Prematileke Mapitigama:

An epitome of humaneness

If humaneness is used as a criterion to measure the worth of an individual, I am sure one person who would fare extremely favourably would have been Prematileke Mapitigama. He was truly an epitome of humaneness, a rare quality which now is fast going to extinction. In my long and intimate association with this gem of a gentleman, I had the opportunity of personally experiencing the wonderful noble human qualities with which he was endowed. It was a great pleasure and fortune to have known and associated him so closely for a considerably long period of time.

Kulatunga Wijekoon Mudiyanselage Prematilleke was born on January 7, 1930. His parents Panditharatne Bandara and Leelawathie Higgoda Kumarihamy of Pelenge Walawwa, Maththamagoda came from a Kandyan family in the district of Kegalle. Prematileke was the oldest among the males and fourth among the children. He had his early education at Ruwanwella and later joined Ananda Sastralaya. He then completed his studies at Pembroke College, the training ground of many that belonged to his time.

He was an experienced government servant who went through the administrative mill at different Kachcheries, serving in different capacities. This training made him a strict disciplinarian, utterly committed to serve the people. He could very successfully adjust to any position of responsibility and decision making, for which he had a very sensitive heart and sharp mind.

He knew where to stretch a rule, depending on the context and circumstances without breaching any rule.

He was very conscientious and straightforward in discharging his duties and therefore, did not have to succumb to any kind of external pressure. This endeared him to many, to his superiors, to his colleagues as well as to those who approached to him to obtain services. I myself have heard many a time, his superiors and colleagues showering praise on his excellent qualities as a public servant.

He joined the government service and gradually rose to the administrative hierarchy. He served in Kachcheries in many provinces in the island, in a number departments including Immigration and Emigration, Probation and Child Care as well as in a number of Ministries. His longest and uninterrupted service was in the Ministry of Land and Land Development and Mahaweli Development which he joined in 1978 and rose to be its Additional Secretary, from which he retired in 1990. The peak of his public service was the period he served in the Ministry of Lands and Mahaweli Development. Prematileke Mapitigama was an asset of Gamini Dissanayake in implementing the Mahaweli Development Programme successfully and thereafter maintained a very close and strong relationship with the Minister.

His life after retirement from government service was even more fruitful. This phase of his illustrious career began with his appointment as the Secretary to retired President J.R. Jayewardene and later confirmed with the post of Secretary to the former President. He worked in this capacity until the demise of President J.R. Jayewardene. This position opened the door for him to join the Board of Trustees of the J.R. Jayewardene Center and later became its Secretary General and this position provided him the opportunity of making use of long cherished organizational and administrative skills to transform the J.R. Jayewardene Centre to what it is now know as a very dynamic and resilient institute of culture and related activities. This Institute itself will speak volumes for the innovative abilities of Prematilleke Mapitigama.

I associated him closely when he was working in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya Kachcheries. Four cousins, Mapitigama, D.B. Ranathunge MP, for Kotmale, myself and Ven Higgoda Khemananda Thera met occasionally at Sriwardhanaramaya, Lewella to share information on religious, social and political interest.

My association with Prematileke Mapitigama grew much closer and more stronger when I retired from the post of Secretary to the Ministry of National Security, Law and Order. After retirement I was engaged in various international projects and undertook numerous projects affiliated to the United Nations.

One such project was with the United Nations Office of the Project Services (UNOPS) in Sri Lanka during which I had an opportunity to spend time at the Jayewardene Centre Complex. As a result, I really came to know the yeomen service he had done to make the Centre a vibrant place of various cultural activities and how he ran it in a very professional, methodical and cost-effective manner.

Prematileke Mapitigama can be described not only as a man for all seasons, but also as a unique personalty with many excellent facets. He was a good conversationalist, prolific writer, both in Sinhala and English, actor, an avowed but silent social worker. He was a very humble and affable person.

I know that he was a very good husband to his wife Nalini and loving father to his children. He did, in fact, give a great legacy to his children by making them all good human beings with warmth and feeling for others. His daughter Dr. Mapitigama (Ekanayake) who is attached to the Ministry of Health and his son Niranjan Mapitigama working in New York as a Senior Information Technology Executive are very kind human beings who have taken their father as a role model, equally wonderful is his daughter-in-law Dr. Rhenuka Mapitigama (Kottegoda), MD, Associate Professor of the Hackensack University Hospital and a specialist in Pulmonology Disease and Sleep Medicine, who is well-known for her kindness and special care to her patients.

Their behaviour clearly shows that Prematileke Mapitigama has been a great source of influence over them. They all remind me of Mr. Mapitigama.

It has been one year since we lost this wonderful human being and that was on April 14, 2012. Yet the nostalgic memories of this gracious person lingers in my mind, reminiscent of his rare and precious sublime qualities.

May he at the end of his Samsaric journey, realize the bliss of Nibbana.

Tilak Ranaviraja

Ariyadasa Ranawaka:

A Good Samaritan

I first met Ranawaka in 1949 when he joined Uva College, Badulla. The class teacher gave him a seat beside me. From that day, we were together till we left college in 1961. Ranwaka called me Ranjith and I called him Rane.

We grew up perusing different interests. His mother and my mother met each other in the temple and they too were good friends. It is because of this strong affinity we developed between us from the very onset of our school career I wish to express this appreciation.

Ranawaka's main interests were hockey, athletics and singing. He represented college in hockey and cricket. At school and after leaving the school his religion was hockey. In the hockey field his wizardry in ball control and mesmerizing stick-work flabbergasted the opponents.

He was a compulsory nominee to sing a song in the Literary Association Assembly held on Friday afternoons. His calculated emulation of popular singers coupled with with his melodious voice must be haunting in the ears of his friends but the sad news of this abrupt demise will arouse poignant memories in their minds.

Ranawaka was an ardent athlete. Endurance of his wiry body made him a champion long distance runner. His college record established in 1959 for one mile run stood unsurpassed for years.

It is these achievements in the athletic field that enabled Ranawaka to develop a good rapport with the veteran all-island athlete Vairawanathan. With Vairawanathan he officiated leading athletic meetings in Colombo. Sudden untimely demise of Vairawanathan dejected Ranawaka. He relinquished all the dealings in athletics as a consequence.

Ceylon Transport Board was the first work place of Ranawaka. He met his soft – spoken, graceful partner Kumari at the CTB office. They got married and settled in Kumari's house at Sri Maha Vihara road, Panadura.

Ranawaka's house was a resting place for all his friends who came to Colombo from out station. The hospitality they extended to their guests was exemplary. When their friends left their house Rane never sent them back empty handed. He presented them t-shirts, caps, ties, cuff-links, tie pins, key tags he received as a compliments at athletic meetings of various business firms in Colombo. Many a time I have seen him providing financial support for his friends. Kumari was a positive catalyst for these good deeds.

Even though the couple loved children, they were not blessed with children. They neither bemoaned about it to deter the happiness of their married life.

Tragedy struck their married life when Kumari succumbed to a sudden verulent heart attack. Bitter grief of the untimely death of his wife marooned Rane in the society. But soon as an intelligent Buddhist, Rane inferred the transitory nature of phenomena, becoming more sober and regaining composure.

After retiring from CTB Ranwaka joined the Nugegoda branch of Lyceum International College as disciplinarian and rendered elven long years of yeoman service to the college.

As a tribute the management of Lyceum College monitored him closely when he was sick and hospitalized. Not satisfied with the esteemed deeds bestowed to Ranwaka, when he was indisposed, the management of the College sent representatives to Ranawaka's home at Badulla with a fat purse that provided ample funds to meet the funeral expenses and the expenses of seventh day alms giving as well.

My dear Rane, I wish I had another chance to have you as my best fiend. May you attain Nibbana to reach the ultimate bliss of the voyage of Sansara.

Ranjith Gunaratne, Matugama

Faleel Moulana:

A beacon light

A beacon of light in the village Maruthamunai in Ampara District, I.M.S.M. Faleel Moulana breathed his last on February 25 at the age of 93.

He was one of the most loved persons in Maruthamunia, being versatile as a teacher, school inspector, Principal, community leader, social worker, spokesman for the under-privileged and a fighter for social justice.

A well dressed person from his middle age (I came to know him only at this stage), he believed in a polished look, quite different from the attitude of those of his age who hardly cared for their dress or appearance. Despite his age, he was physically and mentally agile and insisted on walking to the mosque half a kilometre away for his five time prayers daily.

This soft spoken gentleman was very polite in addressing people even if they were young children. Well versed in Tamil and English, he was an orator and earned a name for himself as “Abul Kalam’ (Father of Words). He is a paternal uncle of former Senator Al-Haj S.Z.M. Mashoro Moulana. My acquaintance with him started when I was in the 4th standard in Al-Hidhaya Maha Vidyalaya, at Veerathidal, Central Camp at which time he assumed duties as the Head Master of that school. He was an immense inspiration for both teachers as well as the students in the school, giving equal weight to educational as well as extra-curricular activities. The days when I acted in numerous school plays under his stewardship are still fresh in my mind. He had a talent in spotting a student's inborn abilities. He encouraged me to write poems in Tamil, having noticed my literary orientations.

He was unhappy when he came to know that I was unable to read the Holy Quran easily and flawlessly. Therefore he donated me a copy of the Holy Quran and instructed me to develop myself to be able to read it effortlessly.

May Almighty Allah grant Faleel Moulana Sir Jannathul Firdous. Ameen.

A. Hameed, Maruthamunai

Viola de Silva:

A caring sister

My sister Viola was born on March 24, 1924 and she lived a good life as a Christian, daughter, sister, wife, mother and a grandmother. Our family was blessed to have a loving and caring sister of her calibre. My dad too had a special love for her as she had qualities which none of us have.

As we grew up as children in our ancestral home in Kalahe along with the other siblings, Vere, Elmo, Nelun, Sriani and Savithri besides our parents, it was our elder siblings Fedelia and Viola who trained us in our studies, behaviour, table manners, ethics and religious values whilst Chandra the eldest brother and his lovely wife Rita provided us a good holiday during school vacations. Viola akki as we referred to her, started as a teacher at the Pilana Methodist Mixed School and from there she graduated to Southlands her old school whilst Fidelia was our teacher at Richmond College who taught us elocution and drama.

Viola had to make some extra pocket money and she gave English tuition to Mayor Thassim's Children and his nieces. Her association with Thassim's family encouraged her to get involved in the Chest Clinic Thassim inaugurated in Galle and that led her to join the Eye Bank of Dr. Hudson Silva making it possible for her to join the Probationary Services Dept.

She was a “toughie” who always had a positive attitude and learn to sew and then drive a vehicle despite her disability. This she inculcated in us with discipline with a capital ‘D'. If we were misbehaving or used hurtful language, she checked us and I recall one incident when we went to school in a buggy cart, ordered my brother Elmo to follow the cart on foot as a punishment for misbehaving. But she had a heart of gold. She believed in that saying “Discipline must begin before character is Permanently Twisted.” Viola gave her best and sacrificed her time and money towards the welfare of others. I recall how she accompanied my sister Fedelia with her daughter to India for treatment and stood like a rock when our niece Hemakanthi was ill till she died.

Viola was a devoted wife, mother, sister and a dedicated professional who sacrificed for others. A capable lady who could live up to challenges and succeed in anything she ventured into. She drove her own vehicle and was clever at sewing and a person I know who could endure pain or sufferings with God's Grace. She possessed those twelve values in life – the value of time, the success of perseverance the pleasure of working, the dignity of simplicity, the worth of character, the power of kindness, the influence of example, the obligation of duty, the wisdom of economy, the virtue of patience, the improvement of talent and the joy of origination.

Her honesty and integrity was of a high order. ‘The world needs people who cannot be bought, whose word is their bond, who puts character above wealth, who possess opinions, who does not hesitate to take chances, who won't love their individuality in a crowd, who will be honest in small things as they are in great things, who will make no compromise with wrong, whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires, who are true to their friends, through good report or evil report in adversity as well as in prosperity, who don't believe that shrewdness, cunning and bad heartedness are the best qualities for wanting success, who aren't afraid to stand for the truth never when it is unpopular, she was one of those rare human beings we had and whether we will see and associate anyone like her in the future is indeed a great doubt.

She left us, I am sure, by saying.

‘I won't be far away for life goes on

And if you need me, call and I will come

Though you can't see or touch me, I will be near

And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear

All my love around you soft and clear'

Nihal De Alwis

W A C Sirisena:

A symbol of his era

W A C Sirisena J.P. U.M. Crown Proctor of Balapitiya from 1956-1961 and a leading lawyer in the Southern Province was a man of honour and integrity. He was indeed a symbol of his era.

When the winds of freedom blew across this land, we as an independent nation seemed destined to be a leading South Asian country, and indeed we were until about the middle of the last century.

What constituted that early post independent promise of a progressive nation? It's the people, those primarily at the helm of affairs. We were then a nascent democracy governed by political leaders largely honourable and decent. Many of those early leaders practiced an unwritten code of moral conduct. Such conduct had a cascading effect and permeated our society.

This implied that it led to the creation of a society that also was basically decent, disciplined and feared to do wrong. It was also law abiding.

A most noteworthy characteristic Ceylonese live of those early years was inter-racial harmony. Such harmony had been there for centuries even under foreign rule.

Even after the riots of 1958 and its initial agony, the majority Sinhalese of this country realized that they needed to live and let live. This was manifestly clear in many parts of the country. Communal politics re-emerged to destroy the very fabric of this nation, many years later when designing politicians thought in terms of utilizing the community as a conduit to attain political power.

It was largely in the peace of the immediate post independence that WAC began consolidating his legal practice in Balapitiya. On the other hand he could have quite easily established himself as a lawyer in Colombo in those heady days.

Basically a man of peace who liked the serenity and the quiet of the countryside WAC decided that he would continue to live in the land of his ancestors. He loved the pristine freshness of Induruwa with its pure environment and the emerald green ocean that washed its broad beaches. Induruwa was then WAC's veritable el dorado.

As his career progressed he built for himself a sprawling house which remains a land mark in the district along with “Warahena Walawwa” the residence of Proctor de Alwis yet another leading lawyer in Balapitiya.

A stand out feature of WAC's career as a lawyer was his sense of fair play and his service orientation towards the community. In the Bentota-Elpitiya region there were many people who were middle class land owners. Some were agriculturalists, others small time planters. Of course there was also a limited number of wealthy people.

Often when disputes on land emerged people resorted to the law to sort out matters unlike today when they tend to resort to violence to settle such issues.

Given these circumstances there was a constant demand for civil action in a court of law. The likes of WAC always bore a human touch and fleecing somebody who sought refuge in the law was not in WAC's realm of service.

WAC's personal life was also one of satisfaction. But it was marred by the loss of his dear wife rather early and two of her brothers.

In those early years medical science was in a state of infancy and people succumbed to many common ailments due to the backward state of medicine. Unfortunately WAC's wife and other close relations who departed early in life were thus victims of circumstances.

Dulcie Kohoban-Wickrema his wife hailed from a wealthy family which had made its fortune in the Central Province, though the family's origins were in Baddegama.

Two of her brothers were men of brilliance. Fred Kohoban-Wickrema the elder ended a notable Civil Service career as the Secretary to the Cabinet. Tiddy Kohoban-Wickrema who died young, was a University Scholar. They were among the brightest of Trinitians of the era under reference.

Before I wind up his account of a true gentlemen let me recount three traits of WAC that made him what he was. In the 1950's party politics was rapidly gaining ground. The leadership of the two main parties the UNP and the breakaway SLFP were scouring the provinces to select candidates to contest the general elections. They understandably sought men of reputation and standing.

One of WAC's relatives by marriage a Cabinet Minister met him offering him an opportunity to contest Bentota-Elpitiya. He said that it was the Prime Minister who had wished that WAC take up the offer.

WAC's response was typical of the man: “I am grateful to the Prime Minister for the offer. But please tell him that I do not wish to dabble in politics, I am happy as I am.”

Once again when the general elections were over it was time to make key appointments, back came an offer to WAC to head a leading State body. Again the response was a polite no.

Men of his calibre are rare in this world of today.

Jagath Savanadasa