T. Sri Ramanathan:

A person of high ideals

It is with profound sorrow that I pay my humble tribute to an illustrious son of Manipay T. Sri Ramanathan, a rare and versatile personality with whom I had the opportunity to acquaint myself during the early part of the fifties with his social activities. He belonged to the aristocracy of Manipay and was the son of Gate Mudaliyar Thiyagarajah and Inthirani Thiagarajah.

His father Gate Mudaliyar Thiyagarajah devoted his time and energy for the upliftment of the people of Manipay being the Chairman of the VC for four decades and I can remember the days Sri Ramanathan joined his father to inaugurate programmes for the welfare of the people.

At that time I, being the President of the Manipay Parish United Nations' Association predicted that he will one day out-do his illustrious father in the field of social activities.

On completion of his secondary education at Manipay Hindu College, Sri Ramanathan entered the Sri Lanka Law College and passed out as a Lawyer and apprenticed under his uncle Mather, a popular lawyer in Colombo and subsequently founded the legal firm, Mather Ramanathan Lawyers. In addition to his legal profession, he was innovative among other activities such as being the author of a book on Thesavalamai and lecturer and examiner at the Law College.

He held the post of the President of the Law Society and was also the founder General Secretary of the United Nations' Association of Ceylon and Director of several well-known firms. He had a heart of gold and a brilliant mind to match. He was a person of high ideals but believed in simple living. He never sought publicity or ostentation. He faced problems in life with equanimity.

He was dedicated, steadfast, magnanimous, scrupulous and honest. It is a rare combination of some of the best qualities that one could possess. With the ethnic problem, he migrated to Australia and was appointed as a Senior Lecturer of Commercial and Industrial Law of the University of Sydney and after retirement, devoted his time for uplifting Hinduism and to the welfare of his community. He passed away recently at the age of ninety years.

N. Vivekanandarajah

Prof. Peter Seneviratna:

One of the outstanding scholars of the 21st century

Prof. Peter Seneviratna, who is remembered with respect and affection by many generations of veterinarians as their teacher, passed away in Melbourne on July 16, 2012 at the age of 84 years.

After finally retiring in 2004 from a lifetime of teaching and research, his last few years were spent with his wife Sakuntala, four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom are domiciled in Australia.

Training of veterinarians in Sri Lanka commenced at the University of Peradeniya in 1947 with the arrival of Prof. Charles McGaughey, an internationally renowned microbiologist and veterinarian. Peter Seneviratne was the first Sri Lankan Veterinarian to join the University in 1953 after obtaining his Veterinary degree from the University of Madras in 1951. Over a period of 22 years – apart from the years spent in the UK on his postgraduate training (PhD, 1957 University of London) - he taught Veterinary Medicine and Parasitology (Veterinary Entomology) to undergraduate students.

He became a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1958 and was later conferred a Fellowship in 1964 for his studies on the parasite Babesia gibsoni.

Following the return of Prof. McGaughey to the UK, Peter Seneviratna was appointed the Professor in Veterinary Science, and took over the mantle of leadership in further developing veterinary training at the university.

He also served as the Dean of the (joint) Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Science from 1966 to 1972. As the first Registrar of the Veterinary Council he was involved in preparing and later implementing the Veterinary Surgeon's and Practitioner's Act.

He also served as the President of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association on two occasions and the President of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Council for one term.

A feature of his career was that he was able to achieve that ideal balance of teacher and researcher, so crucial for a University academic in an exemplary manner.

Even during our undergraduate training, the importance of the scientific method and the need to keep 'an open mind' when approaching a problem or a case was repeatedly drilled into us by him.

While still a schoolboy, quite serendipitously, I chanced to observe him while he was collecting insects and other specimens on a field trip in Uva-Wellassa, an experience that influenced me to later take up scientific research. He had over 60 publications in scientific journals to his credit and was the author of two books, while his research work is quoted in a number of standard text books. He took over from Prof McGaughey as the Editor of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Journal in 1966 and for six years uncompromisingly maintained its high standards ensuring the international recognition that this publication enjoys even today. He also served on an international UN expert panel on tick-borne diseases. In recognition of these achievements, he had been included in the list of 200 outstanding scholars of the 21st Century.

Over these years he also trained several research students who remember him with gratitude and fondness. Although he left for Australia in 1975 his contributions in Sri Lanka were recognized and rewarded in 1988 by the University of Peradeniya (Doctor of Science, Honoris causa) and by the government of Sri Lanka through a National Award at the ceremonies commemorating fifty years of independence in the same year.

In Australia, he first worked for the Australian Government in the increasingly important field of Public Health, in Victoria and in Canberra. During this period, he was made a Member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists. In 1985 he joined the Murdoch University in Western Australia as an academic and even after completing his tenure continued to contribute as an adjunct Professor. According to his colleagues, Peter Seneviratna made a great contribution to Veterinary Public Health in Sri Lanka, Australia and North America, and was highly regarded by the staff and students at the Murdoch University.

He finally retired in 2005 at the age of 78. In his last years he wrote some endearing poems which were published as a small collection called “Perceptions”. Although he later made Australia his home, his heart really lay in Sri Lanka. All of us, his students, know that we will never be able to repay the debt. May he rest in peace!

Dr. Sivali Ranawana,

Wawege Vasantha Kumara Dep:

The Doyen of Ballet Drama

Exactly three months ago, Vasantha Kumara, as he was fondly remembered among his fellow artistes and friends, passed away after a brief illness while he was within the reach of the zenith of his life, being in his mid 90s. In his honour and memory a Buddhist sermon will be held in the evening of October 27, followed by the traditional three months alms-giving at his residence to mark the occasion.

Born in Colombo into a rich traditional feudal family from Kandy on August 5, 1919 and married by choice to a daughter of a simple village folk from his own home environment, demonstrating his own philosophy in life of sheer simplicity and equality among people, he led a simple but exemplary life raising a family of eight children who immensely loved their parents and followed in their footsteps in building up their own lives.

His tour of India in his youth on a scholarship granted by the government of India to specialize in Fine Arts at the Shanthi Nikethan became a turning point in his career.

To his credit, he became the first pioneer recipient from Sri Lanka of this prestigious Indian Scholarship. However, he happened to arrive in India against the background of a political turmoil in that country with people clamouring for independence from the colonial masters, Britain, organized under the united banner of the Indian National Congress led by great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subash Chandrabose and great artistes like Rabindranath Tagore and Sarojini Naidu. Vasantha Kumara had the good fortune to meet personally Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, memories about whom he had cherished throughout his life.

When the name of Vasantha Kumara comes to mind our memories go back to the Maname and Sinhabahu dramas, particularly, to the dance forms created by Vasantha Kumara relating to the duels between the Veddah King and the Prince in Maname and father and son in Sinhabahu. The depth and effectiveness of those dance forms did contribute in no small measure to building up the climax of the two dramas at that point of play. Such quality of dance forms reveals the great talent and expertise which he possessed throughout his dancing career.

While well-versed in dancing in general, Vasantha Kumara's specialty was ballet. In fact, he had scripted and produced quite a number of ballet dramas which earned him plaudits and many an award for their excellence. True to his nature and as a real artiste, he continued to produce ballets one after the other and never stopped to promote any particular one among them for the sake of commercial or publicity purposes. Among such creations are Manohari, Kumburu Panatha, Vishwa Vimukthi, Hiroshima, Kinduriya, Ramayanaya and Sigiri Kasyapa himself performing in some of them.

In addition, he also choreographed some other productions by other artistes as well such as Henry Jayasena's Kuveni, Bandula Jayawardena's Berahanda and Regie Perera's Sadol Kandulu. His final ambition was to produce the famous Indian Poet Kalidasa's equally famous Meghadutaya which fate did not allow him to achieve to the utter disappointment of a large circle of his fellow artistes, friends and fans. His achievements in ballet dramas are such that he can be called the Doyen of ballet drama in Sri Lanka. Besides all this, he also worked as the Director of aesthetics in the Education Ministry and a university lecturer to promote dancing among school children as well.

Being a versatile artiste by nature, he also took to writing and painting as well. He published several books both in Sinhala and in English targeting the ordinary reader as well as the professionals. Some of these books are: Symphony of the Temple Drums, From Cult Towards A Naked Burial and Kuveni of Lankapura, all written in English. China the Peking opera, Berahanda (Vattam, Adav, Kastirum Ashritha Shasthereeya Nigamana) and Paramparika Udarata Narthana Sampradaya, all in Sinhala. In addition, he had also written a large number of articles from time to time to newspapers on diverse subjects relating to his field. By some stroke of luck I happened to come across him through my wife Jatila a one time student of his dancing class. At the same time the two families, hers and Vasantha Kumara's were friends too as they were all living in Kandy at the time. Many years later our two families migrated to Colombo and domiciled in a suburb in the same neighborhood by chance. Ever since, we developed a strong bond of friendship.

It may be pertinent to mention here that when our local society in Moratuwa called 'Senior Citizens Circle National Savings Bank Katugedda' organized a special show of Sinhabahu at the Sarvodaya Vishwa Samadhi Auditorium, Moratuwa in April 2011 in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Sinhabahu Dr. Vasantha Kumara going on his 90s was respectfully invited as a special Guest of Honour to grace the occasion. The Souvenir issued on the occasion carried as its main article the full text of an interview this writer had with him.

It is sad to recall that when the said Senior Citizens Circle was planning to have another special show of Maname this year at the same venue on September 28, to felicitate him on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the National Savings Bank he passed away at the most unexpected moment before the event. However, we proceeded with that programme with Mallika Dep the eldest daughter of Vasantha Kumara as a special guest to grace the occasion and light the traditional oil lamp with other VIPs. His other two daughters, Mangala and Pooja also attended the occasion.

Dr. Vasantha Kumara distinguished himself from others on two grounds. Firstly, he practised what he preached and at the same time led an exemplary life. He was a great human being who possessed and lived according to moral virtues and set good examples for others by deed more than by word. Secondly, he was one of the pioneers in the country who introduced a new form of drama called ballet and popularized it among our people.

Such persons are very rare in our society. May he attain the bliss of Nibbana !

K.B. Fernando

Victor Emmanuel Perera Jayawardhana:

A soft-spoken and gentle nature

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them” wrote William Shakespeare. But the greatness of my father-in-law lay in his inborn qualities of heart and mind.

Truly, a gentlemen to the manner born, soft spoken and of a gentle nature, Victor Emmanuel never spoke a harsh word to any one. His days were spent in tranquillity. He shunned ostentation and extravagance.

Two priceless principles, frugality and dome ration adorned and governed his daily life.

He saw the light of day on the 28th of September 1906 and passed away after a brief illness fortified by the last Sacraments and rites of the Catholic faith on 7th September 1987. deeply religious, he participated almost daily at the holy sacrifice of the Mass during the last few years of his life, walking a distance of about one km from his home to the parish church at Mabola, during the early hours of the morning.

His brother, Dr. Wilfred Perera Jayawardhana preceded him a few years earlier. They ware closely attached to each other.

The two of them were educated at St. Benedict's College, Kotahena, After his school career, he had the privilege of teaching in his Alma Mater for a short period, while his brother entered the Colombo Medical College. Later he found employment at the Auditor General's office, Colombo when Sir Oliver Goonetilleke was the Auditor General.

My father-in-law's forte was English Literature. Shakespeare's “Mid Summer Nights Dream” and “As you like it” were his favourite comedies. He use to take much delight in discussing with me the main characters of the plays. The glow of his school days had not diminished with the passing years but remained to give him much joy in his declining days.

He owned a fiber mill and a dairy. The two business ventures, dwindled with the changing fortune of the times. Pearl Nancy, a gracious lady proved to be the ideal wife as she understood his mode of life and cheerfully accommodated herself accordingly. She brought up and moulded their daughters and son in the best formation of the Catholic faith. His wife passed away in 1983 to her eternal reward.

A keen horticulturist, he took great delight in growing vegetables for the home. He was also a lover of animals. This was very evident when in the later years he had the ox that was yoked to his buggy cart, left to roam at will in his spacious garden until its last days.

It was the ox that took him and his brother in their buggy cart to school.

During my courtship days I was a regular visitor to his home. Normally he was at the entrance to his home to welcome me. One day as I stepped into his home it was my finance who first greeted me “Where is daddy” I inquired “he is lying in bed” was her reply. I hurried into his bed room. Seeing me he sat up.

“Are you Ill?” I asked him, with tears brimming in his eyes and to my surprise, he answered “No, Ben I accidentally shot a flying fox (The large winged bat) as it was feasting on our sapatila fruit in our front garden, I only intended to drive it away.” And he broke down, This unexpected and incident clearly proved positively his inherent sensitive nature.

“Good bye daddy. May God Almighty grant your soul eternal rest. You really deserve it”

Ben Corea

M. Sinnappoo :

He understood problems

Marimuthu Sinnappoo was born in Araly, Vaddukoddai in March 1942l. He had his education upto the University Entrance at Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai. He entered the then University of Ceylon in 1961 and successfully completed the B.Sc. Eng degree. On March 1, 1966 he was recruited as an Irrigation Engineer in the Nagadeepa Scheme, in Mapakada. He understood the problems of the poor farmers and strived hard to better their livelihood by providing the required quantum of irrigation water at the most needed time to their paddy lands. Later he was transferred to the Irrigation Department Secretariat in Jawatta Colombo.

He had an excellent opportunity to work as an assistant to Eng. A.J.P. Ponrajah (who became the Director Irrigation in 1981). Ponrajah was well known for his expertise in irrigation design. He was the doyen of modern Irrigation Engineering in Sri Lanka. He authored two hand books on Design and Technical Guide Lines for Irrigation works which is currently used by Irrigation Engineers in Sri Lanka and outside.

We pray that his soul rest at Lord Shiva's lotus feet!

V. Regunathan