Appreciations

David de Mel:

A simple and beautiful life

Oh, my pa-pa, to me he was so wonderful
Oh, my pa-pa, to me he was so good
No one could be, so gentle and so lovable
Oh, my pa-pa, he always understood.

I hear this beautiful song from yesteryear in the background. The nostalgic words of the song gives me goose bumps when I recall how relevant and true the words are when I apply them to my wonderful father, David de Mel, passed away on November 14, 2004, just four days before his 89th birthday.

From a worldly perspective, Thaththa was not a man of extraordinary achievement. His formal education was limited and he was a stenographer who worked hard to support his family. What made our Thaththa special to Aiya, Malli and me, is the overflowing love that he held in his heart, not only for his family, but for all.

His love for Amma and us manifested itself in silent ways. Thaththa adored Amma and nothing was too hard when it came to caring for her. I remember he used to apply ‘Moon & Star’ to cover her grey hair. He would come silently behind us when we were studying and gently caress our heads. For me personally, his only daughter, I dare to believe he had a special, soft corner. He often referred to me as his little girl who had thambili pata skin, a definitely exaggerated hue of my brown complexion. But then, he was my beloved Thaththa who loved me unconditionally.

My husband often says that Thaththa was one of the most wonderful human beings he has ever known. Thaththa at 75 was a contended, happy, kind hearted, and peaceful man, deeply loved by his three children. He was also adored by his grandchildren, who still recall how faithfully he would bring them cream buns on his way home from work, and how lovingly he would distribute his treasured barley sugar sweets amongst them.

I thank God that I was born to him.

Dil Jayawardena

Janaka Bogollagama:

Leading businessman

Janaka Bogollagama of Kurunegala died on Nov. 1 last year. This piece of writing is somewhat different in the sense it is an appreciation of a pupil by one of his teachers. I came to know him when he was a student at Ananda College, Colombo. He was a hosteller and at that time I was a hostel master. In the classes I taught him mathematics. I saw the cheerful young boy grow up to be a leading businessman, social worker and above all a gentleman par excellence. He was a sportsman at school and excelled in badminton and tennis. He went on to become the public schools’ tennis champion. Tennis became part of his life. When I congratulated him on the occasion he was elected as the President of the Sri Lanka Lawn Tennis Federation, he was humble enough to say that his thoughts go back to the day A D Karunananda then MIC Tennis placed a racket in his hand at Ananda College courts.

He had a great love for his Alma Mater and its teachers. There was an open invitation for us to come to Kurunegala and be his guests. We were cordially received by Janaka and his wife Sunethra, and were accommodated in the best hotel in that area. For dinner, we were taken to Kurunegala Sports Club of which he was the president and proudly introduced to his friends. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana

S G Dharmasena

Nugegoda