APPRECIATIONS | Daily News

APPRECIATIONS

F.A.W. Irugalbandara

A modest man of ethical principles focused on simple living

It is with a heavy heart that I pen this tribute to Francis A.W. Irugalbandara (affectionately known as Frank or Frankie by everybody) who was blessed with a good personality. He was liberal and also he felt happiness in giving and sharing with others. Frank, who passed away peacefully on December 24, 2021, was the eldest son of Joe Irugalbandara and Winifred Irugalbandra nee Perera. He received his education at St. Joseph’s College, Maradana.

His father passed away when he was just seven years old. He was the eldest son in the family. During that time, his younger sister and younger brother were also very small. Under these circumstances as a widower, his mother had chosen him as her helping hand for day-to-day family matters. He and his family had to endure hardship as he lost his loving father early which was traumatic. However, he was able to overcome the pain and agony through sheer willpower and mental strength. Despite all the challenges he faced, he looked after his family (sister Lucky and brother Lanka) well.

He married my aunt Nesta (my father’s sister), daughter of G.J.F. Perera and Agnes Vilathgamuwa. They became an exemplary and loving Catholic couple. He was a devoted father to his two daughters Sujivie and Cynthica.

He tried his hand at entrepreneurship, starting Sucy Constructions (Pvt) Ltd., FAB Constructions (Pvt) Ltd., Ranmal Constructions (Pvt) Ltd. He had pride in being the Chairman at Sierra Construction (Pvt) Ltd. He also shared his wide experience on several professional bodies. He was a walking encyclopaedia. The ample knowledge he carried about various topics was always fascinating. He was an avid reader and he would almost throw a tantrum if he was not able to get his hands on the daily newspaper each morning.

With a very heavy heart, I forced myself to write this appreciation to our beloved uncle on his demise. I was very attached to him from my early childhood. On many occasions, I forced myself to write an appreciation, but inner emotions prevented me from doing so. But at last, I strengthened my heart and forced myself to write it. He never raised his voice when speaking to any person and was always conscious of their self-respect. He was a role model for his honesty and integrity. He lived his life based on principles. The right was right and wrong was wrong. He was the essence of compassion. A simple man with simple values and stood by strong religious values instilled by his loving parents who shaped and moulded him to become the man he became. He was a role model; he set the standards where every son should be to his family.

Perhaps heaven needed more angels and God sent for Frank. He was plucked from us in the most shocking manner. Most of us who knew him would insist that what he had to endure before passing was not merited, especially for this wonderful human being. He was strong and independent and would not have wanted to be dependent on anyone under any circumstances. But I believe, if my uncle was here to interpret, he’d have said ‘it is what I had to go through to earn the rewards that await me in heaven’. Such was his faith.

He was open-minded, outspoken, and a strict disciplinarian. He always cultivated good virtues among us.

My uncle had implicit faith in the Lord. With all his achievements and talents, he was a humble person who lived a simple life. He was also considerate and upright and always stood up for what was right. He always maintained cordial relations with his relatives, friends and neighbours.

My earliest recollections of him go back to my childhood when every year my grandmother (his mother) would invite all for a family lunch at our home in Ja-Ela during the Weligampitiya Church Feast along with other extended family members and friends. In the evening, he gives us Rs. 10 and allows us to go to the carnival, where we enjoy merry-go-around, Ferris wheel, eat ‘achcharu’ (pickles) etc and return home. I spent my Christmas and school holidays at his home in Welivita. Another aspect of the harmony in which we lived was the mutual respect for, and interest in, each other’s traditions and customs.

He considered me as his child and never showed any discrimination.

Until the end of his life, his thoughts were with us. When I spoke to him a few days before his demise, I never thought that was my last meeting with him, when he lovingly addressed me as ‘thattaya’ (bald man).

I wanted to tell you how much you meant to me and how grateful I was for all that you have done. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to say how much I appreciated and loved you, as you were losing strength day by day. Even then, I still refused to consider the possibility of you leaving us forever. He used to see my family when I was working in Anuradhapura and Pasikudah respectively.

Words are inadequate to pay tribute to this wonderful and caring uncle (Loku Mami) whose death has left a void in our lives. Loku Mami, you will forever be the binding force who held our family together. Those we love never pass away they will always remain in our hearts with lots of loving memories.

I hope he was blessed with a very good worldly life and practised virtues. May his soul rest in peace.

Ever-loving nephew,
G.L.B. Ramesh Perera

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Anil Chrisantha Wikramanayake

Epitome of Gentility

Anil C. Wikramanayake was very much junior to me in our Alma Mater - St. Aloysius’ College (SAC), Galle. We were fortunate to have been moulded by the Jesuit Priests at SAC. We were always reminded of the fact that anything we did should be of high quality and excellence. And, of course, with Honesty and Integrity as our principles. These were the highly esteemed and valued principles always practised by Anil until his early sad demise on December 4, 2021.

The funeral was held at the Catholic Section of the General Cemetery, Borella on December 6, 2021. I was present with a limited number of old boys, his loved ones, and friends adhering to the restrictions imposed by the medical authorities on COVID-19. The College was represented by the principal with 10 prefects.

Anil was born on December 23, 1956 to parents, the late Ray Wickramanayake, a leading lawyer in Galle, and Indranie Senanayake. Anil grew up in the bustling city of Galle with his younger siblings, the late Gihan Wikramanayake and Sharmini Wickremasinghe. He was educated at St. Aloysius’ College, Galle and St. Joseph’s College, Colombo (1966–1968). He captained the SAC First Eleven Cricket Team in 1975. He was under 14 Swimming Champion in 1969, Overall Chess Champion 1971, Badminton Champion 1974 and a star Athlete at SAC.

He married Shanika Thevarapperuma, the daughter of Dr. Don Allan Thevarapperuma of Pamunugama and Nawalage Lilian Cooray in 1986. And, fathered two daughters, Anisha and Neluka Wikramanayake, providing a comfortable and nurturing environment for them to grow up in.

He entered Sri Jayawardenapura University and obtained his B.Sc. (Hons.) in Mathematics and Statistics Second Class Upper Division in 1980. He continued his studies to qualify as a Chartered Accountant and FCA Prize Winner in all exams, FCMA World Prize Winner. He also obtained an MBA from the Colombo University and was the Gold Medalist.

He commenced his professional career as an Accountant by serving at Ford, Rhodes, Thornton and Company for three years and thereafter joining Hayleys Ltd., Quality Seed Ltd., Sunfrost Ltd., Hayleys Agro Farms Ltd., Hayleys Biotech Ltd., and Hayleys Group Services Ltd. Founder and Managing Director HJS Condiments Ltd. (a subsidiary of Hayleys) – the largest exporter of Fruits and Vegetables in Sri Lanka – Supplier to McDonald, Burger King, Subway, Hungry Jacks, Unilever, Heinz with Six Presidential Export Awards as Managing Director.

Anil was the President of the SAC OBA Colombo Branch from 2012 to 2014 and I always introduced him to my friends and other OBA members as a giant of our Association for his dedication and commitment in handling all matters concerning the Association especially the construction of the Rev. Fr. Morelli Sports Stadium at Kandawatte. He handled this task solely with his personal efforts ably assisted by former President Tissa Gunawardena. He, too, obtained the financial assistance only from one member of our Association Ariyasheela Wickremanayake, Chairman /Master Divers and Chairman /Pelawatte Dairy to construct the Swimming Pool at the Sports Complex.

Ariyasheela funded the entire cost of the swimming pool for the benefit of all schoolchildren in the Galle District. Anil also had the ability and potential to obtain financial contributions from the well-wishers, old boys and our OBA branches in the UK and Australia to complete the Sports Complex.

Anil with his corporate exposure had the vision and the foresight to plan out and handle matters effectively and expeditiously with high quality and excellence. Kandawatte Land in which the Sports Complex was constructed, belonged to the Galle Municipal Council and had contentious issues with the Council. Anil came up with the astute and great idea to construct a wide building in order to minimise the risk of Municipal authorities gaining access to the grounds. As proposed by Anil, construction work was done with 20,000 square feet for the impressive pavilion with dormitory facilities which is now being used by the schoolchildren who travel to Galle from outstations for sports events. The facility of the swimming pool is also patronised by the students of the Galle District.

Anil was a diligent private sector executive/administrator during our times with clear vision, irreproachable character and simple manners. Being an old boy of the SAC, we can certainly boast about men of Anil’s calibre who was an embodiment of incorruptibility, honesty and commitment. There was one constant characteristic which he showed through the whole of his career in the private sector; the courage of his convictions and the firm refusal to compromise on what he believed in. I am personally aware of the intensity of his involvement in exceedingly useful social work because of my close association with him.

In the midst of life’s challenges and upheavals, Anil’s close friendship will ever remain for me, a shining memory.

May he rest in peace.

Punya de Silva,
(Former DIG/CID,
Head of Interpol (SL) and Director/National Intelligence Bureau)

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DIG Daya Jayasundera

A Police Officer of Rugby fame

This article is written in remembrance of our beloved brother, DIG Daya Jayasundera of Police Rugby fame on his 10th death anniversary that fell on January 3.

Late Daya Jayasundera, our dear brother joined the Police Force as a Sub Inspector of Police in 1968 and ended up as a Deputy Inspector General of Police. He was the third child of a family of nine children. He did great service as a Police Officer and after joining the Police Force, he excelled in Rugby and became a player cum coach which enabled him to bring the Police Rugby team to the top standard.

Daya had a charming personality that won the hearts of everyone whom he came across and he was honest, to say the least, and was proud of the police uniform he was dressed in. Daya had his education at Dharmaraja College, Kandy where he played Cricket, Hockey, Boxing and athletics and he was a boxer of repute who represented the Indu/Ceylon Annual Boxing Meet held in Sri Lanka in the early ’60s. After leaving school, he played Rugby for the Kandy Sports Club and after a Police/Kandy Rugby game at Nittawela, the former Inspector General of Police, Rudra Rajasingham, spotted his rugby skills and invited him to join the Police Force and after an interview, Daya was appointed as a Sub Inspector of Police in 1968 and played in the Police Rugby team and at that time the team was captained by S. Shivendran.

He played under M.A. Majeed in 1970 and shared the Clifford Cup with Havelocks that year. In 1972, when Anton Benedict led the Police Rugby team, Daya was a player and that year, Police won the Clifford Cup and again he was a member of the 1973 Police team captained by Nizam Hajireen in which the team shared the Cup with Sri Lanka Army. In 1974, Daya captained the Rugby team and in 1972, Daya was a member of the Sri Lanka Rugby for the ASIAD held in Hong Kong. One of his teammates was former Senior DIG Nimal Lewke. Daya took up refereeing after his playing days and proved that he was a top level ‘A’ Division referee and he coached the Police Rugby team and he became an International Rugby Referee. When Daya was coaching the Police Rugby team in the ’80s, the Police team were undisputed champions before Kandy SC took over the mantle and in that period, the Police Rugby team undertook a tour of Hong Kong in 1988 with Shivendran as the Manager of the team. During this time, Ernest Perera was the IGP and Daya was the Chairman of the Police Rugby during Daya’s tenure as the DIG. This remembrance is dedicated to Daya from his dear wife, Badra and three children, Danushka, Pandula and Rajith and his brothers, Ananda, Upananda, Sarath, Gamini, Senarath and dear sisters Jayanthi and Swarna with the loving remembrance of our beloved late Father, Jayasundera M. Wijeratne, late mother Gladys Jayasundera, and late brother Parakrama Jayasundera.


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