APPRECIATIONS

Father Merril Wijesinghe:

Parish Priest of Holy Cross Church, Kalutara

Holy Cross Church, Kalutara South is a landmark, standing high up, fronting the lagoon and the sea. It is probably the most spectacular of the many spectacular sites that Catholic churches occupy in this country. Our family house is at the bottom of the Holy Cross hill and its physical presence has dominated my memory and sense of place for three quarters of a century.

Father Merril Wijesinghe was the Parish Priest of the Kalutara churches (including Kalutara North, where my maternal grandparents were parishioners).

It was on his return journey, after the Kalutara North church celebrations, driving alone around midnight, crossing the double bridge across the Kalu Ganga, and along the middle raised highway traversing the Kalutara South town, that his car crashed into the side rail and toppled, killing him.

It was probably the outcome of a heart attack while driving. Fortunately no one else was killed or injured.

He was an impressive person physically, more than average height, a well structured build and a very pleasing and regular set of features.

When he spoke he enunciated his words very clearly and his cast of thought was logical and persuasive. I see him as a priest who in his non-religious activities was also Christian and publicly Christian.

Though I met him at the house on the hill where he dwelt, and spoke to him about the book I had written, which included a description of the Kalutara church feast as seen by me as a youth and man.

It was at a public meeting, at the Kalutara Urban Council, chaired by the Chairman UC and attended by some council members as well as representatives of the Catholic church and the members of the public, affected by the flow of water from the church and College downhill to their houses, that Father Merril shone as a speaker with a social consciousness and an understanding of his role in the public world.

Wilfrid JAYASURIYA

Ira Wanasinghe

There’s a face we shall always remember
A voice we shall always recall,
A memory to cherish forever,
Of one so dear to us all.

To hear your voice, to see you smile,
To sit and talk to you a while,
To be together in the same old way,
Would be our dearest wish today.

To us she was someone special,
Someone set apart,
Her memory will live forever,
Engraved within our hearts.

Nothing could be more beautiful,
Than the memories we have of you,
To us they’re very precious
Because they are of you

Your loving husband Hamilton and children