Rienzie Gunaratne:

Voice of the Ran Kaduwa

It is unbelievable that a year has elapsed after your demise. What a loss in the field of English education! You nourished the knowledge of English language and literature of thousands of pupils, in a period of 50 years of your teaching career. The thousands of students you produced, remember you with much gratitude and send loving memories of their past as your pupils from all four corners of the world.

I myself remember that the trainee teachers of then Teachers’ Training College of Maharagama had nicknamed you “Ran Kaduwa” (the Golden Sword), by which they implied the superb and pure quality of your English knowledge and your ability as an effective teacher. You were the trail-blazer and the tower of strength of my career, as you spared your time free of charge after school, when we were your pupils at the G.T.C. Practising School (the then name of the present day Maharagama Central College). What you gained by teaching us after school time was your true happiness and satisfaction by seeing your efforts not in vain but delightfully fruitful.

It is a great achievement that not only ourselves but also our children were fortunate enough to be your pupils and were strengthened to float on the vast ocean of the English Language and literature knowledge.

I remember how you worked as a lecturer at the Teachers’ Training College, Maharagama and also at the Open University of Sri Lanka, and your skills as a script writer, presenting western classics in the Sinhala language. Although you emerged the brightest scholar at the Manchester University in UK in 1983 and were offered a post of lecturer there you were concerned of your students here and you returned to Sri Lanka, as you valued not money but your service to students.

What mattered most in all your endeavours was punctuality. You maintained this paramount quality until your demise.

Although you left us forever your voice is heard close to our ears, and you are always visualized in our minds. We will never forget all the sweet memories of you from early 1960s up to last year. Your true and spontaneous smile is etched in our hearts and I believe it would linger on until we end the suffering of birth and death.

Although you didn't show off as a Buddhist publicly, you were one among very few persons I have come across who had a clear and correct understanding of the teachings of the Lord Buddha.

I remember with gratitude how you appreciated my writings on a balanced basis and it is a great pain for me that I lost that encouragement and guidance, which was a driving force for me.

I conclude wishing you attain the Supreme Enlightenment ending the suffering of birth and death!

A.A. Dodangoda
Pannipitiya

M. Edward Francis Coorey:

Completed 50 years of legal practice

Muthutantrige Edward Francis Coorey departed from us at the age of 94 years on July 12, 2011 and his mortal remains were laid to rest at the Roman Catholic section of the Himidiriyawa cemetery in Kalutara South.

M. E. Francis Coorey was born on April 12, 1917 to John Francis Coorey and Justina Swaris of Maggona. He was a member of a family of eight. Two of his brothers Austin and Bernard were members of the legal fraternity and began their legal careers in the Kalutara Court but later went to Colombo and Chilaw. Sunil Coorey who is here with us today is the son of Austin Coorey and his brother, the late Ajantha was at one time Secretary of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.

Francis Coorey, was popularly known as Frank and had his entire education at Holy Family Convent and Holy Cross College, Kalutara. After passing the London Matriculation examination, Frank joined the staff of Holy Cross College. Later he gave up his teaching and joined Dias & Peiris Company, a premier estate agency as a visiting agent. Coorey's love for planting, came from his father John who was the Assistant Conservator of Forests.

Frank Coorey took his oaths as a Proctor of the Supreme Court in the year 1949 and came to practise in the Kalutara South Court. In 1959 he married Nesta Ranasinghe a well-known elocution teacher, the daughter of W. P. Ranasinghe, Crown Proctor of the Chilaw Bar. They were blessed with three children Nivendra, Ruvinica and Ramani. Two of the grandchildren of Frank Coorey are following in the foot steps of the grandfather by choosing to do Law.

Frank Cooray was one among a few members in the Kalutara Bar who completed fifty years of legal practice. I still remember the day his photograph was unveiled in the year 2000 by the former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Priyantha Perera in our law library. Frank was the most senior District Court practitioner at the time of his departure. He had a very good notarial practice until his demise.

One of the rare qualities, I have always admired in Frank Coorey was his simplicity. I can't remember any instance where he lost his temper.

He was essentially a devoted Catholic. It was very common for residents of Old Road, Kalutara to see Frank Coorey walking every morning to the Holy Cross Church before going to Courts. Frank was deeply a religious person who entrusted to providence all his achievements.

He was dedicated to his profession and amassing wealth was never foremost in his mind. He was a person of high integrity always duty conscious and served with great humility and tremendous patience. He was always very courteous and enjoyed the respect of both the Bench and the Bar. His beloved wife Nesta too passed away just two weeks before and they were joint together as in their life.

May the Good Lord who walked the waves entertain him into that blessed kingdom with meets of joy and love in the sweet society of saints’ seers and sages.

I quote from the Gospel of St. John Chapter 11:25-26.

“I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth, in me will live, ever though they die, and those who live and believe in me will never die”.

President
Kalutara Bar Association