Deshamanya Dr Vernon L B Mendis

Doyen of diplomacy

Dr Vernon L B Mendis was appointed to the earliest batch in the Sri Lanka Overseas Service in 1949 and with the decision of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike to appoint career officers as Heads of Missions, he successively held the position of High Commissioner Canada, High commissioner United Kingdom and Ambassador, France. He opened the Missions in Tokyo in 1953 and Paris in 1956. In 1976 the position he held as the Secretary General of the Non Aligned Summit was a land mark in his illustrious professional career. From 1980 -1984 he was the Regional Director for UNESCO to Arab Stares. He was unique as a pioneer diplomat of the post independent era of Sri Lanka.

The doyen of diplomacy as he was known by everybody was responsible in establishing a professional diplomatic training institute in 1994 on the initiative of the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

It was unique as the first institute of its kind in Sri Lanka for training professional diplomats in Sri Lanka initially, and later widened its scope to promote knowledge of Diplomacy and world affairs to the nation at large. He designed programmes for the general public of the country and in the course of time they became popular programmes of public education. While being on the staff of the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute as its Programme officer, the General course in International Relations, The Diploma in International Relations , Economic Diplomacy, Sri Lanka Studies, International Trade & Economic Relations and many more courses were conducted. His wife Paddy Mendis made his life a very happy and a comfortable one and he respected her so much.

His service to the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Police was remarkable. His intention always was to train the Armed Forces free of charge. His contribution to the Kotelawala Defence Academy, Army Command & Staff College Batalanda by way of lecturer assistance was invaluable. When we conducted the Course in “National, Regional and International Security” among the participants were, Former Navy Commander Admiral W. Karannagoda, Admiral Daya Sandagiri and many more of the calibre.

The present former Navy Commander Vice Admiral Tisara Samarasinghe, the present Army chief of staff Maj General Daya Rathnayake ,the present UN official Maj General Shavendra Silva too participated in courses conducted on Diplomacy & International Relations under the guidance of Dr Mendis. I have no doubt that their participation in these courses gave a new dimension to their vision, thinking, and the insight, paving way for their excellent performance in the years to come.

Amidst his busy schedule he never failed to contribute regularly to magazines like the Lanka Monthly Digest an article entitled “The world today” which encapsulated all significant current events at the time. His sheer energy and capacity to work hard was seen very clearly from the numerous books he authored, newspaper articles he wrote and book reviews he did. He was a genuine intellectual, with brilliance, and integrity combined with dynamism and perseverance and a capacity unimaginable, for hard work.

He was a rare combination of an academic and a professional Diplomat. On June 23, 2010 Dr Vernon Mendis passed away peacefully.

He always lived in constant recognition that he is a child of God, and always served humanity with dedication and sincerity. The vast range of his intellect and his great eloquence could hold any audience spell-bound for hours. Going back down memory lane, I picture Dr Mendis the tall and handsome man, my most respected boss of one time carrying himself with dignity and poise, and I wonder if ever could there be another Dr Mendis during our life time, in our midst?

Thilaka Perera

A C Gunasinghe

Guru to many

In February 1982, I entered a room marked ‘Managing Director’ to collect my first appointment letter as a Sales Executive. In this room, seated behind a large executive table, was a smart looking man who welcomed me with a broad smile and signalled for me to sit down.

That was the first time I met this loveable man who was fondly referred to as Channa by many of his friends, and by myself and many of us who worked under him at Lankem Ceylon Limited, as ‘MD’ the Managing Director, who we always respected and loved.

As a fresh university science graduate, I had no idea what so ever about business, and I still remember the words of encouragement and confidence Channa Gunasinghe gave me when we spoke that day. Being a chemistry graduate himself with his great knowledge in business management, and his kind hearted approach to guide young executive like myself, he became my ‘guru’ in business management right from the first day.

His love and affection for the staff working under him was, outstanding. His foresight in identifying talented employees and providing the training to groom them for higher positions was remarkable. As young executives, it was a truly pleasant sight for us to see this smart, tall man walking past our cubicles in the mornings on his way to his room at the end of the corridor. His knowledge in chemistry, blended with his passion for innovation, spearheaded the company’s introduction of many new products to the Sri Lankan market.

This man was not only successful as the Managing Director of the company, but also excelled in many other commercial organizations, university boards’ and several others. He was also the Chairman of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce from 1994 to 1997 where he contributed immensely to the Sri Lankan Industrial sector.

In addition to his success in the commercial sector, he was also well recognized in the diplomatic circles and was the Honourary Consul for Mexico from 1992 for many years. Channa Gunasinghe was a great host as well. With the support of his wife Suranganie, he frequently entertained customers, foreign visitors and staff members at his house.

Most of the young executives who started their careers under him have done extremely well; today they either have their own businesses or hold high positions in the private sector in Sri Lanka or abroad. I left my first and last job as an employee after 11 years to start my own business in 1993. However, our bond never faded over the 17 years that I walked away from him. Although I had not worked for him since May 1993, he was ‘MD’ to me till his death on June 19, 2010.

Channa Guansinghe lived a happy life helping many people, and was a lucky man who had a loveable wife, two daughters and many grandchildren. I was able to see him when he was on his sick-bed and I am certain that he passed away peacefully, taking a step towards another great life. I will always remember my guru and ‘MD’ and I am sure he is happy where ever he is today.

I wish that he will soon attain Nibbana.

Samantha Kumarasinghe

Dr T G D Chandra Perera

Man gifted with many talents

Dr T G D Chandra Perera, popularly known as Dr Chandra Perera, a man gifted with multifarious disciplines in addition to his role as a government medical officer and thereafter as a lucrative general medical practitioner at Veyangoda, passed away at the age of 93, on May 10 this year. He was a medical officer trusted by patients, a trade unionist taking care of his profession, a journalist always emphasizing the need for free medical service to the needy, a musician, and a dazzlingly erudite person - such as was Dr Chandra Perera.

He gave a vivid account of his experience as a Government Medical Officer in rural areas, in the early forties, in his well-known book Vanameda Suwasetha and was summing-up of everything he experienced and accomplished thereafter as a general medical practitioner and as the Life-President of the Society of General Medical Practitioners, in another book when he unfortunately passed away before the completion of it.

At all these attempts his main concern was the preservation and advancement of the poor man’s medical services, which was the main theme of his medical practice throughout his life.

He has done yeoman service to the medical profession as the President of the Society of Registered & Assistant Medical Officers, while in the public service and as the President of the Society of General Medical Practitioners, after retirement from the public service.

He had written many learned articles to the national press, particularly on the preservation and advancement of the poor man’s medical service and had made several submissions to the health authorities on that matter.

He contributed to the advancement of agriculture and planting in a great level, particularly by maintaining a nursery of jack plants for free distribution, among the poor.

His interest in planting is further demonstrated by his involvement as a founder member of the National Tree Planting Campaign (Sri Lanka) and the Exotic Plants & Orchid Growers’ Society of Sri Lanka and also as a life member of the Wild Life & Nature Protection Society.

In recognition of his great contribution in the field, he was aptly appointed as the President of the Attanagalla Agriculture Productivity Committee by the then Agriculture and Lands Minister.

In addition to these multitudes of service to the society, he was a musician and a player of musical instruments and a great lover of classcial music. He was the founder member of the Classical Music Council (Sinhala section) Peradeniya University (1985).

His passing away marked the end of a great life dedicated to the medical service, agriculture, music and humanity in general. May he attain the bliss of emancipation.

A R M T B Ratnayake - Kandy