APPRECIATIONS

Kanthimathy Chelvatamby:

Charitable and religious woman

“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”. These immortal lines of Alfred Lord Tennyson reflected admirably in the life of Kanthimathy Chelvatamby of Kanayanthoddam, Puloly East, Point Pedro who passed away an year ago.

She was born into an orthodox and conservative family on April 16, 1916 and passed away at the age of 94 on December 22, 2010.

Her father Vinasithamby was not only a successful farmer but was also a great artiste who directed and produced Tamil dramas based on Ramayanam, Mahabharatham, Silapadikaram and Harichandrapuranam. He not only produced dramas, but even acted in several dramas which were highly commended by the people of the area.

Kanthimathy will be always remembered by her relatives, friends and other loved ones for her excellent qualities.

She viewed life as a pre-ordained opportunity to attain perfection through a blend of human and divine love and hence to blaze a righteous trail for others to follow and perpetuate.

Kanthimathy’s considerate kindness, charitable understanding, unshakable faith in god, spontaneous and supreme affection towards everyone and inspiring piety have notched a permanent niche for her in the family circle.

Though she was born into an orthodox and conservative family, she was liberal in all her dealings with her relatives and as well as her husband’s people. Her consideration for others was something that welled up from within, a natural outcome of her conviction that the whole world was one family.

Kanthimathy was a wife who had no life apart from that of her husband and children. She found comfort in providing him all the comforts to make him comfortable.

She found happiness only in her husband’s happiness. She was in short, the embodiment and personification of all the paragons of virtues and qualities prescribed by our culture and tradition for a housewife.

Kanthimathy married Maniccam Chelvatamby of Thambasiddy, Puloly West, Point Pedro, who was a well known lawyer, who practised in Matale, Navalapitiya, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura and several other district courts in the Northern Province. Maniccam Chelvatamby was a lofty, serene and physically good looking.

When he got married to Kanthimathy in 1937 he was 47 and Kanthimathy was 21. She mothered eight sons and one daughter, all of whom are highly qualified and excelling in their professions. Her eldest son Maniccavasagar is a Journalist and a social and religious worker.

Her second son is an advocate and solicitor who was a senior Legal Draftsman and senior state counsel who is working in the United Kingdom as a Legal consultant. Her youngest son Thurairajah is General Manager attached to Lankem Ceylon Ltd and her other son Ganesharajah is an Attorney-at-Law and presently he is in America. Even her other sons were in the government service in high positions and are all retired and living abroad.

Kanthimathy’s grandson Maniccavasagar Ganesharajah is a District Judge of the Chavakachcheri Courts and her other grandchildren are living abroad and excelling in their profession.

In bidding farewell to her noble soul, let us all bow to God’s will in gratitude. May I say, “Good night sweet queen and the flights of Angels Sing thee to thy rest.”

G. Arulananthan

M. Krishnapillai:

Fabulous human being

As a young man, 40 years ago, on a pleasant evening, I was interviewed in your office. I was delighted and highly thrilled when you told me that I was selected for apprenticeship under you.

This gave me the opportunity and privilege to work closely with a fabulous human being dedicated to lofty humane values. It didn’t take very long for me to realize, that with some endeavour on my part, before long I too could be a full-fledged architect.

During my long association with you in my profession I learned not only the finer points of architecture, your inspiration in my personal life made my life’s journey pleasant and satisfactory.

Your benevolence, uprightness, large heartedness, and your sincere devotion to the profession of architecture were indeed remarkable. You were one of the pioneer Sri Lankan architects to be established in private practice in our country. You served in the council of SLIA for over 20 years and was elected as its president twice.

You also served as the Chairman of the Board of Architectural Education for two terms.

You rendered excellent architectural services to individual clients, companies, banks, corporations and government.

Sir! A very big ‘thank you’ for everything you have done not only to me personally but also to the noble profession of architecture and thereby to this country at large.

May the Lord grant you eternal rest.

Remly Fernando Chartered Architect

Maurice de Silva:

Sporty gentleman

November 21, 2011 marked the death anniversary of Maurice de Silva who was a good friend of my family. We really got to know him after he got married to Marlene who was my neighbour and good friend.

Maurice had his education at St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitya. He was a born athlete. When he was in college he was the champion athlete for many years and his pet event was the long jump. This noble sportsman came into the limelight in 1952 when he became the national long jump champion. He also excelled in the sprint events as well.

Maurice was a noteworthy swimmer too. Being a member of the Otters Aquatic Club, his ability in swimming helped others to clinch many prestigious trophies.

Maurice representing Whittals established a new Mercantile long jump record in 1956.

He was a most respected starter in the Lankan athletic scene. He was a sporty gentleman, soft spoken and was always smartly dressed. He had a magnificient voice.

I gathered this information from an article written by Marlene’s cousin brother, Gamini Senadeera, who is also no more.

Maurice’s children Thilaka, Mahendra, Janaka and Kanthi have lost a wonderful father. Shantha, Jayantha, Anoja and Dusyanthi will miss him terribly, his charming ways will be missed by all who knew him and moved with him.

”May his soul rest in peace.

Violet Vincent

M Don David Goonetilleke:

Faithful, loyal personality

December 30, 2011 marked the 15th death anniversary of our father who died at the end of 1996 at 98. He retired as District Registrar of Lands in the Kalutara district and also acted as an Asst Registrar General. He never bought an inch of land as it was considered as incompatible with the post he held although acres of land were available at that time for a few hundred or thousand rupees.

He had been a reader of the Ceylon Daily News for nearly 60 years when the paper cost only 10 cents. We children remember in the late 1940s how he came home wearing a full suit and tie with the evening Observer in his hand which cost 5 cents.

He joined government service in 1918 and retired in 1958 after completing 40 year service. He had served the British government faithfully and loyally as he had never taken part in a strike. He married my mother Habaragamu Ralalage Edith Peries Goonetilleke in February 1928 when the horoscope readers and soothsayers said that he should not marry in February as it is the shortest month of the year and the marriage will last only for a short period. But my father dismissed the prediction of horoscope readers and married on February 3, 1928 and lived together for 69 years. For a few years they lived in a rented house in Wadduwa and he had bought a new Raleigh bicycle which had a pillion. Just before the wartime he built a house at Panadura in a property belonging to my mother where I as the youngest son still live with our grandchildren.

It was really a thrilling experience for the children when our father used to clean and service his gun every month and fire a shot with a live cartridge into the air or to a tree.

After his retirement he engaged in social activities and his favourite pastime was to cycle to the town and buy us provisions which he did till he was 90 years of age. He together with my mother and myself made a pilgrimage to India and Nepal in 1969.

He was a good swimmer and was in excellent health right throughout his life and never complained about any ailment. May he be born again with us in this long life of Samsara.

Ranjan Goonetillake Panadura