Appreciations

Man of integrity and sagacity

Lord Alfred Tennyson

Gilbert Herat Gunaratne, immediate past Precedent Partner of one of Sri Lanka's oldest law firms, Messrs F.J & G.De Sarams, passed away on November 14, after a brief terminal illness. In Gilbert's untimely death, the Sri Lankan legal profession lost one of the most respected, dignified, and graceful yet complete professional, at least 15 years too soon. His wife Anne and children Channa and Dharsiska lost a loving husband and devoted father. Gilbert preferred to settle his children before his death but it was not to be. 

The Herat Gunaratne clan lost the pivot round which the family bonded and kept four generations of family members together well away from courts to settle any disputes relating to family inheritance. His handful of close friends euphemistically named "Grahayas" lost an irreplaceable friend who stood by them at all times.

Gilbert Herat Gunaratne, like all other members of his extended brood was born at Galmuruwa Walauwa in Madampe but studied at Ananda College, Colombo, from where he entered the Sri Lanka Law College and passed out as an Attorney-at-Law in 1962. In the same year he was selected as a legal assistant by the legendary De Sarams' Partner, the late A.R. Tampoe. Gilbert devoted his entire professional life in the service to the 'Firm'. He specialized in plantation related litigation work and was accepted as a Partner in January 1971. When Elmo St. I. Perera, the Precedent Partner who succeeded the late A.R Tampoe in 1981 retired in December 1997, Gilbert Herat Gunaratne was elevated to that position.

To quote from the history of the 'Firm' published on the occasion of its 160th year: "G.S. Herat Gunaratne was the first Buddhist to be admitted to Partnership. G.S. Herat Gunaratne is the first non-Christian Precedent Partner of the firm." It was a long and lonely journey for a village boy from Galmuruwa to have travelled, but Gilbert's unflinching dedication to work and his esteemed integrity carried him the distance.

Gilbert Gunaratne embellished the position of Precedent Partner of the hallowed Firm until August 2001. It was when Gilbert presided over the destinies of F.J & G. De Sarams that the Firm celebrated its 160th birthday. A few months after this historic occasion, Gilbert retired from the Precedent Partner's position paving the way for his lifelong friend U.L. Kadurugamuwa. In keeping with De Sarams' tradition, Gilbert continued as a Senior Consultant in the Firm until his hospitalization a few weeks ago.

The professional integrity and legal sagacity of Gilbert Herat Gunaratne are well known in the judicial, legal and commercial circles of this country. F.J & G De Sarams have been the personal lawyers for the political leaders on both sides of the divide. Late Prime Ministers D.S. Senanayake and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike were among them. The "Siri Kotha" deeds were deposited for a time with them. Gilbert personally attended to the non-political legal work of the late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Until his sickness, Gilbert as Precedent Partner attended personally to the legal work of the First Family. Being a professional, Gilbert maintained complete confidentiality when dealing with the affairs of his clients specially those with public personae. Gilbert or the Firm never misused the close contacts they had with the leaders of the country for private or professional gain.

Gilbert was the lynch pin of the Herat Gunaratne family. He was pivotal in making legal arrangements to create the Munneswaram family trust to provide funds for the annual 118-year-old Galmuruwa Perahera at Munneswaram Devale in Chilaw. He had participated in all the annual festivals held during his lifetime except the one held this year when he was receiving medical treatment in Singapore. Perhaps, with foresight Gilbert handed over the affairs of the Trust to two representatives of the fifth generation of Munneswaram family devotees.

For a few others and me, Gilbert was the ultimate friend. He never asked favours but was always ready to help. He never changed with eminence in the profession. He loved his country and whenever time permitted he travelled to every nook and corner of Sri Lanka with his family or his friends. He avoided travelling abroad until he was compelled to go for medical treatment a few months ago.

Gilbert left us before his time. As a senior legal professional with an unimpeachable record, he could have served his nation for a few more years. It was a sad loss to the legal profession, his wife Anne and his son and daughter and the extended Herat Gunaratne family. The void created by his departure in the firmament of 'Grahayas' will never be filled.

Gilbert left us with a tranquil mind, for he knew that the time had come for him to leave us. A few days before his death, I took a stone casket of the Buddha's relics that I had received as a venerated gift from the former Minister of Interior in Pakistan for Gilbert to seek blessings. He held the casket to his chest and uttered one phrase; "This is Samsara". I wish Gilbert would complete his Samsaric cycle earlier than most, for he never hurt anybody during his distinguished life in this world. 

Srimega Wijeratne

Tribute to late Lalith Athulathmudali on his b'day, Nov. 26

Our nation lost a precious life

Lalith was a person who should have lived in this age - a person essential to the country. I saw him as a great personality during the periods prior to his being a minister and that which followed his relinquishment of office as minister until the time of his death. 

It is the educated who appreciate the value of education. When he was Minister of Trade, he launched a project that should have been initiated by the Minister of Education, the Mahapola scholarship scheme. When he himself was a student, the scholarship granted by Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike who identified the value of fostering an educated person for the country undoubtedly helped him to complete his education successfully. Realising the value of the grant of a scholarship to a student, the establishment of the Mahapola scholarship scheme for all university students in Sri Lanka was one of the greatest services rendered by him.

Although Lalith Athulathmudali, during his period of office as the Minister of National Defence, was not able to contain terrorism, he gave his valuable political leadership towards that end.

However great an intellect he possessed, he did not see the reality of the consequences of his participatory leadership in the enactment of the present Constitution which is a curse to this country. It has been proved already over and over, that the Executive Presidential system is extremely detrimental to the country. That veteran politician Dr. N.M. Perera who was not a Minister, not even a Member of Parliament, when the Executive Presidential system was introduced, in his foresight revealed to the country the dangers of this system. I think Lalith Athulathmudali although an intelligent politician, failed to pinpoint that error because he was blindfolded by party politics.

It did not take long for Lalith to realise that the Executive Presidential system was detrimental to the whole country. It was too late when he discarded his portfolio and came before the public in order to abolish the Executive Presidential system. A mistake can be made by the highest of intellectuals, and the admission of one's mistake is a characteristic of an intellectual.

At a time when the lack of education and poverty were considered the highest qualifications, the people respected Lalith as an educated politician. "You should prove that you excel better than the white men if you are to get general recognition among them", were the words that Mr. Bandaranaike-the educated politician who brought honour to Sri Lanka-used in his farewell to Lalith on the eve of his departure to Oxford University There is no doubt that those words would have strongly influenced Lalith. He reached the position of President of the Oxford Student Union. Mr. Bandaranaike with all humility stated, "I am glad that Lalith reached a position that I could not achieve."

Lalith brought honour to Sri Lanka during his student days. He was awarded an honours degree in Jurisprudence by the University of Oxford and also the Lord Sanky prize for Jurisprudence. He earned the MA and the LLM degrees and proceeded to Germany on another scholarship where he studied the German Language. Lalith also obtained a scholarship to Harvard University and was appointed lecturer at the University of Singapore and later Deputy Dean. He brought fame to Sri Lanka through all these achievements.

Having returned to Sri Lanka, Lalith took his oaths as an Advocate of the Supreme Court. Lalith had ample opportunity to proceed to a foreign country and live in comfort. We can account for only a few persons who despite the opportunities they had, served this country. Phillip, NM and SWRD were among the few who with their education and pleasing personalities had many opportunities here or abroad, but entered the arena of local politics.

The service to the country by this man of the century who was born towards the middle of the twentieth century was great indeed. The changes made within the country by his intellect will be appreciated for many thousands of years by posterity.

-Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero

She was too good for this world

It was just three months ago in the evening of August 25 that God's call came to my darling Onnie. She was a shy quiet girl just seven years and nine months old. She was loved by all, the nuns, teachers and children of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya, her parents, little brother, grandparents and all uncles, aunts and cousins. 

It is hard to believe that Onnie will never step into my home again. The last visit she paid was on my birthday on August 3. We miss her but remember her in our prayers. 

At all the school concerts she was chosen as an angel and we know she is now an angel in God's kingdom. Last year, on her birthday on December 21 we were happy to see her cutting the cake. 

We will never forget how happy her Dad, Mom, brother, relatives and friends were on that day and also on Christmas Day. 

Christmas will come and go but we will all have a blue Christmas without her. 

Onella was too good for this world and God wanted her to be with Him. That was how it had to be. 

We think of you in silence
We often say your name
But all we have is treasured memories
And your picture in a frame
A special place in my heart
Is set aside for you, Onnie
As long as life and memories last
I will love and remember you. 

- Achcha