Dhanasiri Bodhinayake:

Appreciating a dear brother

The first death anniversary of my dear brother Dhanasiri Bodhinayake falls on December 24. He was born in 1944 as the youngest son to my parents D. B. Bodhinayake and D. S. Kumararatne.

He had his primary education from Bentota Gamini Maha Vidyalaya and Zahira College at Dharga Town Aluthgama and then came to Colombo for higher studies.

During my childhood he sometimes acted as a great friend, cracked jokes and played with me. As he was 10 years older to me he always cared for me. He took me to school by peddling the only vehicle available at that time - his push cycle and waited near the school to collect me after school. I used to put my head out of the classroom during the last period to ascertain as to whether he had arrived to collect me.

He never allowed my mother to punish me and always took my side and defended me even if I did something wrong. He was such a wonderful brother. When he left Bentota for higher studies he did not want to keep me at home alone. He took a firm decision along with my parents and my elder brother Dr. Buddhadasa Bodhinayake to bring me to Colombo for my higher studies. Had he not been my brother I would not get a chance to study at Musaeus College in the late sixties and later at Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo. I always used to convey this fact to all my friends.

To educate me and to earn money for our stay in Colombo, he engaged in teaching Science for students and monks at Sri Lanka Vidyalaya at Maradana, former “Ode Pansala” under the guidance of late Baddegama Wimalawansa Thera and also taught at Pepiliyana Sunethra Devi Pirivena during the period when late Medagoda Sumanathissa Thera was the Chief Priest. Thereafter, he had an opportunity to teach at Royal College for few years.

During his life time he never forgot my birthday. He always used to tell me as to how happy my father was on the day I was born as the only daughter to our family.

When Uri Gagarin, the famous astronaut came to Bentota I too had an opportunity to see him with the help of my brother Dhanasiri. Since I was about seven years at that time, I could not see him because the people were gathered around him. My brother carried me on his shoulders and showed him and asked me whether I had seen him properly. This incident was mentioned in his book published under title Uri Gagarin.

He was an author of about hundred science books. I can still remember the day when his two sons Dakshina and Ananda had arranged a felicitation ceremony along with my husband Lakshman for his achievements as an author of hundred science books. On that day he had stated in his speech that he got the primary symptoms of Parkinson decease and will never be able to write any books to publish as the fingers are not steady.

He held the post of the Chief Editor of the Science Publication called Vidunana by the Lake House Publication during the tenure of late Ranapala Bodhinagoda as the Chairman of Lake House. He had the privilege of visiting Germany those days from SLBC where he worked as a Science Programme Producer. At SLBC, he also had conducted Wasana Udawa, famous general knowledge programme along with late Lalith S Maithreepala.

My brother is the one who conducted the programme Dasa Desin at ITN after Premaratne Abeysekera and later the collection of those programmes conducted by him came out as a printed book.

He suffered about thirteen years from the dreadful disease of Parkinson. He was treated by many consultants but failed. Unfortunately, during his illness he lost his beloved wife Kusum and he could not bear her loss.

My cousin still tells me how he had arranged a room along with my cousin for my arrival with the mother after my birth from hospital.

He also had a liking towards my two daughters Nilmini and Eranga equally as his own children.

During this Sansara Gamana I always wish to meet him as an elder brother until he attains the Supreme Bliss of Nirwana.

Bandumathie Bodhinayake Ranasinghe
Attorney-at-Law