APPRECIATIONS
View(s):Just a snapshot of the special person you were
Chianthi de Silva Nilar
Dearest Chio,
On this beautiful fall day in New Jersey, I sit here numb, sad and already missing you. Our friendship began when we were too young to even realize it, about 50 years ago. I cannot recall a time that I was not spending the weekend with Drupy, Dani and you. Aunty Dhanya, your mother, was an angel: kind, generous and welcoming to everyone. So many of us enjoyed the warmth and generosity of your home.
You had a lot of your mother’s qualities Chio, but they were also uniquely yours – like your unconditional love for family and generosity of spirit with your friends. You loved everyone’s children, and particularly apparent was your devotion to your own sweet angel “Neha”, so sadly taken away from you and Tippy at such a young age. You certainly picked the right profession as a Montessori teacher, qualifying and gaining experience in London and then moving on to New York to teach at a private school in Brooklyn. You had a joyously creative side to you, and I had the happy chance to see this very evidently in a kid’s classroom that you had set up.
You were unconventional in your approach to life and someone who very much lived in the moment, never missing an opportunity to spend time at the beach where you were happiest. Yours was a spontaneous mindset, and you loved to travel, anywhere, any place and to explore it all on your own. I was in awe of your free-spirited nature, ever willing to take a chance and adventure as you did along the Camino de Santiago pilgrims’ path with your sister.
You were what I call, one of my “root people”, someone who was always around especially during difficult times, with words of comfort and positivity. Apart from all the fun childhood memories, I treasure the times we spent in NYC and all the fun and crazy stuff we did then too! So many happy times with you Chio!
This is merely a snapshot of what I want to say to you, about you…you were such a kind and gentle soul, loved so easily by anyone who met you. Children just gravitated towards your bright energy and your beautiful smile. You were a special person to many.
I thank God for bringing us together in this incarnation and as you said to me the night before I left Sri Lanka two months ago, we will see each other again in another life, I am sure of it.
Rest in Peace with your beloved daughter Neha and beloved mother Dhanya!
Until we meet again, Chio.
Rosh
Precious memories: From working relationship to lasting friendship
Franklyn Amerasinghe
Franklyn Amerasinghe who passed away this week, was from a well-known family in Kurunegala where his father was Crown Proctor and both his eldest brother Ranjit and he were lawyers. He joined the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) in 1973 where I was employed since December 1964. I welcomed his presence, for in the quiet yet fun-loving, soft-spoken and intelligent individual, I found a kindred spirit.
Our friendship built on shared interests, similar values and mutual trust, soon included our families, and my wife and I enjoyed our interactions with his wife Nilanthi and two daughters Michelle and Sharon. Franklyn, a fast learner, soon picked up and mastered all aspects of our work.
When I was appointed the CEO of the Federation in 1982, Franklyn was appointed the Deputy. This enabled me to introduce with his support, developments and new ideas. Our efforts heralded a period of rapid growth and development of the EFC and the staff too was motivated, also enabling the EFC to once again be financially stable.
Our working relationship of 17 years was such that we were motivated and we gave of our best to the organisation. Any different views between us were easily resolved. It was a period I have often looked back on as having been the happiest times of my working life. The close relationship we had at work deepened the friendship and trust between us such that he once mentioned to my wife that he is the only person who had an in-depth knowledge of me in both my professional life and as a friend!
On my departure at the end of 1989 to join the ILO, Franklyn as the CEO, continued the process of change I had begun, and expanded the EFC’s services. Responding to a request by the late Justice Mark Fernando, he initiated the practice of employing young aspiring lawyers to spend their periods of apprenticeship in the EFC to enable them to gain experience prior to taking their oaths. It was a move that was helpful to and appreciated by several of those who lacked the connections to secure such experience in the chambers of established lawyers. He continued the tradition of maintaining very good relations with member companies, trade unions and officials of the Labour Department and Ministry.
Franklin experienced a period of deep sadness when he tragically lost his wife at an early age. Despite the huge void her death created in his life, Franklyn had the unwavering support of his family in caring for his young daughters. He nurtured them and influenced them to develop values similar to those shared by him and Nilanthi.
Franklyn left the EFC to join the ILO and was stationed in Bangkok for a few years. During his short tenure he introduced the subject of mediation, in respect of which the ILO later hired him as a consultant. He was much respected by the employers’ organisations in the Asia-Pacific region.
On his return to Sri Lanka, Franklyn served as a non-Executive Director in companies such as John Keells Holdings, Chemical Industries and International Distilleries. His many interests ranged from research and writing the history of institutions that have served the public for many years, to setting up a school for children with difficulties, agriculture and gardening. He published an excellent book on mediation as well as publications on other technical subjects. He also published an outstanding book on the History of the EFC.
He was commissioned to write a similar book on Ernst & Young, Julius & Creasy and the Colombo Club, for all of which he engaged in a monumental amount of research. He and I once again worked together to produce some case studies for the EFC on the human relations environment in selected companies.
Franklyn was a humane, principled and very helpful individual with a good sense of humour. He possessed great strength of mind, a determination to face whatever life threw at him with fortitude and resilience, which qualities endeared him to both my wife and me. With increasing debasement of human values, Franklyn stands out as a supreme example of a person who remained true to his values throughout his life. If anyone known to him was in difficulty, Franklyn was often the first person they would turn to for help and advice. Many were those who benefitted from his kindness. We were both impressed and touched by the way he looked after his aged mother for many years with the help of both his sister and his daughters.
My wife and I were extremely fond of his wife Nilanthi who possessed great courage and strength of mind. The two small daughters she left behind have grown up to be delightful, able, caring and exemplary individuals who are a credit to their parents. Franklyn was justly proud of them. They were a source of strength to him during his illness and they showered him with love and attention throughout his life and when he most needed it. When we visited him in the hospital towards the end he was able only to whisper to me that it is now the fiftieth anniversary of our deep and lasting friendship.
We remember and miss the presence of close friends no longer with us and recount memorable times spent together and enjoyment derived from the friendships. Franklyn too will remain in our hearts to the end of our days.
Sriyan de Silva
| Mentor and role model | |
| The passing away of Franklyn Amerasinghe (E. F. G. Amerasinghe) marked the end of an era to many professionals who were moulded by him at the Employers’ Foundation of Ceylon (EFC) and the countless number of HR professionals and Trade Union representatives who associated with him. The EFC was synonymous with Franklyn Amerasinghe in the ’90s. He was a man with sound principles, unwavering integrity and a solid work ethic. It was indeed a privilege for many junior lawyers like myself to have been mentored by a person with such sterling qualities. Mr. Amerasinghe was the first to enter the office at 6.45 a.m. even though work started at 8 in the morning. This was a classic case of a CEO leading by example and setting the standard for others to follow. The early hours provided an opportunity for junior industrial relations advisors to seek his wisdom and discuss specific challenges and tricky cases. He always looked at the bigger picture when seeking resolutions to conflicts and did not believe that the end will justify any means. He strongly advocated the philosophy that everyone needs to feel like a winner if conflict resolution was to be a success. Mr. Amerasinghe earned the goodwill of all trade union leaders at the time. This included the likes of Bala Thampoe, S. Thondaman, D. Subasinghe, L. Siriwardene, Lesley Devendra etc. They respected Mr. Amerasinghe immensely as they knew he could be trusted. Mr. Amerasinghe always believed that private enterprise had to be fair by employees and conduct business with a social and civic consciousness. He did much to transform corporate thinking to embrace the importance of sustainability and the value of gain sharing. The EFC, under his leadership, contributed immensely to the national economy by ensuring harmonious workplace relations in almost all areas of economic activity. The successful negotiation and implementation of collective agreements with the Plantation Unions, the Bank Employees Union and the CMU are cases in point. Mr. Amerasinghe encouraged the trade unions to engage in negotiations as equal partners in the success of the business. Needless to say, the officials at the Labour Department would always rely on Mr. Amerasinghe when developing policies on employment, wages, industrial relations or health and safety. Mr. Amerasinghe moved out of the EFC to serve the ILO and the Employers Bureau in the early 2000s. Thus, he was able to share his knowledge and experience with many other developing economies in that capacity and was considered a valuable resource in the international arena. He continued his links with the EFC and also served on the Boards of several companies for many years later. He was also assisting the General Manager of the Catholic schools in formulating policies on education and human resource development. There is no doubt that Franklyn Amerasinghe has left an indelible mark in the industrial relations landscape of Sri Lanka. His tenure as Director General of the EFC witnessed the meteoric rise of an employer trade union to that of a think tank, an advocate of change, an agency for training, a mediator for dispute resolution and a one-stop shop for litigation and related legal services. The many professionals who cut their teeth in industrial relations would be grateful to Mr. Amerasinghe for his valuable advice, guidance and the mentoring they were exposed to. These were not just lessons on law and industrial relations but lessons on philosophy, life, values and ethics. He enabled his staff to grow, helped them to think on their feet and moulded their lives to become responsible professionals who can hold their own in any sphere of activity. The many individuals who are now in varied walks of life in different territories and countries is a testimony to a master craftsman who shaped their formation in personality and professionalism. His demise is certainly a loss to many who have known him and have associated with him. They will, no doubt, cherish memories of a great human being who gave more to others and society than what he took. He fought the good fight, completed the race and kept the faith. May his soul rest in peace. Harshana Perera
|
A father beyond compare
NANDA SENEWIRATNE
Behind the Gates of Heaven,
There’s someone special there,
A loving gentle father,
Who always used to care,
Look around your garden Lord,
For a man with a smile,
That’s my precious father Lord,
He must stand out a mile.
Hold him in your arms Lord,
And treasure him with care,
For you have in your possession,
A father beyond compare.
(Called home on November 10 2002)
Viraj & Dhakshina
The ‘Anna’ who kept us all in check
Suren Wilson
To me the Wilson brothers are an institution by themselves, the epitome of “the essence of being a Thomian”.
It was a journey that started with Tom Wilson, their father, who was one of the greatest masters S. Thomas College produced. Suren ‘Anna’ as I would fondly refer to him, stood like a rock behind all of us, just as he did for his two younger brothers.
Our memories, filled with the papare band, spirits of all forms, good food and the camaraderie shared at the E-Block during the Royal/Thomian are indescribable. But the one attribute that always stood out was that no matter what happened and how the three days ended, we had the confidence that Suren Anna was there to take care of us. Basically he kept us in check.
He was my brother Ranjan’s classmate and friend; they both loved to live life to the fullest. If my brother was alive today, I am sure he would have had many entertaining stories to relate to us beginning with their early days at college. When Ranjan passed away at the Royal/Thomian in 2001, Suren Anna came to me and spoke these words I will never forget. He said “You may have buried your brother today but you still have a big brother in me”. Words that gave me strength.
Receiving a message on the 30th of April that Suren Wilson had passed away, to me it felt like I had lost another older brother.
Suren Anna, you will always be missed for the legend you were. Rest in eternal peace and you will live on in our hearts until we meet again.
Suresh Solomon
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