Christie Perera (M.J.C. Perera):

He brought fame to Sri Lanka

Chrisite Perera, former librarian of CRI who brought fame to Sri Lanka, passed away on 14th January 2012 at the age of 78. He was born on 08 March 1934 at Boralessa, Lunuwila. He joined the Coconut Research Institute (CRI) as an accounts clerk in 1956. After a couple of years service he was assigned to the library as a library clerk, when other officers declined to accept such a challenging job. Although, library service and library education was not widely spread in the country, Chrisite accepted the challenge with both hands.

He had his library education at the London Library Association, taking no-pay leave and proceeding abroad at his own expense. After completing his professional examinations, he developed the library single handed to a fully equipped technical library. He compiled the Annotated Bibliography on Coconut annually, which was very popular among local and foreign researchers.

Since there were no facilities for typesetting with computers during this period, he typed stencils with a manual typewriter and published the bibliography. He purchased and processed a complete collection of local and foreign books and magazines for the CRI Library.

International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada initiated a project to establish an International Coconut Information Centre (CIC) in 1977. They examined all libraries of the coconut research institutes in the world and decided that the best library was the library of the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka to establish the international coconut information centre. Officers of the IDRC were amazed with the services provided single handed by Christie Perera. Funds were provided to recruit new staff, train them and purchase modern equipment required for dissemination of information.

Christie was designated as the project leader of the CIC in addition to the post of librarian. I was fortunate to be the first officer recruited under this project. With his capabilities as a very good manager he expanded the services of the CIC. He had a very good team of support staff, who assisted him to successfully organize international workshops. He was very grateful to former directors of CRI, Dr. U. Pethiyagoda and Dr. Ranjith Mahindapala, who helped him to achieve the targets of the CIC. All subordinates of Christie worked with dedication and devotion appreciating his leadership qualities such as listening to his subordinates, respecting their ideas and taking immediate action to correct shortcomings of the subordinates. His abilities were appreciated by his colleagues in the field of librarianship and was once offered the responsibility of handling AGRINET, the network of the agriculture libraries in Sri Lanka. He spoke openly without any fear when he saw any injustice, while bowing his head to justice.

After obtaining professional qualifications a number of his subordinates including myself left the CRI for better employment. He never stood against them, but recommended them to their new employers and very genuinely wished them all success. He was a devoted Catholic. Christie had a very cordial relationship with all priests of churches in Boralessa and Lunuwila areas.

His house was full of relatives and friends during the festival season of the church. He was very famous for hospitality among his friends and relations. Although he was sick and feeble during the past few years, he cordially welcomed his visitors and recalled pleasant memories of the past. Christie Perera, May you have eternal peace.

K.G.G. Wijeweera

Florence Perera (nee Peiris):

Great daughter of Moratuwa

Florence Perera, wife of the late Harold Perera was an illustrious figure of Moratuwa in decades gone by. Her home which was at 1st Lane, Uyana Moratuwa was a hive of activity, then.

She was a part and parcel of the Convent of Our Lady of Victories' Past Pupils' Association. The greatest feat she performed for her alma mater was at the time of the schools' take-over by the then government. Along with her sisters and many other past pupils of her time, they were all there with mats and pillows, defending their school.

St. Joseph's church, Uyana was her second home. She was a leading figure in the church parish council and went out of her way to contact friends and relations abroad to collect funds for the new parish hall, during the church centenary year.

Community service also took pride of place in her life. She was the first President of the Moratuwa Housewives Association, the first of its kind in Moratuwa, way back in the late 1980s. Also, if and when no one else was willing to take it up, she rose to the occasion, and became president time and again.

Whenever there was a necessity, be it working among the rich or the poor Florence was there to shoulder responsibility, and carry out any task entrusted to her with diligence and humility. Florence Perera was truly a great daughter of Moratuwa

May our dear Lord grant her eternal rest.

Sarojini Almeida

F.D.C. (Derek) Wijesinghe:

He served in various capacities

The remains of Fitzroy Derek Christopher Wijesinghe was laid to rest on 8th March among a large gathering of his fellow christians, former professionals and officials, friends and relatives.

Derek was born on 9th April 1922 as the eldest child of late Francis Daniel and late Gladys Wijesinghe both of whom I remember from my childhood as very devout and highly regarded persons. Derek was a bright student at Royal College where his father was a teacher. He obtained the external degree of the University of London in the field of economics and proceeded to serve in various capacities such as a teacher at St. John's College, Nugegoda, a divisional road transport officer in the department of motor traffic and as research officer in the department of national planning in which he worked under Dr. Gamini Corea who nominated him for a Rees Jeffreys Studentship in Transport Economics at the London School of Economics. This resulted in his postgraduate work on transport economics and his M.Sc. (Econ) degree. Derek was sent as economic advisor of the Ceylon delegation to the 21st session of the UN General Assembly in New York in 1966.

In pursuing his professional career he held two executive positions in the private sector in Sri Lanka and served as a consultant economist at the world bank, and continued as senior economist specializing in commodities at the commonwealth secretariat in London. On retirement he returned to Sri Lanka and continued his interests in economics and transport, serving as a member of the fair trading commission and more recently he took a great interest in health economics and was instrumental in obtaining funding for the special care baby unit of the Castle Street maternity hospital. He was the founder chairman of the Chartered Institute of Transport, UK (Sri Lanka section) during which formative period I had the privilege of associating with him in its establishment which lead to the institute being among the most prestigious professional bodies in Sri Lanka, now renamed as the Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics. With his invaluable advice and guidance I had the privilege and honour to be its chairman during the 1980s when transport was a high risk commodity. In fact the day I was inducted as chairman, there was a threat on public transport, and Derek was among the handful who attended the induction ceremony along with the then transport minister.

Derek has to his credit many international and local publications, which are unable to be listed here due to lack of space. In all the positions he held and his efforts in Sri Lanka, he was well recognized as a soft spoken, well articulated and focused contributor with a unique characteristic of him being a person considering “being present on time for a meeting is actually five minutes too late". This he manifested in professional, official and above all his spiritual obligations and commitments.

He was undoubtedly a true practicing God fearing Christian, with all humility, love and kindness which was exemplary to all levels of society. His sincerity, high integrity and honesty were remarkable and unquestionable by all his peers and subordinates.

On a personal note, I owe him much gratitude as the officer at the registry of the Maradana technical college. On the day after my GCE OL results in 1959, he gave me an application form to enroll for the junior technical officers and encouraged me to pursue the course which laid the foundation to my career in tertiary education.

During the latter years when I used to meet him in his home and at other gatherings he used to recollect with fond memories the early days and during my last visit to his home a few months ago, he was very concerned and repeatedly asked "Now where am you?" and during my visit to see him at his hospital bed to bid him good bye prior to my recent overseas visit, with his usual gentle smile he opened his eyes and acknowledged my gesture. I am consoled that he breathed his last as I just arrived in our motherland which both he and I value, and I was able to pay my last respects. May his spiritual and natural exemplary life, unique characteristics, unquestionable integrity remain with all of us, who valued him and respected him immensely.

Dayantha Wijeyesekera
currently Emeritus Professor,
University of Moratuwa and Chancellor, University of
Vocational Technology
Chairman, Tertiary and Vocational Educational Commission

The guiding star no more

Remembering Srinivasa Suriyaaratchi on his first death anniversary, I pen this note of appreciation as a member of the Suriya Sansadaya of which he was the architect and the founder member of this organization. His death took place on the eve of our annual get together and a planned trip to Ratnapura. The entire membership was shocked when they heard about his sudden death under tragic circumstances which prompted us to cancel all activities as a mark of respect on his demise.

His wife Malani lost a precious husband and the two young daughters a loving father, a void that can never be filled.

On his death anniversary I will be failing in my duty if I do not pay my sincere gratitude for his untiring services he rendered to Suriya Sansadaya. His last act in this regard was to have launched a website for the welfare of our organization to widen the activities and round up all Suriyaaratchi clan spread throughout the country and abroad with the sole intention of affiliating them in the organization. This alone shows how thoughtful and generous he was to have done this at his own expense.

He was a person of great charm, simplicity and moved gracefully with the rich and poor alike. Many have benefited from his guidance. The greatest asset he had was the large circle of friends. They came from all walks of life and he treated each and everyone with respect and cordiality. He was more concerned about his loved ones than himself.

This happy and bright personality was a reservoir of knowledge as a science teacher who had a large student population. This was proved beyond doubt when bus loads of students came for the funeral to pay their last respect to the guiding star that is no more.

In his vocation he produced people of calibre serving in the government and private sector and in the field of medicine.

He remained at all times as a kind and gentle person. Keeping company with him was amusing and you tend to gain knowledge.

In conclusion, it is with profound grief and with a sense of sorrow I remember him with my family members. He was a devout Buddhist. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.

Suriyadasa M. Kulage Peradeniya

Dr Selvam Fernando

A doctor with an open heart

S – For the sweet fragrance around you
E – For everlasting memories trailing behind you
L – For the love that surrounded you
V – For the very perfect being we found in you
A – For all the care that was given by you
M – For the mother, friend and doctor that were you. - Mary Biyanwila