Appreciations

“The quintessence of a lady”, “charming”, “gracious”, “most hospitable” – these are words frequently used to describe Lady Rajapakse, who passed away at the age of 92, on March 5. She was the wife of the late Sir Lalitha Rajapakse, the first Minister of Justice of independent Sri Lanka and later Ambassador to France and High Commissioner in the UK.

Lady Rajapakse was born to parents who were practising philanthropists, so it was natural for her to continue this noble trait throughout her life. She took the lead given by her husband, who was a president of the YMBA and the All-Ceylon Buddhist Congress, to become president of the All-Ceylon Women’s Buddhist Association (ACWBA), a post she held for many years. The ACWBA’s Hospice was her brainchild.

She was a great “Lady” in every sense of the word, but what endeared her to most was her cheerfulness and positive outlook. She faced many vicissitudes in her life, but she bore all with fortitude. The Buddhist faith ran deep in her veins. At a relatively young age she had to undergo major surgeries, and she said that contemplating the qualities of the Buddha helped her to endure her pain.

She was an example to many, and to us, her nieces, she was aunt, second mother, and trusted friend. She was our mother’s sister-in-law and her closest cousin. So Nandha (as we called her) was our closest kin next to our parents.

She and our mother were buddies. They went marketing together, shopping together, and giggled like schoolgirls as they bargained over purchases. They even designed their own embroidered saris and matching parasols, which they gaily carried to the Governor’s Cup at the Colombo Racecourse. The two of them wore saris over their pyjama pants and played tennis together at the SSC.

Nandha played several musical instruments and often entertained us at the piano, whilst Amma sang old favourites. So it was natural for her to treat us, and our future families, as her own. All of us in turn loved her dearly.

“Lumbini”, their gracious home at Horton Place, was our second home. It was natural for us to walk straight into their pantry for a snack or sit down for a meal or even stay overnight with our “nangis”, with no prior notice given to either family. It was equally natural for them to drive up to our house on weekends and pick up one or two of us to go down to their country home or estate bungalow, or go on vacations with them to Nuwara Eliya.

Nandha remained beautiful to the end, symbolising an era of grace and charm that is no more. However, she will always live in the love with which she nourished our family and the inspiration and guidance she gave at all times to so many.

Beloved memories from the family album