Senaka Madawa Kalubovila:

Professional philanthropist

Senaka Madawa Kalubovila, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2011 at the age of 43, after a brave battle with his illness. It was a deep shock to our community as his life and work touched many lives far and near. Senaka’s life would seem too short to many, but those who were touched by understood that the quality of existence far exceeds the quantity of time in which one lives.

Born to Bernard Kalubovila and Amara Kalubovila, he had his early education at Ananda College, Colombo. Senaka being a brilliant scholar, had his tertiary education from the State University of Moscow USSR, graduated in Aero-Science. Later, he pursued his further education from London South Bank University having read a degree in Computer Studies, showing he could accomplish anything he set his mind to do. He soon recognized that Aero-Science was not his forte and was considering his career as an IT professional, thus served in private sector in the UK.

He was married to Sulochana and was about to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in a few days time. He was struck unfortunately by the cruel illness and spent recent years battling his medical conditions. He was a brave fighter with the habit of not giving up anything easily. He told me once, not to repeat mistakes in life, when he found our businesses collapsed a few years ago.

Senaka was respected as an exemplary character, a professional, philanthropist, and apart from all a mentor to many. He was a source of inspiration to all. We will always remember him for his wealth of knowledge, personal warmth, kindness, generosity and helpfulness.

Senaka Kalubovila was an extraordinary family man. Even he was victimized, he looked after his family well enough to go beyond boarders.

He was always completely absorbed in his desire to help others. That was his motive. On one occasion, he attended the inaugural charity meeting though he was warned by his doctors to be bedridden. He devoted much of his later years to family members and his ailing mother. His life interests included religious activities, sports, traveling, music and reading. His thorough vision on many topics such as religion, culture, business, science or politics and on a wide range of journal articles attest to the unusual breadth of his knowledge. He was a keen Buddhist devotee. He formed Red Buddhist International and red lion blogs/news.com.

May he attain Nibbhana.
Keerthi Sumanasiri

H A E de Silva:

Sincere friend is no more

I lost a good friend with whom I associated for more than six decades (60 years) and a sincere brother-in-law for the last 46 years; he was very close to me during the last 60 years.

My mind goes back to the time when he was attached to the Salt Department and was stationed in Elephant Pass. When we were young and healthy, we took the opportunity to go to Elephant Pass with our friends and spent our vacation with him, he treated us very lavishly and made our stay very comfortable.

During these 46 years, we always exchanged family problems and he was ready to help.

I do not want to write in detail of all the assistance he has given to us, but he was concerned about Dulcie (his sister) and me, and was ready to help us. When we were in Australia, he always telephoned us from New Zealand and inquired about our health and our children. When I mentioned him that I was planning to visit Sri Lanka with my wife Dulcie for two months, it still rings in my ear “Freddy listen to me, you are not going to stay elsewhere, you stay with me, presently my house is closed in Pelawatte, you stay until I come. He always mentioned me that since we looked after his mother for three years – she passed away at the age of 96 years at my residence in Kelaniya – as an act of gratitude, it was his turn to see to our comfort during our stay with him. But it was sad that he was called by his Creator at 7.15 a.m. on July 19, 2006. He spoke to me just a few minutes earlier and then he was no more!

We shall remember him in our prayers and May his soul rest in peace.

Fred Rodrigo
– Sathianathen
Melbourne, Australia

Iranganie De Silva:

Popular figure among students

Iranganie De Silva, wife of senior District Judge W P N De Silva, passed away on July 11, 2011. Iranganie, as fondly known to most of her friends, was a very likeable person among her relations, friends, colleagues and all those who came into contact with her.

Iranganie was the daughter N S Gooneratne, a well know landed proprietor of Matale and of Margaret Goonerathne. She had her early education at Matale Convent and subsequently joined Sri Sumangala girls’ School, Panadura. She was a keen student who excelled in studies and shined in sports, especially in netball. She passed the University entrance examination and entered the University of Peradeniya.

Whilst in the University Iranganie shined both in studies and sports. She represented the University netball team for several years. She passed out as a graduate from the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, with a bachelor of Arts degree in 1956, in an era of becoming a graduate was a rare achievement, especially among women.

Iranganie began her teaching career by returning to her Alma Mater, Sri Sumangala Girls’ Panadura, to teach History and English to the University entrance students. She maintained strict discipline among her students and she was pleasant, jovial and helpful at the same time. She always dressed elegantly and was a very popular figure among her students and colleagues. She did a yeoman service for the uplift of netball.

In 1965 she got married to W P N De Silva, who at that time was the Additional District Judge, Kurunegala. Since then, when W P N De Silva was transferred from station to station as a Magistrate and then as a District Judge, she accompanied him. When her husband was the District Judge, Kurunegala in the late 1970s and early 80s, she served at Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala. She went on to serve at Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya till her retirement in early 1990s.

When her husband passed away suddenly of a heart attack in 1985, the full responsibility of educating her children fell on her. She magnificently performed that task and today, her son Sumith, is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist attached to the Tangalle Base Hospital. Her daughter has passed out as an attorney-at-law and at present is serving at Standard Charted Bank.

May her journey through sansara be short.
May she attain the supreme bliss of nibbana.

W T A Leslie Fernando

BKS Balachandran:

Dimensional personality

Virakesari former general manager Bramma Kumar Sitrampalam Balachandran, passed away on September 1, 2011 at the age of 74. He was a towering figure whose name will be written large in the annals of Sri Lanka’s literary, religious, social, administrative and cultural history.

His profound scholarships, his brilliant record as an administrator and his significant service in the spheres of Tamil language, Tamil literature combined with high degree of discipline he maintained in the administration of Virakesari and high moral character marked him out as one of the greatest Sri Lankans of modern times.

Balachandran was in every sense of the term a colourful personality, lofty, serene and unshakable and was capable of withstanding storms and blizzards with total and natural equanimity. In fact, he piloted the affairs of Virakesari to the greater satisfaction of the Board of Management, Editorial, Circulation, Advertising Departments and all other sections on account of his capability, competence, efficiency, dedication, commitment and high sense of discipline.

He was consistently pragmatic in approach to problems in Virakesari and was willing to seek out and accept solutions wherever they could be found. This brought him the personal esteem of everyone. He had humane qualities and practised what he preached and discharged his duties and responsibilities without fear or favour guided by the philosophy and teachings of Bhagavad Gita and great saints and sages. That might have been the reason he joined Pramakumari Samayam after his retirement from Virakesari. Thereafter, he was very much involved in religious matters.

Balachandran’s life was a successful and remarkable one. He was a livewire and whatever he touched, he undertook, he put new life into it. Verily no field of human endeavour was left untouched by his imagination, the encompassing sweep of his thought, felicity of his words and the indefatigable zeal of his actions.

He was born at Vijaparimoolai, Point Pedro into a conservative and orthodox family.

Balachandran received his early education at Point Pedro Hartley College. Thereafter he joined St Joseph’s College, Colombo and obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA).

He joined Lake House during Esmond Wickremesinghe’s time. After a short period in Lake House as a journalist, he joined Virakesari as Circulation Manager, Administrative Manager and subsequently as General Manager.

Balachandran was a mine of virtue and a shining symbol of aristocracy of character. ‘He was noble, nay, nobility itself’.

Sivagnanam Kuberakumar