Tribute: Alick Aluwihare:

An honest politician and a Statesman

It is one year since the demise of Alick Aluwihare. It is with a heavy heart I write this tribute in memory of this great Statesman. Alick Aluwihare was in active politics for nearly 50 years; A UNP heavy weight. He was in Parliament and occupied very important portfolios.

The void that was created after his death will never be filled. This was proved beyond doubt by the recent Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

Till his death Matale District was a stronghold of the UNP. This clearly shows how much the people of Matale District loved and respected their hero.

Alick Aluwihare was never for name and fame. He was simple, amiable and never looked up to bodyguards and Security Personnel. Very often he could be seen bare body near the gate of his residence talking to people who were passing by even during the height of emergency.

He was a very honest politician. His assets were honesty, integrity and clean public life, an extremely rare commodity in Sri Lankan politics.

This is clearly evident when one visits his residence which is with the barest minimized facilities.

He had no secrets. He is open-hearted and his voice loud and clear. His contribution to society cannot be listed in a short appreciation of this nature.

I mention a few in a nutshell. He had secured employment to thousands of people mainly from Matale District.

In the health sector many improvements have been made to the existing institutions while new hospitals and dispensaries were opened. Improvements and construction of new buildings to the Postal Department, construction and improvements to the public highways are some of the projects.

For the religious sector his contribution was enormous. Many improvements and additional structures were made to the historic Aluwihare temple. Through his untiring efforts which make this place serene and beautiful.

His last accomplishment was the construction of a Stupa for this temple.

He completed this massive structure, the biggest and most beautiful in Matale District within a short period of one and half years and opened it for the public worship few days before his death which was a tremendous personal triumph.

Alick Aluwihare was a six footer, cut an imposing figure and was extra ordinary brave.

He is a person who is firmly attached to his family, wife, daughter and four sons and in-laws and grand children. Three sons are in active politics and social service and the youngest occupying an executive post in the plantation sector.

A bana preaching ceremony followed with an almsgiving has been organised to commemorate this event today and tomorrow (May 15 and 16).

Writing this tribute gives me solace equal, perhaps to grain of sand when a mountain is required. Let me conclude this appreciation with golden memories and silver tears.

May his onward journey in Sansara be smooth and brief and may he realize early the supreme bliss of Nibbana ........ !!!

[Great politician]
* Contested first Matale by-election in 1961
* Elected first Mayor of Matale in 1963
* Became Member of Parliament in 1977
* He introduced Postal Week concept in 1991
* Died on May 17, 2009 at age of 83

- Dr K J S Weerakkody