The late Charlie Kunanayagam, retired Assistant General Manager of the Bank of Ceylon, chief steward of the Methodist Church, and past President in the Lions movement, passed away on Monday, October 5, 2009. His funeral was attended by family members, relatives, his large circle of friends and associates from the Bank of Ceylon, other banking institutions, priests and members of the Methodist Church.
Charlie was born on January 4, 1934. He lost his father when he was 11 years, and his mother had to start working to maintain her family of five children. After an early education at Union College, Tellipallai, Charlie joined Wesley College in Colombo to do his London Advanced Level studies, which he passed with distinction.He joined the Bank of Ceylon as a junior clerk at the age of 20. He decided to work and study and do his duty as a son of the family.
While at the Bank of Ceylon, he worked nights and studied during the day. He obtained a degree from the University of London in 1957. He was the first Bank of Ceylon clerk to get a degree. He was promoted to the post of Sub Accountant. He excelled in the field of credit.
He was a teacher and guide to all the staff during his time at the bank. With his logical, incisive mind he made an exemplary banker, respected by his seniors and juniors alike. Several sections of the bank’s credit manual and credit operating circulars benefited from his expertise. He was an authority on credit lending. His talents, contribution and hard work were recognised and he was duly promoted, ending up as Assistant General Manager, a post he held till his retirement in 1990.
As president of the Bank Staff Employees’ Association, he worked hard to make sure all staff were treated fairly. After retirement, he was invited by several banking institutions, including the National Savings Bank and the Housing Development Finance Corporation, to train their staff and act as their consultant.
Charlie was married to Sakunthala, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. I. P. Thurairatnam. They were blessed with one daughter, two sons, and four grandchildren.
Charlie was an active leader of Methodist Memorial Church. He was a society steward for a number of years and later became circuit steward of the then Moor Road Jampettah Circuit. Together with the Minister at the time, Charlie played a leading role in constructing the Women’s Hostel at Wellawatte, and also in the management of the hostel. Charlie also helped in the financial management of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka. He joined the world’s largest service organisation, the Lions Club International, as a member of the Lions Club of Jaffna, in 1979, and later the Lions Club of Inner Colombo, as a charter member, in 1993. He was the Lions Charter Secretary and later President in 1996-1997.
Charlie will be greatly missed by his family, his friends in the Methodist Church, the Lions Movement and the banking institutions he served.
May his soul rest in peace with the Lord Almighty.
Emmanuel Joseph |
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