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Sheila Herath :
She enjoyed teaching us
Sheila Herath taught at Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo and happened to be
my class teacher in grade six and my English teacher in grades seven and
eight. During school hours she was a dedicated teacher gentle and kind
to every girl. She was very concerned about the backward girls, to which
category I happened to belong. Memories of my mother complaining to
Sheila Herath and her silent response with only a kind look and a
charming smile come to mind very often. Never did she utter one word
about my mischievous pranks, to my mother. Hence I am ever so grateful
to her. She enjoyed teaching us Wordsworth’s poetry. ‘Solitary Reaper’,
‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’ and ‘A slumber did my spirit seal’ were
some of the poems she taught and explained so well that we were able to
memorise the words without difficulty.
After I left school if ever I spoke to her at a time of trouble or
worry, she would quote a line or two from Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem
“If which would bring back lost courage to face life as it is”. She
rarely went out of the school gates at 1.30 p.m. after school closed for
the day. Instead she would continue to be in school until sunset and
until the birds flew to their nests at dusk. She would leave the school
premises after an ‘evening of guiding’ with the girls. Sheila Herath was
in-charge of the Girls Guides of the school and I too happened to be a
Little Friend and later a Guide under her. She worked tirelessly for the
Girl Guide Movement. Many were the Visakhians that had become Guides,
due to her encouragement. Her dedication to the school and the Girl
Guides knew no limits. It brought great joy to her to see that all the
girls ‘did their best’ to be Perfect Girls or Little Ladies (as she
called them later in life).
Mrs. Herath had immense patience. I do not think I will ever learn to
be tolerant, to endure and yet be so gentle. On a day of out-door
cooking, fits of giggles, verses, songs, silly jokes and sudden laughter
filled the air with the girls struggling to light the fire and cook a
proper meal. On many occasions were presented half boiled eggs, cold tea
poured out of half boiled water and once a salted pudding and a sickly
sweet potato curry, having used the sugar for the salt in our
excitement. I will never forget Sheila Herath’s face going red. However
she would make us say ‘grace’ before the meal and we would feel guilty.
At that age, our mischief was beyond control. I now realize how tiresome
we would have been.
I shall never forget the six miles hike. Tired after walking, we got
into a bus, which was not allowed. At the next bus halt, Mrs. Herath and
Ranjani Dissanayaka were staring at us (may be they had super natural
powers). We got off the bus ashamed of ourselves. In silence the entire
party reached the campsite. An annoyed Sheila got us to write ten lines
in our log book. “A guide is to be trusted”. We realized Mrs. Herath had
trusted us and we had broken her trust. I still have my log book. I was
one of the proud Visakhians residing in the United States to witness
Sheila Herath been made an ‘Honorary citizen of Geneva’ many years ago,
at a reception held in her honour for her outstanding service to the
Girl Guides Association of Sri Lanka.
Four years have passed since Sheila Herath left us. I believe she was
a celestial being who had come to this world for an active stay.
Dearest Miss, I salute thee with honour and pride for I remain to be
your obedient pupil and guide ever so grateful for all you did for us
and for all what I am today. Until the sun goes down on me I shall
remember you quoting from the poem:
‘If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools’.
Justice will not be done to Sheila Herath who was a friend, mentor
and teacher if I do not quote from her favourite poet Wordsworth’s
‘Expostulation and Reply’
The eye – it cannot chose but see;
We cannot bid the ear be still
Our bodies feel, where’er they be
Against or with our will.
Hence my heart aches to think you are no more, though I picture you
and often hear your voice echo.
May she attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana!
Devika Dias
P.D.A.S. Gunasekera :
He worked to uplift the people
 The first death anniversary of P.D.A.S. Gunasekera falls on November
16, 2012. Gunasekera was a renowned Education Director, a Journalist and
a social worker. He was born on June 25, 1925 in Yalegama, Induruwa in
the Southern Province and was the youngest son of Suratanis Guasekera, a
station master. He had two elder sisters. Having lost his parents during
his early childhood he lived with his stepmother in Ratnapura, attended
Sivali Central College, and then entered Ananda College for his higher
education. Gunasekera was an honours graduate of the Peradeniya
University and was appointed as a teacher in a government school.
He married Ratna Illeperuma from Galle. He was the father of two sons
and three daughters who are at present in the fields of medicine,
engineering, law, and teaching.
Gunasekera subsequently was promoted as a Principal and served in
several schools in the Ratnapura District. He rose to be Director of
Education and was committed to improve the quality of education in his
area. After a long and prestigious service in the field of education, he
retired in the year 1982.
He had an interest in Journalism even during his school days and
joined Lake House after his retirement. He also took steps to spread
Scouting as the Commissioner of Scouting in the area. May he attain the
final goal of all Buddhists after his sojourn in Sansara!
P.A.M. Gunasekera |
