A shining lesson from ‘spray-man’

Donates Rupees half a million to his alma mater

By G. Mahadura

D. Paranagama:A huge gift from simple man

A self-contented labourer, who earns his living by spraying pesticides on plants at vegetable farms, has donated Rs. 500,000 from his life-long savings to his old school to build a library. D. Paranagama, 65, says he made the donation because he is indebted to his school Sri Sumangala MMV in his home town of Yakkalamulla.

Mr. Paranagama, unmarried, says he got through the GCE O/L but could not continue studies because of poverty. A non-smoker and teetotaller, he has been spraying pesticides for more than 40 years. He earns about Rs. 500 a day. Asked how he managed to save such a big amount, he says it is largely because he leads a simple life.

Thanks to Mr. Paranagama’s donation, the school has resumed the building work which had been going on at a snail’s pace for the past one and a half years. Mr. Paranagama says he hopes the library would be ready by the end of the first term this year to benefit 800 students of this 90-year-old school.

Principal P. Premaratne says he is taken up by the act of this grateful past pupil, because a donation by a past pupil who expects nothing in return is unheard of in the school’s history. He said Mr. Paranagama’s act and his frugal life are lessons for all to follow.