APPRECIATIONS
View(s):Hulftsdorp will miss him
Ranjith Chula Bandara
Ranjith Chula Bandara, senior Attorney-at-Law, ‘Chula’ to his friends, passed away three months back on December 22. I had known him for more than 55 years.Chula was born on May 4, 1949 into a well-known family in Panduwasnuwara. His father, R.M.K.B. Ratnayake, was a proprietary planter who won a gold medal for his contribution to agriculture and was the first MP of the new Panduwasnuwara electorate.
Chula had his entire schooling at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, and in 1968, entered the Faculty of Science at the University of Peradeniya. He was a popular and easy-going student, quite a rioter as well. Peradeniya also found him a life partner, Pushpa. Having graduated with a special degree in Chemistry, Chula returned to his alma mater to teach Chemistry and Physics. He was also a very popular tuition master.
In 1974, Chula entered the Sri Lanka Law College. His contemporaries included Mahinda Rajapaksa, later President of Sri Lanka and K. Sripavan and Nalin Perera, who went on to become Chief Justices. Batchmates pressured Chula to run for President of the Law Students Union, and he easily won. Passing out in 1976, Chula took oaths on August 25, 1977. He was a State Counsel at the Attorney-General’s Department for a few years. He continued his studies, earning an LLB and an LLM from the University of Colombo. Not many know that Chula was Sampath Bank’s first company secretary and Manager (Legal).
When his father retired from politics after two parliamentary terms, the people of Panduwasnuwara beckoned him, and Chula could not refuse. He represented the United National Party in Parliament from 1991 to 1994 and 1998 to 2000. He was also Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Poland. The Bar, not politics, was Chula’s first choice. He built up a very good practice, appearing mainly in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal and the original courts as well, specialising in civil and public law. He was an excellent pleader, held in high esteem by the judges and respected by his colleagues. Hulftsdorp will miss him. Chula was also very much a family man.
Chula, may you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana!
Jayampathy Wickramaratne
He touched many lives with his caring, friendly and helpful ways
Athula Jayasekera
To call Athula Jayasekera just a good friend would be a gross understatement.
I had known him for more than 30 years and the bond we forged was something that was beyond a friendship.
Athula shone as a cadet during our days at Nalanda College and was a member of the Cadet platoon that won the coveted Herman Loos Trophy, the all island championship award for cadets for our alma mater after a lapse of 39 years.
However, my really close association with him was after I became a member of our Junior Old Boys’ Association. As Secretary of the Junior OBA when Athula was at its helm as President, I was fortunate to work with him on several pioneering efforts for Nalanda: the teachers’ felicitation and the medical camp for past teachers initiated in 1997, a dinner dance which we called Silver Blaze, a members directory called Silver Honours, erecting a War heroes’ memorial at Nalanda and broadcasting of live updates on the Ananda Nalanda One Day match in 1997 when technology for such initiatives were barely accessible.
Athula joined the Management Club, and his leadership qualities instantly came to the fore as he was appointed as the first President of TMC Colombo. He was later President of TMC’s Board of Management too. His leadership skills and enthusiasm for new initiatives paved the way for many projects such as TMC Wisdom Quiz, the Way Forward lecture series, TMC’s Read a Book evenings etc.
Through such projects Athula always demonstrated his knack for good leadership by engaging the right members for the project and allowing them to work independently, providing them the guidance while drawing from the experiences of senior members.
Since his untimely demise, several stories have surfaced from those who had been recognised by Athula, for some untapped talent in them. There are many who have become successful in their own fields just because Athula had inspired them.
I’ve been associated with Athula on several projects and his meticulous planning with a predetermined task list with time lines, was always helpful. Athula was also a good writer who shared his insights about varying subjects. He wrote many articles to the press about our alma mater.
The most recent project we completed was the launch of the autobiography of our mentor, cricket coach and cadet master Nelson Mendis. It was Athula’s leadership and guidance that helped to conclude it with a grand function at the Nalanda College Malalasekera Hall, just two weeks before his untimely demise.
There have been so many lives Athula touched with his caring, friendly and helpful ways and his loss will be greatly felt not only by his loving wife and family members but also by numerous others touched by his kindness.
May he attain the bliss of Nirvana sooner than later!
Varuna Ratnaweera
You nurtured each dream until it was whole
Patricia de Silva
For the teacher who saw me,
when I was so small,
At three years old, in your nurturing call.
With smile-crinkled eyes,
you guided my way,
Through poems and prose,
my childhood you shaped.
In the echo of your voice, I found my own,
A child then, now grown,
my path is shown.
You moulded my spirit,
you shaped my soul,
Nurtured each dream until it was whole.
Though time has passed,
and you’re no longer here,
Your wisdom still whispers,
so vivid, so clear.
I carry your lessons, your belief in my art,
A legacy of love, forever in my heart.
Now at 20, I stand with pride,
Knowing you’re with me, still by my side.
I hope you can see where
I’ve come to stand,
The person I am, by your guiding hand.
So though I can’t show you how
far I’ve flown,
In every success, you’re still widely known.
I’ll make you proud, as you always knew, Your faith in me, I’ll carry through.
Amani Almeida
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