Appreciations
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Father
figure of Zahira is no more They had their early education guided and nurtured by the late Al-Haj. Wadood. He knew no enemies and had a good word for everyone who came across his wisdom, education and leadership. He was a contemporary of every age and citizen of all countries. As the present Mayor of Matale, I had his blessings in my effort to improve Matale and make it an up-todate city. Mr. Wadood advised me and his experience influenced me in conducting my day-to-day affairs in improving the Matale town and its suburbs. I would like to recall some of the thoughts shared by him during our lengthy meetings. Once he narrated how the late A.C.S. Hameed, then the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the UNP Government took to politics in the mid-50s. I was also fortunate to hear how the late V.T. Nanayakkara, the famous Principal of Matale Vijaya College who later became a Member of Parliament for Matale happened to be Mr. Wadood's Principal at Vijaya College where the latter became the first Muslim graduate from Matale. Mr. Wadood began his teaching career in his alma mater. Mr. Nanayakkara identified the needs of Muslim education in Matale and was gracious enough to obtain 14 acres of land where Matale Zahira College is presently situated. Mr. Wadood's love for hockey was immense. He was one of the founder members of the Matale Hockey Association. In mid-2003, when the St. Thomas' Old Boys’ Association conducted an all-island seven-a-side hockey tournament in memory of the late principal Charles Robinson, the association felicitated the pioneers who promoted the game of hockey at national and international level. Among the 125 felicitated, Mr. Wadood was first on the list. Mr. Wadood's son Gazzali Wadood who is now domiciled in New York, USA was also a brilliant hockey player on the national side. Since Gazzali was out of the country, the awards made to Mr. Wadood and his son at the felicitation ceremony were collected by Mr. Wadood himself from the Chief Guest, the Governor of the Central Bank A.S. Jayewardane who was also a distinguished old boy of St. Thomas' College, Matale. Mr. Jayewardane whilst distributing the awards remarked that Mr. Wadood was an outstanding personality who helped the game of hockey in Matale in many ways during his time. In memory of Mr. Wadood, I along with the old boys of Matale Zahira have decided to hold an All-Island Hockey Tournament in the new Astro-Turf Hockey Grounds in Matale annually. Mr. Wadood also had a special place for the dispensation of English education at Matale Zahira. He saw to it that everyone under his charge took to English education as keenly as possible while stressing the need for the promotion of Swabasha. For him the school was the beginning and the end. Family matters were secondary when compared to the affairs of the college. It is to the credit of the late Mr. Wadood that he knew almost the entire population of Zahira by their first name. He would recollect at the first reckoning where they lacked in their school curriculum. His thorough knowledge of the students made him a father figure of Zahira. Mr. Wadood championed youth affairs. He was the patron and president of the Y.M.M.A. Colombo and started many projects that would benefit the youth. Essentially a family man, devout Muslim and welfare leader, he counted years of service in projects that would help the youth, for he believed that today's youth are tomorrow's leaders. Mr. Wadood's passing away is a sad loss to Matale and the whole country. My last meeting with Mr. Wadood was during the Ramazan festival prayers at Gongawela Jumma Mosque in Matale. He hugged me and we exchanged pleasantries. A few days later he passed away, and his students flocked in their thousands to pay their last respects to him. I was really touched when his beloved son Saddi Wadood conducted the funeral prayers at the Gongawela Jumma Mosque. Mr. Wadood rendered yeoman service for the betterment of human society. May he rest in peace in his chosen abode and may almighty Allah shower him with peace and tranquillity in Jennathul Firdouse. "Oh! You disciplined soul, come back to your creator satisfied and satisfying. Enter the companions of those who have done good deeds and join them my slave. Enter my heaven and be there forever." - Al-Quran, Sura Fajar, Verses 28-30. Al-Haj.
Hilmy He
stood tall wherever he went A product of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia, University College, Colombo - he was a leading lawyer. In the late 1950s, he migrated from Moratuwa to Colombo and was much sought after for cases even in the outstations. A man of unimpeachable integrity, he fought indefatigably for any cause he espoused and for his clients. He appeared in many cases in which public interest was evinced at the time, such as the Turf Club case, the 'Yakadaya' case and the generator export (opium) case, to name a few. He was junior counsel to D.N. Pritt QC in the famous Jomo Kenytata case at the Privy Council. A fluent and flowery speaker, he excelled in the art of repartee even in courts. Master of the spoken and written word, proud of his heritage, he walked with kings and still maintained the common touch. A host par excellence, he had a large circle of friends. He cut his political teeth in local politics at the Moratuwa Urban Council as a member nominated by the then Minister of Local Government, the late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. He was appointed a Senator by Sirimavo Bandaranaike and sworn in as the Minister of Justice in her Cabinet in 1960. He represented her at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference in London the same year. Felix Dias Bandaranaike in Parliament and Sam P.C. Fernando in the Senate were two formidable personalities who steered government business through difficult times in the new government in the bi-cameral legislature. As Minister of Justice, he was saddled, inter alia, with onerous tasks relating to the late Prime Minister's assassination case, the implementation of the language policy, the initial work on the Press Bill and some of the legislative work connected with the 1962 coup. In addition, he played an important and significant role in the conduct of the Non-Aligned Conference. He performed all this with great aplomb. Pettiness and jealousy did strive to put him down but he stood tall in the multi-faceted areas he dealt with. Although education was not one of his subjects, he played no mean part together with the then Governor General, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, to settle the serious and sensitive dispute with the Roman Catholic Church on the schools take-over, through the good offices of Cardinal Gracias of India. His contribution to that debate in the Senate has much relevance and has proved prophetic today in the context of the veritable mess in education and the proliferation of companies and other entities clouding and dismembering the free-education policy. To quote Senator Sam P.C. Fernando, Minister of Justice - "I wish to say that the education of every child in this island, whether Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu, is not a matter that is of supreme indifference to the government. If parents have to pay fees even if they choose to do so, it is not a matter of indifference to this government. It should certainly be a matter, which should strike at the conscience of the government, if parents are driven to it.” (Senate Hansard of 15.11.60). Indeed as Minister owing allegiance to the country and the government he served, he had his share of personal contradictions which he faced with a high degree of finesse and loyalty displayed within the meaning of collective responsibility, particularly with the relativities of his standing in the Anglican Church on the schools issue, the nationalization of insurance and the Press Bill, whatever his liberal outlook would have been and whatever interpretations affected parties would have read into his stance. Yet, he had the courage to stand up and defend national interests. Latterly, he served as Ambassador to Egypt with accreditation to certain Middle-East countries. As Treasurer of the Anglican Diocese he took meaningful measures to improve the lot of the priests. He walked the corridors of power both in public and religious life with consummate ease, earning regard and respect. A connoisseur of the arts, he had varied interests from horticulture to drama and antiques. In drama, as a bachelor, he had displayed his prowess in a popular stage play at the time - "The Oxford Way" - acting side by side with Stella, his fiancee (later his wife). He encouraged his two daughters, Sherrene and Sicille to inculcate such interests and take to pursuits close to his heart. Silver and gold had he none, yet he did not have his hands sullied. He held his head high. He kept his faith and always humbled himself before his Creator. He did not fail in his last words to whisper - "I am going to meet my Maker.” As a nephew who had been with him through thick and thin, I have no doubt about this God-fearing man achieving his final ambition. So be it.... "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psalm 24) I.P.C. Mendis Life
to him was a book of lessons Sepala Attygalle His achievements were diverse in nature, as is popularly known. He was an old boy and created history at Royal College, Colombo. He became the Head Prefect of the school in 1940. He won colours in both athletics and rugby and was elected Senior Sergeant of the Cadet Contingent. One of the best testimonials the late Principal of Royal College, E. L. Bradby, gave for those seeking King's Commissions was to D. S. Attygalle. Sepala took the Sword of Honour at the Army passing out parade at Diyatalawa in 1941. Thereafter he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Ceylon Light Infantry. With his appointment as a Second Lieutenant he carried out his duties and served his country with diligence and valour. In 1967, Major General D. S. Attygalle was appointed Commander of the Army. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General on April 4, 1974 and was the first officer of the Sri Lanka Army to hold this rank. When he retired in 1977 after having served for ten years as Commander, he was promoted to the rank of four-star General. General Attygalle was also President of the Army Buddhist Council. He carried the relics casket of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya during the annual Duruthu Perahera. After retirement, he held such appointments in the government sector as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Secretary, Ministry of Defence, High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK, Chairman, Air Lanka Ltd., and Chairman, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. His service was much appreciated by those who knew him in these capacities. His military funeral in January 2001, was well attended by his family members, friends and colleagues who gathered to mourn his loss. Notwithstanding his academic and career achievements, his personal influence engendered much enrichment. Those closest to his heart endorse his humility and self-effacing ways. Life to him proved to be a book of lessons, with every experience being an opportunity to enhance himself further. And these valued lessons were readily imparted to his kith and kin. His family was his priority. He was generous when help was sought, wise when counsel was needed, and caring without expecting any return. He may no longer be with us, but we as family members have learnt from his life that we can live to the maximum potential of our being only if we attain sincerity of character and love for our fellowmen. Although we feel he was taken away from us too soon, the lessons he enriched us with will remain for years to come. Sepala
Attygalle was to us the embodiment of the following quotation. A family member |
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