Appreciations

Cyril Herath:

Officer with high competence

Cyril had left Peradeniya University a year prior to my admission to Peradeniya, hence, I did not have the opportunity of knowing him as a University colleague. Although I had met him briefly, I was really able to make his acquaintance only in the mid 1980s when I was attached to the Ministry of Defence and Cyril was functioning as IGP.

Cyril led an exemplary family life and was able to bring up the family of three sons and one daughter, with the maternal care and support extended by his wife Ranee.

Cyril, had in his long and eventful career in the Police Service, served in many outstations including Jaffna, with commendable distinction. In whatever capacity he functioned in the Police Service, (viz. ASP, SP, DIG and IG) he is remembered by his subordinates and colleagues as a highly principled officer who displayed high competence and rare dedication to the duties assigned to him. His exceptional organisational ability was shown in the security arrangements he made with meticulous care and precision, for the important Non Aligned Summit held in Sri Lanka in the mid 1970s, when he functioned as DG/NIB.

He was highly commended for an excellent job done, by the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

After retirement, Cyril was requested by some private organisations to assist them in consultancy work in the security field. He engaged in this activity, more to keep himself occupied than out of any abiding pleasure he derived from such work. Yet, in keeping with his character and personality, he performed the tasks entrusted to him, with due diligence and competence.

Cyril was appointed Chairman/National Savings Bank by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge in 1994. He was able to transform this institution, which had been run like a Government Dept., into a vibrant commercial organisation with a definitive private sector orientation, underscoring a necessary commercial banking ethos, enabling it thereby, to draw on level and engage in commercial operations competitively, with the other state and commercial banks.

Cyril had a wide repertoire of interests which ranged from tennis, reading, music to ballroom dancing. He also enjoyed singing at parties and family gatherings. He had a keen sense of humour.

I, along with his many close friends, would see and feel in Cyril’s demise, a sad loss of a sincere friend. I would also see his life as a celebration of the high levels of excellence achieved by him during his eventful and distinguished career in the public service.

May Cyril attain the Ultimate Bliss that all Buddhists seek.

Chandra Wickramasinghe

Former DIG Gamini Jayasinghe:

Best amongst equals

It is with profound sadness that we learnt of the demise of yet another gentleman police officer of yesteryear. He lived up to 92 years of age. Gamini Jayasinghe was a legend in the Police service. His reputation as a honest and a fearless police officer was respected by his superiors, peers, subordinates and the general public.

Jayasinghe joined the Police Department as a sub inspector of police and held the rank of deputy inspector general of Police at the time he retired from service.

The call of duty saw Jayasinghe serving in many parts of Sri Lanka in various ranks of the hierarchy of the Police Department.

The trust and confidence he was held in, by his superiors was such, that Jayasinghe was always entrusted to diffuse instances, which otherwise could have become ugly. He solved such problems with diplomacy and finesse, without compromising the dignity of the laws of the land and the great traditions of the Police Department. Indeed, he led from the front.

Overseas training in transport and communication added value to the professional abilities of Jayasinghe.

For many years Jayasinghe was SP Police in Transport and Communication Division as well as in the Mounted Division. He loved horse riding. I was a young Inspector in the same division and still carry wonderful memories of “the Great Master”. He taught us by example - to present a case with all the facts and be honest at all times.

In 1974 Jayasinghe was promoted to the position of DIG. The relationship he had with us was not confined exclusively to work. The trials and tribulations of his men were his concerns as well. Jayasinghe was of tremendous assistance to me when I had to seek medical treatment for my wife, overseas. Behind the stern exterior was a heart that drove him to the limit to help his fellowmen. Such was the calibre of our beloved leader.

He received many accolades for the quality of his work, from the highest of the land.

He was an inspiration to his family and friends.

He engaged in God’s work and enjoyed time in prayer and reading the scriptures. He spent the evening of his life in calm and tranquil. We together with the members of his family, grieve the loss of our beloved boss.

May God grant his soul eternal rest.

Graetian Gunawardhana

Ex Police Officer

Nanda Ellawala:

A Birthday tribute

Your memory remains beautiful on your
Birthday you believed
To dream the

impossible dream
To fight the
unbeatable foe
To bear with
unbearable sorrow
To run where the
brave don’t do

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from a far
To try when your arms are weary
To reach the unreachable star

Remembering you dearly
Surangani.

Imtiaz Hamid:

Brilliant imaginative artist

After a brief battle with cancer, Imtiaz Hamid passed away on August 4.

Mohamed Imtiaz Hamid was born in Colombo, on December 4, 1949. He attended Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy, Royal Primary School (1955) and Royal College, Colombo.

Imtiaz was a soft-spoken, passive, an avid listener. He surprised us on occasions with witty and humorous remarks. He was caring and generous and never complained on anything. He was a classic graphics designer and calligraphist. He worked in many places. He was the CEO at Serendib Data Corporation, Director/John Springfield Knitting Fabric and Garment Industry, consultant art director to Masters Advertising Ltd, Holmes Pollard & Stott and Copyline Ltd and director/Intergraphics, proprietor/Public Affairs Analysts. Tourism, travel and airline ticketing were his other interests.

Imtiaz was a brilliant imaginative artist, a profound loss to the corporate world in general and to us former classmates. He designed some superb international logos which included Mark A Cuttin - Stunt Coordinator (Starsky & Hutch), Neo Synthesis Research Center - New York, and Japan Grain - film production. The local ones included Gabo Travels, ODEL, Millers Ltd, Eric Rajapaksa Opticians, NDB Housing, Aqua Ceylan, Fashion Optique, Dakini and Agasti. He was also a master on designing annual reports for the Aitken Spence Group, the Ceylon Theatres Group, Cargills (Ceylon) Ltd, Millers Ltd, and producing The Conqueror Guide to Annual Report Production for Hayleys Photoprint.

Imtiaz a bachelor, loved music and good musicians from all over the world. He performed as a musician/vocalist at concerts in night restaurants in Milano, Italy, the Navarangahala, Lionel Wendt, John De Silva Art Gallery, Saxophone Night Club, Viharamahadevi Open Air Stadium, Queen’s Hotel, Kandy, and at the Peradeniya Campus Halls. He was a frequent weekend visitor at the jazz sessions at the CR&FC.

Towards the evening of his life, he was deep into studying the spiritual journey of the Mihrƒj. May Allah grant him Jennathul Firdous (Eternal Bliss).

Firoze Sameer
Colombo

Chanaka Harindra Fernando:

Affable and charming personality

My friend Chanaka turned 50 on September 28 last year, and the event was celebrated with a function organised by his employer and attended by his family and many friends. A month later he passed away after suffering from a heart attack in China. Chanaka’s passions were his family, friends, work and sport. His all too brief life was lived to the fullest, with enthusiasm and a sense of urgency.

After his schooling at Royal College, Colombo, Chanaka qualified as an engineer in the USA. He returned and worked in prestigious organisations in Sri Lanka. His life’s work was achieved when he was sent by his employer to Indonesia and China to project manage the construction of new plant and oversee their operations thereafter. Never daunted by such challenges and with typical aplomb he got on with the job and delivered the requisite results invariably ahead of time and under budget.

He travelled extensively throughout South East Asia, the Middle East and Europe developing business opportunities for his employers. His employees loved him for his sincerity and big-heartedness, while his employers held him in high esteem for his enormous integrity, remarkable business instincts and his indefatigable energy. He was never at a loss irrespective of the circumstances and had justifiable confidence in his own abilities.

Wherever he lived, Chanaka surrounded himself with friends and his hospitality took legendary proportions. Affable and charming, his charisma was such that even those who met him briefly would remember him with affection. He had many lifelong friends whom he valued immensely, who were devastated by his death. His unconditional loyalty, generosity of spirit, sincerity, warmth, personal courage and complete lack of pettiness or envy were the hallmarks of his life.

He was a unique individual who lived his life the way he chose, without compromise.

Chandana
Panditharatne

Sidat Sri Nandalochana:

Consummate, versatile lawyer

Sidat Sri Nandalochana, Sidat to his friends passed away a few days ago. As a friend and colleague for over half a century I was aware that he was greatly inspired and motivated by the teachings of the Buddha.

He fashioned his life in keeping with these teachings and anchored himself firmly on the doctrine of impermanence, which gave him a sense of detachment from all that was illusory and evanescent.

Sidat was a deeply religious and devout man. He gave lavishly and liberally to many deserving causes without any partisan considerations.

He in his law student days displayed his virtuosity in oratory and searched the success when he was awarded the Hector Jayawardene Gold Medal for oratory.

A consummate and versatile lawyer, cross–examination was his forte. As Professor Wigmore wrote, “Cross examination is beyond doubt the greatest engine ever invented for the discovery of truth”. This aspect Sidat mastered to perfection and used it with telling effect.

A man of kind and amiable character, always with a ready smile, he was never offensive in his dealings with friends, always calm and unruffled with them. He was a delightful companion who would gladly bear the infirmities of others without condemnation.

I have derived the greatest joy and happiness in my regular chats with him at the Kinross Club, his residence and whenever we met.

Birth, life and death remain the three great mysteries of sentient existence. Death is our constant companion, our never failing shadow.

Like the floating cloud, like the bird in flight, like the dew on the mountain tops, Sidat is gone and gone forever. I grieve his loss and my grief is more at the thought, when will I see his face again.

S. Jayanayagam

Ranjani Rajawasan:

Devoted mother

Ranjani Rajawasan nee Gunawardena from Fort, Galle initially studied at Southlands College, Fort, Galle and went for higher studies to Sangamitta College.

Later she married Ranjan Rajawasan, my classmate and was blessed with a son by the name of Ishan. Ranjani was one of the few girls from Galle whom I knew moved to Colombo with her husband assisting him in every possible way in his business.

She was a very faithful and loyal wife to Ranjan and a devoted mother to son Ishan.

She always stood by her husband and the son. Her dedication and commitment to the family was of a high degree. She was very much concerned about the grandchildren and always nurtured and looked after them with love and care.

She was a very caring mother and a very caring grandmother.

It is one year since she passed away and we still remember the great devotion she had as a wife, mother, grandmother and a friend who was always there at time of need.

May she attain Nibbana
FN De Alwis.