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Scion of a noble Kandyan family did his country yeoman service

DERYCK ALUWIHARE

Deryck Aluwihare – born Tikiri Banda Aluwihare – passed away peacefully on October 12, 2008 at St. Andrews Village, Auckland, New Zealand. His beloved wife Ranee and daughter Neila were present with him at the time. He had always said that he wished for such an end.

Deryck was born into an illustrious family whose ancestors (according to Sunil J. Madugalle’s book, “Four Kandyan Families – A Genealogical Study 1600-200”) was closely connected to the royal family of King Rajasimha II. His parents were Loku Bandara Aluwihare and Julia Parangama Aluwihare Kumarihamy. The youngest of 10 children, Deryck was born on March 27, 1921, in the village of Aluwihare in the Matale district.

After enjoying a happy childhood, Deryck received his secondary schooling at Trinity College, Kandy, where he distinguished himself in academic and extra-curricular activities, and then entered the Ceylon University College. He graduated with a history honours degree in 1942 from the University of London at the age of 21. Those were the gloomy days of World War II, and young Deryck had a stint as a teacher until 1945.

In 1946 he entered the prestigious Ceylon Civil Service of the British colonial administration. Successful candidates to the civil service were from the cream of the country’s intelligentsia. In December that year, Deryck married Ranee Chitra Maud Perera, and in 1949 they were blessed with a daughter, Neila.

Deryck joined the Customs Department, and was subsequently appointed Assistant Government Agent Badulla and Government Agent Kegalle. In 1958 he was made Government Agent Anuradhapura, a position previously held by his uncle, Sir Richard Aluvihare.

In addition to his duties at the time, he was also asked to serve as GA Polonnaruwa, “in perhaps the toughest assignment ever given to a young civil servant”, to quote the veteran journalist Tarzie Vitachie.
Those were highly challenging days for administrators, who had to marshal all their skills to manage a public intoxicated with the “apey aanduwa” euphoria. When communal rioting broke out in Polonnaruwa, it was a defining moment for Deryck. He took firm action and the rioting subsided. The news reached Anuradhapura, where the rioters got cold feet and gave up their diabolic plans.

Deryck had demonstrated the courage of his convictions and ended the chaos; but he had to pay a price. Within a few days he was transferred. The fallout from his action would dog his career ever after. Yet Deryck would not bend to any political pressure, whatever the cost. It was a shame the government that followed did not utilise his talents for the good of the country.

The rest of his years in government service saw Deryck appointed to a series of prominent posts: Chief Administrative Officer, Department of Health; Chief Administrative Officer, Department of Posts and Telecommunications; Director General of Broadcasting; Director General of Tourism; Secretary to the National Council of Higher Education, and Registrar General. In June 1972, he was seconded to the service to the Tea Research Institute as director, administration and finance.

In April 1974, Deryck retired from government service and accepted an invitation to serve on the directorate of Consolidated Commercial Agencies Ltd. In February 1976, consequent to the nationalisation of the Colombo Commercial Company, he joined Quickshaws Ltd as manager of the Tour Department, and later worked for a short while at Cornel and Company. This was the last position he held before going for a long holiday to New Zealand, where Neila and son-in-law Lakshman Abeynaike, both chartered accountants, lived.

Deryck was a keen social worker. He chaired the management committee of the School for the Deaf and Blind, and served as a member of the board of governors of Trinity College, his alma mater.

In December 1986, Deryck and Ranee finally said goodbye to their beloved motherland and migrated to New Zealand. They bought a house in Ellerslie, Auckland, and in October 1990 they became New Zealand citizens. Their pleasant and hospitable home reminded one of Sri Lanka.

In February 2008, Neila and Lakshman realised that Deryck, who was now feeble and unsteady on his feet, needed 24-hour care and moved him to St. Andrews Village, where he received excellent hospital-level care. Ranee would spend the whole day at her father’s side.

During his years in Auckland, Deryck immersed himself in religious and intellectual matters. He and Ranee were active members of St. Paul's Methodist Church in Remuera and the Senior Citizens’ Coffee Group.

The charming, soft-spoken Deryck was impeccable in dress and manner. He was an avid reader, and had a profound knowledge of international affairs. It was a delight to hear his witty conversation.

I had the privilege of associating with him closely for nearly 10 years. Our homes in Auckland were five kilometres apart, and we would visit each other regularly. He encouraged me to complete my book, “Memories Are For Ever”, and bought copies of the book to give his close friends.

Deryck was also a connoisseur of western music, and he delighted in watching good plays. When his sight started to fail, Ranee, his soul-mate of 62 years, would read to him. Neila and Lakshman and their children Chantal (working for a law firm in the UK) and Arjan (working on his PhD at Cambridge University) have much to reflect on and draw inspiration from the great life of a great man.

Deryck belonged to a rare breed of fearless people who are fast fading away.

K. Jeganathan, West Australia

This appreciation only appears on our web edition.

 
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