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Dr. Rohini Jayaratne :
ABS named her ‘Woman of the Year’
It is unimaginable that a year has passed since the passing away of
Dr. Rohini Jayaratne. She knew nothing of the so called ‘unachievable’
or ‘unattainable’. She would not take ‘No’ for an answer either. Putting
pen to paper for her, be it on Economics or Public and Business
Administration, was like a duck taking to water. That dexterity was
amply exhibited by her book.
‘A Systems Concept Business Organization and Management Relationship
– a book very much sought by executives businessmen and undergraduates
who are inclined to business management.
She was one of the first persons to write a book on Business
Management in English. She also authored the book ‘Fairy tales of Sri
Lanka’ for children based on local identities, as opposed to children’s
books on foreign ideals. Dr. Rohini was recognised and appreciated on
her achievements by the American Biographical Society by naming her as
‘Woman of the Year’. She had her secondary education at Museaus and St.
Bridget’s Convent.
At the Peradeniya University she read Economics, English and Western
History for her degree and left the university with flying colours
obtaining a class. She was a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of
Management of UK – indeed a rare honour in the business sector. She
subsequently went on to earn her MBA and her Ph.D (USA).
From her very young age she showed prowess for writings and debating.
Before long she sat the YMBA Dhamma Examination obtaining a First Class.
Significantly she had a remarkable memory to remember names of medicines
or any past event. At the Peradeniya University she shone equally well
graduating with a Class with English as a subject. She was also cajoled
as a person of ‘Books and Looks’. Rohini was a teacher for a short time
before she entered into matrimony with L.M. Jayaratne who later became a
Supreme Court Judge and the Governor of the Southern Province. She
travelled widely showered by various institutions as an expert
journalist and critic.
The most significant highlight in the lives of Dr. Rohini and her
husband was the invitation extended to them to attend Queen Elizabeth’s
Summer Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
We know that nothing is permanent in this world as preached by Lord
Buddha and according to Buddhist philosophy. Yet achievements never die
and they are praised and remembered eternally after death. Dr. Rohini
Jayaratne left her son Nishan, his wife Shandina and their two grand
children Minerly and Nilhan when she closed have eyes eternally.
May she attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirwana!
G.P. S. Somaweera
Lt. Col. (Retired) K.S.Perera :
Simplicity helped him climb up the ladder
Lt. Col. (Retired) K. S. Perera of the National Cadet Corps died on
April 4, 2012 at the age of 63 years. He should have lived more as
wished and prayed by all of us but fate had him breathe his last after
an illness which none of us would ever dream of having, so to say. The
three-months’ alms-giving falls on July 4, 2012.
He was my late father’s paternal cousin who was affectionately called
by the seniors in the family circle as hinni-mahaththaya while we
juniors called him as hinni-malli or hinni-bappa and his friends and
close associates called him as KS. These pet names were ample testimony
for the likeness and the acceptance of him in the family circle in
particular and his associates in general.
His coming up in life is a very singular achievement having had
humble beginnings and is indeed exemplary since no other relative in the
family circle attained this position. It was his determination, courage,
self-confidence and above all his simplicity, which helped him to climb
up the ladder.
His parents were of the old theatre fame having been involved in
stage play and drama. Our parents and their contemporaries of the day
admired the performance of David Seeya and Sasilin Achchi the parents of
KS on stage plays, seeya being the famous comedian and achchi playing
the role of female counterpart with her lovely looks and beauty for the
ideal character besides being the female singer with her sweet voice.
Their marriage too had been a result of a love affair of
theatre/stage fame. At my loku-bappa’s At-Home after the wedding,
Sasilin achchi sang a couple of Sinhala songs without any music
reverberating her voice over the loud speaker set hired out for the
purpose which is still vivid in our memories.
While the parents performed on stage little KS was taken care of by
the musical group who provided the local music and invariably the little
one took a liking to music, as a duck to water. It is this environment
which made KS a musician with a natural talent. His son Sanjaya is now a
qualified music lecturer/teacher having qualified in the Indian
Universities – Lucknow and Benares.
KS had his education at Vidyartha College, Kandy and entered the
Peradeniya University where he did his B.A and subsequently M.A., and
consequently took up to teaching first at Sumana Maha Vidyalaya at
Talawakelle and thereafter at his Alma-mater Kandy. He served
contributing his might to the various activities of the college in the
fields of education, sports, cadetting, literature and social events. Of
the O.B.A. of Vidyartha he was a pioneer. KS was the founder member of
the University Undergraduate 1970-1975 Group of the Vidyarthians named
as the “Alumni Association 1970 Batch University of Peradeniya’ of which
he was elected as the first Hony. General Secretary. Their first meeting
on March 24, 2001 with a batch of fifteen colleagues and contemporaries
in the university had been their memorable meeting convened for the
establishment of their Alumni Association and after a period of 40 years
on December 18, 2010 they held their “get to-gether” with their members
living here and abroad, which proved a great success thanks to late KS
and his committee headed by K.P.S. Dahamsodage and W.H.Nandasena.
KS’s stint at Mahaweli National College of Education at Uyanwatte,
Polgolla, as the Co-ordinating Lecturer too had been very successful in
that all his contemporaries consisting of both students, academics and
others speak very high of his integrity, loyalty and above all his
humanness with which he had given a patient hearing to the needs of the
students and assistance he rendered them at crucial situations. KS had
commanded the respect of all of them and the faces of those who paid
their last respects indicated the volume of their loss. This was the
sole achievement of KS which he took with him to the next world of his
after the death.
As an Officer in the National Cadet Corps he served in various
ranks/capacities/positions and finally reached the rank of a
Lieutenant-Colonel on September 1, 2002. In this field too he had a
brilliant record of performance by holding honorable positions and had
been a loveable and a very popular personality who had been held in high
esteem by fellow officers, cadets of the day and by the hierarchy, as an
amiable person to work with.
He was awarded with medals in recognition of his active services as
an officer of the N.C.C. includin g the humanitarian operations in the
Northern and Eastern Provinces . He also held the position of Commanding
Officer/Deputy Director of the second and tenth contingents of the N.C.C.
KS contributed his might as an Officer by training the ‘Youth of the Day
to be the Disciplined and Decent Citizen of Tomorrow’ and this prime
motto was his pet subject whenever he got involved in serious
discussions with his fellow academics and others.
KS was accorded a military funeral by the tri-forces of the N.C.C. in
the presence of a large gathering of all ranks of the NCC, the Army, Air
Force, Navy and the Police.
The funeral oration describing the nature of KS brought a tear to all
eyes of his near and dear ones. KS’s beloved wife Daya, son Sanjaya and
daughter Waruna did their duty by him when he was sick and in need of
their help and support. His friends over here and abroad took care of
him and his needs and that made a great satisfaction and completeness in
return to all what KS had done. KS’s demise is a loss indeed to his wife
Daya, son Sanjaya, daughter Waruna and to his near and dear ones.
May he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana!
Daya Nihal de Silva
Victor Kellapotha
Two years dawned since you left us
Guide of the family as memories recall
Never will we hear your voice again
Advising children for the better tomorrow
Before leaving for a long distant journey
Remembering the place where we could meet again
Ninety years brought courage and strength
To overcome difficulties and face life bravely
Grandson and daughters remember and respect you
As their loving Seeya so precious for ever
Dana to the Maha Sanga and meritorious deeds.
May you attain the Suprme Bliss of Nirvana!
Nimala, Sons and Daughters
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