He left us on July 31, 1999 and his birthday is August 15. This is not just the outpouring of a grieved mother but also the deep love of a mother for a dear departed son. Many and varied are the appreciations and articles written for and about him. Through them, even those who didn’t know him would have obtained a clear picture of him. But what I want everyone to know are the small details which maybe only his close friends would know.
Upul had a strong grip in so much that when he shook someone’s hand, that person’s palm would turn red and the knuckles would stand out. Whenever he came around to sit with his brother officers, they would say ‘Hide your hands, Lane is coming’ (Lane was short for Lanerolle- their pet name for him).
He had his faults, of course, but he would never hurt anyone wilfully. Once he slapped a minor staff soldier and to his horror saw weals standing out on the man’s cheeks. He ran to the Mess kitchen got a pot of hot water and rushed to the minor staff quarters. So many soldiers pleaded to be allowed to take the pot but to no avail.
H e took his foam mattress as well, got another soldier to put the soldier on it and fomented his face till the red weals were all gone.
As the then Colonel Wadugodapitiya said, when Upul said something disparaging to a friend, he couldn’t rest till he had apologized. Then and there he would go up to the friend and say ‘I’m sorry’.
When I was Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s Private Secretary and working at the Prime Minister’s office, Upul would come unannounced. No one was allowed to pass through the gates but Upul ‘s jeep was allowed.
He would dash into my office with a friend or two and ask for executive lunches for them. From my desk drawer he would take the chocolates that he knew I kept for him and give me a big hug. I would soon dispatch a peon to get the lunches for him.
He came to my office always in his officer’s uniform but one day he came in civils. My clerk remarked “Upul Sir is always handsome but today he is more handsome than any other day.” It breaks my heart to think that that was his last visit. I implore the deities above that he be born in a a good place.
The blessings of the Holy Triple Gem and all the deities be on my beloved younger son Upul Dushmantha de Lanerolle.
Amma |
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