Irangani Manawadu (nee Perera):

She never shirked responsibility

It is just three months since the passing away of my only sister, who was closest to me right from the day I was born. Her end came after a brief illness at an unexpected time. She had her early education at Our Lady of Victories and subsequently at Holy Family Convent. Feelings of extreme sadness fill my mind every time I think of the days we spent together at home with our brothers and mother after the demise of our father, at a time when he was comparatively young and active. Since then the full responsibility of bringing us up fell on mother and I still remember the supporting role played by my sister Irangani, though she was still in her teens. After leaving school she joined the Advertising Department of Lake House, where she was popular among all colleagues.

Akka tied her knot with Tilak and they were blessed with two children Rukshani and Loshan. After Tilak fell ill prematurely, akka had to single handedly handle his business, while attending to the two school–going children with extreme care. Her hard work and endurance brought results as expected.

She never shirked her responsibility towards her husband and did everything to make him comfortable. During all her difficult periods, I was fortunate enough to maintain close contacts with her and assist her in every way possible.

Going down memory lane I can be happy in a way, thinking how close I was to her during her last years, assisting her to bear a part of her burden. She was very active during her last few years. But I cannot really understand what made me to visit her almost every day whenever my husband Kusum was away from home. Was it a premonition of our permanent separation and destiny which made me to act that way?

The day of the convocation of her daughter Rukshani after her graduation, was a day I will never forget. I was so close to akka that she wanted me too, to accompany them but to her disappointment I had to keep away due to the non-availability of an entry permit. It was sad that a few months later, akka was not among the living to grace the occasion of Rukshani's Banking Convocation. I had to fill the void and to accompany her for the ceremony.

Now my akka is gone, at least I can console myself thinking of the very religious, calm and quiet life she spent. She was soft-spoken and kind-hearted.

I pray that she be born again and again as my sister during our journey through Sansara until she attains the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.

Eromi De Silva

Zeena Careem (nee Razeen):

A very loving and caring wife

Zeena Careem passed away peacefully on January 8, 2013 at her residence. She broke our hearts with her departure leaving behind her sweet smile and fragrance which will never fade away.

Just two weeks prior to her death when I visited her, she was very lively and came running down the stairs, hugged me hard and requested me to ask Dua for her. Zeena was a very loving and caring wife to Haji Hafeel Careem and had an undying motherly love for her two sons Rushan and Shehan.

The emptiness and pain derived from the irreparable loss of her departure are indeed unbearable to all of us.

The whole family misses her but somewhere and someday, we are certain to meet.

May the Almighty Allah grant her Jennathul Firdous!

Careema Careen Mansoor

Kanchana Mayagoda:

An absolute gent

Kanchana Mayagoda, popularly known as Kanchana to everybody, was an embodiment of a great soul. He was truly a gifted individual who contributed immensely to the welfare of the needy. His asset was his ability to pick a person's need and endeavor to satisfy it. His helping hand stretched far ahead and it served many people in every nook and corner of the island. I came to know him as a client but later our association went beyond the professional relationship.

He was a dear friend, mentor, able advisor, astute critic and an absolute gent. He possessed vast knowledge in many areas and therefore one found it very interesting to develop a dialogue or discussion with him. He was well-read and had always facts and figures to support his contentions. One wondered about his memory power when he effortlessly rolled out statistics, names, years, etc.

Although he kept away from active social life owing to failing health there was no reduction in his spirit and it continued to radiate. He proved his mettle and resilience by spreading rays of hopes among the poor and needy.

I wonder whether he had known that his life was a flickering flame. That was why he was always keen on illuminating the lives of many people as he could by that flickering flame. His painful encounters with the several treatments he underwent, did not in anyway reduce his enthusiasm in life.

“The pain is only to my body and not to my soul” he used to laugh and say. With all the pains, he was always smiling, jovial, laughing and made others laugh too with his jokes. May be this enduring rare quality was apparent on the day of his departure. That day everyone saw him lying peacefully in his rest, a smile on his lips. That smile endorsed a salient point. Kanchana's sudden death had been cruel to us but not to him. By closing his eyes early, he opened so many people's eyes including mine. Yes, Kanchana, thank you.

May your soul rest with eternal bliss!

Veerappan Sivagurunathan

Y. D. Manickam :

A gem of a man

We are saddened by the death of Y.D. Manickam fondly referred to as 'Menik Uncle' and I consider it a privilege to write this appreciation in his memory and honour. Manickam was born in India in 1922 and migrated to Sri Lanka for employment.

His main station of employment was Chrystler's Farm Estate in Kotagala, where he was the Factory Officer for 35 long years. On retirement, he bought a property in Matale, which unfortunately was burnt down during the communal riots, whereafter he decided to settle down in Kotagala where he lived with his wife until his death in September, 2012. He was married to Bommie Rose (nee Dhas) and they had three sons and a daughter.

Fittingly, he was selected and appointed to assist the Priest in the Altar of St. Margaret’s Church in Kotagala, which is an honour bestowed only on people with a clean life, both morally and socially. During his last few years he also served as the Church Treasurer which job he performed admirably without any adverse comments, which is rare these days.

During his lifetime he survived death on two occasions, once due to poisoning and another occasion due to a stroke.

As an ex-Factory Officer, he was very sensitive to tea manufacture and marketing which knowledge he imparted to those who were interested to know. He had a large circle of friends and relatives and a number of his relatives are in God's Ministry. In fact, his father himself was a Priest.

Menik Uncle died at the ripe age of 90 leaving behind his sorrowing wife Rose, children and grand children whom he loved most. Good bye Menik Uncle, we will join you one day soon.

David Williams