[APPRECIATIONS - (17-09-2018)] | Daily News

[APPRECIATIONS - (17-09-2018)]

Dr. Hilarian Codippily

Erudite scholar

This is an appreciation of Dr. Hilarian Codippily, who passed away on August 16, this year, following his battle against cancer.

Hilarian ('Hilary' to his friends) was a mathematician and economist, who served his motherland as well as the world, with great distinction.

I first met Hilary in 1958, when he entered the Colombo Campus of the University of Ceylon, two years after I did. We both graduated with BSc. degrees in mathematics, but our professional paths diverged thereafter. While I pursued an academic career in Sri Lanka and abroad, Hilary followed a career in economic planning.

After his graduation from the Colombo Campus in 1962, followed by a second BSc. degree from the University of London in 1967, Hilary joined the Finance and Planning Ministry. While at the ministry, he received a scholarship to do a Master’s degree in Economics at the University of Warwick, England, in 1973; he obtained the degree in 1975. On returning to the ministry, while carrying out his duties as an Additional Director there, he continued his research in Econometrics in his spare time as an external student of the University of Warwick, earning his PhD in 1979.

Subsequently, Hilary joined the World Bank in 1981 and went on to become the bank’s leading authority on Small Island Economics. He retired in 2000 and returned to Sri Lanka, while remaining a consultant to the bank for several more years.

While Hilary was an economist by profession, he was also an erudite scholar whose interests encompassed a wide range of disciplines, including mathematics, astronomy and philosophy. He also enjoyed classical music and theatre.

Since returning to Sri Lanka following his retirement from the World Bank, he returned to his early love for astronomy and expended his time and energy developing and teaching a postgraduate course in astrophysics/cosmology at the Colombo Campus of the University of Sri Lanka.

He continued to do so even when his health was failing and he was experiencing pain. In connection with the course, I recall the long trans-oceanic phone calls pertaining to cutting-edge physics issues such as the quantisation of gravity, which Hilary wanted to include in the course.

During these calls, Hilary was eager to keep me updated on the state of Sri Lanka's economy with insightful and balanced analyses, and always adding his thoughts on what needed to be done to improve things. Hilary was someone who loved his motherland; he wanted to do whatever he could for its future.

During his tenure at the World Bank, he was also the Sri Lanka Association President in Washington. In that capacity, he acted as a goodwill ambassador for Sri Lanka.

I counted Hilary as one of my closest and dearest friends of all time, and I will miss him greatly. He was one of those rare persons who combined intelligence with integrity and compassion. He was a credit not only to the country of his birth, but to humanity as well.

Prof. Asoka Mendis, University of California, USA

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Udara Pathirana

Selfless youth

Days, weeks and months have gone by for the grieving parents who lost their well-mannered elder son Udara Darshana Pathirana, to a fatal motorcycle accident, last year.

Udara had his primary education in Singapore. When his family returned to the island, little Udara was admitted to Wesley College, Colombo.

He later continued his studies in the Maths stream. In 2009, he passed his Advance Level examination and joined the University of Sunderland in London, UK, to follow a degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Udara obtained the BSc with high-grade honours in 2014.

Having a thirst for knowledge, he obtained a diploma in Advanced Technology from the City and Guilds in London.

He had also registered for a Master's degree, but that was not to be, as he passed away suddenly. Apart from academics, Udara turned his attention to other activities such as young leadership training, future generation's programmes, as well as social services, raising funds for organisations such as HelpAge International.

He also obtained a First-aid certificate from the St. John Ambulance Association in 2001.

Armed with those qualifications, Udara opted to join a private firm to practice what he had learnt, without depending on the financial contributions of others.

A large number of friends who rallied round this dapper personality who was over six feet tall, fondly called him Boola. He was their undisputed leader. Fun-loving Udara was an entertainer, singer, voluntary social worker, but above all, he possessed great humane qualities.

No event was complete without him. He was an active participant in all events arranged by his friends, whether it was a sharmadana campaign, musical show, religious activity or wedding. He always played the role of the 'master of ceremonies'. Udara’s maturity displayed during those functions far exceeded his age. Some considered him their role model.

Brother, you were my best friend, but now, you are no longer with us. I miss you more than you will ever know. Your memories will always linger in my heart.

May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana!

Pradeep Liyanawaduge

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Kenneth Perera

An honest man

Death is inevitable; it comes to all. But when it comes to one who is close to you, it is indeed, sad.

Life seemed cruel for him to be taken away from us so early. He suffered a brief illness and breathed his last a few days ago. Kenneth was a unique friend. He was quiet and reserved with many, but vivacious and hilarious with close friends.

Kenneth was my closest friend for more than 55 years and was my bestman. As schoolboys, we fished in the Lunawa Lagoon, played cricket, and enjoyed eating 10-cent buns and ice cream from the college canteen.

His death has created a vacuum; I have lost a dear friend who is irreplaceable. An emptiness remains in me that I cannot seem to fill. He was a man who reached out to his friends—particularly, in their times of distress. He was steadfast in his loyalty to them, and this was evident from the large crowd that was present at his funeral. Kenneth gave generously to the underprivileged. Throughout his life, he epitomised love and compassion for the poor and marginalised.

He was the Hendala Lions Club President and was also a strict disciplinarian. Viewed from a Christian perspective, he was a true believer of Christ, with an empathetic heart. His life was an example to all; simple, dignified and social. Kenneth was a handsome, high-spirited, pleasant and humble human being.

Kenneth was always dedicated to his family. He was a loving husband to his wife Priyani and a devoted father to his only son Milinda. He was an amazing family man.

Priyani was a great strength to him in his duties, and looked after him with care and affection, especially when he was suffering from his illness.

He was close to his son Milinda and provided him with the correct education and exposure, laying the foundation for his success. I thank God for his life; for giving me a such a wonderful friend.

I will not say farewell, for I know we will meet again and would laugh once more. May your soul rest in peace.

Lalin I. de Silva

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Janaka Balasooriya

He was down-to-earth

To every man upon the earth, death cometh soon or late. - William Shakespeare.

The famous saying goes; ‘the good die young’. It was Multi-system Atrophy (MSA) that snatched the life of our beloved Janaka Balasooriya at the age of 45 years, when his life had just begun to blossom in Melbourne, having migrated in search of greener pastures in 2008.

After his secondary education at Isipathana College, Colombo 5, Janaka graduated from the Ceylon-German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI) in Moratuwa in 1991, when he was 20 years old. With the training he received there, he was able to find employment effortlessly. He had been the Transport Manager at D.S. Jayasinghe, Nawaloka Group and Jefferjee Brothers for 15 years, before opting to migrate.

Janaka was multi-talented and social; he had been the Honourary Secretary of the CGTTI Old Boys' Association's in Sri Lanka and Australia. Initially, Janaka had been a laser-cutting technician at a firm before joining Nelson Global in Melbourne. Janaka had also been instrumental in the formation of the Ceylon-German Technical Training Institute's Aluminium Global Forum.

He had also played a part in organising many social and cultural events such as bak maha ulelas and other sports tournaments in Dandenong, Australia. Janaka, with his colleague Kanishka Jayalth, had presented the radio program 3ZZZ, every Thursday night. He had also been the co-editor of the Sihanada newspaper.

Janaka was at the helm of numerous social and cultural activities in Melbourne. His sober habits, as well as his unassuming, down-to-earth and low-profile mannerism, were the hallmarks of his popularity. He was known to his colleagues as a sonduru minisek. Janaka received support from his friends and colleagues following his MSA diagnosis in 2014.

Janaka had initially faced difficulties in keeping his balance and later, needed a walker to travel. His wife Praboda, as well as his friends, assisted him from the initial stages of the disease until his demise on October 21, last year.

Janaka's friends had also organised 23 blood donations as well as food fairs, to raise funds to help him battle MSA, although specialists had said that he would not live past December, last year.

Sunil Thenabadu, Australia

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A.G. Ranasinghe

Devoted family man

It is with sadness that I write these few lines on my father-in-law Ambagahakottuwe Gedara Ranasinghe, known to family members as loku Appachchi. He passed away on September 20, 2014, after a brief illness.

He was born on January 12, 1926, at Amunugama in Kandy and was the third son in a family of 11. He studied up to Grade 8 and as a teenager, joined the army to fight in World War II. He was stationed at the Polgolla camp.

On being discharged from the military, he served at the Road Development Authority for over 25 years. He also worked as a contractor before going into retirement. He was a devout Buddhist who always prayed at the nearest temple. He never failed to visit the Amunugama Maha Viharaya on poya days.

My father-in-law was the Dayaka Sabha Secretary of the temple in his village and as such, the responsibilities that fell on him were numerous. Following the Chief Prelate's advice, he arranged dhamma discussions, as well as other programmes, for devotees who observed sil on poya days.

He married Wimalawathi from Menikhinna, Kandy and they were blessed with five daughters. After marriage, they moved to Amunugama, his birthplace. His children always held him in high esteem.

My association with his family began in the early 90's, when I married his third daughter Malani, although both of us were of different religions. My father-in-law had amazing qualities and this made him exceptional. He was a loving father and a devoted husband. He did everything possible to make our lives happy and comfortable. As a dutiful father, He advised us. He always said that learning was the foundation which no one could take away from us. He advised me to do my duties with dedication, commitment and integrity.

He was a teetotaler, a lover of plants, and one who considered gardening his responsibility. He attended to his plants so much that those who visited him often saw him toiling in the garden. We are in deep sorrow over his death.

He was keen on having get-togethers once every three months.

A few months before his death, I saw him at his granddaughter's wedding.

May this dedicated Buddhist personality attain the Supreme of Nibbana! May his journey through Sansara be short and smooth!

Prabath Perera


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