APPRECIATIONS
View(s):She is sadly gone too soon but her joyous spirit will live on
NAVODA EDIRISINGHE
February 2024 marks six months since Navoda Edirisinghe – ‘Navo’ to her friends at Peradeniya – slipped away in the early hours of the morning. In her brief life, she had endeared herself to many outside her immediate family – her school community, the university, and her work colleagues spanning different spheres of activity and institutions – among others. It is not easy to accept that she is gone, except through conscious remembrance; one is almost prone to start texting her asking ‘how are things?’
I first encountered Navoda in the Department of Economics and Statistics at the University of Peradeniya where I worked, and she was a second year student specializing in Economics. As I got to know her better over time, I found beneath her polite, earnest and shy demeanor, a person capable of hard, consistent effort, with a kindhearted, caring, fun-loving nature. My interactions with her revolved around Department work, both during her student days and when she worked as a Temporary Lecturer.
While initially shy of taking on a public role, she was game to try out compering, and went through a practice session with me before doing a very good job of it. As a leader of discussion classes in courses I taught, she proved conscientious and responsible. When I was away on leave, she provided excellent research assistance. Her ‘crowning glory’ of sacrificial work for the Department was probably providing secretarial assistance for the annual research symposium ‘PIERS’. I remember her working day in and day out – sometimes into the night – disregarding the strain on her eyes.
During her time as a Temporary Lecturer, she was part of a bunch of young colleagues who enjoyed life – putting in the hours of work, but always ready for a respite. The latter included occasional forays to a milk bar close by, in which I sometimes joined. At the bar she was part of a small group who tended to ‘over consume’ the treacle supplied with curd, to the chagrin of the others! And as her colleagues left for other pastures over time, she continued with these visits, referring to herself as my ‘milk bar partner’ in a message to a celebratory volume compiled by my family for my birthday.
When her appointment at Peradeniya was nearing its end, she shared with me her preparations for an application to join the National Human Resources Development Council, including slides to present at an interview, meticulously and thoughtfully prepared. She served several years there and held the post of Research Officer at the time of her passing.
Along with this shift to Colombo, her communications gradually became infrequent. She tended to catch up to share important milestones – the final of which was her graduating with a MBA – or to ask a work-related question. And though these interactions reveal the serious and dedicated side of her nature, she was always ready for a laugh. Few and far between though these updates were, they reinforced in me what I had known for some years; that Navoda was a committed professional.
So when I look back at the years and ponder on the meaning of her life, I’m grateful for having known her. I travel back, as it were to the past, and see different moments as they impacted on her; some challenging, and others joyful. I see her earnestly requesting leave from the university as a student to travel to India for medical attention, and I see the anxiety on her face in dealing with her father’s accident at home. I see her playing games with great competitive enthusiasm during a stay-over with her colleagues at my home, having fun visiting relatives in Matara, joining me along with a friend to attend the wedding of a former colleague in Galle, sharing pictures celebrating her different graduations, and making plans for further study. I remember her as a loyal friend to her work colleagues at Peradeniya, always willing to help out, and joining in at social events.
Hers was a life of quality, shockingly cut short, and she will be missed for all time. Surely she is among the stars which fill the night sky, her spirit never extinguished, but ever joyful and ever rejoicing.
CRA
Nostalgic memories of an amiable friend of over five decades
Capt. Clarence Jayasinghe
On Monday, September 4, 2023 exactly at 6.44 hours when we were having our breakfast, we received a WhatsApp message from Wasanthi Ranasinghe, former Principal, Samudradevi Balika Maha Vidyalaya, conveying the news of the passing away of our colleague, Clarence Jayasinghe, popularly known as Clarence. The message was so devastating that it made us stand up unintentionally and silence prevailed for a few moments bringing back nostalgic memories of this amiable friend of over five decades.
Our first encounter with Clarence was in 1970 when we all enrolled for the Economic Special Degree at the Vidyodaya University (now Sri Jayawardanapura University). He entered the university from Richmond College, Galle. In 1978, he joined the Income Tax Department and served in several branches of the Department until his retirement.
He married Susila Gunasekera in 1978. From the same university, Susila was on the staff of the Sangamitta Girls School, Galle until her retirement. They were blessed with three sons and a daughter who now hold responsible positions in the public and private sectors.
Clarence joined the volunteer force of the Sri Lanka Army as a Commissioned Officer in 1979 and was a decorated officer of the Gemunu Watch. He rendered an incalculable service to the motherland. His stint in the Army had been particularly commendable in that he served in the most difficult areas of Trincomalee, Jaffna, Pulmudai, and Mannar. He led his battalions in the Trincomalee Army Camp to capture Upparru Island after a fierce battle. He was instrumental in unearthing a mass grave with human skeletons. The subsequent search operations revealed that the Sinhala and Muslim inhabitants living in this island had been massacred and buried by the LTTE.
Clarence was vice-captain of the University wrestling team and an active member of the University Sports Council, winning university colours in 1973 and 1974.
Known for his simplicity and mild manners, Clarence had the rare ability to mingle with the student community of all the faculties. His warm and compassionate approach endeared him to many. Perhaps, this would have been the prime reason why he opted to contest the student council of the University representing a capitalist political party that was not popular in the 1970s, at a time when the T 56 culture was prevalent immediately after the 1971 insurrection.
During his university days, Clarence stood firmly aligned to a new student movement in order to guarantee democratic rights for every student, in particular, challenging the then existing order of the day in the university’s student environment. Known as the “United Samavadi Peramuna” affiliated to the Youth Front of the United National Party (UNP), it was largely responsible for changing the political map of the Student Council elections outcome at the Vidyodaya University in 1972/73.
Clarence was an avid reader and would have had several hundreds, if not thousands of books in his possession.
In the latter part of his life, his health saw a visible deterioration and he was virtually in and out of the hospital seeking treatment. According to his family, Clarence displayed remarkable resilience and a positive outlook, despite facing health challenges. His unwavering spirit coupled with the utmost care by his wife and children enabled him to face a couple of surgeries courageously. The WhasApp group of his University batchmates initiated by Prof. Gunatilaka Tantirigama would have brought solace to Clarence, who I am told, had read the messages from his colleagues to the end.
The loss of Clarence is deeply felt but the influence and the impact of his cordial relationships will endure among his university batchmates and the lives he touched during his life innings of 74 years.
Dear Clarence, you may no longer be at our side but you will always remain in our hearts. May your journey through Samsara be truly short and happy until you reach the gates of Nirvana.
Mathupali & Athula Ranasinghe
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