Portrait of Sidath Sri Nandalochana:

Versatile lawyer, speaker

Gomin Dayasri

Sidath Sri Nandalochana with his talent, skill and ability was destined to reach the highest echelon due to his versatility as a lawyer, artist, writer, speaker- instead he chose never to chase the glory that awaited him. He cherished most was -contentment and satisfaction- from what he achieved, extracted without exertion.

The secret was in Buddhism that he practised diligently which he never tried to preach. He knew the Dhammapada better than any statute. He realized the values attached to life were in simplicity, moderation and thoughtfulness.

Many recognized his potential- Lakshman Kadirgamar invited him to be our High Commissioner in London- he gracefully declined since he was comfortable in being a lawyer and would never care to step outside his comfort zone.

A President’s Counsel title was his for the mere asking. He was not a man for decorations and would have been offended if it were suggested to make the mandatory written application. He would have emerged as a primo uomo in the field of drama had he only pursued it seriously; theatre provided a stage for a performance in an English drama under the direction of Jubal of which his Peradeniya contemporaries went into raptures or a production to direct in Sinhala, for his pleasure and entertainment.

Refinement and elegance

He often refused to accept a case or consultation, if it interfered with his afternoon siesta or the game of tennis at Otters or late evening television show over a single beer. A writer of incredible ability, he only wrote for SLFP’s defunct English weekly Nation on sports and arts; speaker of precise and selected phrases that were well-enunciated but would avoid to mount a platform to address an audience. Not shy or diffident or lethargic - it was an inherent display of his refinement and elegance, doing things in his quiet way at his own pace. He never undertook an assignment that would cause a strain.

Buddhist thought

At S. Thomas, he was punished by the Warden for having invited S.W.R.D Bandaranaike when he was an Opposition member to address the English Society; ran the winning lap in the 4x 440 at the Tarbert Shield at the Public Schools Athletic Meet and opened batting for his school; played cricket for a lesser known club in Negombo in the Daily News trophy (Notts CC) with the genial lawyer Herman Fernando; owned a race horse that won a trophy for his young master at the August races in Colombo; was nominated by Mrs Bandaranaike as a national list candidate from the SLFP, whom Chandrika opted not to select for Parliament. Sidath when questioned whatever prompted him to allow his name inserted, responded- “it might help the party to get a few more votes “. He was a genuine amateur in politics.

He arrived frequently at the SLFP headquarters as the President of the Lawyers Association (at a time fixed by him) where he presided over a committee for the election of Mrs Bandaranaike, after a game of tennis in his shorts and loose coffee coloured pullover, that made the party faithful affectionately call him ‘Sellam Amathi’ (Sports Minister). Chandrika appointed him to the Sports Council and departed on realizing it was not his kind of sport. His association with politics was that of a dignified village squire determined to do his share to enhance society. In latter life he knew it was a mirage and hardly spoke on politics.

Simple things fascinated him- throbbing of drums at the Kandy Perahera; an article on cricket written in stylish English in the Wisden magazine; on BBC with Paddy Feeny on Saturday Sports Special, on a visit to London as sole guest between interludes of sports events beamed from Bush House;organizing the inter-school drama contest for the YMBA; anecdotes of colorful characters of a bygone era made to sound hilarious with his urbane sense of humor; contemplative walk in the evening (after he hung his racquet due to a fall) where many a passer-by would pay their respect that was acknowledged with a flick of the wrist or theorizing on words of wisdom on Buddhist thought and its relevance to life.

Youthful days

A bachelor- naturally self centred; he venerated his father (D.N.W. de Silva) probably from whom he inherited genes for his resourcefulness, whose writings as a journalist he displayed proudly in a scrap book: mother Matilda whom he adored and was a permanent babe in her arms and looked after fondly till her death: sister Sujata Jayewardane, he admired and respected from a distance for her social vibrancy that was alien to him. In later life his friend and guide was his nephew Prasanna who gave him great companionship. Sidath always preferred to live a life of his own, meticulously scheduled by him without inconvenience to any.

There was one thing that rattled him- if it was said he looked unwell. Among his friends he was the legendary hypochondriac- around which there were many fabricated short stories with tall endings. He was fortunate to end his days without a prolonged illness. A cultured nationalist from his youthful days in colonial times attached value to indigenous traditions long before 1956. His westernized outlook was suave and polished. Sarath Muttetuwegama and Sidath were inseparables; Sarath came to Peradeniya campus and stayed with him during a troubled period and took him away to Law College. Sidath and Sarath are no more and so are lawyers of that class, culture and calibre. They were lawyers whose word was gospel and honour was the trademark. They had a twinkle in the eye and a penchant for mischief, a drama was assured if either were in court. They enjoyed their salad days in the chamber of Bunty De Zoysa, icon in their minds.

Sidath would chide me for giving publicity to incidents he narrated during our holidays together but he was such an unforgettable character that I would be doing an injustice to a great man who lived amidst us unsung yet very well-known. So few are such, to lose him is creating a vacuum that will remain forever in the lives of many who associated him.