Appreciations
View(s):The unforgettable Kalu Master
Panagodage Licius Johnson Fernando
Panagodage Licius Johnson Fernando affectionately known as ‘Milan’ by his siblings, relations and neighbours was born on September 22, 1924 in Moratu Wella.
He was the eldest child of a family of five children. His parents, Panagodage John Peter Fernando and Lakshapathi Mahavidhanelage Edlyn Meraya De Mel were Anglican but he converted to Catholicism at the age of ten along with his siblings and was educated at St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa. This move was initiated by Rev. Bro. Alban Patrick FSC, the Rector of the College.
His entire education was in the English medium and he was a regular alter server of St. Sebastian’s Church, Moratuwa.
During World War II, many people of Moratuwa had evacuated the area due to the risk of living in the border city of Ratmalana. His father took his family to Bowatte Bingiriya, to H.L.D. Mel Company’s coconut estate where he was employed to be in charge of the carpentry shed. During this period he had attended St. Mary’s College, Chilaw, travelling 20 km to school.
Bingiriya and its suburbs were prone to malaria and the Fernando family was affected. Eventually they returned to Moratuwa.
Getting back to his church duties, he used to deliver Gnanartha Pradeeepaya and Catholic Messenger to the parishioners. Another weekly paper circulated by the Catholic Press was the Samajasamaya vs. Samasamajaya of the Sooriya Mal Movement.
Having passed his Senior School Certificate, he worked as an Office Assistant at the Lanka Weaving Mill, Moratuwa.
With the educational reforms introduced by Education Minister C.W.W. Kannangara, Mr. Fernando was invited by the head teacher of R. C. School, Payagala, J. Francis Fernando to teach English at the school. Later he was transferred to R.C. Boys’ School, Kalamulla.
In December 30, 1952 ,he married Muriel Fernando of Diyalagoda. Their wedding was at St Sebastian’s church, Diyalagoda.
By 1954, he was transferred to St Vincent’s Home Orphanage School, Maggona. In the afternoon he conducted English tuition classes. In the village he was the only English master who was willing to offer English classes not only to schoolchildren but also to the adults. He was also invited by the Sister Superior of the ‘Little Flower’ Good Shepherd Convent, Kalamulla to teach English for the Junior Sisters. Several Government officers in national dress came to study English under Mr. Fernando.
In 1963, two years after the school takeover, he became a government teacher having had his specialized English training at the Teacher Training School Maharagama. His first appointment after specialized training was to Ku/ Kirimatiyawa Maha Vidyalaya (I.M.R.A. Eriyagolla was then Education Minster). Having served there for a short period he was transferred to KT/ Dodangoda Maha Vidyalaya and worked there until his sudden demise on February 25,1973.
He was survived by his wife, three sons and five daughters. At the time four of them were below 10 years of age. The three-year-old toddler is now Fr. Lylie Jayanth Fernando OMI, a Catholic priest and member of the Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate.
All the villages of Kalamulla mourned at his death — people used to call him ‘Moratuwe Master’. He was also known as ‘Kalu Master’ since he was dark in complexion.
F. M. Fernando
A treasured friend and exceptional human being
Anthony Page
During my tenure at the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Albert Page, the doyen of the Page family who was one of the corporate leaders I had established a valued friendship with, brought his son Anthony to meet me. He requested me to acquaint Anthony with the various aspects of the work of the Federation and to assist him to gain familiarity with the human relations aspects of management. I was touched by and appreciated his request, and his understanding and appreciation of how much the management of the human resource counted in the success of an enterprise.
My first impression of Anthony was of a very pleasant young man with a cheerful disposition who enjoyed life. In my meetings and relations with him thereafter, I soon realized that there was much more to him than what appeared on the surface. It became clear to me that Anthony had an in-built affinity to people and admirable values that made it easy for him to appreciate and absorb this aspect of management in addition to his professional knowledge and skills.
As our relationship grew and deepened, I came to respect and admire his corporate and financial skills. However, what impressed me above all else was Anthony’s humanity, admirable values, humility, sense of social responsibility and his caring for others. A little known fact about Anthony was that despite his busy work schedule, he extended invaluable help to young and aspiring students selflessly tutoring them with no financial rewards for himself, to ensure their success at professional examinations.
In his mature years I found Anthony to be deeply religious and intent on doing what was right and just by everyone concerned. This is an aspect of him that was apparent when over the years, I had been the recipient of numerous non-official confidential matters relative to Anthony.
When I returned to Sri Lanka after an absence of 14 years, I was sad to learn that Mr. Albert Page had passed away six months earlier. Anthony was one among the first friends in the corporate sector with whom I renewed the relationship we had been developing prior to my departure. He invited me to join the Boards of certain companies. Serving on these Boards, I witnessed many occasions on which Anthony’s positive and ethical values permeated his business and management role.
Our friendship was such that Anthony would telephone me around 7 o’clock on many weekdays to discuss certain matters which were important to him. He often mentioned with appreciation the strong support extended to him by his wife Pat, and the joy he derived from his children. Anthony lives in my memory as a treasured friend and exceptional human being who did much for his fellow men.
Sriyan de Silva
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