Appreciations

T L Perera:

His mind was a mansion of noble thoughts

The second death anniversary of T L Perera, former personnel offficer of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd (Lake House) falls today.

T L Perera was a multi-faceted personality and whatever positions he held at Lake House, whether as a Supervisor in the Works Department, Welfare Officer or Personnel Officer he discharged his responsibilities with unsurpassed distinction and unsullied humour. In fact, his work was immensely appreciated and recognized by the Management of ANCL.

He was very methodical, meticulous and thorough in his work and he was held in high esteem by his superiors and subordinates. Besides, he had a vast knowledge in administrative rules and regulations and helped those who sought his guidance and suggestions. His warmth, kindness and humility made those who were associated with him to admire his remarkable qualities and abilities.

He was amiable, genial and versatile and lived a simple life without grudge against anyone. He abhorred ostentation and publicity. Those who worked under him had absolute confidence in him because of his honesty, integrity, dedication and commitment in his work.

T L Perera had qualities like simplicity, humility and humanity. He was a man of liberal and progressive views and a keen social and religious worker. His mind was a mansion of noble thoughts. Besides, he was very generous and magnanimous in all his dealings with friends, associates, relations and neighbours.

Perera’s greatness was unique. There was a ring of authenticity and nobility of courage in whatever he did and said. He was constantly pragmatic and practical in his approach to problems in the respective departments of ANCL where he worked was willing to seek out and accept solutions wherever they could be found. He was easily accessible to me and all and was a livewire in whatever he touched and undertook.

Perera hailed from a respectable and illustrious family who have contributed immensely for religion.

He was essentially a family oriented man and loved to be in his home environment. To his wife and children, he was a loving and devoted husband and an understanding and affectionate father who loved, cared, nurtured his children. He lavished his love, care and material resources to keep the family happy. His guidance, advice, concern and his untiring efforts helped his children and grandchildren to achieve greatness in life.

It is very often said that a woman is always behind a man’s success. His wife Chandra Perera who worked in the People’s Bank as a senior officer for 35 years was a paragon of virtues. She was a tower of strength and source of encouragement in all his endeavours. She sacrificed all her comforts to make him comfortable.

May he attain the supreme eternal bliss of Moksha.

A light from the family is gone

A voice we loved stilled

A place is vacant in his home which can never be filled.

Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

Capt. Tikiri Dissanayake:

Dedicated hero

Capt. Tikiri Dissanayake passed away recently, after a fairly long illness.

He hailed from a respectable Kandyan family and educated at Vijaya College Matale.

He enlisted himself in the first Engineering Field Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army in 1955 as a recruit. He successfully completed a number of training courses such as planning physical fitness, combat leadership and transport of machinery. He displayed prowess and efficiency in various fields winning the praise and encomium of his superiors.

He was appointed Commissioned Officer in 1973. He was subsequently appointed Quartemaster of the Regiment. He was appointed a captain in 1994 on consideration of his efficiency and dedication. He was a good athlete and participated at Regimental and Inter Regimental sports meets winning a number of prizes for various events.

Capt. Tikiri Dissanayake’s motto was to help all who came to him for advice and guidance. His dedication to duty earned him the Uththama Sewa Medal, Republic of Sri Lanka Army Service medal, the Republic of Sri Lanka Army 25th Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Long Service Medal 1968, Sri Lanka Army Service Medal 1979 and Sri Lanka Army President Medal. He was a good husband to his wife and a good father to his precious children.

May he end his sojourn in Sansara and attain the bliss of Nibbana.

R M L Ratnayake Matale

DJV Kannangara :

Devoted husband and loving father

Don John Vivian Kannangara left us on February 28, 2010.

Hailing from a respectable family in Grandpass, he and his elder brother Percy were carrying their father’s business of tyre retrading. My father too, was a close friend of Percy and Vivian and was engaged in the same trade. I knew them from my young days and even attended his wedding in 1968.

In later life, we happened to be members of the same social service organisation, namely the Lions Club of Wattala where he was the most senior member at the time of his death. During this time we became close friends and my many visits to his house for social gatherings ended up in my marriage to his wife’s sister.

We still have fond memories of the surprise party that was organised to celebrate the 40th wedding anniversary of Vivian and his wife Jasmine two years ago. Meticulous planning of the event by their only child Dilini and son-in-law Shalana, together with cousins was proof of affection and love we had for him. He enjoyed that event at his best and was talking about it proudly until his last day.

I still cannot get over his last moments in life, where on that day at my invitation, he came for lunch to my house with his family. He was enjoyed those few hours with us discussing politics in good humour. In the evening, he bade goodbye to us and left with his family. As the car left my premises, just outside my parapet wall he suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away immediately which gave a shock to all of us.

Vivian had no worries in life. He lived a full and a happy life in an exemplary manner. With his quiet and unassuming ways, he always gave his best to his family.

He was a devoted husband to his wife Jasmine a loving father to his only child Dilini and Shalana and a loving grandfather to his two grandchildren Dilinthi and Shalintha.

May the turf sit lightly on you where you rest in peace!!!

Chandra Fernando