APPRECIATIONS
View(s):The nun who showed the way to many children in Trincomalee
Sister Mary Stanislaus
My grandmother’s sister Annaluxumy was born in Trincomalee in 1901. She was the eldest of a Tamil, Hindu family. She had three sisters and three brothers.
At that time, there was only one girls’ school in Trincomalee – St. Mary’s which is today a national school and still produces many talented citizens. She attended St. Mary’s and was taught by nuns. She was attracted by their kindness, dedication and behaviour and wanted to become a nun.
Her father being a very religious man prohibited her from becoming a nun but she went against her father’s wishes, and became a Reverend Sister, being known as “Sister Mary Stanislaus”.
She went to India in 1922 and did her service there for 28 years. During that time, in 1950, one of her younger sisters’ (my grandmother’s) husband passed awayleaving her alone with her seven children. Those days, women mostly depended on their husbands and the husband was the breadwinner of the family. My grandmother could not do anything alone. She was worried about her fatherless children. After asking for help from her relations and siblings, she wrote to her elder sister Rev. Sister Mary Stanislaus, describing her plight.
Sister Mary Stanislaus read the letter and understood her younger sister’s and her children’s plight. She wrote letters to her superiors, explaining her younger sister’s situation and got permission to help her sister.
Returning to Sri Lanka, she started a private tuition class for small children and earned money not for herself but for her sister’s family. She never demanded fees, but accepted the money and the things which the parents of the students could give. Those days almost all the pupils in Trincomalee came to her tuition class and she taught them strictly and sincerely.
She helped her sister to look after her children by giving everything she could. She was a moral support not only for her sister but also for her sister’s children. They were known as “the children of Sister’s home” and grew up safely!
Although Rev. Sister Mary Stanislaus lived with her sister’s family, she lived as the lotus leaf in the water. She never changed her routine of a meditative life. She woke up early in the morning, prayed to God, and then went to the church by foot. She cooked simple food for herself and never ate with others. She had a small room in which she stayed. She never mingled with others. She had a sewing machine that she used to sew her white nun’s habit. Physically, she lived at home, but mentally, she always lived in the convent. During the election time, she was the first to vote.
She was respected by the people in Trincomalee. Many girls were inspired by her. After her arrival and her teaching, a revolution was created silently in women’s minds by her hard working nature and good behaviour. Many young girls wanted to study hard and became independent as teachers, nurses, typists…etc.
In 1981, she had a fall and became bedridden. Her sister’s children looked after her well. Although, she could not walk, she continued teaching English to a few children as well as adults, till her death.
In 1983, when, the riots started in Trincomalee, and in other parts of Sri Lanka, she heard the first bomb, and asked what the sound was. We told that it might be some fireworks as she always liked a peaceful environment around her and we did not want to upset her. That was the last word she spoke and she went to God peacefully on July 26, 1983. Peace left from Sri Lanka, on that day, too!
In her lifetime, she had only one wish – that her funeral procession should be held in Trincomalee. Unfortunately, she passed away on the first day of the riots and that night many shops were burnt. We kept her body in the main hall of our home; the adults sat around and the children were hidden in a room. That night seemed to be very long and dangerous.
In the morning, curfew was imposed, and we arranged for the funeral. Almost all the people in Trincomalee were hurrying towards schools, kovils and churches with their children and belongings for safety. Some people heard about their beloved Rev. Sister’s death and came to pay their last respects.
Even now, after about 40 years, she is remembered by the children who have become parents and grandparents, now, for her unselfish service towards the children in Trincomalee.
Naga
A caring intellectual and social activist
CHRIS RODRIGO
I first met Chris while he was a PhD student at Imperial College London, when he visited Cambridge (where I was a student) along with some friends. We did not have much contact after that until my wife and I visited Sri Lanka in 1971 soon after the JVP insurrection of April of that year. By then Chris had gone back to Sri Lanka and had joined the Engineering Faculty at Peradeniya.
While in Britain Chris had already decided on being an activist for socialist democracy and human rights and had been involved with a left-wing group within the Labour party. On returning to Sri Lanka he and some other Engineering Faculty members (who were already active in politics) and some trade-union leaders, formed a group within the left wing Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), which was then a part of the government of Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
This group was critical of the role of the LSSP within the government and called for a break and the formation of a socialist front with other left parties, emphasising democratic rights. In particular they advocated a just solution to the problems of the Tamil-speaking people.
Chris was partially responsible for my decision to go back to Sri Lanka, which I, my wife and daughter did in January 1974. I joined his group of activists within the LSSP soon after that. Around that time, Chris also got married to a fellow activist and women’s rights campaigner Milan, and my wife and I became life-long friends with Chris and Milan. From that time onward we were in regular contact to discuss and promulgate policies, in newspaper and magazine articles (mostly ignored by the powers that be), advocating just solutions to the politico/economic/social problems of Sri Lanka.
Of course, we were young and idealistic and not quite willing to admit the deep seated tribalism of the people of Sri Lanka , which eventually negated our perspectives. Chris recognised this earlier than the rest of us and decided that he could best serve the cause by studying deeply the underlying economic and social factors that affect the dynamics of a society. Consequently, he left his faculty job in electrical engineering and started moving into management and economic studies. I venture to speculate that there are very few individuals who have done this successfully.
His academic trajectory speaks for itself. His PhD work in electronics engineering is still cited and clearly, he could have had a career as an electronics engineer in Britain or elsewhere in the west. Instead, he chose to return to Sri Lanka and get involved in the struggle for human rights and social democracy.
His subsequent academic career as a development economist led him to question many of the assumptions held by orthodox economists, as for example in his book on “Technology, Economic Growth and Crises in East Asia” ( Edward Elgar, 2001). He was one of a group of evolutionary economists who were critical of Neoclassical economics.
He was a collaborator of the well-known Oxford economist Sanjay Lall and was planning some major projects with him when Lall’s untimely death ended that work. After that he became an independent consultant economist with an association for a while with the IMF.
In the last 15 years or so of his life, he was working on a major work on development economics, within the framework established in his earlier book. Unfortunately, since his illness he was unable to work on it, but I am sure the material he gathered and worked on would be of great use to someone in the profession who would have the competence to develop it into a book.
I have many pleasant memories of discussions over four decades with Chris. I learnt a lot from him – particularly on economic issues and more broadly on the evolution of human society and on the need to go beyond Marx in understanding modern capitalist society.
We were broadly in agreement on domestic (U.S.) and Sri Lankan as well as British politics, the three countries with which we were most familiar. It was through him that I learned to appreciate the role of Alexander Hamilton in the founding of the Federal government of the United States – a role which until recently most academic historians (with little understanding of economics!) had tended to ignore.
Chris was always curious about the latest developments in physics and cosmology (my own academic fields). He would regularly listen to lectures on “Great Courses” and would then ask me incisive questions about various issues and new discoveries. He had a broad intellect and the ability to ask the right questions in any field that was of interest to him. I always looked forward to our discussions, which ranged from politics to classical western opera. I will miss him terribly.
Shanta de Alwis
A true bond of friendship that will live on in our memories
PROF. LAKSHMAN ALWIS
All his friends called him “Lucky.” He came from a very respectable family and his connection to my wife’s family ultimately led to his being the architect of our present house at Nawala, with no fees levied.
He married Lalani, grandaughter of that famous businessman from Wattala, K.B.L. Perera. They were a very loving couple and ensured that both their children, Upekha and Migara established their families with Christian values.
I knew Lucky as an excellent Public Schools athlete in his youth when he was at St. Anthony’s Katugastota along with Dr. Anton Balasuriya and Dr. Robert Perera, with whom he continued his very close friendship till his demise. Lucky was a sprinter who excelled in the 200 yards and 400 yards races and helped his school to win the 4X400 yards and 4x 100 yards race at the Public Schools meet. He later attended St Joseph’s College Colombo, for his A’Levels.
Lucky qualified as an architect in Australia and continued gaining his professional qualifications. Later he joined the Moratuwa University as head of the Department of Architecture. During his tenure, both the Bachelor of Science (Built Environment) & Master Of Science ( Architecture) degree programmes obtained national recognition whilst he also began other allied Master’s programmes in Architectural Conservation of Monuments and Sites (ACOMAS ) and Landscape Architecture.
He attained the post of Professor in 1989 and Professor of Architecture in 1991. The same year he was appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and served in this capacity for about six years. In 1996 he was promoted as Senior Professor and conferred the title of “Professor Emeritus” in 2004. He had served in the Sri Lanka Institute of Architecture and in 1987 was elected its President. He represented the country at several international forums such as the Commonwealth Association of Architects, Architects Regional Council Of Asia (ARCASIA) and Union Of International Architects.
He set up his company Design Consortium Pvt. Ltd with his very close professional friends Navin Gooneratna and Nalin Wijekoon.
When I re-established my own security company in 1988 he was my first customer.
Our group of friends included Anton and Malkanthi, Robert and Gothami, Ananda and Gayathri, Rose and JB, Shirani and Willie, Nalin and Mallika, Nihal and his wife. We went on excursions along with the children. His loving ways and his generosity in constantly inviting us to his home at Wattala created an everlasting bond.
Lucky and Lalani always hosted all of us at their home to a Christmas meal and birthday parties etc. Over the last decade, our group of friends had a rotation of poker parties and Lucky was one of the keenest to ensure that these continued, but unfortunately COVID intervened.
Lucky handled life’s ups and downs with grace and always encouraged others along the way.
Lucky, you taught us that true happiness and purpose will be found in relationships in the workplace and at home. No matter how busy we get with life we will never forget you.
Nihal de Alwis
She was a tower of strength in her own gentle way
Moonyean Balasuriya nee Peries
“They who tread the path of labour follow where My feet have trod;
They who work without
complaining do the holy will
of God;
Nevermore thou needest seek Me; I am with thee everywhere ;
Raise the stone, and thou shalt find Me ; cleave the wood and I am there. ’’
(Henry Van Dyke )
It was the 21st of May, the day our dear cousin Moonyean’s ashes were interred. It was a sad day, but yet the weather was kind to us and two beautiful tributes were given by her nephew Shehan and brother Marcel.
Moonyean passed away on March 22, which happened to be my father’s birthday. Her mother Lucille, Aunty Lulu to all of us, was my Godmother and our father’s only sister. Their home at Coopers Hill, Kollupitiya, was the ‘centre of operations’ for family and friends alike.
Moonyean was the youngest of the three sisters, followed by her two brothers Marcel and late Markie. Sadly, Aloma predeceased her by four months. The eldest sister Sonia and their brother Marcel are now domiciled in the USA. The sisters were products of Methodist College.
Moonyean was soft spoken with a nice sense of humour. She had a cheerful disposition and I being one of the younger cousins, was often intrigued by her name. She was a strong woman of faith and a tower of strength to the family. She used to uphold many in prayer and yet never speak about anything she was going through herself. She kept a beautiful home and was a talented artist.
“ Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honour her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring praise at the city gate.”
(Proverbs 31: 29-31 NIV)
She was a dutiful mother and devoted grandmother to her three adorable grandchildren. She leaves behind her two loving children Shevi and Ishan, and their families. She will be missed dearly.
May her dear departed soul Rest in Peace and rise
in glory.
Roshi
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