APPRECIATION

Rev. St. Mary Paulita A.C. (nee Winifred Consolate Perera) :

Her life spoke louder than her words

“In His hand is the life of every creature and breath of all mankind” Job 12:10.
Beautiful memories woven in gold
These are the treasures we tenderly hold
Too good a diamond we had to lose
It was God’s wish we couldn’t choose
Your kind ways and smiling face
Ever so gentle, full of grace dearest Sr Paulita.

Her sudden demise is an irreparable loss not only to her family but to all who knew her. Rev. Sr. Paulita was part and parcel of the community of the Gampaha Parish. Her affection, simplicity sincerity will be remembered by all.

The service she rendered to the community of Gampaha was beyond measure.

She was a teacher, Superior of the Lisieux Convent (Holy Cross Convent), a counsellor and a lover of nature. Apart from all these, I am sure I am not indiscreet in saying, in the evenings she was a humble, down-to-earth gardener with a small mammoty and a hose in hand, cleaning weeding, manuring, watering and giving full attention to that beautiful garden of flowers and foliage in front of the convent. “Flowers are the sweetest things God made and forgot to put a soul into” - Henry Beecher.

Her life spoke louder than her words. She invited the members of the Risen Lord Community to conduct the praise and worship service in that beautiful hall in which she had Adult Classes. She said, “I must give a better place to Jesus”.

On every second Saturday of the month she went out of her way to arrange the hall with rows and rows of chairs and a vast of fresh fragrant flowers on the table which added more attraction to the venue. She did all this for His Glory. “A life spent in the service of God and communication with Him is the most comfortable and pleasant life that anyone can have in this world.” Mathew Henry.

Though you have passed away dearest Sr. Paulita, needless to say your name will remain indelible in the hearts of all.

You were a source of strength to me. Your demise has left a vacuum in my heart that cannot be filled.

Farewell Sr. Paulita. We shall meet on that beautiful shore where there is no parting. May you rest in peace in the arms of Jesus!

Olga Wanduragala

Percy Abeywardena :

‘He was a man’

The sudden demise of Percy Abeywardena was a shock to both family and friends alike. However he had the good fortune of a peaceful death surrounded by his family - a wish that was very close to his heart. Percy hailed from Deniyaya and completed his secondary education at Richmond College in Galle. The discipline and integrity instilled in him by this great institution was a hallmark of his dealings throughout his adult life. On leaving school Percy ventured into the family business and began a long and illustrious career in the tea industry, spanning almost five decades.

He was a colossus amongst his peers in the industry and a much loved personality among the villagers in and around the estates and factories.

A devout Buddhist, he was a great benefactor of many temples in the area and was the Chief Dayaka of the temple in his native Bengamuwa for many years. He often sought the blessings of the clergy in his business ventures.

I had the good fortune of knowing Percy for almost 30 years and was a regular visitor to his home and estates in Deniyaya. He was a generous host and the many occasions we spent in the company of each other was unique and will be cherished for a long time.

Noted for his warmth and hospitality, his loyalty to family and friends, was exceptional. We both were Board Members of a Finance Company for a long period of time and his contribution to the progress of the company particularly in relation to the Plantation Sector was immense. His departure from the company did not affect our friendship and we continued to meet each other right upto the time of his demise. He was a great human being and knowing him was indeed a privilege that I will cherish all my life.

His loyalty towards his family was supreme and Sirima and the two children will find the void hard to fill. All the others who knew him closely can have the satisfaction of looking back and saying “He was a man.”

May Percy attain the ultimate bliss of Nibbana!

Susantha Fernando

Premathilake Mapitigama :

A gentleman par excellence

The first death anniversary of my cousin Premathilake Mapitigama fell on 14.4.2013. Grateful people who liked him and loved him, took part in the religious ceremonies held at his humble abode at Pitakotte on the 14th and 15th of April, to bestow merits upon him.

Born to a respected family in the Kegalle District, Premathilake, on completion of his education joined the public service in his twenties and ended up his distinguished career as a Senior Officer in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service.

During his long-standing career, he was very fortunate to have served under illustrious and top-flight leaders and rulers of yore. Fortune always favoured him to help those who sought his help.

His immense service to deserving individuals will be remembered forever. This exemplary gentleman of high calibre had the capacity to undertake assignments of any magnitude and that was the very reason why he was chosen after his retirement to head the Jayawardene Cultural Centre as the Secretary General which post he held until his demise.

With the blessings of all grateful people, he led a contended life till the end with his wife Nalini, daughter Nerthanjalie, son Niranjan, son-in-law Jayampathie, daughter-in-law Renuka and grandsons.

May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana!

Bertie Higgoda

Anthea (Gilo) Gomes

Gilo followed Basi her twin who left us on 4.2.2013 just 12 days later, on 16.2.2013.

But 1 Thessalonians 4: 14-16 give us the hope that we will meet again. We share the sorrow of their parting, with Cynthia their sister and Basil’s four children Camille, Beverely, Edgar and Cheryl who is resident in Australia.

Till we meet again, may both Gilo and Basi Rest in Peace!

Carmanita Jayatunge

Carimjee Jafferjee:

A great philanthrophist

Carimjee Jafferjee was the son of Jafferjee Easajee who was the first Indian Merchant to set foot in Ceylon as it was then known, from the North Western Indian territory of Kutch around the year 1830. Coming to Sri Lanka was a chance occurrence. As Jafferjee Easajee was a trader, during one of his voyages from Kutch to the Maldives, the sailing craft got caught to a storm and the vessel was blown off-course and landed at Galle, which was the beginning of Bohras in Sri Lanka. Perceiving the trading opportunity prevailing there, he set up his business establishment in Galle, together with his son Carimjee Jafferejee.

Carimjee was known as the Merchant Prince and his munificence was well known not only in Sri Lanka but also in India, Maldives and other countries as well. He built the first Bohra mosque in Galle which was then the main port of call. Around 1850 he moved to Colombo and his business house was in Pettah. He was well liked not only by the Bohras but the Muslim community as a whole. He spent lavishly on worthy causes, on education, religion and health.

When Zahira College Colombo then called Madrasathul Zahira was established by A.M. Wapuchi Marika and had its teething troubles, it was the tycoon’s donation of furniture, buildings etc that took Zahira to stability. He also donated two houses. The income from these to maintain Zahira. He also founded a school for the study of Arabic, Tamil and English for the Sri Lankan Moors at Wolfendhal called Chesma Faiz School.

When the government handed over the Kuppiyawatte Muslim burial grounds to the Muslims, it was a condition that a boundary wall be built. The cost of this was made by Carimjee Jafferjee and in return, a small portion of the burial grounds was reserved for the burial of Bohra Muslims.

Carimjee Jafferjee was free with his largese. One reason for Muslim women not entering hospital was their desire for purduh (privacy). With this in mind, in January 1895 he donated two general wards containing six beds each to the Lady Havelock Hospital to be reserved for the use of Muslim Women and Children. One ward was in memory of his late wife and the other in the name of the Muslim community.

Towards 1905 the ‘Fez’ caused a big furore when the Batticaloa Lawyer Mohamed Carim Abdul Cader entered courts with his Fez on. The European Chief Justice asked him to remove it. Cader refused considering it sacrilege and walked out of court. The Muslims were roused and the formed themselves into a Fez committee of which Carimjee Jafferjee was a key member. Carimjee got down at his expense, the fiery Bombay Lawyer Moulawi Rafiudeen Ahmed to address the meeting of the bar. The main agitation resulted in the Supreme Court minute being withdrawn and the Muslims were allowed to wear their head gear to court. His generosity was not confined to Sri Lanka and India, but reached many other countries as well. He received a Firman from the Sulman of Turkey, Abdul Majeed Khan.

The Sultan’s Firman reads - “For the purpose of doing a good deed that would facilitate the return journey of pilgrims to the land of repentance of forgiveness, ie towards Al-Hajaz, and in accordance with our Royal Order and Decree issued for the construction of a railway line in the Holy places Medina Munawara and Mecca Mokarrama and as our expression of appreciation of the services and financial contribution of both men and women in the railway works, we have ordered Anickel Medal of various grades, shall be issued bearing our Nobel and Honourable and Royal self and since great men of high rank such as Carimjee Jafferjee, may his place be elevated – a citizen of Tutocorin in India had owing to their services merited Anickel Medal of the kind specified. Therefore this high circular has been issued in accordance with the Royal Firman to award Anickel medal.”

In 1882, Arabi Pasha the Egyptian exile arrived in Sri Lanka called the Napoleon of Egypt. He was exiled for 19 years. He and his family lived during the last period of his exile in Sri Lanka at ‘Easai Villa’ the luxurious residence of Carimjee Jafferjee from which he left on 16th September 1901.

In 1906 Carimjee built a Mosque for the Bohra community in fourth Cross Street in Colombo, Pettah which came to be called ‘Carimi Masjid’. Carimjee Jafferjee was really a great philanthropist. He was loved and respected for his great acts of head and heart. Local Muslims remember him with gratitude not only for his philanthropy but also his readiness to help every Muslim cause.

Today his grand children and great grand children are filled with a great sense of pride and humility and revere his name and cherish his memory. He died on 17th April 1912.

Z. M. Adamally nee Gulamabass Carimjee

Janaki De Silva :

She lived the life

An appreciation of Janaki De Silva in the Daily News by her grandson based in the United States displayed the success with which gentle, soft spoken Janaki had transmitted cherished Buddhist values and Sri Lankan cultural mores to the younger generation.

Jeremias Dias, the founder of Visakha Vidyalya would have been justly proud and happy that her noble endeavour of establishing a school for Buddhist girls who would imbibe the best that the East and the West had to offer, had been realized.

Janaki was the eldest daughter of the Kegalle Lawyer C.R. Guneratne and his charming wife. Janaki was the Captain of Motwani house and also the Head Prefect.

One little incident is etched in my mind. When the Visakha hostellers were waking in crocodile file to Maithree Hall to listen to a sermon, we were surrounded by a crowd of Big Match revellers.

We ran into Janaki’s house at Police Park with the revellers in hot pursuit.

To our astonishment they even came into the sitting room. Hearing the commotion, Janaki’s mother came out and the revellers beat a hasty retreat.

In the University, Janaki was the Sangamitta Hall representative of the Buddhist Brotherhood.

Her compassion extended to all living beings. When the warden put three new-born kittens in a pail and turned on the shower, Janaki was visibly moved.

She lived the life, she lived the religion fulfilling her duties and obligations as stated in the Singalovadda Sutra without any expectation of reciprocity.

‘To live in hearts we leave behind, is surely not die’.

May she attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana!

Swarnamali Silva

W. Dharmadasa Fernando :

He was loved and respected

It is nine years since my beloved husband Weerakondabaduge Dharmadasa Fernando passed away on 8th April 2004 at the age of 85 years. He rose up to the position of Director of Education before he retired from government service.

He was loved and respected by everybody.
Though stilled your voice and face
I feel no more ....
Love still remains
Unchanged and ever so.
May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana!
Ranee