appreciations
View(s):May she be born again as my mother
Rupa Aluwihare Ellepola
Rupa Aluwihare Ellepola passed away on February 4, 2023, a couple of months before her 93rd birthday. She was born on March 26, 1930 at Owille Walawwa Aluwihare as the eldest child of Tikiri Banda Aluwihare and Tikiri Kumarihamy Sirimalwatte.
Having attended Hillwood College as a hosteller, she married my late father Jayasene Tikiri Banda Ellepola in 1952.She was a loving elder sister to the late Shirley Clifford and Upali Ananda Aluwihare. Ironically she passed away on the same day – 4th February as my father who passed away in 1991.
I spent the last one month with her at KPH Resort Kandy where the staff, nurses and doctors looked after her with affectionate and professional care.
Amma’s loss will always be felt in the hearts of her daughter-in-law Judith, grandsons Lankika and Themiya and me as her only child, also among family and friends.
She was affectionately cared for by Kengan Rajaratnam, his wife and children and Egambaram. Our family is ever so grateful to them.
Old Rajans, as always, rallied around me at this time of grief. The seven days bana and dane was offered to the Monks of Kawatayamune Raja Maha Viharaya.
May she be born as my mother in the journey of Samsara and may she attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.
Anil Ellepola
Faiz Shacha was our ‘fun uncle’
AHMED FAIZ NIZAR
I wish to pen a few words for my dearest uncle Ahmed Faiz Nizar on his third year of passing. Faiz Shacha, as he was fondly known to us, passed away on February 10th, 2020 after a life full of accomplishments and magnanimous generosity. His loss continues to leave a hole in those close to him, but he changed the world for the better for those he touched during his long and illustrious lifetime.
Faiz Shacha rose to great heights both professionally and personally. As well as being well read and widely travelled, most importantly he was generous with his time in nurturing those around him. A founder member of the Sri Lankan Leukaemia Foundation (UK), he was charitable at heart and supported the Sri Lanka Foundation for the Destitute among other charitable organizations.
He attended St. Peter’s College, Colombo and graduated from Peradeniya University with honours in Geography. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant and quickly rose from General Manager Finance at Insurance Corporation to Managing Director of Lanka Orient Leasing Company. He later moved to Tunisia and then settled in London UK where he continued to excel. He raised his two sons to become doctors with the loving support of his wife Aunty Sirini whom he married in 1974.
My earliest recollection of Faiz Shacha was when I was 5 years old, and he came to our home in Wellawatte and wanted to take me to the Kinross beach in Bambalapitya. My Dad, Faiz Shacha’s older brother was keen on us focusing on our studies. Faiz Shacha felt strongly about academics coupled with other physical activities such as swimming and tennis and was a keen fan of cricket.
Always encouraging, helpful and with a handsome smile, Faiz Shacha was the ‘fun uncle’. He would talk avidly about sports and his love for life. He was constantly looking to travel with his family and I would look forward to going to his home and be thrilled as he would make me feel special.
When I moved to England for my clinical rotations, he opened his home for me to stay and helped me get a job while waiting for my rotations to start. While I deeply appreciated this, I know he has always had an open door for many. During my two years in England, his home in Leyton Road was like home for me. To this day many years later, I am fortunate to still feel the same way.
During his challenging illness of Parkinson’s, he came all the way from England to visit me in upstate New York. I will never forget his patience with me while I was trying to get him to see Niagara Falls. Trying not to let him miss the last boat Maid of the Mist to the falls, I was rushing. Faiz Shacha showed immense patience and moving at his own pace, not only did we make it on time but had a great time due to his example.
I have been fortunate to learn from his love for reading and am still thrilled at his library of books. A voracious reader, his depth of knowledge on different subjects is legendary. From finance to religion to Middle East issues, no topic was beyond his understanding. His calm way of explaining the topics showed his depth of understanding. Travelling with his wife and kids I am in awe at the places he has gone to, both cultural and historic sites of this world. He had an appetite to see and immerse himself in different parts of the world.
His passion for human rights, the Palestinian cause and March for Justice and helping the local mosques is another aspect of Faiz Shacha to admire.
Three years after his passing, I feel a mixture of loss and happiness. Loss, due to not being able to talk to him and learn more from him. But happiness over what he brought to this world. His determination to make this world a better place by his work and charities and caring for all have set an example for all of us to follow. I strive to pick up some of these qualities and push my kids to do so. He made the world a better place.
May Allah give Faiz Shacha a special place in heaven for all his deeds. His charitable work continues to help those in need and his family, Aunty Sirini, Shiyam and Shahan along with his two grandkids who he doted on, continue his legacy.
Dr Raslaan Nizar
My beloved kid sister
Nilmani Peiris
I laid her beneath the old jacaranda tree where I had buried my brother, my father and my mother; alas there is only me left. That was exactly one year ago – February 19, 2022.
I walked back with my head bowed from that grave. Following behind me were Manisha, Myanthi and Shane. My head filled with sorrow, recalling the few moments that preceded the tragic telephone call from my sister’s caregiver saying she had fallen. The next call to say she was not breathing and the final call to say it was all over. It was all over in a few minutes. I was behind the wheel of my car and to have the news she was dead, benumbed me and blotted all before me filling my eyes with tears.
I thought of the words Christ uttered, under circumstances so different, “It is finished”. Manisha who was in the passenger seat beside me was shattered. By this time, we were nearing Pepiliyana junction and had yet another three or four kilometres to go. I could not comprehend what had happened
Arriving at the house which was home to our family, what beheld me will never leave me. My sister motionless on the ground with a sweet smile on her face. All that followed was merely academic. The arrival of doctors, getting the death certificate, arranging for undertakers, the priests and the rest of what makes up a funeral.
Today after a year, I had no intention of recalling the days, weeks and years that preceded my little sister’s demise. She was my kid sister – ten years younger to me. But then, the moment hit me like a bolt and broke me to pieces and all that is left is to recall a few moments and cherish the years of love and fondness we had together.
The last time I spoke to her face to face, was perhaps two days prior to her death. She told me that she simply could not bear the pain she had to endure. “I had a serious talk with God today,” she said, and that she told him “God either you take me away or take the pain away. This is becoming too much for me.” I said nothing and walked away. Only to think later that God had answered her prayer.
She had a fearless and unshakeable faith in God. The many surgeries, nine in all , that she had undergone and the numerous occasions that the ambulance had rushed her to hospital with a litany of medical issues never did shake her faith. She had a heart of gold and a mind of steel. She looked after our parents with the love that few daughters would have extended. The patience, the tolerance and devotion were incomparable.
She had a frame as large as the human kindness and generosity she possessed. I write like this, because I hadn’t ever sat down with her and told her how much I loved her or cared for her or was there for her when the need arose. Yet she called me her rock and I was there for her at all times.
Our childhood was chequered as I couldn’t spend much time with her. I left home when she was little. So did my brother. Then she married and left these shores and within two years my brother was killed. She divorced her husband three years after marriage and then began her medical issues from which she never recovered. With such a sad situation I never saw her complain or look miserable. Cheerful and thankful to God for the mercies she was blessed with, she was a tower of strength to many a burning heart.
She had a vast array of friends both here and overseas. To most of them she was “Diga”. She loved little children, doted on them and spoilt them silly. She did go that extra mile with my daughter and had a very special relationship with her. I know how much my daughter misses her.
The pinnacle of her relationships was with my wife Manisha, who was her cousin, her sister- in-law and for all time her sister. An indelible bond that even to this day leaves Manisha grieving.
In conclusion all I can say is, Nangi, you will live in my heart till I find you in one of those rooms that our Lord has promised us in His glorious mansion.
Loku Aiya
A dear friend and colleague
Anoma Kularatne
Ten years on we remember and reflect
On one whose departure left us all so bereft,
Of laughter, arguments, good conversations and friendship
Today with her Creator in heavenly citizenship.
A host of memories come to mind dear friend
Your smiles, chuckles and naughty giggles without end;
Oho, easily moved to tears we remember
Ready to cry not just for yourself but another.
Your passion for teaching was so evident to us all
You made lessons come alive ensuring kids got it all
The extra mile to make lessons interesting, that was you-
T’was a hallmark we saw, as part of everything you do!
You were blessed in your marriage to Nimal your best boy
And so were your offspring Y & I your pride and joy;
Seeing Yeshani wed you were surely in the seventh heaven
And little Ishan suddenly grown up playing for the College First eleven!
Colleagues talk of your diligence in teaching and your loyalty
Your chatter, friendliness and such sincerity;
“She never realized her potential as she never sought fame”
These are some of her traits with much more to name.
Above all, this affectionate friend with warm smiles and laughter
Will live on in our hearts both now and ever after;
Her language of simplicity, kindness
and love
Is the legacy she’s left for us all to live by.
- Her Colleagues of MC Primary
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