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by B.V. Sugathapala, Vice Chairman - Sri Sucharitha Viyaparaya

Our motherland is inhabited by people belonging to a number of ethnic groups and religions. It is imperative that these people show friendly goodwill, mutual understanding and steadfast faith in and towards each other. The absence of these qualities would lead to national misfortune and disasters.

It is wrong to discriminate against a person on grounds of ethnicity, creed and language. It is wrong to treat a person unfairly on these grounds. This leads to a number of problems that would unleash powerful forces working against the country's unity, peace and development. One person who had properly understood this reality and lived it decades ago was late S.T. Sinnadurai, a devout Hindu. His services were not confined to his ethnic group or creed. He valued Buddhist customs while extending his patronage to Hindu institutions. He supported Buddhist activities and erected places of Buddhist religious worship. He treated everyone as human beings and valued truly human qualities.

S.T. Sinnadurai

Mr. Sinnadurai was born in the Northern province, in Kankesanturai on July 23rd 1903 exactly one hundred years ago. He studied in a missionary school in Jaffna. He studied both Tamil and English. In his youth, he had an occasion to come down South to see a sick relative. On this visit it occurred to him to live in the South as a minor trader. It was in keeping with intention that he later opened "Leela Stores" in the Pettah. Within no time it became a very famous place. Perhaps one reason for this was that it was located at a spot very close to the Pettah central bus stand and the famous Bo-tree. Mr. Sinnadurai came to respect this Bo-tree a lot. Every morning he commenced his business activities only after performing worship at the Bo-tree.

This Bo-tree was a much respected place but not very well provided for or looked after. On rainy days the compound became a pool of muddy water. Every evening the carters tied their bulls to this Bo-tree and parked their carts round the Bo-tree. This pathetic sight attracted Mr. Sinnadurai's attention. He was a lot pained by this sight. He quickly erected an iron fence round the Bo-tree for its protection.

During this time many people used to smoke cigars. The carters wanted the cigar very badly, Mr. Sinndurai apprehended a business opportunity in this. He got down tobacco from Jaffna produced cigars and put them out for sale, developing his business further. In addition he began to sell all manner of Jaffna products in his shop. In this manner "Leela Stores" became a flourishing business enterprise.

It was at this time that Mr. Sinnadurai's attention was drawn to the sale of Sinhala publications. In order to give a helping hand to Sinhala writers he helped them to publish their publication work. Popular poets and authors of that period including P.B. Alwis Perera, John Rajadasa, Kapila E. Seneviratne, Meemana Prematilaka, Sagara Palansooriya, Hikkaduwe Amarasena, Wilson Hegoda and Makandure Gunawardena regularly visited Leela Stores to get their work published. They turned out to be Mr. Sinnadurai's very sincere friends. It occrrued to Mr. Sinnadurai that a printing press would greatly help his publication work and he established the Leela Printing Press. Through his business enterprise Mr. Sinnadurai rendered a great service to the Sinhala people who are local poets and writers.

Mr. Sinnadurai preferred plain and simple dress, always wearing the local costume. He never abandoned the traditional costume of white verti and banyan. He always maintained a pleasant and disciplined appearance. He helped the needy very generously. He never sent back anyone empty-handed. Even in crises situations he acted very patiently. The strongest characteristic of his life was his strong moral posturing. He conducted his life on sound moral principles and encouraged others also to do so.

He mentioned very often that the Sinhala and the Tamil people should live in this country in unity and accord. Everyone should learn both Sinhala and Tamil, he believed. He brought up his nine children who are today occupying positions of eminence to respect Sinhala traditions and values as well. They attended Sunday Dhaham pasala and studied Buddhism very well. His elder son Sundaralingam who attained fame as a leading lawyer studied at Ananda College and the Vidyalankara Pirivena in Kelaniya where he studied under late Rev. Bambarende Seevali Thero. At Ananda College he carried away the prizes for Sinhala Language.

Mr. Sinnadurai's second son Balendra has passed away untimely. Mr. Somasekaram is an eminent medical specialist working abroad. Mr. Arulanandan is a successful businessman who patronises religious and social undertakings. Mr. Dhesabandu is also a successful businessman who helps religious activities. Mr. Dhanabala too is a businessman who is devoted to social and religious activities. Mr. Sokkanathan is an engineer working abroad. Mr. Loganathan is associated with the business enterprises of his brothers. Mr. Ravindra following the footsteps of his father conducts a successful export & import business. Thus it appears that all of Mr. Sinnadurai's children have followed their father in giving a lead in religious and social welfare activities.

Mr. Sinnadurai in his time, was associated with the Temperance Movement, Pitakotuwa Boddhiraja Samithiya, Veera Samajaya, Sucharitha Viyaparaya and number of such other societies. He served as the first treasurer of the Bodhiraja Samithiya Pettah. Mr. Sinnadurai was closely associated with late President Premadasa and assisted his social religious activities.

Later a chaithya came to be built at the Bodhi Malu Viharaya Pettah under the guidance of Mr. Sinnadurai. He played a very important role in obtaining the Buddha's relics to be enshrined in this Chaithya. Mr. Sinnadurai and his children later helped to develop the temple of Rev. Palamugedara Somananda who provided the relics to be enshrined in Pettah Bodhi Malu Vihara Chaithya.

Among the Buddhist institutions that benefitted from the generosity of Mr. Sinnadurai and his children are the following: The Bodimalu Viharaya at Pettah, Mahawa Sri Sumangalaramaya, Anuradhapura Kurundankulama Viharaya, Molligoda Pravachanodaya Pirivena, Wellawatta Dharmodhaya Pirivena, It is significant to note that Sinnadurai children have erected, Janavija Chaithaya in Sinharaja Adaviya in Deniyaya and Thibotugoda Bodhi Malu Vihara Mandiraya, Pokunuwita, Horana to confer merit on late Mr. Sinnadurai.

The Panchanga Pictorial Calendar, that Mr. Sinnadurai introduced in 1950 marks an important landmark in our culture. It was the first time that such a calendar was produced. This calendar embodied a wealth of historical and astrological knowledge and information.

Mr. Sinnadurai is one who believed that one possesses the ability to know beforehand the ethnic group, the country or the religion before he is born. Buddhism teaches rebirth.

Thus is it not possible for a Sinhala Buddhist to be reborn as a Tamil Hindu? Even the leaders of the Northern revolt could be reborn as Sinhala Buddhists.

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