Tudor Leslie Perera :

Live and let live was his motto

The third death anniversary of Tudor Leslie Perera, former Personnel Officer of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House) falls on 26.10.2012. My association with Tudor Leslie Perera goes over 25 years. He was my superior when I joined Lake House in 1978, in the Works Department. He was the supervisor in the Department and was very much dedicated, devoted and a highly disciplined personality who did the best for the employees who worked under him. He was easily accessible to one and all and was open-hearted, warm, amiable and liberal in his outlook. Further, he was one of the most remarkable personalities who was versatile and knowledgeable in whatever positions he held at Lake House whether as a Head Reader, Supervisor in the Works Department, Personnel Officer or Welfare Officer. In fact, he excelled in whatever profession he had chosen with his experience combined with his human qualities of simplicity, humility and humanity. He discharged his duties and responsibilities in the capacity as Welfare Officer and Personnel Officer with honour and distinction indefatigable energy, undaunted determination, unimpeachable, integrity, unflagging firmness, total dedication and commitment. Besides, he was a man of liberal and progressive views and rose above narrow parochialism, regionalism, sectarianism and communalism. He was very generous and magnanimous in all his dealings with friends, associates, relations and neighbours. Tudor's greatness was unique. There was a ring of authenticity and nobility of courage and earnestness in whatever he did and said. He was constantly pragmatic and practical in his approach to problems in the respective departments of Lake House where he worked and was willing to seek out and accept solutions wherever they could be found. This brought him high esteem from his superiors and all others in Lake House. Tudor L Perera hailed from a respectable family who greatly valued their religion, Buddhism and Buddhist culture. Indeed, he was a friend, philosopher and a guide to everyone. He was an embodiment of all the noble qualities of honesty, integrity, loyalty and equanimity. He was a man of action and his life was an inspiring saga of service and sacrifice. Indeed, he shone in everything he did.

He did many things and all of them well with incomparable erudition, meticulous care and thoroughness. Furthermore, he was a person of simple habits and his unparalleled enthusiasm and humanitarian gesture towards his family particularly towards his wife, two daughters, grandchildren and relations and friends were highly commendable. His grandchildren are doing extremely well in their respective professions. Being benevolent and sweet by nature Tudor L Perera soon found his place in the hearts of everyone. “Love and forgive, live and let live” was his motto. Indeed, the loss of Tudor Leslie Perera is irreparable, painful and tearful. The thought of his death is poignant, but his memory even after three years is fragrant.

Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

Chandrasekara Mallawaarachchi:

A flower of fragrance

I write this appreciation on Chandrasekara Mallawaarachchi my bother, who was a popular novelist, a famous author, an efficient administrator, a lyricist, a script writer and a renowned personality of many spheres and one who was well regarded and loved by many in the two decades of the nineteen sixties and the seventies. My brother Chandrasekara Mallawaarchchi who passed away 14 years ago, was born in Kamburupitiya, in Matara. He displayed his talents from his young days and passed the Grade Five scholarship examination with flying colours. He thereafter entered Thelijjawala Madhya Maha Vidyalaya to further his studies. He was the fifth child in the family of six children and was loved by four sisters and his mother.

On completion of his education, Chandrasekara joined the government service in 1955 and served in the Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration Department and the Defence Ministry. He entered the Sri Lanka Administrative Service which was then called the Ceylon Administrative Service and rose up to be the Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Later he served as the Secretary in the Sri Lanka High Commission in Singapore, in the diplomatic service. He returned to Sri Lanka in 1984 and joined the Ministry of State and served as the Manager of Sri Lanka's first state news service Lanka Puvath for a short stint.

Chandrasekara ventured into writing and was successful in winning the hearts of readers with his ever popular three novels Aathma Thunaka Kathawa, Yalith Wasanthaya and Renu Thavamath Aadarai. Encouraged by the demand for his novels, he continued with several other novels which were greatly accepted by his readers. He did not limit himself to love stories but wrote two children's stories Kurulu Nimnaye Viththi and Yahaluwo Thundenek. He was also a script writer for teledramas such as Vesidha Re. Leading Sinhala newspapers and magazines such as the Lankadeepa, Davasa, Riviresa, Rasavahini and the Sri magazine carried many of his articles in their issues. Chandrasekera's contemporaries were Karunasena Jayalath, Dharmasiri Gamage, Kumara Karunaratne, Madawala S. Ratnayake, Jayasena Jayakody, Thomson A. Vandabona, Karunadasa Saputhanthri, Edward Mallawarachchi to name some. If he had lived for some more years he would have contributed immensely to the literary field. At the time of his death he was putting the final touches to a few more books.

After 35 years of government service he retired in 1989 and assumed duties as the General Manager of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd (Lake House) and served efficiently for six more years in that capacity. In 1995 he left Lake House and joined Express Newspapers Ceylon Ltd as the General Manager on the invitation of its management and contributed to its success in the field. While serving at Express Newspapers Ceylon Ltd, he fell sick and was admitted to a private hospital. After being hospitalized for nearly a month he recovered owing to the efforts of the doctors, with the assistance and support of his son Waruna Mallawaarachchi, the present Deputy General Manager (Sales) of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd and three children living in Australia and the other two in Sri Lanka, who took much pain to get their father on his feet again. I express my gratitude on behalf of his family to the members of the staff at Lake House who helped them in numerous ways, during the time my brother was hospitalized.

Again in October 1988, Chandrasekara became seriously ill and was warded in hospital and spent nearly a month but did not recover despite all the efforts. He passed away peacefully grieving all who were near and dear to him.

His wife Rupa was the pillar behind his success in his many spheres. In the dedication of his books he clearly stated that they were a tribute to her support. My brother passed away at 63 years. He was a role model in our family circles and we always liked to be led by him in all family functions as it was considered to be an honour to all of us. Every year in October we are reminded of the great moments we had been together. He had six siblings and all of them are doing well in life. My brother loved not only his kith and kin but also the whole humanity and he too was loved for what he offered and the great qualities he displayed.

I wish my brother the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana on behalf of the whole family!

Thilak Mallawaarachchi

Rev. Fr. Felix Mevel:

A visionary priest for all children

I remember him as a close friend and an indispensable teacher. He was also an enlightened pastoral leader to most people who knew him. In his visionary and revolutionary pastoral exercise, we saw a lot of pioneering ventures but his most innovative achievement was LA-KRI-VI (lama kriyakari veerayo), the children's movement he foundered and fostered to be a national movement. Fr. Felix Mevel, an Oblate priest, was born on May 23, 1925 in the beautiful little town of Landivisiau, in the staunchly Catholic region of Brittary, in North-Western France. He was ordained as an OMI priest in 1950 and forthwith was sent to Sri Lanka as a missionary. Upon his arrival in the island he learnt his Sinhala well enough to preach and work with people with a good proficiency.

I came to know him as a man of God and a priest of children in Ragama. His apostolate to children and his service to people in general was remarkable in each parish he pastored but the five years he spent at Ragama are seen as the golden period of the children's movement, as La Kri Vi was built on strong foundations, grew into a full fledged Children's Movement and flowered into a national apostolate.

Fr. Mevel found the seeds of his children's apostolate in the French Children's movement MIDADE (Movement International d'Apostolat des Enfants), otherwise called IMAC (International Movement of the Apostolate for Children). He defined it as a movement of children, for children with the goal of preparing them to build tomorrow's world of peace, justice and unity. We saw him writing texts, stories, songs and games in English. He got them translated to good, catchy Sinhala for the Sri Lankan version of this children's movement.

Dear Father, may you rest in the Lord!

Stephen Dharmasena

Daisy David:

Teaching English interested her greatly

With emotional tears pouring down my cheeks, I write this appreciation on my beloved sister, Daisy, who was given to us by God on the 28th of October 1924 and was called to her Eternal rest on the 28th of February 1983. She was the eldest of a family of four, the others being Rugby, Violet and Isaac. At the tender age of 19 years Daisy joined the tutorial staff of St John's College, Mattakkuliya. Later she went for training as an English teacher to the Palaly Training College in Jaffna. Thereafter she taught at Dematagoda MV, till the time of her demise.

She took a very keen interest in teaching English to the very weak students. She did not charge any money for her work. W. Abudul Hamid and Paul Anthony were a few who went through her hands. She was smartly dressed. She worked to the entire satisfaction of the staff and had many friends all over the island. During the mango season we would wait for her to send juicy mangoes from from Jaffna where she was stationed. Daisy worshiped at St. Peter's Church, Mutwal. She was a sides-man warden and was responsible for all the Sunday School activities. When some work was allocated, she always accepted it joyously with no grumbling or back sliding. We looked forward to birthdays with much joy. Daisy who organised everything, was a live wire at these parties. The blind folk from Seeduwa were always welcome at her home. She used to buy them goods and distribute them as presents to these poor people. She is missed by her nephews Jerome, Lester, Leslie, Lakdive, Lasantha and nieces Patricia, Fiona, her brother-in-law Hugh and her sister-in-law Nirmala.

Daisy was a very affectionate sister to me and I feel so sad. I know that we will meet our loved ones who have entered rest.

My sister, Ruby whose birthday falls on the 31st October has also gone to be with the Lord. I have only happy memories now. She too will be missed by many. Kindness and generosity shone through all her deeds.

Violet Vincent