B.A.I. Wasantha Kumara Fernando:

The music composer in the Navy Band

Wasantha Kumara Fernando was born on March 21, 1952. He was from Kochchikade in Negombo. He received his education at St. Joseph's College, Colombo where he excelled in his studies as well as in sports. For Wasantha, music was an inborn talent. He started to learn music at the very tender age of seven years and very soon was capable of playing most of the musical instruments.

He was so interested in music that he joined the Pestonjee School of Music and the Colombo School of Music to further his knowledge in the field. In piano music he got through the ATCL examination. He studied both western and oriental music. Wasantha loved music to which he dedicated his whole life. In addition, he had a special natural gift of composing and arranging music.

After his academic career, Wasantha joined the Sri Lanka Navy Band as the Assistant Band Master on January 24, 1977. He completed the Band Master's Course at the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal, Kent, England and also obtained his Licentiate as a Military Band Conductor from the Royal Academy of Music in London. Back in Sri Lanka, he composed and arranged music for the Navy Band. He also served as the Director of Music in the Sri Lanka Navy for 22 years. At one time he was the most Senior Director of Music in the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka.

Wasantha served the Sri Lanka Navy for a continuous period of 29 years and was awarded several medals among which were the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the 50th Independence Medal and the Navy Medal. While in the Navy, promotions came Wasantha's way. Having joined the Navy as a Sub-Lieutenant, Wasantha rose up gradually in rank and at the time of his retirement held the rank of Commodore in the Navy.

Wasantha also composed a Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in E Flat Major for soloist Hiroshi Matsumura accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of Colombo. He composed this music tribute to the memory of his late father Arthur Fernando, a well known former Band Master of the Sri Lanka Police and an outstanding clarinet player.

Wasantha was a kind hearted simple and peace loving friend to all. He went to his eternal reward on August 28, 2007.

May he Rest in Peace!

M. Perera

Brigadier T.S.B. Sally:

A. D. C. to Queen Elizabeth II

Brigadier T.S.B. Sally, who we fondly referred to as Tacky Muda (Muda Uncle) was a cousin of our father Rumie Mohamed. He was also married to our father's younger sister Leila Dhaleel nee Mohamed. Tacky Muda was not just a dutiful husband to his late wife Dhaleel but also a devoted, kind and gentle father to the three children Dilano, Sabrina and Zeena and to them he was the world.

We have felt tremendously proud and privileged to claim that he was an uncle to us and to bask in the love and admiration that people had for him. To us, Tacky Muda was a legend and an icon; the likes of whom we believe will not be seen for generations to come. He bore himself with natural grace and charisma that could radiate only from a warm and caring heart. He was strong of character and ramrod straight just like his erect military figure - that saw him chosen to be aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II when she visited the country in 1954. His handsome face was adorned with a warm smile that he did not grudge, whether it was the rich, poor, high, low, young, old, friend or foe. A trait that he lived up to, as much as he was fond of saying now and then, was to praise the good of a person and let the bad take care of itself. He understood the need to be human first.

He led an exemplary life; unassuming, kind, remarkably friendly and gentle to a fault. He did not possess much but went out of his way for the welfare of those near and dear and indeed those not so near. A gentleman of great honour who commanded genuine love and respect without ever having to impose himself. No ill-will did he bear anyone. Pride, arrogance and discrimination was not his stock. Easily did he move with pauper and King. He was sans malice, greed, hatred, jealousy and envy. Such was his courage and humility that he swept aside custom, and would take the lead to reach out to those lesser than him. The large crowds from all walks of life that felt a sense of personal loss at the passing away of Brig. Tacky Sally and thronged the residence and Jawatte Muslim Burial Grounds to pay their last respects, bore ample testimony to his life and deeds.

Tacky Muda also served his community as the founder Hony. Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Malay Confederation, Hony. General Secretary, Vice President and Vice Patron of the Sri Lanka Malay Association, Vice Patron of the Colombo Malay Cricket Club, a member of the Board of Trustees of the SLMA Rupee Fund, Vice Patron, President, Past President and an active Executive Committee member of the Sri Lanka Indonesia Friendship Association and a member of the OPA of Sri Lanka.

As a young Sri Lankan Malay lad Sally enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army as a Second Lieutenant in November 1942 and retired as a Brigadier holding the appointment of Chief-of-Staff in March 1979. It is a matter of honour and pride to the Muslim community that Brig. Tacky Sally is the only Muslim to date to have held the rank of Chief-of-Staff and to act as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army on two occasions during the absence of the then Army Commander. His service in the Army had many achievements but what stood out were his gentlemanly qualities, coupled with his capable and effective leadership, sound military knowledge, dedication and commitment to work and professional competency.

Since his retirement he was actively involved with the welfare of the forces. Some positions he held were, Chairman, Welfare Grants Committee, Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen's Association, member of the Ex-Servicemen's Association and President of the Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers till the very end.

The Army accorded him a military funeral.

He was blessed to have passed away on a Friday in the holy month of Ramadhan. May Almighty Allah shower his Compassion and Mercy on Dear Tacky Muda!

Wiranti Musafer, Minhaz, Shamil and Seraj and Zanita Mohamed.