Third month remembrance :

Welfare of Juvenile delinquents Jayanthi’s priority

Manel and Sarath Gunatilake

The new year 2009 dawned for all Jayanthi’s beloved ones sending shock waves in their hearts and souls, on hearing the sad news of her being snatched away from their midst suddenly on December 30, 2008 while in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, U.K.

It is indeed such an unbelievable event in the lives of most of us from which shock we have still not fully recovered; because it was barely a week prior to her death that she was amongst us when she arrived in Sri Lanka (with her beloved husband Bandu) to attend two of her family weddings at which most of us had the occasion to be with her. She was extremely cheerful, hale and hearty, exchanging a few pleasantries with almost every one of us.

Born to reputed Buddhist parents Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Kaluarachchi, on December 21, 1945 Jayanthi received her early education at Bishop’s College, Colombo 3, and thereafter at Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo 4.

In 1964 she entered Ceylon Law College and was called to the Bar in 1968 when she was only 23. She did her apprenticeship at F. G. and G. De Sarem, a well known Law Firm in Colombo. After practising her profession for a short period of time, she joined Rice Millers Company Ltd. as its Secretary. Some time thereafter she proceeded to U.K., qualified herself as a Solicitor, returned to Sri Lanka and resumed her practice.

It was in the meantime that she was appointed as the Juvenile Magistrate in Colombo. (I was then functioning as the Magistrate, Fort). In her said judicial capacity she displayed great concern for Juvenile delinquents against whom she acted with a lot of understanding in rehabilitating them. She was very strict in dealing with foreigners who offered to buy the new born babies on the pretext of adopting them.

She did a deep study into their bona fides prior to allowing such application. She evan went to the extent of ordering the police to raid the places where the children were being kept for the purpose of sale to foreigners.

Jayanthi’s marriage to Bandu took place in the year 1982. Manel and I take great pride in proposing this marriage for Jayanthi. My family and I were then living at Pagoda Rd, Nugegoda and Jayanthi used to visit us almost daily in the evenings and there happened to be a very close doctor friend of mine (Dr. Abeygunaratne) who was having his dispensary on the opposite side of the Pagoda Road.

He too used to visit us often and one day when Jayanthi was there, he too happened to drop in. Quite obviously we introduced Jayanthi to him and all of us were engaged in a friendly conversation when Manel suddenly suggested to Dr. Abey to find a suitable partner for Jayanthi.

Abey gave thought for a while and remembered that there is a close doctor friend of his in UK referring to him by his nickname. It was Bandu. Abey said that Bandu was due in Sri Lanka in a fortnight.

Thereafter it was only a matter of time. He got in touch with Bandu and when he arrived in Sri Lanka, both Jayanthi and Bandu met for the first time at our residence. The two were engaged in a one to one conversation which lasted for over one hour at the end of which they agreed to proceed.

They met again I believe on the following day. Finally they got married and left for Channel Island, where Bandu was already working as a Consultant Anaesthetist while Jayanthi who was already a Solicitor continued with her practice and sometime later started her own Law firm of Solicitors.

Their only child (daughter) Savini was born to them in the year 1984. She is a doctor of medicine by profession and presently working in a city hospital. Although born and bred in UK she too has inherited the noble qualities of her illustrious parents.

Whenever Jayanthi happened to meet Manel or during a telephone conversation she took immense pleasure in thanking Manel profusely for having found her an ideal partner in life whom she described as a dear husband who took great care of her with love and affection. According to Jayanthi he had been of great assistance to her professional or other activities despite his busy schedule of work as a consultant anaesthetist.

Jayanthi’s father the late A. W. Kaluarachchi was a devout Buddhist and was the Director, Examinations at the (then) Vidyodaya University and an author of several books meant mainly for school children. Jayanthi was blessed with three brothers (Bandula, Lakshman and Asoka) and three sisters (Suneetha, Sujatha and Sardha) all of whom are doing well in life.

Jayanthi being the eldest of the girls, had to perform the mother’s role as well when she was not even 20, as her mother passed away only three months before she joined the Law College (in 1964): At this relatively young age she performed her duties towards her younger ones in the family with utmost pleasure, dedication and care, for which all of them remember her with extreme gratitude.

Being a devout and a dedicated Buddhist, she conditioned her entire life strictly in keeping with the preachings of the Buddha. Having associated her very closely throughout (for well over 45 years) whether she was in Sri Lanka or abroad, we can state with great appreciation that she has never breached any of the five precepts. Needless to say that, she set the example not only to her only daughter Savini, but to everyone with whom she had company and to the society at large.

Instances which display her sterling qualities are too numerous that they cannot be listed here due to lack of space. References to such instances within our knowledge alone, would require a separate booklet to be authored by us. Suffice it to state that her name will be held in high honour, esteem, respect and regard in Sri Lanka and UK, for many many years to come.

We learn that Rydal Memorial Hall in Colwyn Bay North Wales was filled to capacity at the gathering held to commemorate her illustrious and wonderful life, and share the memories of those in attendance.

We in Sri Lanka will miss for ever her charming and unassuming smile and her overflowing kindness and compassion which she brought to our midst. We take solace in the precious words of the Buddha.

“Rupan Jeerathi Machchanang

Nama Gottan Najeerathi”

“Sabbe Sankara Anichchathi”

Life is so uncertain.

Her body has already decayed. But her memories which have been imbedded in our hearts will remain as long as we live.

An alms-giving to the Maha Sangha was offered on March 29, 2009 at our residence with the participation of most of Jayanthi’s Law College batch-mates, and other close friends for conferment of merit to her on the occasion of the third month remembrance of her demise. Further a similar religious ceremony was held at Divulapitiya Dr. Bandu’s residence on the same day.

Jayanthi, May your journey in Sansara be a short one and may you attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana. But until then may you be reborn in Sri Lanka and amongst us.