Archives

Appreciations

Dr. M. F. Ghouse

It was with profound shock and sorrow that I learnt of the death of Dr. Ghouse.

From the time he started practising at Ratmalana, first at Galle Road, and then at Attidiya Road, I have been going to him for treatment.

Dr. Ghouse was a very kind, understanding and compassionate man, and above all, seemed to know the importance of the "Doctor-Patient relationship" so necessary to win over and gain the confidence and the trust of patients.

The flourishing practice he had, is ample proof of the faith the patients had in him, and, of his popularity. Dr. Ghouse was a doctor in every sense of the word. A doctor among doctors, a man among men, a shining example to others. It was his child like qualities, an essential ingredient in a human being, that endeared him to one and all.

A simple man, with simple ways, he did not seem to know the meaning of arrogance. May I extend my heartfelt and deepest sympathies to his wife and children. His untimely death has left a void that could never be filled, and his demise is an irreparable loss, not only to his near and dear ones, but also to all his patients as well, to whom he was such a God send.

May Allah grant him solace.

Lilamani H. de Silva

Reggie Candappa

I did my diploma in the College of Fine Arts. My ambition was not to teach but to join Lake House as an artist. One of my friends introduced me to Mr. Reggie Candappa. As no vacancy was available at that time he promised to take me later. I applied when the vacancy was advertised. Though many people applied for this job only I got selected.

My association with Mr. Candappa began in the year 1953 at the Art Department of Lake House.

He was of immense help to me in developing my skills in advertising. Mr. Candappa was the Manager of the Art Department of Lake House and he was friendly with all his subordinates irrespective of class, creed and race.

He was solely responsible for the publication of the Observer Vesak annual and other pictorial magazines.

We did posters for leading companies such as the Shell Company and many others. During that time Mr. Candappa was closely associated with great people such as the late Donovan Andree.

He went abroad to receive training in the field of advertising. Even though he went abroad, he never lost contact with us and kept sending post cards to us. When Mr. Candappa was abroad, I was appointed as lecturer in Addalaichanai Training College. Mr. Candappa returned to Sri Lanka and became the manager of the Grants McCkinon Company's branch here which is a reputed international ad agency.

I am very grateful to Mr. Candappa for assisting me to get a good career. I will never forget the immense help he rendered to me.

I maintained a very close relationship with him. I retired from my job and joined my daughter and son-in-law working for the UN. Even though I travelled to many countries, when I came to Sri Lanka for my holidays I used to visit him. Recently when I came from London I met him in his office.

He told me that if he had got the scholarship awarded in the College he would not have been in this prestigious position.

His loss is irreplaceable. I convey my condolences to his bereaved family. May he Rest in Peace.

Kalapoosanam, AL. Haj. M.S.A. Azeez.

E. P. Jayasuriya

I write in appreciation of my friend and colleague Edward Parakrama Jayasuriya known as Oliver to some and as E. P. to the vast majority of his friends. He passed away on January 10, 2004 after a brief illness.

E. P. initially attended S. Thomas' College Mt. Lavinia and in the middle stages of his education came to Richmond College, Galle and was admitted to the College hostel where I too happened to be a boarder in the mid-thirties.

He took a great fancy to his new school, surrounded by verdant pastures and green hills, highly spirited Richmondites and much loved teachers that he lost sight of his first love (S. Thomas') and bound himself to his second love (Richmond College) with hoofs of steel unravelable unto his death.

He was very outgoing and took a keen interest in the many sided life of the school. He was a stickler for rules and a disciplinarian. A versatile sportsman who represented his school in cricket, soccer and athletics particularly long distance races.

His forte however was oratory and he represented his school in the All Island oratorical and debating contests winning laurels. He was also a star actor and performed in many school stage plays, concerts and dramas. He was a good writer and talented speaker much sought after.

E. P. was appointed a sub-prefect, then a prefect and ended up as the Head Prefect of the school. The vote of thanks he delivered at the College prizegiving in 1937 presided over by the erstwhile Minister of Education, Late C. W. W. Kannangara was an oration received with much ovation.

Oliver and I were at Richmond during the colonial era when stalwart principals of the calibre of Late Reverend W. J. T. Small and Reverend A. A. Sneath were guiding her destinies.

A contemporary of ours was late Caxton Njuki from Kampala, the son of an Ugandian chieftain who braved the seas and came to Richmond for his education. Caxton was a legend being the greatest sportsman Richmond ever produced. E. P. was a member of the cricket Eleven under the captaincy of Caxton and came under his beneign influence.

Edward was a lawyer by profession but he had business acumen, too. Immediately after leaving school he embarked on a career in trade which brought him enormous profits. The latter years of his legal career were mainly confined to chamber practice.

Like all human beings he had his foibles, He had a happy band of friends and a circle of dissentients. His aspirations sometimes reached the zenith and woe be unto any one who clogged his wheels of ambition.

On occasions I too disagreed with him on trivial though not on vital issues and got estranged but ere the sun could set, in keeping with the Richmond spirit we reconciled and became friends.I recall the time when he took me all the way from Colombo to Galle in his car at his expense to inspect a plot of land for a proposed Museum building to safely deposit and preserve the college memorabilia on behalf of the sixty-over Old Boys Club where he functioned from the very outset first as a life member, then as Secretary, Vice President and finally as President.

Let me conclude with apologies to the Bard of Avon:

Friends, Richmondites past and present, young and old, Lend me your ears! I come to praise E. P. not to censure him, May all his faults be interred with his bones, And may his good works live after him. We offer our deepest sympathies to his bereaved wife and the members of his family.

May his soul rest in peace.

Gerald de Alwis.

Lt. Col. F. P. Chapman

It was a great shock to hear of the sudden demise of fearless, gentleman, officer and sportsman of the Sri Lanka Army Gemunu Watch Regiment of Diyatalawa Lt. Col. F.P. Chapman. He hailed from a very outstanding Burgher family in Colombo.

He was educated in St. Josephs College, Colombo 10 and he excelled in his studies, sports and college cadeting. Since leaving college, he joined as Cadet Officer in the Ceylon Army. With basic military training at the Ceylon Army Training Academy, Diyatalawa.

He was later sent to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England. He excelled in his military studies and sports and came back to Ceylon, to be commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Ceylon Army Gemunu Regiment.

He was appointed as Army Training Officer at the Ceylon Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa to train officers and soldiers under Brigadier J.F. Halangoda, who was the Chief Commandant of Ceylon Army Academy and 1/Bn Ceylon Army Gemunu Regiment at Diyatalawa. Being a very efficient officer, gentleman and officer, he rose in his ranks solely due to merit and leadership qualities.

He served as Platoon Commander, Company Commander and Regiment Commander in Ceylon Army Gemunu Regiment.

With his retirement, he was seconded for service in the Ministry of Defence Civil Security Branch as a Director. He established Civil Security Units for the Security of Government civil establishments. He trained officers and guards for private security agencies. I came to know him well as he was one of the outstanding Army Training Officers in my Sri Lanka Army Career since 1971.

Capt. L.B. Lanka Jayaratne.

Mervyn Wickremasinghe

How often are we to die before we go quite off this stage? In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best part Pope I came to know Mervyn in July 1950 when I came on transfer from the Kandy M.C. to Colombo M.C. We worked together in the same department amid several near and dear friends.

In later years, almost all of whom are no more. Both in office, in society we participated in sports clubs and annual get togethers, and thereby cultivated a lasting friendship, as we had so much in common.

Having retired in 1980 together we set up the Local Government Pensioners' Welfare Association (L.G.P. (W) A). Mervyn was the Treasurer and I, the Secretary.

Mervyn knew many people and when they were faced with a problem they sought his assistance; he unfailingly helped them. He was concerned and never grudged.

He was quite conversant and knowledgeable in the various laws, rules and regulations, pertaining to the local authority and local government, having the experience of over 40 years in the premier local authority, the Colombo Municipal Council.

He composedly accepted life as destined and did not complain nor make excuses.

Always in good humour, he had a ready smile for everyone and everything. I telephoned Mervyn in the late afternoon of Thursday (22nd).

His younger daughter answered the call and said Mervyn was asleep and she would get him to call me later.

Which he did. I wanted him to give a list of the Life Members of the L.G.P. (W) A for a meeting which we had proposed to have on February 1'.

He said he would phone me the following day, Friday, around the same time. I inquired after his health and he said he was quite o.k. and his voice too sounded well.

The following afternoon, Mrs. Wickremesinghe telephoned me and said Mervyn passed away that morning.

For a few moments everything stood still. I just could not accept this. Later I told her Mervyn has been amply rewarded for his yeomen service to the family, to society, especially to the elders, pensioners and widows.

He had left the stage as it were without warning or farewell.

Hard though it is to the living especially to the near and dear ones to accept the inevitable, their comfort and consolation is that the end was a pleasant one leaving wonderful and everlasting memories.

In keeping with his wishes his mortal remains were solemnly laid to rest at Kanatte on Saturday morning amidst a family gathering.

Thamby.

P. L. Patrick

P.L. Patrick had a wide circle of friends, associates and colleagues because he was always prepared to give a patient hearing to anyone who would approach him to solve problems. He generously spent his time and his resources to help the needy.

Every officer who worked with him was happy about his non-discriminatory treatment and kindness to enhance the chances of the officer for promotion.

Though Mr. Patrick hailed from a highly respected noble and devout Catholic family, he had great regards for Hindus and Hindu religion when he was A.G.A. Tellipallai he helped in the uplift of Hindu schools and Hindu temples. He also organised festivals at Maviddapuram, Keerimalai and Thierkka Temple.

Those who worked with him got all the encouragement and became dedicated and efficient public servants.Neither the duty nor the station was a problem for him.

He was happy to be D.R.O. Delft and to handle transport in consultation with the Army during an election held during emergency with curfew in Jaffna.

He always played an active role in the promotion of socio-economic activities of the Districts he served as Additional G.A. At Mullaitivu there is road named after him as Patrick Road.

He was born to a noble family, studied at St. Patrick's College, married to a daughter of a great family, worked as an eminent administrator, brought up his children to adorn high positions in society.

Mr. Patrick lived an exemplary and illustrious life as a leader among us.We who knew him well feel the irreparable loss created by his death. May God almighty bless his soul and grant him salvation.

Heights by greatmen reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight But they while their companions slept

Were toiling upwards in the night.

Kandiah Ratnavel.

www.ceylincoproperties.com

www.ppilk.com

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager