Appreciations
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unforgettable melody Those were the days when we had no tape-recorders and relied heavily on Peter Allon to give us the music of those beautiful classics when they featured in unforgettable films such as "Gone With the Wind", "My Fair Lady", "Sound of Music", "Dr Zhivago" etc. Such was his wonderful talent and innovation. The special effects and interludes which he adapted to his style of playing the piano were a delight to listen to and kept the audience spell-bound whenever he appeared on stage to perform his solo items from classics to swing. He was equally at ease on the piano-accordion and the pipe organ at St. Anthony's Cathedral, Kandy where he was the church organist. His rendition of Mendelssohn's Wedding March with special effects during wedding ceremonies in Church was performed with skill and dexterity. I was lucky to be an altar boy at the time. Moreover, Peter excelled as the pianist in the fabulous Hawaiian concerts led by Brixious and organised in aid of the British War Effort at Trinity College, Kandy at the request of Mrs Sydney Smith, Chief Convenor of the War Service League. These 'Full Moon' concerts were in great demand during the last World War when the American and British troops on their way to the Burma Front were, entertained by Brixious & His Hawaiians featuring a galaxy of Kandy's loveliest young maidens singing and dancing the Hula-Hula in the authentic Hawaiian style. Among
them were Dalrono De Kretser as a teenager in her first public appearance
on stage, and Yvonne Soertsz, daughter of the Chief Justice, Sir
Francis Soertsz, also a teenager, who enthralled the audience with
their superb exhibition of the Hula Hula to the exhilarating accompaniment
of Peter Allon on the piano. Peter was also the live wire behind
the scenes in all those fabulous shows, training the singing in
four-part harmony to perfection. Peter's versatility extended to other spheres too. He was for many years the champion table-tennis and Billiards player at the Kandy Catholic Club. He worked at the Bank of Ceylon, Kandy and was essentially a family man, devoted to his wife, Lena and daughters, Rosemary, Marylin & Barbara who are all in well-established positions today. Peter was an amiable and lovable personality who was always willing to perform without any fee at the many musical shows organised in aid of the Cancer Society, school building funds and elders' homes etc. He passed away due to a sudden heart attack in the prime of his life. May his soul rest in peace in the Kingdom of the Lord whom he worshipped and loved. Brian Brohier He
followed the middle path Patriarch of an old family with distinguished connections Paal was a well-known publisher of an earlier period. He was the fourth male in a family of nine. Three of his sisters Mrs. Ratnavali Dissanayake, Mrs. Sumana Savandasa and Mrs. Wimala Kannagara predeceased him. Now in the fifth or sixth generation Paal's family origins reach back to the 19th century - significantly with his mother's ancestry which indicates a blood relationship to Vedamuhandiram D.C. Wijegunwardena, a prominent social activist and wealthy individual in Rambukkana. But the best known name associated with the Sirisena's was that of Piyadasa Sirisena, pioneer novelist and Buddhist Renaissance figure of the early 20th century. Paala's longevity could be attributed to his quiet and somewhat untroubled existence. He was in many ways a contented individual, living symbol of a man who followed the middle path. Like three generations of his family Paal was also educated at Ananda College Colombo the citadel of Buddhist education when the family was in residence at Stanley Place, Maradana (now Piyadasa Sirisena Mawatha). But in a move possibly brought about by the World War II in which many Colombo based families relocated themselves Paal's father shifted to Navinna. When he was young Paal had to shoulder a heavy burden. He was entrusted the task of running the family owned printing press and publishing his father's novels and also the newspaper "Sinhala Jatiya". He also had to bring up one of his sister's children when they were suddenly orphaned. Two of his four charges, the boys, who achieved considerable success later in life, and became public figures, undoubtedly gained from the discipline and excellent values inculcated in them in their formative years under Paal's care. Kamala, his wife and companion whose death more than a decade ago was a severe blow to him, was a step-sister of Mudaliyar C.T. Perera C.C.S. former G.A. Galle and a sister of R. J. Perera, yet another Civil Servant and Deputy Public Trustee long years ago. An unobtrusive individual Paal shunned publicity. But he served the community in his own quiet way. He was a storehouse of knowledge and regaled everyone with interesting episodes of history and politics of the past. He was humorous and witty but rarely cynical. I am fully aware that Paal was a reformed man during the latter half of his life. He was pious and devoted a lot of time to reading. He was the Chief Dayakaya of the ancient Temple near his home and also once served as a member of the Conciliation Board of his district. Paal with the rest of his family gained from the idealism and nationalist sentiments propagated by Piyadasa Sirisena. Their comfortable home had a lingering influence of the greats of an earlier era like D.S. Senanayake, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Sir John Kotalawala, Justin Kotalawala, the Jayawardanas, M.D. Banda and others who used to meet the aging and ailing patriot at their residence in the final years before independence. Paal
Sirisena exemplified a dignified and cultured life, which effectively
was a synthesis of the old and the new, and the good of the East
and the West. We
lost a kind, thoughtful and gentle friend After a distinguished career in the state service, Wickremasinghe joined the Port in 1958 and played a key role in the successful takeover of activities of private shipping agencies by the newly-created nationalized body named the Port Cargo Corporation. With the establishment of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority in 1979 he held several senior positions and ended up as personnel manager, having to deal with a large work force exceeding 20,000 with strong trade union ties. Wickremasinghe or "Wicks" as we used to call him displayed great human qualities now rare among mortals. His constant warmth, intelligence and repartee made him popular in all circles. As a devout Buddhist he fervently adhered to the tenets of his religion and promoted all religious and welfare activities in the Port to the maximum. He held office in the SLPA Buddhist Association and was one of the pioneers in the development of activities connected with the Chaithya. My association with him dates back to 1958 in the Port while both of us together with a few others who were loaned from government service were processing data for the functioning of the new nationalized venture. We maintained an unbroken and excellent friendship ever since. He was a founder member of the Association of Retired Executive Officers of the SLPA and assisted in all work involved in its initial formation. He was also a Member of its Committee of Management for several years and his services were greatly appreciated. Wicks, I personally miss you and will always fondly remember the good times spent together. All of us his friends lost an incredibly kind, gentle and wondrously thoughtful person. His ultimate reward was the immeasurable devotion and loving care during his illnesses sometime earlier by his beloved wife and four daughters and their spouses and grandchildren. I convey to them all my profound sorrow and deepest sympathies. When his last religious rites were conducted at his residence before a large and representative gathering, high praise was showered on him by the Buddhist Clergy for his devotion and assistance for the promotion of Buddhist activities not only in his home town Egoda Uyana but also in areas as far as Kalutara. Karu You
were the light of our life Her maiden name was Manjula Wickrema and she was fondly called “Sudu” by her family members. My mother was blessed with four girls and Sudu was the third. Our
darling sister Sudu was the pet in our family. She was a special
sister in many ways, but unfortunately she passed away at the age
of thirty-two. My mind goes back to the pleasant times we spent together, but today we are the victims of an unbearable loss. After leaving school, she joined Star Garments and finally resigned as an Asst. Accountant. She married Susantha in1994. She was blessed with two children, Shenali and Shaun and gained happiness looking after her family. In 1996 Susantha planned to migrate to Australia. That was sad news for me, because at that time she and I were not only sisters but best friends. Whenever we visited her home her main concern was to accommodate us and feed us well with delicious meals. Every year during Christmas Eve she visited Ammi and Thathi. That was a happy occasion for all four families, especially for Ammi and Thathi to be with the grandchildren. In 1999, after Christmas when she returned to Australia, after three months we received the most unbelievable news regarding her illness. Later her time was spent in hospital, but she faced her suffering with great courage.On the last day of her life she was with Ammi and died in her arms in the hospital. Though she was in a critical condition, she sent Christmas cards to her loved ones. We all received her cards on December 8 - the day she passed away. Podi Akki She
showed us the way to God On February 5, 2004, the Lord called her home to be with Him. She has now returned home after making our lives and those of many others joyful with her presence. She was mother to each one of us- her five children, but she was also “Mum” to so many others who had no hesitation in addressing her so as she epitomized their mother, who was no more to many of them. She hailed from a distinguished family and was born to a family of means, but she lived a simple, God fearing life which made a lasting impact on us who looked to her to show us the way to God, having lost our father in our early childhood. She shouldered the responsibility of being both Mum and Dad to us all as she faithfully and self sacrificially expended her life, to put us on our feet. We owe a debt of gratitude we can never repay but the remembrance of her life’s example spurs us on. The good deeds of loved ones departed follow after them and challenges us to follow in their footsteps. She seems to echo to us and many others, the words expressed by Apostle Paul, “You follow me in as much as I have followed Jesus.” Chris |
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