Your memory and legacy will remain in our hearts

Lakshman Wijewardene

It is two decades since my father Lakshman Wijewardene passed away and today as I pen this appreciation of him, nostalgic memories come rushing to my mind. Time has gone by very swiftly but the memory of him, his kind deeds and the role he played as father to myself and my siblings grows larger each day and the immeasurable love he showered on us and our mother remains etched in my memory.

My father was the third child of Don Philip Alexandra Wijewardene, the business magnate who was the first Sri Lankan to own and operate a modern cargo vessel who was honoured as a National Hero by the Government. My father’s mother was Neva Hulugalle Wijewardene, the sister of H.A.J. Hulugalle.

My father commenced his early education at Ladies’ College, and went on to Royal College Colombo and S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia. He had a distinguished school career at Royal where he won the coveted History Prize awarded by the Principal E.L. Bradby.  At S.Thomas, he was a College Prefect and his assiduous care for his text books earned him the sobriquet “Tecky”.

Following his graduation from the Law College he joined Lincoln’s Inn, London and qualified as a Barrister. Thereafter as a recipient of a Smith Mundt scholarship he studied at Colombia and New York universities where he graduated with a Master’s degree in International Law. While in New York, he lived in the prestigious International House and as an active member of the students’ organization he was privileged to interact with the then Chief Justice Earl Warren, Eleanor Roosevelt and John D. Rockefeller.

He enjoyed four decades of wedded bliss with Vasanthi, the only daughter of sportsman and Trinity Ryde Gold Medalist Dr A.P Maralande.

A devout Buddhist he was appointed the Chief Trustee and Basnayaka Nilame of the Kelaniya Viharaya in 1958 and guided the temple through turbulent times during that era before handing over the reins to his cousin Upali Wijewardene. He was also an active member of the “Dayaka Sahba” of the Gangaramaya and Sedawatte temples.

My father always found time for us, his children and advised us on the importance of sound values. Not only did he guide our future but he was always available to assist anyone who sought his counselling. Helping others was his passion and way of life, even to the extent of sacrificing his own valuable time.

The memory and the legacy he left behind will always be in the hearts and minds of the people whom he touched.

In the words of Thomas Campbell “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die”.

May his sojourn in samsara be short and  may he attain the Supreme bliss of Nirvana.

Haritha Wijewardene

My friend, with love!  

Devarsiri de Silva

God takes those he loves early, is what they say,
But Devarsiri, machan, we wanted dearly for you to stay,
We journeyed this life together, from age seven,
You though must say now ‘I beat you to heaven’

Memories flow, some fresh, others many years ago,
Through Colombo across Sydney with some hours in Nadi too,
Year one school play, your now famous portrayal, a mother,
Your desk at class entrance, in year ten, being to us gatekeeper!

Approaching school bell, that customary grooming you begin,
Then the school bus, as hunk and star you reign,
Maverick though you were, appointed class monitor,
‘Tis when we saw emerging in you the fearless leader!

Academic focus switch you did turn on eventually,
My impressing you upon that, often you recall, gratefully,
The uni, the career, the lot followed smoothly,
We witnessed you fly high, soaring, even literally!

Years went by, you made your own family foursome,
Enter Sydney, more memories we make, such awesome!
Your girl, your boy, your pride, whom we see lots of you in,
And your loving, selfless, caring, admired by us all, Yenlin,

Those fun times at the De Silvas’ Sydney abode we savour
Your knack for attention to detail, the humour and banter
Reminiscing again, over and over, those moments time stood still,
Promise me machan, look down, when next we gather, you will

When that disease cruel slowly your body did bind,
Where machan, you that valour, grit and fight find?
Will now miss the trips with mob to Waterloo
To spend another evening machan with you!

Exit this world, one day we all will face,
You, ran well, beating us still here, that race;
Leaving us today not to grieve or mourn,
Celebrate instead you and from you learn!

When I am done here, be it whenever,
We’ll meet on that beautiful shore to part never,
Welcome me with your ‘ado Sanna’, the sweet smile only you know how,
Vale Devarsiri, goodbye my friend, with love, just for now!

Dr. Sanjay Jayasinghe

Remembering my father

Dr.  Don Robert Seneviratne

My father Don Robert Seneviratne was born in 1887. Having had his early education at Prince of Wales, Moratuwa, he entered the Medical School in Colombo and passed out with a LMS (Licentiate of Medical School). After a few years he proceeded to the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow earning the qualifications of LRCP.

When he returned to Ceylon and to his birthplace Katuwana in Homagama, he was warmly welcomed by the people as being the first person from the village to have gone abroad and qualified in the UK. My mother recalled that he was welcomed with pandals of plaintain trees.

After a long tenure in government service as a District Medical Officer in places like Deniyaya, Elpitiya, Pimbura and Galle where he served as Judicial Medical Office, he was appointed Police Surgeon to the Police Department in Colombo.

He died suddenly in 1946 after a heart attack and was accorded an official Police funeral.

This is a very belated tribute to my father. Whatever I am today and whatever I may have achieved in life is due to the very close and devoted upbringing given to me by my father and my mother Laura Seneviratne.

May they both attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.

Nihal Seneviratne

The perfect leader with a reputation as a kind but firm boss 

Gilbert Paranagama

My memory of Gilbert Paranagama, whose 15th death anniversary we commemorated on February 14 , is of a charming gentleman – one who looked distinguished and walked with confidence on the stage of life.

He was softly spoken – yet when he talked, people listened. He was well-reputed to be solidly dependable, independent in his judgement and transparent in his dealings. He was in fact the epitome of the perfect gentleman.

Born in 1923 to an old aristocratic Kandyan family, he was educated at Trinity College, where he not only represented the school in rugby football and boxing but was also awarded the Ryde Gold Medal for the best all-round student and was senior prefect in his final year. On leaving school he joined the Colombo University and obtained a degree in economics, graduating as a BA Econ. (Honours) in 1947.

While at the University he lived at Brodie House, the university hostel for undergraduates from outside Colombo. Here he was a contemporary and friend of my father Sam Wijesinha. In fact, it was at one of the Brodie House reunions many years later that I, as a young teenager, first met this charming gentleman and his wife Chrishnie.

Following graduation, Gilbert joined the Central Bank but after a short time he resigned and accepted a post in the then British-dominated mercantile sector. He started at Whittall Boustead which, until it was acquired by John Keells in 1991, was one of the most prominent companies in this country with interests in plantations, hotels, beverages and insurance. In time he rose to be managing director of the company.

During his career he had many important roles in the private sector, such as Chairman of Ceylon Cold Stores and Managing Director of Ceylon Holiday Resorts, and established a reputation as a kind but firm ‘boss’ with a sympathetic understanding for others as well as a willingness to help those less fortunate than himself. Many are those I have met over the years whom he guided in their careers and mentored when they were young men and women. Mention his name and they all would recount incidents and stories to illustrate how he helped them, remembering him with respect, gratitude and affection.

Not many know that when the 1971 insurgency broke out, he volunteered to serve in the Defence Force and was commissioned as an officer in the army’s Volunteer Force. As a military officer, the organizational and personnel management skills acquired in civilian life proved invaluable in setting up the new National Service Regiment (NSR) in which he served. Unlike some who needed a uniform to give them authority, Gilbert Paranagama adorned the uniform he wore and lent it dignity.

He was not a man who had to shout to be heard because when he spoke, people listened. He did not have to throw his weight about or pull strings to get things done (although he had considerable weight that he could have thrown and many strings that he could have pulled!) because he was affable and respected, and knew how to achieve things without putting people down.

Gilbert Paranagama was aristocratic in his demeanour and impeccable in his integrity. He spoke with knowledge and authority but was softly spoken and gentle in manner.

In truth, he was the perfect leader.

Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha