APPRECIATIONS

Bandula Padmakumara

The Trendsetter Stands Alone

The Bandula Padmakumara definition is built on two elements: innovation and creativity. The elements seem identical, yet subtly apart. This definition applies to the Sri Lankan print medium. Padmakumara is widely spoken of for his Mul Pituwa saga, but there’s more to him. He altered and modified the print medium landscape. You can copy me, but you will never be me, that was Arthur Fleck’s motto as the lead character of The Joker. These lines hold familiarity in Sinhala usage: copy kala heka, sama kala noheka. This is actually the moment of truth for Bandula Padmakumara, the media man known for many things. He was an experimenter restless and indefatigable, building an iconic image of himself subject to be imitated by a host of followers.

Padmakumara is most associated with Lake House as its former Chairman and Mulpituwa programme as its host. The least known factor about him, perhaps, is that he had already pioneered various periodicals. He was never hesitant to call himself the seemingly derogatory malpattara karaya. I know no proper English equivalent to this term. Perhaps this genre could vaguely be identified as tabloid referred to as ‘rags’ below the usual par of conventional journalism. But when he was involved in the publishing of women’s periodicals such as Sarasi, Rejinaand Kumari, Pathipathini and Araliya in the 1970s, he certainly indicated the making of a veteran journalist of some calibre. That provided the groundwork for him to test the waters in the print medium scape. He took that groundwork to the next level with Samudura, a tabloid about world affairs, and a little later, Lakbima.

Lakbima was a quite popular national newspaper. It remained so until it was closed down for absurd reasons. As Lakbima’s founding editor, Padmakumara introduced a pullout tabloid for leisure reading. Like most of his work, it too was a trendsetter. The rest of the Sinhala national newspapers issued pullout tabloids. With Mul Pituwa, he encouraged the journalists by saying out and exhibiting their names. He covered all the sections of a newspaper extending to cartoons as well. Mul Pituwa is the culminating point in Padmakumara’s career. It elevated him to a veteran media personnel level. Many hosts, including well-known presenters, began to follow suit. But Padmakumara retains the originality. He retains the rights of innovation as well as creativity. What the presenters did was copy him, they could never duplicate Bandula Padmakumara.

That is why the death of Bandula Padmakumara, 71, feels premature.

As Lake House Chairman, Padmakumara grew particularly fond of the Daily News Features Desk. He had constant conversations with the Desk on contents and everything else, with a Jeffrey Archer copy flipped on his table. He never overrode the position of the editor, towards whom he maintained utmost respect.

There are many opinions about what kind of personality should be a Chairman of a company. Some say it should be an administrator. Some say it should be a career expert. Bandula Padmkumara was no administrator. But he made use of his media experience and expertise to implement certain changes at Lake House as its executive administrator. He earned brickbats as well as bouquets. He was keen to publish tabloids because he was familiar with the market.

He was particularly fond of the Daily News Buddha Pradeepa, the companion edition of the Dinamina Vesak Annual.

“We need this type of magazine to maintain the dignity and prestige of Lake House. We may not be getting many advertisements because it is in English and it’s Buddhism, but still, we need such magazines,” he said.

When I met him after his Lake House tenure was over, we had a casual conversation about books, magazines and newspapers. I was curious where he placed newspapers.

“People still buy papers, you know. They still buy magazines too. They expect good quality, good printing and first-class articles. A newspaper is likely to include hurriedly-written articles, whereas readers expect well-researched articles in a magazine. The magazine comes in where the newspaper falters.”

I shoot him with another question:

Among newspapers, magazines and books, which do you think have more effect on the reader?

And here comes the answer:

“Of course it is books. We still read books. I have doubts whether the younger crowd reads books. But the educated crowd such as artistes, academics and writers read books. Where education is concerned, you need to depend on books much more than newspapers and magazines. Books will last years and decades.”

In the middle of the conversation, he thinks it’s time to light the pipe and have a good hard think.

“I have never seen you smoke before…” I would casually remark.

“Smoking is bad for health. I had to give it up for the last 12 years because I had Mul Pituwa to concentrate. Now that I have no such thing to concentrate and nothing else much, I got back to my leisure habit.”

That was Bandula Padmakumara. Losing Lake House and Mul Pituwa at once had a heavy toll on him. It must have hurt him no end when he saw his brainchild, Mul Pituwa, slip out of his hand to some imitator. But he was never the one to give up. He always lived up to his definition: innovation and creativity.

He set up his own publishing firm and issued a magazine for would-be mothers titled Adaraneeya Ammi. The magazine is still available at leading bookshops. During the lockdown, Padmakumara also published two books: a collection of political essays and a brief biography of Pandit Amaradeva.

Small-made, always adorned with a charming smile, there was a man who proved his mettle as a trendsetter in the Sri Lankan print medium. He will be forgotten over time. His name will no longer be heard. But the trend he has set will continue to live on.

- Sachitra Mahendra

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H. B. Jayasekare

Dedicated Engineer

H. B. Jayasekare belonged to an elite family of Dompe in Gampaha District. He had received his secondary education in Ananda College of Colombo. Having entered the Faculty of Engineering in the University of Peradeniya in early 1960s HB completes his higher education in the United Kingdom.

In the latter part of 1960s Jayasekare joined the State Engineering Corporation and worked under chief of the institution Dr. A.N.S. Kulasinghe - the doyen of the revolutionary engineering applications.

In 1973, with the establishment of CECB- the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau, as an institution amalgamated to the Mahaweli Development Authority, Jayasekare had to serve in it in the capacity of project manager. Herein we acknowledge the service he rendered in this capacity as most valuable for consolidating an organisation while serving to the nation.

I am fortunate enough to work under him and associate his valuable principles of working for a period of more than four decades within CECB, from the day I graduated from the university as a young engineer.

Jayasekare has been involved in the principal works of the designs of the reservoirs of Kothmale, Randenigala, Rantambe and Maduruoya- the major reservoir series of the accelerated Mahaweli Project which had usually required different disciplines of engineering, capacities of project management and generally to work with the specific consultancies of CECB together with the Mahaweli Authority.

I am personally aware that Jayasekare’s prime contributions have been focused in the launch of the Victoria Project of the Mahaweli accelerated programme.

I can recollect, out of many instances, the involvement of HB who had faithfully identified the objectives of the project that he works with, as to sustain with people living in the environment it serve for. On this background, HB even led the foreign consultants to change their original designs. I would like to site one example. The consultant engineers of Alexander Gibb wanted to have the gates of Victoria dam as in the way the dam of Cariba in Africa has it gates in the lower level of the dam. But Jayasekare was opposing this method of installing the gates giving out the reasons for his stance. Finally they accepted Jayasekare’s proposal and changed the position of the gates which is very valid within our atmosphere, even up to this day.

It is a day of 25 years after completion of the Victoria Project. Jayasekare was already retired from the active service of CECB but in this day he had been summoned for the inspection of the Victoria hydropower tunnel. The entrance to the tunnel is a 120 metre deep vertical cylinder with simple metal hooks fastened onto the inner wall for holding and placing the feet for descending down to the horizontal tube which carry water up to the power generators.

Then I was in the middle age, and I felt a bit shaky before entering into the deep well and scrolling through the dark tunnel along nearly six kilometre length! But Jayasekare spoke to the descending gang and got into the tube to climb down a height of 120 metre without anything to be used at a risk. After descending down vertically touched the bottom to walk a six kilometre length along the tube. Finally came out through an opening in the close proximity to the power station. (This daring dedication of HB towards the country and his profession had been proved in this ordeal of ‘inspection tunnel’.)

In the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau Jayasekare has held many of the hierarchical levels including the overall project management and the general management. But he accepted the chairmanship only obeying the strong propel of the executives of the organisation.

After his retirement from the service I was posted to the chairperson of the organisation. Within my period of service and even after it Jayasekare was summoned to the Board as a Board Member. I feel, until the year 2019 he has been closely watching the CECB.

When I was in the chair I got the opportunity of reading the host of records accumulated within the chairman’s room. Most of them were of HBs essential technical reports written with wise analytical approach. All of these formal records including the pen sketches exhibit his dedication to engineering and to the society in total.

Having launched the initial studies, the irrigation projects related with River Menik, Kalu, Yan, Uma and upper Kothmale have been completed by now with the involvement of CECB under the guidance of Jayasekare.

It must be mentioned, in completion of stupa of Kothmale Mr. Jayasekare was in the forefront.

He was not only a modern day engineer but he was equipped with the sense of the water heritage of Sri Lanka- our irrigation systems gifted to us by the geniuses of this nation. Once when he was questioned on how he captured the sensitivity and the knowledge of the country’s ancient irrigation system his answer was: ‘we have them within our genetics.’

In my professional life Jayasekare has been my teacher mostly in proper application of engineering skills. One day after his retirement I was summoned to his home and donated all his text books and other literature related to engineering. (He had no other faithful since his daughter and son are professionals in medicine)

Jayasekare taller than six feet with an elegant stature was an island record holder in sports. It is his tradition to bend towards the other and listened to him, even to his woes, with a light smile on his lips.

Jayasekare was silently watching the water resources development taken place within the country during the last 10 years. He was much reluctant to the scheme of canal system opened from the newly built (but a debatable proposal of 50 years back) reservoir of Moragahakanda which would lead to an unending clash between the two ethnic groups of the country on sharing water.

Throughout, a humble, calm and religious life lead by him seemed to have strikingly grew prominent, in this sense, during the last couple of years. We too took part in the religious sessions Jayasekare has observed.

Let us express our deepest condolence to all of the family.

May he attain the bliss of Nibbana.

- Nihal Rupasinghe
Former Secretary to Ministry of Mahaweli
& Irrigations & Former Chairman of the Central Engineering
Consultancy Bureau (CECB)

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Manik Fernandopulle

A Guiding Star

Twelve years have flown since Manik’s passing away
Still, he is kept close to their hearts-forget him no way
Since Manik took away his earthly presence
Charming gracious lady- Mangala recalling fond memories, daily reminisce
Rikshan and Rukshila fondest babes of yesteryear
Now a big lady and gent too reminisce about the father
The two kids from day one, they saw the light
His interests were centred on them – perfectly right
Manik was the guiding star of his kids for life
So was Mangala, his loving and enchanting wife
One that captivated him most was their future welfare
For which he worked tirelessly- a quality very rare
Beautiful memories still linger in their hearts
Though it is a decade and more since he did depart
Mangala is often reminded of how much they were sought
Loved and cared for and how much joy he brought
He was a very devoted husband and an affectionate dad
While in his arms they never ever felt sad
They often recall the memories they treasure
As what they enjoyed with him was beyond measure
The two of them in their chosen fields now do find
For dad to watch from heaven how in life they shine
They know, all the facilities in life they are honoured with
Was the outcome of his hard work with great faith
For them the cheerful childhood days, a delight
Always enjoyed mum and dad within their sight
Mangala says that the very thought of him is an inspiration
Where you are being committed to instant divine protection
She further says we owe you an inestimable debt–I wonder whether
We could ever repay even if three of us get together
Having had his primary education in Negombo
His academic excellence was achieved at St Joseph’s Colombo
He started as an efficient Chemical Engineer
Got further qualified after a long University career
By his superior knowledge and extra intelligence
He performed to dear Mother Lanka, a valuable service
Selflessly devoted to his work and profession
His work in different sections was completed to perfection
He was best recognized in his administrative capacity
Evident from the service rendered in various institutions of quality
He had already made his mark in superior performance
Working enthusiastically with immense perseverance
Having served Lanka as an honest loyal son, really and truly
He bade goodbye to all his friends, relations, and family
On the fateful day of March 6, 2010
The fragrance of the days gone by will never fade away
May his soul Rest in Peace.

- Rupa Banduwardena
Melbourne, Australia