Appreciations

N G P PANDITHARATNE:

Gentleman to his fingertips

With sincere grief I went to Galle Face Terrace to pay my last respects to NGP Panditharatne who passed away recently. It was hard to say goodbye to a man I respected and admired. People of his stature are hard to meet nowadays. A gentleman to his fingertips, he was fair in his dealings. An efficient administrator, he could be firm and strict, but these qualities were tempered with empathy and compassion.

Those who worked under him have nothing but praise for this humane, warm-hearted boss. Sri Lanka has produced thousands of chartered, certified, management, cost and other accountants, with a sprinkling of brilliant men who have held high-ranking positions in the public and private sectors.

Panditharatne was a man of rare calibre who stood head and shoulders above the members of his profession. Accountancy is a lucrative profession which attracts many who wish to make money and more money. But Panditharatne was more interested is serving his beloved motherland and her people than in worshipping mammon. A Buddhist by birth, he was married to Reenie, a Catholic. The disparity of faiths was no obstacle to the deep love they had for each other. The bliss of a happy marriage was clearly evident to any guest or visitor who enjoyed their warm, lavish hospitality. Whenever I was invited to lunch or dinner they made feel at home and treated me like a family-member. Blessed with a trained, melodious voice, Reenie would love to sing old favourites, and get me to accompany her on the piano, with a chilled beer beside me.

As a young newly-qualified Chartered Accountant, I worked at Associated Management Services (AMS), Management Consultants, a subsidiary of Ford Rhodes and Thornton (FRT). At that time, Panditharatne was the chief partner of FRT and a director of AMS. When he heard that I wanted to resign from my job and enter a seminary to study for the priesthood, he called me to his room and said, “We are sorry to lose you, but I know that you wish to respond to a noble calling. Although I am a Buddhist, I fully appreciate the valuable, selfless service Catholic priests and nuns render to our people and country. I wish you success in your ministry. If ever you need any money for books or training; or later as a priest, if you need a vehicle for your work, please do not hesitate to contact me. I shall be glad to help you”.

These words of encouragement remain etched in my memory.

May he rest in peace.

Derrick Mendis

ALEXIUS FERNANDO:

Enterprising, innovative man

Alexius Fernando (Alex) who passed away in his native town of Wadduwa last year could be described as a complete and brilliant human being.

The fact that his brilliance was confined to limited and relatively low profile areas did not diminish its effulgence. All those whose lives he touched in diverse fields are aware of it.

Born in Wadduwa in 1936, he studied at St Sebastian's College, Moratuwa. He represented the school at the Ceylon Public Schools Athletic Championships in triple jump and long jump and received the College colours for athletics. He represented Ceylon at the Madras State Amateur Athletics meet in 1959 and won the third place in the Triple Jump.

Alex, a qualified accountant, started his professional career at Caltex. He later worked for Ceylon Insurance and Pfizer and Mondial Orient.

As an enterprising and innovative man, he was instrumental in setting up garment factories in Bangladesh in the early 90s. He set up his own garment factory in Wadduwa which is still in operation.

Alex was also passionately interested in theatre. He was an active member of the Rasanjali Arts Circle, and acted in several plays such as Biththi Hathara and Sinnakkaraya . He also produced many stage plays, such as Sawley, Rail Paara, Gee Pothen Davasak , as well as Passion Plays at Wadduwa and Halpe, Katana. He played the leading role of Jesus Christ in Wadduwa. He spent a good deal of his time doing social work for the Catholic Church as well as for the Buddhist temple in Wadduwa.

His personal charm and engaging manner endeared him to all who met him. He was the ultimate gentleman of nature. What made him outstanding was his gift and ability to be comfortable with English and Sinhala educated people, and make even the least among them feel included and important.

A devoted husband and father in life, he leaves a fragrant memory with his wife Beatrice (Beeta) who taught at St Peter's College, two daughters Nilmini and Pavithra, and two sons Chandana and Jagath.

God rest you Alex. You adorned everything you touched.

E C T Candappa
Melbourne

DEEMATHIE M D DE SILVA:

Simple, unique human being

Deemathie, who hailed from an illustrious family in Galle, was the third in a family of nine brothers and sisters to whom she was devoted.

I was one of her friends educated at Southlands Girls’ College, Galle. We walked together through the portals of that sacred school hand-in-hand and passed from the Kindergarten to the Senior Form. Even after leaving school, we kept in touch with each other.

Deemathie was a ‘gem’ of a girl. She had a charm of her own. She was simple and humane and humility was her forte. To anyone in need of help or advice, she gave the support and encouragement in her own unique unobtrusive manner. Always with her charismatic radiant smile, she made herself approachable to high or low. She was a beautiful girl, soft-spoken, outstanding and always elegantly dressed.

I have lost a precious friend. When I visited her about a year go with my two grandsons, Deemathie was delighted to see us.

Deemathie was a dedicated, devoted wife to Nanda. She was also proud of her son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons whom she adored immensely.

The candle in the wind – blown out – but the glow will remain,

Her fragrance, like the Rose will pervade the air.

Sophie Weerasinghe (nee) Gunawardana

GRIZELDA WIJEYAWARDENA:

Simple, pleasant personality

Grizelda, (Aunty Grizie, as she was affectionately called), passed away after a brief illness four years ago on, January 11, 2008, just before her 90th Birthday on Jan. 22.

We became good friends while working on the committee of the MCPPA. It was then that I learnt about genial, generous and gracious ways which endeared her to everyone around her.

She was married to Tissa Wijeyawardena, a well-known philanthropist business magnate from Handapangoda. They were the pioneers and owners of the Anglo-Asia Super Market Complex and many other business ventures.

They had four children, three sons and a daughter, Vajira, Palitha, Nedra and Neelaka, on whom they conferred the best of everything. Together with their loved ones they celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary.

For many years, Grizelda was in the Committee of the MCPPA, either as Vice-President or as Treasurer, devoted her time, energy and money towards the uplift of her Alma-mater, especially its OGA, helping and guiding us, her colleagues.

No one can forget the yeoman service rendered by her at the initial stages to enhance its depleted funds.

She was an active participant in the various projects, such as helping wounded soldiers, and providing facilities towards under-privileged schools.

By nature Grizie was a very simple, pleasant, fun-loving and a humorous person, with her unsophisticated manners and behaviour.

Grizelda also worked for the Sri Lanka Sumithrayo, an institution of voluntary service, where she gave of her best, advising and solacing those confronted with mental and emotional stress.

She was a true Buddhist in thought, word, and deed and participated in the school ‘Sil’ observances.

Grizie, your life was perfect and well-lived, and remembered by those who have not forgotten your impeccable ways.

Ranee Fernando

HEMAMALEE SOMAWATHIE SENEVIRATHNA:

Remembered by all

Hemamalee received her education in St John's College, Panadura, and had her professional education at the Ceylon Law College in Colombo.

She was called to the Bar as Sri Lanka's fifth female lawyer in 1946.

She was the sole lady lawyer at the Balapitiya Bar for more than three decades till the advent of Padma de Silva in 1978, subsequently other lawyers of the fairer sex stormed into the District Court of which they now form the majority. When I joined the Balapitiya Bar four and a half decades and more ago, she had a lucrative practice handling nearly one half of the entire civil work. She had a large notarial practice which she inherited from her beloved father.

Her life at the Balapitiya Bar among men was an object lesson of singular courage and fervent dedication to the truth and the administration of justice. She always used to advise the lawyers not to take anything from anyone which cannot be returned. She never spoke ill of anyone and saw only the good side of a person. She was never greedy for power or position.

She remained an ordinary lawyer even though the honour of being appointed a justice of peace and unofficial magistrate was well within her reach more than four decades ago. She was not interested in acting for judges when they were on leave. In her actions there was a sense of nobility.

She was to help a number of people in their hour of need, She never thought of gratitude or ingratitude and whatever she gave, it was due to the inner joy of giving.

She was very reasonable in charging fees hence she never amassed wealth.

She will be remembered by all those who came into close contact with her for her excellent qualities. She viewed life as a preordained opportunity to attain perfection through a blend of love, affection and understanding.

May your sojourn in Sansara be smooth, brief and with the least amount of grief until you attain Nibbana that ultimate sublime bliss.

T Senarat Mendis

AMARAWANSA LADDUWAHETTY:

Finest gentleman

Now that the dust has settled on the man himself and the strain of immediate grief of death which strikes all and spares none has been relieved, it is a great pleasure to recall the memory of one of the finest gentleman advocates Sri Lanka has ever seen.

Amarawansa Ladduwahetty, ‘Laddu’ to his numerous friends, son of a lawyer, whose professional services were sought by a large clientele all over the country for more than five decades.

He relished appearing in the District Court of Balapitiya, as the lawyers were friendly and relaxed, but never ever stepped foot to the Courts in Balapitiya empty handed, he always walked in with a huge bag full of short eats, it was a simple act of giving alms, purely for the inner joy of giving.

A number of lawyers received gift parcels by post which included a diary for the New Year from Laddu.

H S Seneviratna's photograph was to be unveiled on the occasion of her completion of 50 years of active practice at the Bar in a simple ceremony on a day Laddu was scheduled to be in Balapitiya, he brought all the refreshments needed for the occasion unannounced.

Those were three casual incidents. But you see the great spirit in them.

He received his secondary education at Royal College, Colombo and S Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, two of the finest public schools in Sri Lanka. He was admitted to the university for academic studies, then a breeding ground of gentlemen and to the Ceylon Law College to follow in the footsteps of his beloved father.

All his three sons followed their beloved father's footsteps into the legal profession, one of whom Nalin, is a well known criminal lawyer, who was at one time the Chairman of Lake House. Laddu never ever went into a Court to win for his client by whatever means, he fought with a sword of a warrior not with a dagger of an assassin.

He knew he must win all his cases by justice, nevertheless he was an intrepid fighter of his client's case and always fought a clean but fierce battle. He never took credit for someone else's work. He charged fees according to the work he did.

He fits into the words of the bard, “This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou can not then be false to any man, my blessings season this in thee.”

He used to relax in the lawyers’ retiring room chanting Pirith.

He treasured human values, integrity and uprightness in court and outside. He was always modest of his intellectual attainments. He was never found to seek prominence, publicity or position, else he would have gained silk long long years ago.

If there was one amongst us who fitted into the immortal words of Chaucer it was none but him. ‘He was a very perfect genteel knight'. His life could be described aptly in the words of the bard, “His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world this was a man.”

The great lawyer who conducted thousands of cases, examined and cross examined an equal number of witnesses, made oral and written submissions ceased to speak and write one year and more ago for he was dead.

May the sojourn in Sansara be brief, smooth and with the least amount of grief until you attain Nibbana that ultimate sublime bliss.

Senarat Mendis