Most Ven. Galagama Attadassi Thera
An esteemed personality
It is fortunate to have steadfast monks, as perseverance plays a dynamic role even in modern society. Most Ven. Galagama Dhammasiddhi Sri Dhammananda Attadassyabhidhana Mahanayake Thera, the 21st Asgiriya Chapter Mahanayake and Chief Incumbent of the Mahiyanganaya and Dambulla Temples, was a man of virtuous conduct, discipline and wisdom.
Most Ven. Attadassi Mahanayake Thera was born on January 11, 1922 in Galagama, a small village in Yatawatta, Matale. The Most Ven. Mahanayake Thera was born as the youngest child of three sons of Kulatunga Mudiyanselage Dingiri Banda Nilame and Tennakoon Mudiyanselage Pinchi Amma Kumarihamy. He was ordained in 1936, under the tutelage of Most Ven. Udurawana Sri Dhammananda Nayake Thera, whose ancestor was the first Asgiriya Chapter patriarch. He received higher ordination at the Asgiri Maha Viharaya Uposathagaraya in 1942.
The Most Ven. Thera was an alumni of Sri Dharmaraja Pirivena, Matale. Through sheer commitment and determination, he pursued his studies and obtained the Royal Pandit epithet. Upon completing his studies at the Vidyodaya Pirivena, Colombo and obtaining the Thripitakacharya and Majjima bhanaka epithets, he began his career as a teacher. After serving his alma mater, Dharmaraja Pirivena, Matale, the Mahanayaka Thera also served as the Matale Kavatayamuna Temple Dharma Sri Pirivena Parivenadhipathi (Head Master).
After the death of his tutor, Attadassi Thera became the chief incumbent of the Kurunegala Humbuluwa and Matale Urulewatte Temples. He was entrusted with the thewawa ceremony of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, which is a respected task among Buddhist monks.
He was appointed to perform these religious rituals on several occasions under the guidance of Mahaayake Theras at the time. Consequently, he rose to several positions in the Asgiri Vihara traditions.
In 1950, he was appointed as a Karmawagacharya and was subsequently promoted to an Asgiriya Chapter Supreme Sangha Council (Karaka Sangha Sabha) member in 1982. Later, the Thera was promoted to Mahopadyaya. He became the chief incumbent of the Metiyagane Temple in 1992, the Mahiyanganaya Temple in 1999 and the Dambulla Temple in 2005. Ven. Attadassi Thera was elevated to the position of Anunayake in 1999. The Asgiriya Chapter Supreme Sangha Council conferred the prestigious position of Mahanayake upon him in 2015.
As a distinguished dhamma preacher, as a clever pirith chanter and as a pirivena monastery head master, the Mahanayake Thera carved his name in gold. The Mahanayake Thera, through his erudition and dedication and as a scholar of great distinction and achievement, has made an invaluable contribution to Buddhism in Sri Lanka and abroad. The contribution made in this realm by Ven. Thera was a great need of the hour and rich source of inspiration and delight to all Sri Lankans.
The selfless services rendered by Most Ven. Galagama Attadassi Mahanayake Thera, brought greater light to the Buddha Sasana. His actions portrayed a most efficient and esteemed personality. The Most Ven. Mahanayake Thera earned the respect of the Maha Sangha by his tireless efforts towards the unification of the three Maha Sangha chapters. Most Ven. Galagama Attadassi Mahanayake Thera was a mine of knowledge. His pleasant charismatic personality, along with his humbleness added colour to his brilliance. He passed away on March 9, 2016, at the age of 95. May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.
Dimuthu Punsara Colambage
Rev. Bro. Michael Robert
Persevering character
It has been six years since Rev. Bro. Michael Robert entered eternal glory to be with his maker. March 8, 2018 was his sixth death anniversary.
He was my class teacher at my alma mater; St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa. Rev. Bro. Michael Robert was born on February 23, 1936. His parents were late Bastian Santiago and late Magilin Fernando.
He received the Holy Habit in Penang, Malaysia, on June 24, 1952. He taught and worked at St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa; De Mazenod College, Kandana; St. Benedict's College, Kotahena and St. Mary's College, Chilaw. He served various communities and held different positions; teacher, assistant prefect of games, book depot manager, APC-in-charge, class teacher, boarding prefect formator, assistant director, supervisor, vice principal and acting principal.
He was former De Mazenod Community Director and was in charge of district archives. He was 76 years old and had served for 60 years as a De La Salle brother at the time of his death.
Many were the god-given qualities he possessed. Looking back, in short, I could say that he was a man of prayer, a kind and a cheerful person and an authentic religious person.
Rev. Bro. Michael Robert was a voracious reader, an educationist, a historian, teacher, leader and strict disciplinarian. He was an example of discipline, regularity and orderliness. He was a knowledgeable, experienced and wise individual. He was a historian with a good memory and could relate to any person on any topic, in a positive and inspiring way. He was courageous and hardworking; a persevering character.
In fact, he published some valuable books during his period of retirement. The three-volume
History of the De La Salle Brothers in Sri Lanka,
Deceased Brothers of the District of Colombo,
Community Prayer Service—La Sallean Saints,
Praying—the Rule and
75 Reflections are some of his publications. He shared his spiritual wealth where he experienced god with us. He was an evangeliser of the young and made them feel that they were loved and cared for, by making them feel as if they were at home.
Even during the time he was ailing, he made it a point to thank and appreciate all those who visited him.
With his passing away, the De La Sallean Brothers in Sri Lanka lost another legend and a devoted brother. We thank Rev. Bro. Michael for the inspiring leadership he showed us wherever he worked, be it houses, schools or religious communities. We thank him for touching our hearts.
Prabath Perera
T. B. Ilangaratne
He rendered yeoman service
The birth anniversary of late T. B. Ilangaratne fell on February 27. As fate had it, he left us on May 21, 1992 at the age of 79 years. It is necessary to remember this son of our soil who rendered a yeoman service to the nation with absolute sincerity and honesty.
Having spent his childhood in the Thumpane village in the then Galagedera Electorate, he commenced preliminary schooling in a village school and completed his London Matriculation Exam at St. Anthony’s College, Kandy.
Thereafter, he joined the government clerical service and first, served at the Colombo Secretariat and subsequently moved to the Kandy Secretariat, where he served until the conclusion of his employment career as a government servant.
While in the government service, he became an active member of the trade union movement and was later elected the Government Clerical Service Union President. Thus, he became one of the most powerful, fearless and strong trade union leaders and a force to be reckoned with, at the time. He decided to chair the historic May, 1947 government workers' trade union meeting at Galle Face Green, resulting in the suspension of his services, along with 18 other colleagues; a move of the government which was challenged by an island-wide strike.
The strike was concluded without wining any demands, but it paved the way for him to enter into active politics by accident. Thus began a successive political career with ups and downs in the process, contributing his might to serve the nation as a Member of Parliament and minister of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)-Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP)-Communist Party (CP) coalition government and also once acted as the Executive Premier of the state for a day.
During his entire political career, he was disciplined and honest, with a vision and was always loyal to his party leaders; late S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and late Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
Ilangaratne had a clear political vision to narrow the gap between the “haves and the have nots,” towards which he contributed his might by bringing in legislations, established appropriate institutions and performed his duties at the correct time for the betterment of the country.
He held portfolios of Labour, Housing, Social Services, Finance, Internal and Foreign Trade, Public Administration, and Shipping.
To his credit, with the approval of his then party/government leaders, May Day was declared a paid holiday after it was agreed to establish the employees’ provident fund scheme, which was demanded by trade union leaders of the day, such as late M. G. Mendis for a long time. He established many state corporations, elevated the co-operative movement and established the labour tribunals and grama sevaka system.
Nationalising petroleum and insurance companies without bowing down to foreign owners and not acceding to subsequent offers of handsome gratifications, he carried out his duties admirably and stood firm for the policy of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party government of which he was then the Commerce, Trade, Food and Shipping Minister.
As a minister, he was responsible for establishing and implementing far-reaching trade agreements with foreign countries, which benefitted the country immensely.
He always stood by party policies and on all occasions when the party faced crises, he was there to save the party and its leader. When the time was ripe to go for a coalition government, he became the Finance Minister in the SLFP-LSSP-CP coalition government under late Dr. N. M. Perera. Such was his forethought for the country in doing the “right thing” at the “right time.”
He spearheaded the formation of the Socialist Academic Circle, which held appropriate meetings and lectures on various subjects to educate politicians, undergraduates and other interested persons.
The healthy combination of the minister and his ministry's secretary, was an important link for the implementation of government policies and in this regard, the excellent role played by Ministry Secretary late Dr. J. B. Kelegama, is worthy of mention.
Later, upon leaving the SLFP, he, together with former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and her late husband Vijaya Kumaratunga, formed the SLPP, from which he later resigned and retired from politics altogether.
Ilangaratne was a devout Buddhist and family man. His wife, late Thamara Kumari Ilangaratne, was a force that stood by him through victory and defeat. Their four children, Sandya, Udaya, Parakrama and Upeksha, had a brilliant father, but unfortunately, they too faced unwarranted discrimination due to political aftermath.
Apart from Politics, late Ilangaratne was also a literary person and authored many books in Sinhala and English languages. His books are read by people of all ages, since the contents reminisce village environments, scenery, religious and social activities, modest living and amity prevailing in villages and adjacent estates, where all communities lived peacefully, respecting each other’s social and cultural values.
He took to cinema during the days he lost government employment and became a script writer and actor. His book Amba Yahaluwo became a tele-drama series.
During late Ilangaratne’s heydays, he was surrounded by good and sincere friends, associates and supporters. There were also those who discredited him when implementing government policies, which drastically affected his good name.
It is ironic that only a handful is there at present to commemorate him, but this is, unfortunately, our culture.
The Sinhala Literary Association felicitated him when he was living, which was timely and appropriate and the felicitation was much-appreciated by him.
May late Ilangaratne attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana, which he amply deserves!
We will not forget him for all what he did, especially for the Hewaheta electorate, where he opened roads connecting villages to Kandy in an extent of approximately 75 miles and established the first government school at the Oodewella Estate in Kandy, in 1963, which was a tea estate owned by a British tea plantation company, among other development work.
Nihal de Silva
TRIBUTE : Dr. Manilal Dahanayake
Oustanding chemist
It is always a great pleasure to learn of the return to the island, of an individual who had gained distinction in a chosen field in a foreign clime and brought renown to himself and to the country.
A notable addition to this catalogue is Dr. Manilal Dahanayake, who retired recently after a successful career in the industrial sector in the United States. In his scientific career that spanned several decades, he wisely focused on the important, though vastly underrated, field of surfactant chemistry as his area of specialty. Surfactants are chemicals that find application in many areas including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, industrial water treatment, plastics and petroleum.
After completing his PhD under the supervision of world-renowned Professor Milton Rosen at the City University New York, he pursued postdoctoral work at Cornell University and later joined the industrial sector, starting out as a research chemist at GAF Materials Corporation and ending as a Research Fellow and Director at Rhone-Poulenc (now Solvay Chemicals). During the course of his research, he contributed significantly to the development and commercialisation of several innovative technologies for the production of surfactants usable in industry, personal care and pharmaceutical markets.
His industrial productivity has been so outstanding that he is acclaimed to be in the front-line of surfactant chemistry. He is the author of over 90 peer-reviewed papers and has received more than 75 patents, many of which have found commercial application. His principal contribution has been the successful elucidation of the relationship between the chemical structure of a surfactant molecule and its performance in a given application. This approach provides an average technologist a rational basis for choosing a particular surfactant without being intimidated by the mathematical rigour that underpins the theoretical foundation of the subject.
Among the public plaudits he received, can be counted the prestigious AOCS Samuel Rosen Memorial Award with which he was honored in 1998 for his contributions to the field.
His breadth of knowledge was also recognized by Princeton University, which welcomed him to the department of chemical engineering as an adjunct professor, thus opening the door to a course of lectures on the subject. The book that he co-authored with Dr. Rosen is titled Industrial Utilization of Surfactants – Principles and Practice. It has been widely hailed as the Bible on the subject. In addition, he has been a much sought-after speaker in institutions such as AOCS, SPE, CESIO and Nano DDA and a large number of universities both within and outside the USA.
Dr. Nelson Scott, USA
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