Sirisena Pandithasekera:

Loved by all

Uttanavato Satimato – Sucikammassa nisammakarino
Sannatassa ca dhammajivino – appamattassa yaso'bhhivaddhati

The fame of him who strives (after perfection) is mindful, is pure in deed, considerate, is restrained, righteous and heedful, spreads far and wide.

Siri Pandithasekera, a former Principal of Thurstan College, Colombo, followed the above mentioned teaching of the Buddha. Siri was a person who achieved greatness by his strong will power and determination.

He was friendly with everyone. He was a good administrator, an efficient teacher, a popular Principal, a devoted husband, a loving father, an admirable relation, a wholesome friend and a benevolent social worker.

His father Methayas Pandithasekera was a landed proprietor and his mother was a well-mannered Buddhist from Matara, named Dona Susana Weerasinghe.

They had seven children, four sons and three daughters. Siri was the second son of the family. He was born on February 7, 1923 at Thawaluwila, Ambalantota in the Hambantota district.

His father wanted to provide his children a good education and he moved to Matara town and made his permanent residence there. He admitted his children to Gabadaweediya Junior School, popular now as Matara Central College, close to his residence at Kitulewela Temple Road, Matara.

During that time there were only a handful of schools in towns and cities that conducted classes in the English medium. Siri was admitted to Rahula College, Matara to be provided an English education.

As a student, he did his studies extremely well and showed special abilities in extra-curricular activities.

In 1944, he passed the Senior School Certificate Examination with Credits and Distinctions. At that time, although it was quite easy to get a good job in the government or the private sector, he was eager to continue his studies. However, he had to face an obstacle. There were no schools in the Matara Education District that conducted Higher School Certificate Examination Classes (Advanced Level Classes) as such, he had to go to Colombo to pursue his studies. As his father could not afford, Siri tried to find a job in Colombo and continue studies with the money he earned. His ambition was fulfilled when he got a job as an English teacher at Vidyakara Vidyalaya, Maharagama. While working, he continued his studies to enter the university.

After school, he went to Pembroke Academy at Maradana and studied in the HSC Class and was successful in his attempt. He was selected to the Arts Faculty of the Peradeniya University in Kandy. At university, he did not become a book-worm. There too, he participated in most of the extra curricular activities. He was elected as the Vice-President of the Sinhala Literary Association, played for the university soccer team and won Colours, acted in the drama Moller's Imaginary Invalid in 1954 directed by Dr.Sarathchandra and passed out of the university obtaining an Arts Degree (BA).

At that time, the Principal of Rahula College, Matara was D J Kumarage who rendered a yeoman service to uplift the standard of education of the students.

Kumarage who knew the abilities of Siri, invited him to join the college staff. The Principal appointed him as the sports master. As the football and cricket coach, he trained the two teams to bring credit to the college. In his late 20's he got married to Kahaduwa Arachchi, an English teacher from Galle and became the father of one son and four daughters. While serving the staff of Rahula College, he was appointed Principal of Tangalla Maha Vidyalaya. From there, he was transferred to the Anuradhapura District as the Circuit Inspector of schools.

Later, he assumed duties as Principal of Kekirawa Madhya Maha Vidyalaya. As he had been a successful Principal, he was transferred to Anuruddha Maha Vidyala as the Principal. After serving there for a few months, he was transferred to Thurstan College as the Principal.

He served there for nearly five years. He says that it was the golden era of his career. He later served the Department of Education as the Chief Officer in Tangalla and Galle Education Regions. He was appointed as the Director of Education, Matara and retired in 1985.

It is a remarkable coincidence that he started his career as an assistant teacher at Rahula College, Matara and retired as the Director of Education, Matara, the home town where he started his primary education.

He never allowed the vast knowledge and experience that he gathered by engaging himself in various spheres. He served as a part time lecturer in English at the Technical College, Kaluwella, Galle, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, Medical Faculty of Ruhuna University, Karapitiya until his death on April 26, 2012.

Siri served in many social service organisations. Some are: The President – National Savings, Bank, Galle Branch, Senior Citizens Society, The Patron – Sri Lanka Education Service, Retired Officers Union, The Patron – Ruhunu Educational Development Foundation, The Patron – REDEF Senior Citizens Society. He was the Secretary of YMBA, Matara when C A Harischandra was the President of the Association.

His fervent desire in life was to bring up a wholesome family and a benevolent future generation that would be beneficial to the society which he did before his death.

He had his own way of life. He did everything according to a scheduled timetable. He got up early in the morning, took his bed tea and did a few minutes meditation and engaged himself in “Yogi” exercises for about half and hour and started day's routine of work.

A Dharmadesana will be held on May 26 followed by a Sangika Dana on the following day.

May Sirisena Pandithasekera attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirwana.

Nanda Pandithasekera

Leela de Zoysa Gunasekera :

She knit all of us into a close unit

Twenty five years ago in May, our mother-in-law Leela de Z Gunasekera passed away peacefully. It was early morning, she was in her own bed at her residence at Flower Road, Colombo 7 listening to a pirith cassette surrounded by most of her family, when she gently breathed her last.

Each of us on our wedding day knew we had married into a good family headed by a unique person, widowed in her late thirties. As we began to interact with her, we realised her great value. A gentle woman of utter kindness, with extremely polite and affectionate manners, she knit all of us into a close unit, although we had our diverse personalities.

The only daughter of Dassanayake Walauwe - Kosgoda (connected to the Maha Kappinna Walauwe), she married Wijepala de Z Gunasekera , who within a very short time at the Bar gained a reputation as one of the best Criminal Lawyers of his day, in the South.

Though brought up by affluent parents, she maintained a sense of simplicity both in her attire and outlook. Amma's early education was in the Galle Convent. Taught English by an Irish nun, she had an Irish accent, to our private amusement! Later, she was admitted to Museus, being a relative of Peter de Abrew, the Donor of the college premises.

She brought up her children to uphold all the traditional Buddhist practices of generosity, hospitality and loving-kindness. She herself was an example of all these virtues. Daily she took the Ajeevastamaka seela, an extension of Pansil. It can be truthfully said, that she never spoke ill of anybody.

She did not take part in social service through clubs and associations, but preferred to undertake projects all on her own. She was the chief donor of a few katinas, especially at Madakada Aranaya,Ingiriya. She was an enthusiastic daikawa of the late Ven Maho Sumedha who organized many pinkamas islandwide.

The most outstanding project of Amma'a was being foster mother to a Nepalese boy of the Sakya clan who came to Sri Lanka seeking ordination at the Oday Temple, Maradana, when he was only 14.

Until he received Higher Ordination seven years later, she supported him in every way, looking after his educational requirements, as well as his personal needs, spending on his generously. When he, Rev Gunagosha delivered his first sermon, he referred to her as the Mother who gave him Birth to the Dispensation - Sasanika Mawa.

Amma released cattle from the slaughter house. She donated Jaipur limbs. She gifted much to the Sangha, specially the Ascetic Monks. But all this piety did not prevent her from being hospitable to friends and family, and enjoying a joke with a hearty laugh.

She was lucky enough never to have entered hospital, other than for the confinements. This may have been due to all the great meritorious acts she performed with such happiness and thoughtfulness. Amma passed way at 75. A fruitful life was lead and it is certain, even a better one was gained. May she attain the state of Sovan.... Perhaps she already has.

Vineetha, Buddhi and Chandrananda