APPRECIATIONS

Cyril Herath:

Upright and fearless officer

Cyril Herath, a former Inspector General of Police, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Chairman of the National Savings Bank, passed away in the Police Hospital on September 8.

Herath was educated at the Royal College, Colombo and graduated from the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya with a BA. Thereafter he joined the Police service as a probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police and served as the Inspector General of Police from December 1985 to August 1988.

He served in many parts of the country, and his qualities of independence, forthrightness and brilliance in intelligence gathering, shone during the period he was the Head of the Intelligence Service, sometimes known as the Special Branch and National Intelligence Bureau.

Especially during the period as the Head of the Intelligence Service, he maintained a high standard of professionalism in intelligence gathering through his team of officers working under him. He trained and directed the officers to be professional intelligence gathering operatives. He was honest and instilled honesty in all his subordinates. He refused to be part of any political, system which under normal circumstances made use of the Intelligence Division as one of their political tools.

He was the Head of security during which time the Non-Aligned Conference was held in 1976. He was given the task of being overall in charge of providing security at the BMICH, of the visiting Heads of States and of the Hotels where the VVIP's were housed. He led a team of dedicated officers under him to ensure that no untoward incidents of security concern took place during the Conference.

I recollect at one meeting, where the late Lakshman Jayakody and the late Dr. Mackie Ratwatte were conducting, a proposal was made by them to invite a City Father at that time along with the Councillors for the opening day of the Conference.

Since the decision as to who should be the invitees for the opening ceremony had already been taken and decided upon, Herath objected to this proposal. In spite of the convenor of the meeting conveying that the Prime Minister had agreed to invite the City Father and his Councillors, Herath wanted his objection recorded. Thereafter, he communicated with the PM who denied having given approval, for the City Father and his Councillors to be invited to the opening ceremony, and the proposal was never implemented.

Another instance where his forthrightness was displayed, was when promotion to senior Officers who were not recommended by him as the Head of the Department, were promoted, depriving the suitable officers recommended by the Department of their promotions, Herath went up to the then President J.R. Jayewardene and objected to the promotion of those Officers not recommended by him. In spite of his objection to the promotion, officers selected by the government were promoted.

Herath tendered his resignation over this issue though he had more years to continue as the IGP, and left the service honourably with his head held high. To my recollection he is the only IGP to resign from his post having disagreed with a head of State. I have the privilege of having served under him in the Intelligence Bureau and at Police Headquarters, and cherish the standard he maintained and instilled in us to be professional Police Officers with integrity.

He has also been sought after by many heads of governments thereafter, to be the advisor on intelligence matters. He was the first Police Officer to be appointed as Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. He conducted himself in an honourable manner without succumbing to any political pressure. He was a devoted husband and caring father. He leaves his wife, two sons and daughter.

It is a great loss to the people of this country to have lost an upright and fearless Officer who could have shared his valuable knowledge in matters affecting the majority of the citizens of our country who are law abiding.

"May he attain Nibbana"

B. Anton Jeyanathan, Rtd. DIG, Sri Lanka Police

D G F Walter:

Humble lawyer of Kalutara Bar

The fifteenth death anniversary of D G F Walter fell on September 1. He was born on December 6, 1901. His father and mother both were teachers. He was a leading lawyer, social worker and writer. He passed away peacefully on September 1, 1996 at his residence 'Lucil-Lena', Kuda Paiyagala at the age of 95.

Walter had his early education at the Roman Catholic School, Paiyagala and later at Holy Cross College, Kalutara. For his higher education he attended St Joseph's College, Colombo, where he passed Cambridge Senior and London Matriculation. In 1919 Rev Fr M J Leqoc, Rector of St Joseph's was instrumental in his appointment as a Botany teacher at Holy Cross College, Kalutara. Subsequently in 1921 he was encouraged by Philip Cooray to join the Law College where he passed out as a Proctor and Notary in 1925.

Walter was honest, humble and fearless. He was always kind and considerable to his clients. He did not pester the poor and did not bargain for legal fees from his clients. He told his clients to settle their problem without going to courts. He was of the opinion that let law be the last resort. He was always conscious of his duty towards the court.

He was methodical and punctual. He took an active interest in social and religious affairs in missionary zeal. He was president of the Catholic Young Men's Association and simultaneously served in the executive committee of the Catholic Union of Sri Lanka.

For many decades he contributed aspiring articles to the Catholic and other papers. He was a devout Catholic. His most popular articles were the Real Presence and Transubstantiation, and the Catholic and the Poor. He was the pioneer of suwabasha in the church.

On Rector's Day, November 23, 1929 he organised the joint past student association representing both girls and boys of the Holy Cross College, Kalutara. He was the first hony secretary of the Old Boys Association.

He was the president of Paiyagala Samithiya and Paiyagala Gramawardane Samithiya. In 1930 Walter functioned as an executive committee member of the Ceylon National Congress where they decided to wear white suits.

He took a great interest on revival of national industries (liquor and fishing) and against diverting the river through the village. He was a pioneer of the co-operative movement in the Kalutara district. He was the founder president of the Co-operative Credit Society in Paiyagala inaugurated in 1931, which is still functioning.

He was also the president of the Co-operative Stores Society. In 1987 he was awarded the Co-operative medal and a certificate for his services rendered to the Co-operative movement for over 50 years.

He was exalted to the position of president of the Kalutara Bar Association. In 1955 he was honoured as a Justice of Peace and Unofficial Magistrate. He acted as a District Judge of Kalutara in the absence of a permanent judge. His portrait too was unveiled at Kalutara Court library.

Walter gave up his practice in courts in 1986 and continued notarial work at his residence at Paiyagala. As a proctor and notary he had a record in Kalutara district as having attested 41 deeds on the same day.

May he Rest in Peace.

Candiid de Silva

K Michael de Silva:

Deeply religious man

Listening to the eulogy of Michael de Silva delivered by the officiating priest at St. Judes Church Indigolla, Gampaha my mind went back to the first day I met de Silva. It was at an Annual General meeting of St. Servatius College Matara Old Boy Associations Colombo branch. It was the first meeting I attended as a member, and the elderly gentleman who introduced himself as the founder Secretary of St. Servatius College Matara. OBA. He was friendly and loquacious.

After his education Michael de Silva joined the Charles P. Hayley Co. in Galle and later moved to Hayley's Ltd in Colombo. He worked there till he retired from the Mercantile Service.

After some years when I was elected as the President of the Old Boys Association I came to know de Silva closely as a Patron of the OBA. I was much impressed by his sterling qualities and I have never seen him raising his voice at any time. He never spoke ill of others and when gossip was spread about colleagues he displayed a nonchalant smile. He continued to be active in the OBA and I was pleasantly surprised when he attended a ceremony organized by the OBA to commemorate a former principal Rev. Father Joseph Rajapaksa. He was 94 years at that time.

De Silva wrote newspaper articles and poems to various newspapers and had a collection of all news items published by newspapers about the School. He collected news published about the legendary cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya and wanted to present them to him when he became a MP. However ill health prevented him from doing so.

Michael de Silva rarely missed a church service, and accompanied his wife, daughter and son-in-law every year to the annual church festival in Matara.

He was laid to rest, amongst distinguished gatherings at St. Judes Church, Indigolla, Gampaha.

May he enjoy the heavenly bliss in the realm beyond.

Padmasiri de Silva

Chandra Wijenaike:

Philanthropist who helped many people

It was with profound sorrow and a deep sense of personal loss, that I came to know of the passing away of Chandra Wijenaike on July 27, 2011.

I first came in contact with Chandra in 1951, when I made an application to join the prestigious Kandy Garden Club. He was then its Secretary and Treasurer.

He continued to be secretary and he was later elected President, which post he held with honour and distinction for a number of years. He was a god father to the Club and took a fatherly interest in its day to day affairs, inspite of his very busy schedules. It is appropriate mentioning here that Chandra was the first Sri Lankan (then Ceylonese) to be admitted to this Club of all whites.

Chandra is credited to have been the driving force in coming into being the now prestigious Central Finance Company. He was its Chairman an Managing Director over the years, an today it is one of the leading financial institutions in the country. He was also in the Director Boards of many companies where his vast knowledge in the sphere of finance and his business acumen were greatly in demand. Inspite of his moving with the high and mighty in the world of big finance. Chandra was and unostentatious person. It can truly be said of him that he could move with kings without losing the common touch.

He was well-known as a philanthropist who helped many people and causes in their hour of need. He was however very modest of all his achievements and position, an was known to be a self-effacing person who shunned publicity and cheap popularity. He however stood up to his own and others' rights, and called a spade a spade and did not mince his words when it came to matters where principles were involved.

His innate good nature and simplicity endeared him to his fellow men with whom he had a good rapport.

Ill health dogged him in the later part of his life, and this prevented him from taking an active part in the affairs of the Company he contributed to create.

Chandra was a devout Buddhist who practised his faith with great devotion.

He was a regular an keen tennis player and was a member of the Club's team that participated at the All Island Inter-Club Tennis Tournaments conducted by the Sri Lanka Tennis Association, annually.

I convey my condolences and deep sympathy to all members of the family, relations, friends and associates.

May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.

F C B Marapane