Bishops Lakdasa de Mel and Lakshman Wickremesinghe:

Exemplary personalities

October, reminds us of the deaths of Bishops Lakdasa de Mel and Lakshman Wickremesinghe, both of Kurunegala. The former died in the mid 1970s and the latter soon after the tragedy of July 1983.

Bishop Lakdasa will be known for many things. This writer would like to remember him in his contribution to what is known as Gospel and culture. He, a product of the western ethos, saw the need to present the message to his church in the local idiom. Hence what is known as the Baddegama setting of music of the Eucharist, replacing the western music, produced by his cousin Devar Surya Sena and also being the founder Bishop of the Diocese of Kurunegala building the Cathedral in that city using Kandyan architecture and the sculpture of Tissa Ranasinghe and the paintings of Nalini Jayasuriya and Stanley Kirinde. Thus, Bishop de Mel made the teachings and the preachings of the church touch base with the people of the land very specially the villages.

Bishop Lakshman should be remembered primarily for his attempt to solve the national problem. He was one of those who dared to go to Jaffna when the Jaffna library was burnt for political reasons 30 years ago. In this last charge as the Bishop of Kurunegala in September 1983, a few weeks before he died, he apologised to the people of this country very specially the minorities on behalf of his own community. His September 1983 statement is now known as the Lakshman Wickremesinghe manifesto. In a tribute like this, it must also be remembered that Bishop Lakshman was a sick person seeking treatment in England, came back to Colombo against doctor’s advice because of the tragedy of July 1983 and after his arrival despite the advice from family and friends, he visited every single worker in his Diocese from the minority community and visited all his friends from that community in his land.

Sydney Knight

Violet Chandrawathi Kuruvitage:

Guiding light to all

My dear Loku Akka, it is with a deep sense of gratitude, I pen these few lines to pay my tribute to you. You departed from us on October 18, 2011. You, being the eldest of our family, dedicated your life for the well-being of the younger brothers and sisters. You had been a pillar of strength to our beloved mother.

Loku Akka, you had been the tutoress of English langauge for younger brothers. A strict disciplinarian, you devoted a considerable period of time for the benefit of younger brothers and sisters. You were blessed with your life partner, L S Kuruvitage, whom we addressed as Lionel Aiyyah. With the passage of time you became a mother of six daughters (Lasanda, Lalana, Sashikala, Lakmini, Darshani and Saumya). Since your life partner was compelled to be out of Colombo on official assignments you were able to handle the domestic affairs all alone.

Your family life is a guiding light to all parties concerned. Loku Akka, in conclusion, I wish you the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.

Godwin (Elian)

M S M Faleel Hadjiar:

Rendered yeoman service to society

A great personality who can be considered a man of the epoch departed from us at the age of 78 on June 22 this year.

He was none other than M S M Faleel Hadjiar renowned gem merchant, former Beruwala UC Chairman, Provincial Council member and SLFP Chief Organiser whose demise is a great loss to people in the Kalutara District in particular and the country in general.

Faleel Hadjiar was born on April 5, 1933 as the eldest son of Mohamed Saheed Marikkar and Ummu Kadeeja of Dharaga town at their ancestral home at Sheik Jamaldeen Road, Beruwala. Attended his primary education at the Maligahena Muslim Vidyalaya, Beruwala. He completed his secondary education at Zahira Vidyalaya, Dharga Town and St. Lukes Maha Vidyalaya, Rathnapura. After completing his education he took up to gem business as his profession. Facing initial ups and downs with courage and determination, and overcoming all challengers on his path he persevered the business of his choice to become a leading and most sought after gem businessman of national stature.

The secret behind his success was confidence, truthfulness, dedication and ability to take top decisions.

Faleel Hadjiar who studied the intricacies of gem business during his school days showed an abiding interest in social service and politics. He always worked with the fervent belief that politics would enable him to render an impartial and valuable service to people of all communities and religions in his native area as well as in Rathnapura.

Faleel Hadjiar never allowed politics to interfere with his gem business. The riches earned through his thriving gem business encouraged him to venture into other business sectors too and become the proud owner of several thriving business enterprises.

Faleel Hadjiar thought that amassing wealth was insufficient unless he used their wealth for the betterment of lives of his fellow beings in native Beruwala.

He thought that the best way to set about this task was to enter the local political field. Accordingly he contested and won the Beruwala UC elections as independent candidate and became its Chairman in 1983.

Faleel Hadjiar who was Chairman of the Beruwala UC from 1983 to 1987 never depended on state funds. He utilized his own money to launch several development projects in the area and enable the ordinary masses to enjoy their dividends. Resultantly Beruwala UC was adjudged the best UC in the country during his tenure as Chairman.

He provided a much needed modern building for the Beruwala UC with the assistance of the then MP of the area R G Samaranayake. He was also instrumental in providing many other infrastructure facilities to the area.

In 1989 he contested and won the Western Provincial Council election from the Kalutara District and rendered a vital service to the people.

Faleel Hadjiar was instrumental in renaming China Fort Muslim Balika Vidyalaya as M I M Naleem Hadjiar in recognition of the services rendered by the late philanthropist for the cause of Muslim education.

He was a peace envoy who always worked hard to foster harmony among people in Beruwala.

B.M. Mukthar

Dharmasiri Jayawardena:

Irreparable loss

Dharmasiri Jayawardena (Retired Finance Director, Treasury) passed away on August 8, 2011. It is an irreparable loss to all of us especially to his two sons Dr Dinesh, Uditha and daughter in-law Dr Jayani.

His beloved wife Manel died a few years back. Since then he attended to all their needs and never disheartened them. He was intelligent to approach any difficult problem. He gave them a good education and performed his duties to the best of his ability. He had excellent qualities.

Due to his integrity and kindness he was respected by all. This is ample testimony for his excellent qualities. He didn’t differentiate between the rich and the poor. He was a devoted Buddhist and also teetotaller.

He was very sentimental when it came to his religious beliefs. He often advised the children to be pious.

We will always remember his exemplary qualities. On every possible occasion he attended to religious activities.

He was a humble and a noble personality and also rare kind of a humanist. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.

Saman Wickramarachchi