G.V.D. Wilfred Perera :

The stalwart of a premier trade union:

G.V.D. Wilfred Perera who passed away on July 30, 1973 was a trade union leader par excellence, exemplary dedicated to service for the benefit of the poor working class. He was an honest, hard working, and excellent government officer who functioned in the capacity of Superintendent of Posts and Telecommunication traffic until his death. In his dual role as a responsible administrator and an active veteran trade union leader dedicated to the cause of his, he never left any room for the authorities to find fault with him.

In the 1960s and 70s the trade union movement in Sri Lanka gained momentum backed by political greats such as Dr. N.M. Perera, Pieter Keunemen, Dr. S.A. Wickramasinghe, Philip Gunawardena, Bernard Zoysa, T.B. Ilangaratne M.G. Mendis, S. Thondaman, Shanmugadasan and still more the veteran Bala Tampoe.

A pioneer of the Union of Post and Telecommunication Officers, Wilfred Perera believed in the theory that the emancipation of the workers should be the act of the workers themselves. His ideologies where not limited to the well-being of a particular group of people, but enshrined the thoughts of the entire working class. Wilfred Perera’s name was synonymous with the UPTO. He joined the government service as a class III Post Master and Signaller which marked a turning point in his life. His dedication to trade union activities was concerned with the welfare of the masses.

He was a member of the post and telegraph association from the date he joined and became one of the executive committee members with the formation of the Post Masters Union of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Being appointed as a grade III Post Master and Signaller, he vehemently protested against the policy of performing the duties of the grade II officers and launched his maiden struggle on such discrepancies through which this situation was redressed by recruiting such officers as grade II officers thereafter. With the formation of the Post Masters Association he was elected a member of the executive committee. After the general strike of 1947 as an officer in the service, he played a prominent part in the strike and subsequently became one of the assistant secretaries. He was forced to accept the post of the President in 1958.

Wilfred Perera was one of the leading hands of the Public Service Workers Trade Union Federation and was its general secretary from 1958 to 1964. In 1963 when the Union of Post and Telecommunication Officers was formed he worked as the President until he resigned due to ill health in 1970. However on the request of the membership he had to take up the post of the President (UPTO) once again. He constantly expended his energy to bring up the UPTO into a formidable body among the rival trade unions.

He was one of the leading hands of the Postal, Telegraph and Telephone International Asia and was a member of its executive committee. He represented the union of post and telecommunication officers in international conferences on a number of occasions in London, Brussels, Paris, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Bandung. He also visited the USSR on a goodwill mission representing the union. The RTTI Asia sent him on a special assignment to Pakistan to reorganize the postal, telegraph and telephone trade union movement in that country as it had been suppressed by the military regime of the time. He was internationally recognized as a veteran trade union leader of a unique calibre.

He was vehemently engaged in agitation matters pertaining to the banning of nuclear tests in the world. His policies were never focused on any particular social group of people. He strove hard to liberate the trade union movement from the stranglehold of political parties and treated all alike irrespective of race or religion. In 1971 he pioneered the formation of the united front of post and telecommunication trade union. During this exercise he naturally became the object of criticism in the hand of politicians. He had been a headache to right wing politicians and left wing politicians as well. It is very true and correct that there had been a threat to his life too. He was a tall and lean person always having a smile on the face though he performed gigantic tasks. It will be a long time before those who know him within Sri Lanka and abroad can recover from the very deep sense of loss brought about by his demise.

The postal department has lost an honest personage devoted to service. Sri Lanka has lost a patriot, her workers have lost a dynamic leader. Those in the UPTO and PTTI Asia grieve very much for they have lost a sincere mentor. We cannot describe Wilfred as a leader, he was more than a leader. UPTO members have lost a ‘precious gem’.

His commitment, devotion and dedication to the worker movement and his personal affable qualities towards his colleagues, friends and public was evident by the five mile long funeral procession. There was an unprecedented crowd who paid their last respects.

Not only was Wilfred Perera a trade union leader but also a responsible administrator dedicated to the cause of whatever he was assigned to. As a Superintendent of Posts and Telecommunication traffic, he ensured that the employees and officers in the Posts and Telecommunication Department gave the best of their services in all duties entrusted to them.

There had been many instances where he had to call up and advise junior officers and other categories of employees, when they had been reported to have neglected or delayed their duties expected of them to the public. In all such instances he advised them as a father would his children and never resorted to imposing any severe punishments in any form on employees. He always endeavoured to mould the employees and guide them in the proper path fit for them to rise up to higher positions.

Wilfred was loved and trusted by all members of the Post and Telecommunication Officers so much so that several were always seen to meet him to extoll their personal and domestic problems as well and obtain relief and advice. Although he was heavily tied up with his official work, he always kept his doors open and welcomed subordinates who confided in him.

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana!

A.K.W. Perera

Zainab Jumat (Nee Hasan)

She cared for me:

“Heaven lies at the mother's feet”- is a saying of the Holy Prophet Mohammad. To aunty Zainab's sons, Nilam (Malcolm) and Naushad (Maxim) this saying was the supreme truth. They loved and cared for her dearly (which she earned by her dedication and sacrifice) spending large sums of money on her medical bills (both in Sri Lanka and abroad) without any hesitation. Two attendants were at her disposal ever since she became a patient. Doctors voluntarily gave discounts on the bills, in appreciation of their dedication to their mother.

Naushad (Maxim) always insisted that his mother stayed with his family, to an extent of having her for more than one year with his family in Egypt (Cairo), despite facing difficulties in obtaining her visa. When she breathed her last at the Nawaloka Hospital on October 12, my cousin Naushad was devastated. He had fortunately arrived in Sri Lanka two days earlier. I had over the years been advising him that he should prepare himself to the fact that some day she would have to leave us. However Nilam had come to terms with this fact.

Aunty Zainab's early years were in Kandy. She had her education at Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy. Her maternal grandfather was a wealthy gem merchant/ landed proprietor and owed large tracks of land along Peradeniya road, in the Halaluwa area. However much of it was squandered away by her father leaving her destitute at his death.

Aunty Zainab's aunt (my grandmother) decided that her son Branu be given in marriage to her. She spent much of her early married life in remote areas like Pattipola, Galgamuwa, Medawachchiya, Vavuniya and Mannar where my uncle served in the Railway Department. Being exposed to lonely environments, she developed a longing for the hustle and bustle of city life and disliked quiet areas. Later when uncle joined the mercantile sector, she was delighted and enjoyed the city life.

My relationship with aunty and her family has been special. I shared my birthday with uncle Branu on the same date, studied in the same school (Kingswood College), worked in the same organizations, and uncle was my first boss (General Manager). From my childhood, aunty developed a fondness for me.

When my cousin Nilam started schooling at Kingswood College I had to stay at aunty's home to accompany him to school. When uncle Branu was transferred out of Kandy, I was boarded along with my cousin to keep his company. Come holidays and I had to be in the company of my cousin in whatever part of the country my uncle served. Holidays meant pampering by aunty Zainab. She would make various dishes to make sure that we enjoyed and ate well. At the end of the holidays I would return home physically heavier, a bag full of new clothes and a heavier pocket

Destiny seems to always be keeping me close to aunty's family. I stayed with aunty when I found employment in Colombo. She cared for me and even entertained my office friends who came over to spend the day. One incident that I remember which clearly showed her care was when I was employed at Lever Brothers.

I had to leave home before sunrise to be at my work place by 7 am. Aunty would get up early to prepare tea just for me. One day she over slept and I left home without tea. But it did not matter to me as plenty of tea and food was available at Levers. However when I returned home aunty expressed her utter remorse for not being able to give me my morning tea and pleaded that I wake her up in case she over slept.

Eventually after marriage when I established my residence in Welisara, aunty was around again as her sons also had their residences in the Welisara / Kandana areas. My wife would prepare special dishes for aunty which she relished. Aunty developed a fondness for my wife and would advice me to look after her well.

While her sons were pampering her materially, she depended on me for her spiritual needs, clarification on religious matters, literature were my responsibilities. Whenever I called over she would plead that I stay a little longer and would say that she was in a happier state by the time I left. Aunty's true character was best expressed by my grandmother while she was scrubbing my body during my bath (the day before she died) “It is not my son Branu but Zainab who has a heart of Gold” - a sentiment of a mother-in-law.

Adios dear aunty. May the Lord accept your soul this way.

“But Ah! Thou soul at peace

Return unto thy Lord content in his good pleasure,

Enter thou among my bondmen,

Enter thou my garden..”

Verse 27-30 Chapter 89 The Day Break - The Glorious Quran

Arifeen Jalill ( Dawson)

J.C Kariyawasam

He helped athletes and athletics:

The death occurred recently of J.C. Kariyawasam, one of the last surviving gentlemen in the track and field administration. Affectionately known as 'Uncle Kari' to athletes, he was the Chief Time Keeper in the Amateur Athletic Association of Sri Lanka for many years. He was also the President of the Ceylonese Track and Field Club for several years when the club flag was flying high, having produced many of the leading track and field stars in the country.

Professionally he was the Chief of the Meteorology Department. An unassuming track and field administrator, Kariyawasam was one of the very few who did not canvass or look for higher office but did a lot to help athletes and athletics in general. As the President of the CT&FC he always supported all athletes, and their welfare was his top priority.

Kariyawasam was married to his university sweet-heart Lillian who was his soul mate and friend for 64 years. Until his passing away, Lillian did everything possible to ensure that he was well looked after and comfortable. During the years I knew them I cannot remember having seen even a single time that they argued or for that matter disagreed.

Even when they did, they disagreed together. Kari was always a gentleman but was not afraid to take tough decisions when he had to enforce discipline. He was an ardent cricket fan who also jointly with Lillian, produced three of Sri Lanka's best schoolboy cricketers in Probodha, Prasanna and Pradeepa.

Uncle Kari was very fun loving and jovial and liked to listen to jokes from Tilan Perera and laugh what we call the Baka Baka Gala Hinawa. In the past, when there was no TV no one would leave home without listening to the morning news broadcast that was followed by the weather forecast and obituary notices. Kari was also a pioneer of the Airport Club at Ratmalana and played tennis regularly. One of his memorable achievement was that when he was in sixties, he defeated one of our mutual friends Angelo who was much younger than him, in the Doubles.

He used to brag about it every time he met Angelo and me. Although I am far away from Sri Lanka, I always respected and closely kept in touch with him and Aunt Lillian.

May his soul rest in peace!

Shantilal email