Appreciations
View(s):He felt the pulse of the common man
President R. PREMADASA
Today (June 23) is the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and President Ranasinghe Premadasa. He was born on June 23, 1924 at Dias Place in the area of Keselwatte in Colombo Central.
He had his primary education at Harvard Methodist Girls’ School and St. Lorenz’s College. His secondary education was at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo where he studied up to his Cambridge senior exam. He also received Buddhist schooling at Hewavitarana Daham Pasala in Pitakotuwa / Purakkottai.
It is indeed a pleasure for me to write few lines on the 100th birthday of a politician who stayed with the people and his party through thick and thin. I had the good fortune of meeting the former President long before he had reached the exalted position.
President Premadasa was a long-time friend of my father E.P. De. Silva, who was a well-informed political reporter before he became the Editor of the Daily Mirror and The Times. President Premadasa began his political career in 1950 and first became a Labour Party member of the Colombo Municipal Council and rose to the position of Deputy Mayor. In 1956, he joined the United National Party under the leadership of Prime Minister, Dudley Senanayake.
After four years, he was elected as a Member of Parliament from Colombo Central. In 1960, he was appointed as Minister of Local Government, Housing and Construction. In 1977 when J.R. Jayawardene became the first President of Sri Lanka, Ranasinghe Premadasa was appointed as the Prime Minister. After more than four decades of active politics, in 1988, he became the second Executive President of Sri Lanka.
It is sad that the country lost a dynamic leader who was action and results-oriented and had the vision to developing the economy island wide by taking industries to the rural areas and providing employments to rural youth. He launched many programmes to uplift the rural economy. The Janasaviya or the poverty alleviation programme and the 200 garment factories programmes were some of the major initiatives he introduced.
The late President had the common touch. That is why he always believed the common people should be made to share the responsibilities of finding solutions to their problems.
President Premadasa had the quality of gratitude. He never forgot to visit me whenever he visited Badulla District. He visited me when I was the Assistant Superintendent at Downside Estate, Welimada and when I was the Superintendent at Shawlands Estate, Lunugala. He was very concerned about the living conditions such as housing, drinking water, electricity, sanitation of the estate workers.
Despite the unsettled domestic situation in the country at that time, President Premadasa went ahead with the implementation of his programmes for economic and social reconstruction. The main thrust of his approach in this respect was the launching of the village re-awakening movement Gam Udawa and Janasaviya which literally means extending a Helping Hand especially to poor people. He was one who felt for the common man and reached out to uplift their living conditions.
The object of his programmes as stated by him, was that whatever development we may bring, should be for the benefit of the poor. Our efforts should be to remove the distinction between the “haves and the have nots” altogether. He wanted men who could perform and those with the “must do” attitude. Many have stated that if the era of Premadasa had continued, Sri Lanka would have become a disciplined and industrious country similar to many other developed countries. His leadership and direction are exactly what this generation needs.
Even though there were certain controversies about his rule, he still remains an iconic figure in politics. Let us wish that the current political leaders would learn from his mistakes and follow his good initiatives and pave the way for a better Sri Lanka.
Lalin I. De Silva
Papa you always kept us safe
John Fernando
My fondest memories of Papa were how when we were younger, we would sit on the back of his scooter and he would take us up and down the lane. We’d hold onto him tightly but he would always keep us safe. Papa you always kept us safe.
Papa lived a life to the fullest and loved with all of his heart.
I met Papa a little over 21 years ago and in case you didn’t know, I am his favourite grandchild. Now this debate of who is the favourite has been argued many times and Papa would respond saying either “it’s your opinion” or “no one’s”.
Well Johnny Boy, I hope you know that you’ll always be our favourite Papa. He loved the four of us with all his heart. Back when we were younger, Papa would go the supermarket and get Milo packets and stock the fridge just for us. These are some of the many things he did for us.
Papa also kept chocolate icecream especially for me because he knew how much I loved it. When I used to visit Papa and Nana, I’d go straight from the front door to the kitchen, open the fridge, serve myself a big bowl of icecream and then go to the living room and say ‘hi’ to them. Papa would always say that I should either get a bigger bowl or eat straight from the box. On top of that I would get scolded by Papa for giving Nana icecream.
Papa filled our childhoods with happy memories for which I’m grateful. He always wanted the best for us. Grades didn’t matter much to him and I can vouch for that because Papa gave up on caring for grades when he had to teach me Maths. His grey hairs grew faster. But he cared more about making us good human beings. That was important to him.
At the pearly gates I know Papa would have asked one question from St. Peter and that’s “How’s my Marie?” Papa’s world was my Nana and he taught me what it means to be a devoted husband. His heart belonged to her. Everything he did was for her.
I’ve also learnt from Papa what it takes to be a caring father to two girls (who I know weren’t too easy to raise).
Papa always made his dad jokes and my favourite is how a few years ago he had gone in for a surgery and had wanted to talk to Nana. With the nurses and doctors in the room Papa loudly said to Nana “Mama look what they have done to me, they have shaved me head to bottom”. Given that I’m reading this near the altar, bottom may not have been the exact word he used.
If we needed anything he was a call away and would always be ready to help, whether it was ‘Papa can I get a printout’ or ‘Papa I burst the pipe in the garden – can you come help fix it’.
As much as Papa was a pillar of our family, he was a pillar of the church and his hands were always reaching out to help but he never wanted the recognition. He always gave and never wanted anything in return.
Dear Papa, I was going to come surprise you for your 80th like how you came to surprise me. If I had known that the week you spent with Shevanka and me in July last year would have been my last memory of you, I wouldn’t have wanted to let you go. Thank you for giving me that. Thank you for all that you’ve done for me and for your family.
It’s strange to know that I won’t see your giant ears, grinning face or hear your voice.
When I was a child, you used to hold my hand to help me walk. Now, I’m going to have to learn to walk again – only you’re not there to catch me when I fall. You planned everything to the T, yet you didn’t give me the plan on how I am to live a life without you in it.
It’s not easy to say goodbye to you Papa. Until we meet again.
And Papa, we will take care of Nana for you. Rest easy Johnny Boy.
Your favourite grandson
Dulantha de Silva
(eulogy delivered in remembrance of his 80th birthday)
To our dearest mother
Joan De Zilva Moonesinghe
If we could visit Heaven
On this our saddest day
Maybe for a moment
Our pain would go away.
We’d put our arms around you
And whisper words so true
That living life without you
Is so very hard to do.
We cannot bring the old days back
When we were all together
But loving thoughts
And memories
Will stay
With us forever.
Previn and Priyanka
Moonesinghe
We will cherish the memories of happy times
Nimal Pullenayegam
Nimal, my loving and only elder brother left us too soon. He was only 68 years at the time of his passing.
He leaves behind his grieving wife Shanthie, his children Nishan and Niroshini, along with their spouses Chrishan and Deanne and five grandchildren.
Sadly Nimal was diagnosed with a kidney malfunction six years ago. Throughout those long harrowing years, Shanthie was an immense strength to him with the support of their loving children and their spouses.
Anyone who knew Nimal would know he was a man of few words. He was a simple and humble person and always had a quiet and calm demeanour.
He worked at the Commercial Bank for more than 40 years. His popularity and caring ways were evident at the funeral in the crowds that came to pay their last respects to him.
When he was at Commercial Bank, a long weekend was something we all looked forward to. He would always invite his friends, cousins and family to the Commercial Bank bungalows where we enjoyed ourselves playing cards, singing and dancing. These trips were the highlight of our holidays and to this day are cherished memories.
Nimal was appointed a Justice of the Peace. He used this appointment to help those in his neighbourhood and would never turn away anyone in need.
Regardless of his health issues and the restrictions it posed, he enjoyed life to the end. We miss him and his company.
We find comfort in knowing he is at peace with his Creator.
May his soul rest in peace.
Cletus Pullenayagam
“Perera Mahaththaya”, well-known and well respected figure of Kandy
James Lionel Percival Perera
It is now two years since James Lionel Percival Perera (J.L.P. Perera), former Senior Partner at Messrs Liesching & Lee passed away. It was a persisting urge for me to write this appreciation to refresh the memories left behind by this great person. Soon after his passing in April 2022, there was an appreciation by Dr. Walter Perera titled “We should be glad that such a man lived among us”.
Mr. Perera joined Lieshching & Lee in Kandy in 1948 as “young Mr. Perera”. This firm commenced in 1906 but had existed from the late 1800’s under a different name. It still exists.
I consider myself very lucky to have joined this firm as the first female employee in the firm’s history, during the early years of my career in the mid-1980s and had exposure to crucial foundational aspects essential for the practice of a lawyer, mainly the old school ethics. The rules of conduct governing professional responsibility have grown tremendously wide and detailed in the developed world while Sri Lanka has the most original rules set by the British for lawyers at that time.
There is no argument that conduct rules cannot be widened to include all the ethics. Conduct rules are there to bind someone in specific situations only. Ethics are the hallmark of a profession. The inborn ethics held by Mr. Perera in his day-to-day life and as a lawyer were remarkably respected by those who knew him in Kandy. I remember one young lawyer’s comments to me as he left the office after speaking to Mr. Perera that “he is a person whom you can address as “sir” with no hesitation”. It was not the only time I heard this comment.
He was profoundly respected and appreciated by his clients who ranged from businessmen, professionals, estate superintendents to certain destitute persons. One of them was a woman who regularly begged on the buses. Once she came to the office regarding a land issue dressed in a Kandyan saree. She very humbly took out coins bundled in a handkerchief to pay the office but the clerk refused the payment due to the instructions given by Mr. Perera that no fee should be charged from this “unfortunate woman”. He considered the personal circumstances of his clients very often. However, the fee structure in Liesching & Lee was affordable to many.
He was a well-known figure in Kandy town and was referred to as “Perera Mahaththaya” or “Mr. Lionel Perera”. Always attired in spotless white trousers and shirt, with a black tie, he continued to wear white, until he passed away at the age of 98 years
The photograph shows him just a few months before his passing, reading the book “Growing: Seven Years in Ceylon” by Leonard Woolf. I knew that it was not the first time he had read that book. He was a constant reader and continued reading all his life and shared his impressive knowledge on a variety of subjects. In his nineties, though physically weak, he was substantially independent for his age and had a good memory and alertness.
When asked “How are you?” he used to reply “Well, I am reasonably well for my age.”
He was a devout Christian. Many of his staff were Buddhists but there was no clash in beliefs at all, everyone respected Mr. Perera with no reservations. As a boss and leader, I never noticed any firm command from him, but everyone obeyed and carried out the work because of the respect they had for him. Not only the needs of the clients, but he also understood the needs of the day-to-day life of the staff. If someone’s achievements were to be praised, he sprang from his seat to warmly congratulate the person, no matter who it was. The clerks who worked under him remained in this firm for many years until they retired or passed away.
Mr. Perera was a great cricket fan. Being an old boy of Trinity, his presence in the audience in almost all matches played by the Trinitians, was a popular sight. He had a great sense of humour. When he learned that I was not very interested in cricket, he expressed his pleasure by saying I was an asset to his firm.
When mentioning Messrs Liesching &Lee, I cannot avoid the name of Mr Premadasa who was the Head Clerk. He had joined the firm in the early 1920s at the age of 17 and had worked for both Mr Liesching and Mr Lee. He continued his work until he retired at the age of 92. He had tremendous respect for Mr. Perera and could relate and share a significant amount of history of the firm.
It was well known that J. L. P. Perera was brought up in the lap of luxury. In the 1920s, as I heard, there had been just three or four cars in Kandy town and one had belonged to his father. His ancestral home in Kundasale Kandy was burnt down during the insurgency in the late 1980s. Mr. Perera’s wife was the Principal at Hillwood College Kandy and she tragically passed away in the early nineties, leaving her husband and son, Dr. Prasanna Perera.
“True gentleman”, “thorough gent”, “born gentleman” were some of the words constantly associated with his name. May he rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing.
Geethi Ranamukhaarachchi nee Gunapala
A gentle angel who touched our lives
Janani Senanayake
My wife Krishni and I first met Janani Senanyake at the Sunethra Pharmacy in Kottawa where her mother Thamara was the manageress. I realized the gentle young girl who assisted her was her daughter Janani.
Janani was the eldest child of Anura and Thamara and had two younger sisters Thisuni and Senomi. She studied at the Royal Institute and entered the Ruhunu University in Matara, specializing in bio-science. She also learnt three languages – French, Korean and English.
Janani was humble, kind and loyal, always helping her parents with their chores. She assisted fellow students with their studies and was a volunteer at the AISEC Institute where she was in charge of various projects. She was a keen weightlifter.
Thamara, Janani’s dear mother sadly passed away in 2022 after suffering from a severe diabetic condition. Janani also fell ill and was diagnosed with SLE. It affected her digestive system and she had to be very careful of her diet.
Janani was hospitalised for a long time and finally her doctors informed her father that there was not much hope of saving her.
This was very sad news for her family and even for my wife and I since we had developed a strong friendship with them. I still recall how much Janani and her family enjoyed themselves when I went with my guitar to their home and sang many songs.
Janani’s father called me on April 12 to tell me that Janani had passed away peacefully just before her birthday. She was just 23.
We pray that Janani will attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.
We salute dear Janani – a gentle angel who came into the lives of her family and ours.
Sunil Fernando
Thank you for a life lived selflessly
Faith Berman
As the twenty-first of June doth this year dawn
I wanna reach out and call you dear friend, this morn
Then realise – you are no more on this earth
And life’s not the same anymore.
It’s almost two years since God called you home
And I so miss our little chats and giggles and more.
Your warm, loving hospitality was one of a kind
Yes, you did redefine it for sure that oft comes to mind
Sixty-nine years were really too short and yet.
I am grateful for the memories aplenty shared.
With your beloved by your side, you raised your offspring
And Natania God gave you to spoil and guide.
Your deep faith was lived out over the years
As you questioned and struggled but clung on to Him
Whatever the challenges, losses and unanswered questions
You never doubted His existence and was a “light” surely for Him.
Many I know, the world over in fact
Will testify to your amazing love and care
I’d like to think that today – we are better
Because of having known you – someone rare.
May God in His compassion comfort your dear fam
Amid the grief they carry silently, as they miss you for sure.
Thank you, dear Faith for a life lived selflessly
And pointing us all to Him, whom you loved oh so dearly.
He was ever ready to help anyone in need
Rohitha Ekanayake
Rohitha Ekanayake, my beloved nephew passed away last month.
He was a Black Belt karate instructor and had students all over the island.
A few years ago he went to Australia and spent a few years there. On his return, he launched a gem business.
He was so kind hearted he gave away almost all his earnings to his friends and relatives including his vehicle. Although he was very busy with his gem business, he was ever ready to help anyone who needed aid. Whenever a relative or friend fell ill, it was always Rohitha who would go and spend a few days at their bedside. He was always in the limelight as his friends and relatives loved him so much.
Rohitha was also a devout Buddhist who organised many religious activities in the area and helped poor families.
His demise was a great loss to his family and friends.
Rohitha, with the good deeds of your short life may you be blessed with the supreme bliss of Nirvana.
Rohana Ekanayake
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