People & Events

• A junior remembers
• Vajiragnana Thera: dedicated missionary

Eardley Perera: 50 years at the Bar

A junior remembers

By Denzil J. Gunaratne

One rainy evening twenty five years ago I went with my friend Bandula Jayasinghe, Attorney-at-Law, to a sprawling house situated at Uyana Road, Moratuwa.

We did not enter through the main door but entered a portico by the side on which was a board that said "office". We rang the bell. About five minutes later the door opened and an imposing personality emerged.

He greeted Bandula cordially and I was introduced to him. This was my first encounter with Eardley Perera.

Bandula then told him that I wished to apprentice with him

I was asked to come to his chambers on Sunday morning, this was the beginning of a long and eventful association.

Up to this time I had never seen Eardley Perera, but having heard so much of the advocate I was determined to devil under him. Mr. Perera was then at the height of his career. Every Sunday morning his consultations with his clients were something that I came to look forward to.

I had come to learn, but he never taught us except by example and by his witty conversation. Little things that we learnt from him were the most important, how to behave in Court, and how to address Judges, Court craft and many other essential skills of a lawyer .

He had a profound knowledge of the Law but this knowledge lay upon him lightly, I rarely saw him with a heap of law books, but a profound knowledge of the fundamentals, and a pragmatism born from a keen insight into human nature were his forte and his success.

A brilliant lawyer, richly endowed with a voice equal to his skill, the focus of his mind had always been on the case and never on the client. He would advise us to do the case to the best of our ability and then forget it, whatever the result.

This objectivity is an essential characteristic for any good lawyer, the ability to take another man's problem to his shoulder and yet not allow it to affect.

His vast outstation-practice gave me the chance to travel with him very often, sitting in the back seat, sharing his cigarettes. Listening to his conversation on these journeys was the most educative of experiences.

His stories of lawyers and the law, of his travels abroad, his anecdotes on men and matters were enlightening sessions that I have ever had. His conversation, never boastful, was in itself an education.

Ever the liberal, he scorned race, caste or creed in his association with men.

His personality drew people to him, in Court, or at any gathering I have never seen him alone, since people tended to gather around him. Obviously, he may have disliked some people, but in my many years of association I have never heard him utter anything unkind about anyone.

He introduced me to the rich and famous but always as an equal and with undeserving praise. We were the envy of the other juniors as everyone knew that he was the most generous of paymasters.

Often, I was embarrassed with myself, wondering why I should be paid so much, for having done so little.

After the Sunday morning consultations many of us were asked to stay to lunch. This was indeed a grand affair, after many glasses of the best Scotch we were invited to an overwhelming table.

Here along with his good wife Shirley, we became a family; and what with Jane his old retainer busily moving from the kitchen to the table with another breast of chicken or a leg of pork.

A devout Catholic, his house was known to all the vagrant train of Moratuwa, young and old, monks and beggars, padres and fisherman, clerks and conmen all benefited from his generosity.

In fact a pile of notes and coins were kept on a table along with the bottle of whiskey, to be handed out to anyone who came by. One day Mr. Upali Gooneratne had the misfortune of having a hole in his pocket, he therefore kept his spare coins on the table only to see young Vijith (Eardley's son) distribute it to the beggars. Upali saw his money diminishing and at last had to intervene to save his bus fare.

Eardley Perera P.C. had friends from all walks of life, Moratuwa was his home and all its citizens, his friends. His nonchalant spirit also, unwittingly made him a refuge to many rascals. He enjoyed an enviable family life, his wife Shirley and the children would often join us and affable conversation would often go on for hours.

Never the prude, Eardley Perera was a friend to his children and they sometimes discussed bedroom topics with a blithe insouciance.

Anyone visiting would think we were his friends and not his juniors. I am sure everyone of us felt we could discuss anything with him, and probably also thought, we could get away with anything because we were his juniors. He held his pen in a funny sort of way and many a star crazed junior secretly tried to imitate the style.

Inspite of his wealth and reputation he was a simple ma.,One day he had misplaced his spectacles, so he promptly borrowed Jane's his domestic help.

Superciliousness was quite alien to him and I never saw him putting on airs either with us or with others.

His temperament was a happy one and I cannot remember if I ever saw him angry. Jokes came easily off his lips. Yet he could be stern with clients, especially the high and mighty who often had to come to him.

On one occasion I remember a very high official in government who had come for his advice was talking in a bombastic manner and Eardley told him that he was not the Head of such and such a Ministry, "here, you are an accused in a bribery case! " he said. That put the man immediately in his place.

Writing on personal note, I have not met a gentleman more deserving of imitation; sincere to his friends and associates, generous and kind.

I only hope, that some at least of his qualities have rubbed off on me.

Sadly, life requires us to grow up and take up our own responsibilities, and have juniors of our own, and yet, he remains for me, a friend, philosopher and guide.

May he be well and happy, and may he long be with us.

Vajiragnana Thera: dedicated missionary

Ven. Medagama Vajiragnana, is a dedicated missionary devoted to the cause of the Dhamma.

The role of Europe based Buddhist temples are classified into two categories. First it is entrusted with the task of rendering religious and cultural services to those Sri Lankan Buddhists who founded such Viharas, and to those who tirelessly support one particular temple.

Second is the spread of the Buddha's message to the Europeans to help fulfil their aspirations and expectations in their search for the truth.

In this regard diversified and analytical programmes have to be prepared keeping the interests of the devotees in mind.

It is this second category which has fascination for Ven. Vajiragnana and which has brought successful results as a teacher of the Dhamma during nearly fifty years of his life.

Though this aim of serving Europeans signifies the most vital role of a missionary, this itself is not without its negative consequences. Ven. Vajiragnana, having obtained both Pracheena Pandit and B. A. degrees read for his M. A. at Jadapur University in India.

At the request of the Maha Bodhi Society of Sri Lanka. Ven. Vajiragnana migrated to Europe in 1966. Having engaged in Dharmaduta activities for several years under the tutelage of late Ven. Prof. Hammalawa Saddhatissa Nayake Thera, former Head at London Buddhist Vihara, Ven. Vajiragnana was instrumental in founding a separate organisation, called the British Buddhist Association at the request of many European Buddhists in 1976.

This association, situated in Camdan Town offered an immense service to those who were seeking a profound knowledge of Buddhism.

During my stay there for about three years I witnessed how hundreds of British nationals were benefited by different programmes of study provided by this institute, initiated by Ven. Vajiragnana.

After the retirement of Ven. Hammalawa Saddhatissa in 1985, Ven. Vajiragnana took over the custodianship of the London Vihara.

Within 30 years Ven. Vajiragnana, in addition to his missionary work, was able to accommodate the London Buddhist Vihara in a better spacious complex of buildings.

That achievement itself is a milestone in his life.

Ven. Vajiragnana was able to muster the support of Lankan Buddhist monks resident in Britain and this resulted in the founding of the Britain based Sangha Sabha of Sri Lanka.

Ven. Vajiragnana, who has now completed over 35 years of Dhammaduta activities, is also the Chief Sangha Nayake of Britain.

May Ven. Vajiragnana who marks his 70th birth anniversary live long to serve the Buddhist communities worldwide!

-Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalaratana

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