nesaratnam worked as a Superintendent of Audit in the Auditor General's Department which post he gave up on the language issue. He later became a live wire in the Siedles Group of Companies having held the post of Managing Director of the Group. Working close to him as his Secretary I observed that he had the least regard for caste, creed or colour. The many ex-public servants like me who found employment at the Siedles through him were more Sinhalese than others. As M.D. at the Siedles Group he moved with the big wigs of the private sector but was a down to earth person with a socialistic outlook in life.

Mr. Nesaratnam was a virtuous gentleman to his fingertips. He was a devotee of Sri Satya Sai Baba and was responsible for organising a branch organization of Sai devotees in Sri Lanka.

May he attain Moksha!

By V.K. Wijeratna