APPRECIATIONS

Nimalasiri Silva

It is nearly three months my good friend Nimalasiri Silva passed away. It came as a shock to his sister and three brothers who were closely knit and loving family as well as to his large number of friends and relations.

Nim as he was affectionately known to all of us had a very distinguished career at St. Joseph's College, Colombo and at the University where he read history. He got a good second and was well loved by all his university professors and colleagues.

After joining the then Ceylon Overseas Service, he served in Washington as Second Secretary of the Sri Lankan embassy and later as Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of External Affairs. In 1966, he was selected as Director/Secretary of the newly set up Ceylon Tourist Board, a post which he held with distinction till he was asked by the then Minister of State to take over the Chairmanship of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation, a post he held for four years.

Before government service he taught for a short time at his alma mater, Aquinas University and continued to serve the scout movement of the college for many years.

He will always be remembered by his friends, colleagues and subordinates wherever he worked as a kind and compassionate boss. He always had a broad smile on his face and was a political in outlook. He served for many years as Secretary of the Ceylon-India Friendship Society and as President of the Ceylon Cultural Revival Trust.

Nim's departure has been a great loss for his family and friends. He belonged to a kind of public servant who is fast becoming extinct.

May he attain Nibbana.

Carvll Ludekens

***

It is nearly three months since I lost my dear friend of many decades, and I still cannot forget the many pleasant evenings we had chats together. In latter years though he had his problems - health-wise and otherwise, but with resilience, like a phoenix he started to rise from the ashes only to be shot down again. Nimalasiri Silva COS, pioneer in tourism, lecturer and organiser par excellence passed away on April 25.

I gather he was educated at Royal College initially, until the Second World War broke out and his father took him and his siblings away to the safety and security of his grand parents' home, which was in close proximity of St. Joseph's College, but found it difficult to re-adminit Nim to Royal, and hence his remaining at St. Joseph's.

He had his higher education at the University of Peradeniya where he read for an Honours Degree in History. He may perhaps have been the only born Buddhist who became the President of the Student Christian Movement.

After passing out with honours, I understand he taught for a spell at St. Joseph's College (where he revived the Scout Movement) and at Aquinas University. A grieving scout had written this in the condolence book "Happy memories of scouting at 21st Colombo (St. Joseph's). His organising abilities and innovative talents became even more evident when he arranged a hugely successful "Copacabana" Mexican Cafe at the St. Joseph's College carnival, costumes, decor, drinks and all.

He was later selected as one of the first batch of intakes into the Foreign Service, where he became the Chief of Protocol, and was thereafter sent for further Diplomatic training to Keble College, Oxford.

He was then appointed as Second Secretary to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington. I understand he also attended the UN session as part of the Sri Lankan delegation. Utilising his enormous talents he organised Avurudu celebrations, Vesak pageants and cultural shows, bringing the Sri Lankan community close together.

Exceeding budget allocations and digging into his own pockets did not quite meet with the approval of the then Ambassador, who was a stern disciplinarian. The story gets that his Sri Lankan cook was a quick change artist who had to bear Sesath, roll the red carpet, etc in addition to his culinary duties when important foreign guests arrived. Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala had this to say about him in his condolence message "Sincere condolences from an erstwhile colleague".

Back in Sri Lanka he was seconded to the newly constituted 'Ceylon tourist Board' under the then Minister of State, the Hon. J.R. Jayewardene. "Our respects for a pioneer in tourism in Sri Lanka" said one mourner in his condolence message. Nim then had a difficult decision to make - whether to get back to his diplomatic career or remain with the Tourist Board. He decided on the later as he preferred to serve this country at first hand, and was latter appointed as its first Secretary General.

The Ceylon Tourist Board having thereby been consolidated, Nim was offered the post of General Manager - Ceylon Hotels Corporation - a multi faceted organisation, being GSA's for BOAC, having controlling interest in Inter Continental Hotel and its holding company, Hunnas Falls Hotel and the popular rest houses spread throughout the country. He was effectively the Chairman of five companies simultaneously.

Much was done under the able guidance and leadership of Nim to improve the quality of service provided by these properties and enhance their images. He also helped establish the first Hotel School in the country and I am sure lots of graduates, now leading hoteliers, are grateful for this opportunity.

However it is a big question as to whether these efforts were appreciated and fully recognised by the powers that be at the time (whose primary motives appear to have been to curtail closets). A former Secretary to the Chairman, CHC said this of him "A brilliant person, who will be sadly missed" while another wrote simply "He was a great boss".

When the Non-Aligned Conference was hosted for the first time in Sri Lanka, under Hon. Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike's regime, with over 100 countries participating, Nim was a live wire behind the onerous organisational arrangements.

On his premature retirement, he spent time in reading from his vast personal library, writing and making running commentaries for "Radio Ceylon" on occasions such as the Independence Day celebrations and the Kandy Perahera, which were well received.

He got himself involved in numerous voluntary organisations in various capacities, such as the Sri Lanka-India Society, South Africa-Sri Lanka Friendship Society, Cultural Revival Trust, Kataragama Devotees Trust Institute of Sinhala Culture and several Buddhist Associations. His voracious appetite for war history and stories made him a popular lecturer with officer cadets at the Kotelawala Defence Academy.

He spent his last few years, with a failing voice, unbeknown that a carcinoma had affected his left vocal cord until a few months ago (despite giving up his famous cigars). Not a day's radiation treatment was he able to take, as he passed away peacefully of silent heart failure at the age of 75. He was laid to rest in his favourite safari suit, silk handkerchief, craval et all.

In his later years his motivation was to assist unemployed youths in obtaining gainful employment, using his contacts in the tourism and hotel sectors. He had continued to nurture a wide circle of friends in the Diplomatic Corps in Sri Lanka and sought their assistance when endeavouring to help those in distress.

I had access to a letter of sympathy sent to the bereaved family by one of Nim's uncles, a former General Manager of a leading bank, an extract of which amplifies what I have said. ".... heard of the sad demise of Nim. Always helpful - he did me an unforgettable favour some time ago about my home".

As in all his other actions, reward or recompense was furtherest from his mind. The deed was worth doing and that was sufficient merit gained. "Dullabo Purissa Jaune" (such men are few). Long-may his memory live".

I have lost a true friend - so humane and sympathetic to others needs, without seeking any recompense for himself - the worlds "Man's in humanity to man" rings in my ears when I think of those who could have helped him in his later years, but didn't come to his aid. May his soul Rest in Peace and May he attain Nibbana!

"A friend"