Ninety second birth anniversary:

Commemorating G.B. de Silva

October 23rd marks the 92nd birth anniversary of my father the late Mr. G. B. de Silva. Though it has been five years since his demise, the void he left still lingers in the minds of his beloved wife Bhadra, children and grandchildren. Our solace has been to appreciate the wonderful times spent together and the vast contribution he made to society.

After successfully completing his legal education at the Ceylon Law College, my father proceeded to Kandy and established a lucrative criminal practice in the Magistrates Court and was one of the leading counsels of his time. He did not exploit litigants and many were the times he appeared for poor litigants without any fees. As the President of the Kandy Bar Association, he developed the law library. It is a matter of record that he was the single largest contributor of law books to the Kandy law library. He was candid in his comments and took the lead in raising issues in the interest of the Kandy Bar sometimes to the detriment of his lucrative practice. He was always willing to help the juniors and made them feel welcome into the Kandy Bar.

A successful legal practice opened the way for him to enter politics which he did as a member representing the Lewella-Aruppola ward of the Kandy Municipal Council.

He represented this ward from 1960 until 1972 when the local authorities were dissolved. He rendered yeomen service to his ward by establishing a creche, ayurvedic dispensary, Sunday school, public library, play grounds, providing water and electricity, building roads through shramadanas, establishing post offices, bus stands etc., With the able help of my mother, he established English and handloom classes for the youth of the area. The people of Lewella-Aruppola showed their gratitude to him by electing him as their member at several elections each time with a bigger majority. One of the main roads in this ward is today named after him in recognition of his singular most contribution to its people.

His political life was based on values which he never compromised. He strived to give recognition to merit. None of our relatives obtained employment from him. He was an epitome of honesty in all his dealings. Clear instructions had been given to all members of the household that nothing should be accepted from a member of public. He entered politics as a rich man, the result of a lucrative legal practice, and retired from active politics as a poor man living in a rented house. He despised violence and ensured that none of his political opponents were harassed. Working for the betterment of people was his fundamental object in political life. He strived to inculcate these virtues in his children and grandchildren. The large numbers who paid their last respects to him was a testimony to the high esteem in which the people in Kandy held him.

Though my father led an active and varied life, he was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He always had time for his children and grandchildren and encouraged them to continue with higher studies. Through difficult times, he provided for all our requirements. He rejoiced at the success of his children and grandchildren sometimes more than they did. The grandchildren loved his company since they always got what they wanted. His last years were spent accompanying them to school and back which he greatly enjoyed.

My father was a devout Buddhist. He was an active member of the Kandy Buddhist Association. He was the President of the Dayaka Sabhawa of the Getambe Rajopavanaramaya temple and contributed to the development of the temple. As the President of the Dayaka Sabhawa, he was instrumental in resurrecting the Katukelle Temple from a dilapidated condition.

As I reminisce the multi-faceted life of my dear father, I feel privileged to have been his son. His legacy to us was a life based on ethics. They are the very riches that are lacking in Sri Lankan society today.

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.

- Janak de Silva