APPRECIATIONS
View(s):A tribute to my young counsel and friend
Vishwaka Peiris
Life is a mystery which the mind can never truly comprehend. We try to explain the unexplainable through religion, spirituality, medicine, psychology or even philosophy. However the reality is that life is beyond mere human understanding.
Such was the case in the demise of my lawyer and friend Vishwaka Peiris. We will never know the true answer, so in my view, it is better to focus on an interesting and meaningful life.
Vishwaka passed away at the tender age of 28 but in the decade I knew him, he was exceptional.
I got to know Vishwaka by becoming a close friend of his father’s. This was before the time he was studying law at Queen Mary University in London. He was later called to the bar at Gray’s Inn and in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. I remember going to his oath-taking ceremony at the ceremonial Supreme Court. I was invited because I was his friend and also his client even before he was even officially a lawyer. From that time and for several years after, I always felt Vishwaka was ahead of the curve.
Vishwaka was from a young age working in the chambers of President’s Counsel Avindra Rodrigo. I don’t know this for a fact but I would bet that he was more often than not the first in the chambers and the last one to leave. He had an extremely busy workload, working on some of the most important cases in the country,
To me of course, the most important case he worked on was mine. Due to an 18-month tenure as an independent director on the board of a financial services company, I was caught in a political scandal and found myself in an enormous amount of legal trouble. From the early stages, Vishwaka was the most junior member of my legal team, working in a voluntary capacity, even before he had taken oaths. My case was a high profile political firestorm and Vishwaka’s start in the law was a baptism of fire.
From the get go, the pressure was on and the young lawyers appearing for me were running at full speed. Meeting deadlines and getting the right documents from place to place was the difference from me being a free man or a guest of the remand prison. Vishwaka worked tirelessly to make sure all bases were covered.
My litigation nightmare encompassed cases in the Fort Magistrate, the Colombo Chief Magistrate, Permanent High Court Trial at Bar, High Court Trials at Bar, Writs and Appeals in the Court of Appeal and even appeals in the Supreme Court. Vishwaka was in some way involved in all these.
Vishwaka was an integral part of the team that shifted the balance in my litigation. In one of the most important rulings in Sri Lankan law, three trials at bar ruled that companies could not be charged under Sri Lanka’s Public Property Act. After intense research and drafting, Anil Silva PC with Hafeel Farisz, Sahan Kulatunga and Vishwaka Peiris made a brilliant and well researched argument that led to a landmark decision in our favour dismissing all public property charges.
When the judgment went in my favour, TV cameras caught me embracing my lawyers. I remember giving Vishwaka a tight hug of thanks, a spontaneous show of emotion rather unusual for a Sri Lankan courtroom.
Vishwaka’s career subsequently moved full speed ahead. He was no longer the young kid at the bottom of the legal food chain. He was a busy lawyer working on a multitude of important cases. Vishwaka was proud of his work and enjoyed the law like few I have ever seen.
I studied law at Georgetown and was called to the Washington DC Bar. I went to school with some extraordinary lawyers. I have learned from and have completed against some of the best.
Vishwaka in the law was one of the best. Had he lived a long life he would have certainly been one of Sri Lanka’s most significant President’s Counsel. He was that good and his future was bright.
Aside from the law, he had a wide circle of friends and colleagues and an amazing family. His behaviour was always top class and I viewed him as a role model for my children. I admired his passion for the law and viewed him so highly I asked him to be the godfather to my youngest son. He was so good with my kids and they had a unique fondness for him.
Although Vishwaka’s life was short, I have seen how it was so full of happiness and love. We joked, we laughed, argued and shared some of life’s most memorable moments. In his 28 years he was a true inspiration and support for me. His was an exemplary life.
From birth to death, the soul is beyond the comprehension of mere mortals. I am not enlightened enough to make sense of Vishwaka’s passing but what I will do is admire him for a life well lived.
Sleep well, my counsel, my friend.
Ranjan Hulugalle
| A beloved friend to many, young and old alike | |
 In loving memory of my dear friend, my counsel, My Boy, Vishwaka. Beloved son of Upeka and Dinal, precious brother of Saku, you have left all of us far too soon, and the void you have created will be felt every day.Vishwaka: who is like you? A soul so generous, always ready to lend a hand, always a ready smile, never a bad word or harsh criticism. You embraced every challenge, fearless in the face of adversity. A thoughtful legal mastermind. But beyond your brilliance, it was your loyalty that shone the brightest. A reassuring presence in every situation, a beloved friend to so many, young and old alike. You delighted in conversations about everything and nothing, finding joy in the simplest moments and teaching us all the beauty of connection. As Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” You made me feel seen, heard, and cherished, and I thank you for that. Vishwaka, you will be missed—your laughter, your wisdom, your spirit. Though you have gone to rest, your memory will forever remain in my mind and my heart. Rest in peace in the arms of Jesus, my darling boy. With love, Aunty Taru
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His life was a gift to us
REV. FR. RONALD DE SILVA
Reverend Father Ronald de Silva was laid to rest on May 18, 2022, and to this day his death has been a void I cannot fill.
I first met Fr. Ronald at St Anthony’s church, Kochikade. I used to go daily to St. Anthony’s church to invoke blessings for my kith and kin, and ran into Father Ronald by chance. I consider this meeting a gift from St. Anthony. I was suffering from depression at this time, and Fr. Ronald spent many hours with me at the church, not just guiding me, but also engaging in discussions that stimulated my mind. As a priest, he knew that such conversations went a long way in helping me gain equilibrium. I will always remember his kindness and compassion to me.
Perhaps this compassion came to him from his distinguished physician father who was a social activist. His father, Dr. C.J.C. de Silva was the chairman of the Ceylon Labour Party during the colonial era, and in this capacity fought for the reduction of labour hours for the working people of Sri Lanka.
Fr. Ronald was quite elderly when I met him, and was beginning to be more homebound. I thus visited him at his parish residence in Mattakuliya on and off, when he was no longer active at St. Anthony’s church. He welcomed me with a cup of tea, and gave me the space to be a free thinker when we differed on matters of dogma. This acceptance and the caring cup of tea never failed to bring me a sense of comfort. He prepared the cup of tea himself, even though he had someone to help him. He was a simple person, lived a spartan lifestyle, and did not even possess a radio until I brought a radio and persuaded him to listen to a little music.
After a bout of illness Fr. Ronald was transferred to a retirement home for priests. It was at this home that he celebrated his 85th birthday. I was privileged to be invited to share this occasion with him.
Fr. Ronald’s life was indeed a gift to us.
Stephen Dharmakan
Your love and wisdom continue to guide me every day
THERESE SOMANADER
August 16, marks 30 years since I lost you, Mom, and not a day goes by that I don’t think of you with immense love and gratitude. The passage of time has only deepened my appreciation for the incredible woman you were and the profound impact you had on my life.
Your love was a guiding light, always illuminating the path with warmth and wisdom. Even after all these years, I find myself reflecting on the countless lessons you imparted – lessons in kindness, strength and the true meaning of family. Your ability to make each moment special, your unwavering support and your boundless generosity remain etched in my heart.
The memories of you are my most cherished treasures. I remember the sound of your laughter, your comforting embrace, and the way you always knew just what to say to make everything seem right. Your spirit continues to inspire me and guide me through life’s challenges.
While it’s difficult to believe that 30 years have passed since you were last physically with us, your presence is still felt so deeply in everything I do. Your legacy lives on in the values you instilled, the love you gave, and the countless lives you touched. You taught me the importance of compassion and resilience, and these lessons have shaped me into the person I am today.
As I reflect on your life, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for having had such a remarkable mother. Though I miss you dearly, I find solace in knowing that your love surrounds us still. Thank you for everything, Mom. Your memory is a blessing that I carry with me every day.
Today I remember your life and celebrate the beautiful and incredible woman you were. Your love and wisdom continue to guide me every day. Miss you more than words can say – until we meet again in the care of God the Almighty.
Keith Somanader
Eight lines for the eighth
Nadeepa Dharmasiri
Like blooms that return after autumn, for sure,
Your spirit watches us o’er from skies azure.
Eight years ago parted by the welkin so thin,
Our love ever-growing for you shall ne’er dim.
Pray for us, dear friend, resting in repose;
Where choirs of angels in harmony compose !
Harrowed, albeit with a smile, I pen this tearful art,
Knowing you’ll dwell ever-young, in our aging hearts.
(He passed away on August 8, 2016)
Ravindu Fonseka
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