APPRECIATIONS
View(s):A tribute to an officer and gentleman
LALAKA PEIRIS
The untimely death of Air Vice Marshal Lalaka Peiris left his immediate family, friends and military colleagues in Sri Lanka, his extended family and friends in Toronto, as well as many of his family, friends and colleagues elsewhere in the world, shocked and saddened and yet grateful that Lalaka had touched each of our lives in indelible ways.
Lalaka was truly an “Officer and Gentleman”.
Lalaka was the eldest son of career civil servant Lloyd Peiris and his wife Malini of Moratuwa. Lalaka was a devoted brother, inspiration, mentor and friend to Lakith, two years his junior. The Peiris brothers attended St. Sebastian’s College and Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa where they excelled in academics, sports and other extra-curricular activities. Lalaka played competitive tennis at the well-known Carlton Club and went on to become a Director of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association. Lakith in turn became one of the most admired and best liked members of the Sri Lankan diaspora in Dubai and a pioneer promoter of Sri Lankan international cricket.
Lalaka entered the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) as an officer cadet and in due course was commissioned as a pilot officer.
Lalaka married our dear sister Iromi Jayanthi Fernando (daughter of State Mortgage Bank General Manager Victor Fernando and his wife Chitra of Colombo) in 1978.
Lalaka and Iromi were soon blessed with their daughter Nayantara now married to Shameera Leitan. Rayan, the eight-year-old – his only grandchild was the apple of Lalaka’s eye, and in the last few weeks of Lalaka’s life would egg his grandfather to get on with physiotherapy.
Lalaka completed the one-year Staff College course at the Royal Air Force base in Bangladesh. Lalaka, Iromi and Nayantara described that year as the most memorable one of their life.
The well liked, highly admired and supremely competent Lalaka rose through the ranks attaining the positions of Flying Officer, Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander, Group Captain, Air Commodore, and retiring in 2006 with the rank of Air Vice Marshal. Throughout his illustrious career, Lalaka had a singular commitment to the Sri Lanka Air Force and to the airmen and airwomen he commanded. The Government of Sri Lanka recognized Lalaka’s service to the country by honouring him with the Vishishta Seva Vibusana (VSV) award.
Lalaka shyly confided in us that he was honoured to be chosen to be aide-de-camp (ADC) to former President Ranasinghe Premadasa as well as temporary designated military host to US President Bill Clinton when former US Presidents Clinton and Bush spearheaded US relief aid efforts in Sri Lanka after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
The writer recalls a pre-dawn, nine-hour road trip to Vavuniya with then Colonel, current defence chief General Kamal Gunaratne, who then was Army Base Commander, while Lalaka was Air Force Base Commander, on the southern end of the forward defence line. Perhaps two hundred metres separated them from the enemy.
As Base Commander, Vavuniya, Lalaka was responsible for the security of the Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (UAV) now known as “drones” that proved to be one of Sri Lanka’s key assets in defeating the terrorist insurgency.
On arrival at the Vavuniya Air Force base, Lalaka, in showing us around the base instructed that in case of a LTTE artillery bombardment we should take cover in the bunker, steps from his quarters.
As dusk fell, Lalaka took us on a three-convoy journey to Madugaskanda – the tallest military base between Pidurutalagala and Jaffna from which the Air Force on behalf of the entire SL military monitored and coordinated communications and tracked the LTTE in the jungle below.
During a trip to China Bay on a visit to the Air Force outpost in Kinniya, Lalaka made a beeline to the quartermaster’s tent where he ensured that his men were well fed with fresh vegetables, fish and beef from the south. Only after that did he inspect the Kinniya camp defensive positions and discuss the next day’s operations.
Lalaka, as his deep religious faith dictated was also very human and humble, and acknowledged his humanity and shortcomings. At the end of every day on this trip, Lalaka prayed on his knees for forty minutes before he joined us for drinks and dinner.
As Director Logistics of the Air Force, he led a Sri Lankan delegation to meet Pakistan’s political and military elite and successfully negotiated the purchase of a fleet of helicopters for Sri Lanka. With his characteristic half smile he told us how he was responsible for purchasing – from a grain of rice to aircraft on behalf of the SLAF. It was all in a day’s work for Lalaka.
During one of our many visits to Sri Lanka, Lalaka apologised profusely for not being able to take us yet again to a weekend at Koggala base because as Director of Logistics it was his designated role to go to Ukraine to take delivery of some fighter aircraft. To our astonishment, two days later he invited us to the Library Bar at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel and bemusedly shrugged his shoulders when asked why he had not gone to Ukraine as planned. Years later, the assassination of a prominent Sri Lankan journalist confirmed the dark reason.
Retirement approached and so did residential opportunities overseas. But for Lalaka, the ancestral home in Moratuwa and the modest home he lovingly supervised the construction of in Colombo remained the much loved and preferred homesteads. We recall many an evening in those homes where Lalaka preferred to entertain (instead of at a restaurant which was the latest fad) with delicious rice and curry, and of course, Single Malt. As the evening wore on, his trusty guitar appeared. And, there was Lalaka’s medley – “It’s a long way to Tipperary, Roll Out the Barrel, You Are My Sunshine” and his idol Elvis Presley’s songs which were belted out, complete with Iromi’s nightingale voice. Like many Moratuwa residents Lalaka was also no slouch on the dance floor whether it was a fast jive or a rollicking baila!
One of our proudest memories is surely when an editor of a leading Sri Lankan newspaper confided to a group of friends, which included the writer, “Lalaka is one of the few Sri Lankan military officers who I am sure has never taken a bribe”.
Despite the yeoman efforts of doctors, nurses and other staff at Asiri Hospital, National Hospital and Air Force Hospital, and not forgetting the 24-hour diligent care of his family – Iromi, Nayantara and Shameera, our dear brother-in-law, friend and inspiration, Lalaka, joined his parents, parents-in-law and dear nephew in eternal life, and is now safe in the arms of Jesus.
‘Now cracks a noble heart.
Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest’
(Hamlet Act 5, Scene 2)
Viresh Fernando
I will miss Akka, her advice and our weekly chats
Irangani Atukorala
I pen these lines with sadness and a heavy heart as a few hours ago – (May 17), I was informed of the passing away of my only sister Irangani Atukorala nee Seneviratne.
Iragani was born in Deniyaya Hospital in 1926 where our father Dr. D.R. Seneviratne was the D.M.O. at that time. She grew up in Deniyaya and Elpitiya when my father was transferred to these hospitals. After that my father was appointed Judicial Medical Officer in Galle where he served for many years. Akka schooled at Southlands College Galle whose principal was the renowned educationist Ms. Edith Ridge.
Later on my father was transferred to Colombo where he served as Police Surgeon until his demise at the early age of 56. Akka attended Ladies’ College in Colombo and excelled at playing the piano and in Western music, gaining the LTCL and LRSM,
It was while she was at our home at 200, Havelock Road that she first met her future husband Don Gunasena Atukorala, a chairman of the State Engineering Corporation. The rest is history. It is indeed sad to note that he died just three months before her at the age of 99 years and nine months. Thankfully Akka passed away very peacefully in her sleep.
I will certainly miss her and the chats I had with her every week. Her son Prasanna used to religiously visit her at the nursing home every week and using his smart phone she chatted with me. Only last week I complimented her on the every elegant kaftan she was wearing and she replied ‘that is what you gifted me’.
Akka and Sena had three children: Aravinda (a double accountant and computer expert), Ruvini, (a double accountant) and Prasanna (an investment banker). They all looked after their parents very devotedly, especially Ruvini who visited her parents daily, morning and evening without a break.
In the past, I used to visit Akka and Sena regularly and enjoyed staying in their house in Horsley.
I looked up to Akka and sought her help and advice which I regret I will not be able to ask for any more. I will remember her very much even though she will not be around. She leaves behind three good children who looked after her and Sena with deep affection and devotion.
May she attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.
Nihal Seneviratne
A beacon of friendship and community service
Ifthikhar Aziz
Mohamed Ifthikhar Aziz, who celebrated his 74th birthday on March 10 this year, passed on after a brief illness on April 23. He came from a distinguished Sri Lankan family; his father, the late A.H.A. Aziz, an attorney, was the pioneer of the Ahadiya Movement in Sri Lanka.
Ifthi, as he was fondly referred to, joined the Royal Primary with us in January, 1955, and we sailed through the Royal College Colombo’ 61 English Medium batch. His older brothers Imthiaz Aziz and the late Shibly Aziz (former Attorney-General), were also Royalists. Ifthikhar and his wife Rezani have three sons, Kamran and Aftab, both attorneys, and Maalik, a corporate CEO, all who were prefects at Royal.
He did a brief stint at Ceylon Tobacco, delved into the retail, and wholesale trade, gems and jewellery, and fast foods, at various stages. He later served as MD/CEO of Esfahan (Pvt) Ltd, Bartercard Sri Lanka, Lanka Business Consortium (Pvt) Ltd, and was chairman of International Business Consultants.
He was known for his noble, and kind-hearted nature, touching the lives of many with his generosity, and humanitarian efforts. As chairman of the Giving Sight Foundation, he contributed towards restoring vision to many through cornea donations locally, and especially to Pakistan.
Ifthikhar was a beacon of friendship and community service. He was president of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Friendship, Trade, and Investment Association. In September 2016, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif conferred on him the ‘Tamgha-i-Khidmat’ for his meritorious services towards enhancing trade, investment, and strengthening educational and cultural links.
Ifthikhar was a gentleman of high calibre, strong in Islamic faith, a humble personality, willing to help anyone irrespective of nationality, race or religion. It was very rare to meet an intellectual personality who made attempts to gather people around him and guide them in many aspects of life. He created various religious groups on WhatsApp and was one to share various songs in different languages. He helped to facilitate many students to obtain fully-funded scholarships to follow medical and other courses at various universities in Pakistan. His service to the community was considerable. With his departure, there surely will be a void.
He was involved in a diverse array of institutions including the Jewellery Manufacturing Exporters Association; SL-Arab Friendship & Economic Association; the Capri Club; Lions Club of Colombo and the Islamic Home for the Needy & Orphan Association.
He was also president of the Royal Commonwealth Society of Sri Lanka and on March 24 organised a ‘Fireside Chat’ with our contemporary in school, Dr Indrajit Coomaraswamy on ‘Lessons to be learnt on the Recent Economic Crisis,’ for which he served as moderator.
Ifthikhar, who had travelled to over 30 countries was well known amongst the social, diplomatic, and political circles in Sri Lanka, Pakistan Iran and Bangladesh. We cherish his memories, and share the legacy he leaves behind. Apart from his brother, sisters, Minha and Ryhan, sons, grandkids and friends, his wife Rezani, a well-renowned corporate icon, will decidedly miss him most.
Rest in peace bro.
Rafil Hamid & Firoze Sameer
An entrepreneur who knew when to let go
Dehiwalaliyanage Noel de Silva
Dehiwalaliyanage Noel de Silva or “Galle Silva” (as he was known) of Pamankada passed away at 82 + in 2021 after a sudden heart failure.
Noel studied at Royal College, Colombo. He was very handsome and kind-hearted. An avid reader at the Royal College library, his English language was superb. He was also a good sportsman and boxer.
When he was around 22 years, Noel met a schoolgirl of 13 studying at Anula Vidyalaya. Noel later married his beautiful fiance Ranjani and they had a happy wedded life.
Noel’s hobbies were planting, swimming and singing. He directed a stage play “Walagamba” for which Visharada Victor Rathnayaka composed the lyrics and music.
He was involved in manufacturing gascut cement and winding varnish with his only brother. After the Government liberalised imports, he had to close down his business as he could not compete with the price of imported products. Noel was then involved in land sales and later he gave up all his business initiatives.
Noel and Ranjani’s only child Ranjala came up in life as an entrepreneur, under her beloved father’s guidance. His only grandchild, also a Royalist completed his higher education in overseas universities and is presently reading for his PhD.
Noel always said “Strength lies in letting go – not holding on”.
His ardent wish was that Ranjani should be his loving wife throughout their journey of Samsara until both of them attain the bliss of Nibbana.
From a batch of faithful friends
A huge loss to the architectural community here and in Asia
Prof. Lakshman Alwis
Vidya Jothi Emeritus Professor Lakshman Alwis (more popularly known as Laki), has been my close friend from the time we joined the SLIA (Sri Lanka Institute of Architects) in 1970. We also set up our own respective architectural offices about the same time and both are among the leading firms of architects in the country. We often exchanged views and ideas connected to professional practice issues of mutual interest. In addition, our two families mix socially.
In 1982, we were in the same council and same committee tasked to organise the SLIA’s 25th Silver Jubilee celebrations at the BMICH. Laki was responsible for the First Members Work Exhibition in the triple height entrance lobby of the BMICH. Within this space, it was a difficult task to install tall scaffolding to mount the architectural panels from the different architects’ offices. I recall President J.R. Jayewardene who was the Chief Guest at the event spending a considerable amount of time in the exhibition area. Laki and his team did an excellent job and for several years the same concept was used by SLIA at their annual Exhibition of Members Work.
After our respective tenures in office as President – SLIA, we moved to the Architects Regional Council, Asia – ARCASIA. He was in the ARCASIA Council representing the SLIA and in 1995-1996, was elected Chairman – Architects Council for Architectural Education – ACAE in Jakarta, Indonesia. In 1997, he was appointed Convener of ARCASIA Awards, at the Forum held in Tokyo and in 1998, he was the Convener of the 8th Asian Congress of Architects (ACA -8) held in Sri Lanka. We visited several Asian countries for ARCASIA events and had a great time interacting with other architects in the region. Laki was always accompanied by his wife Lalani and their “baila dance” during the “Fellowship Night” was a treat to watch. I also recall the time he lost his passport pouch, in Bangladesh. Fortunately, after some panic, he and Lalani managed to get temporary passports to reach home.
Laki was a respected teacher and his writings on “British Period Architecture in Sri Lanka” are well known among the profession. Many of his students are leading architects in the country today. On the academic side, he reached the position of Professor of Architecture in 1991 and in the same year, he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Architecture. He retired from the University of Moratuwa in 2004, and the University conferred the title “Professor Emeritus” in appreciation of his service to academia.
When Laki fell ill, I connected with him a few times and kept checking on his health from Lalani, Upeka and his son Migara. Laki’s loss will leave a huge space for his family, and the architectural community in Sri Lanka and also in ARCASIA countries.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Surath Wickramasinghe
He always gave his best to everything he did
Gamini Bulankulame
Sooriyakumara Wannisinghe Gamini Bulankulame was my father’s first cousin. I met him for the first time when my parents took me and my siblings on a visit to Nuwarawewa Walauwe, Anuradhapura, where he was living with his parents, P. B. Bulankulame Dissawe and Nimala Hurulle.
Uncle Gamini schooled at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, which his father, uncles, and brothers had also attended. While in college, he excelled in cricket, boxing, and hockey. Before joining the ‘big school’ at Mount Lavinia, he received his primary education at S. Thomas’ Prep School, Kollupitiya. He then studied at Aquinas College of Higher Studies and later began teaching at Isipathana College.
However, his time at Isipathana College was short-lived as he, after two years, decided to pursue a career in ‘planting’ with the Carson Cumberbatch Company, which owned many tea and rubber plantations across the country. He started as an assistant superintendent at Nakiyadeniya Estate in the Southern Province in 1965. Due to his skills and dedication, he was promoted to superintendent and subsequently managed estates such as Kepptigala, Etana, Udapola and Pallegama.
He successfully oversaw the commissioning of Sri Lanka’s first centrifuge latex processing factory at Udapola Group and managed the estate and processing plant for 10 years before retiring from Pallegama Estate. He then moved to Kandy in retirement.
He was an active member of the Lions Club of Kegalle for many years and served as the club’s president in 1986. He was also a devoted ‘dayakaya’ of the temples near the Etana and Udapola estates where he worked.
Uncle Gamini was a very unassuming personality and a family man of high integrity. He always gave his best to everything he did. He was ably supported by his wife Kanthi, daughters Rasitha, Gayani, and Udhini and their spouses Thusitha, Samantha, and Thushantha.
He passed away in March and his funeral took place at Mahaiyawa Cemetery, Kandy, with a large gathering of friends and relatives in attendance.
I wish him Nivan Suwaya in his journey in Samsara.
Themiya L.B. Hurulle
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