Appreciations
View(s):His popularity never waned
RANJIT DE SILVA
Ranjit de Silva (“RS” to his friends at his alma mater and at Aquinas,) sadly passed away peacefully in the United States, his chosen country of residence, on January 1, 2015 after a brief illness at the age of 77.
He leaves his beloved wife Niloufer, his loving daughter Indrani, sister Chintha, brothers Patali and Niranjan and a host of nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces.
Born to Buddhist parents, Ranjit received his primary education at S. Thomas’ College at Mount Lavinia, where he also indulged in sports and extra-curricular activities. He left home to pursue further studies and a career in journalism in the United States.
He made his way to the USA of his own volition and efforts. Journalism, not being a much credited profession due to lack of opportunities in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) he did not receive much encouragement.
Undeterred by the lack of enthusiasm from home he pursued his objective on his own. Helped by his friends and the Asia Foundation he obtained a scholarship to follow a course in journalism at the Montana State University. On graduation he continued further studies at UC Berkley and Georgetown.
Ranjit was initially engaged by Reuters as a correspondent and later as an Editor. His assignments included coverage of events at the White House, Congress, Department of Justice and of the Watergate scandal. Eventually he joined the US Department of Commerce from where he retired as the Director of Public Affairs.
Ranjit was endowed with a loving, affable and effervescent nature and had many friends in Sri Lanka. His periodic vacations were looked forward to by his Thomian friends. His popularity never waned and news of him was much sought after at Old Thomian functions.
His siblings were scattered globally for much of his life but he still maintained contact with them. We, as children recall many fond memories. We did have our moments but never lost sight of being siblings.
Ranjit had a magnanimous disposition and was not short of volunteering a helping hand to us or our families. He was ever conscious of the advancing age of some of us and kept in close touch with his family.
He will be immensely missed by his immediate family, particularly by his daughter Indrani who he was devoted to.
May he attain Nibbana.
-Chintha de Silva (sister) and Patali and Niranjan ( brothers)
A kind and gentle lady with a great sense of humour
Hewa Nancy Fernando
September 25 marked the first death anniversary of Hewa Nancy Fernando of Wattala, former Vice Principal of Presbyterian Girls School, Colombo 8.
She was a practising Buddhist and I remember her as a teacher who had a deep understanding of her religion. She was a vegetarian who despite a busy domestic schedule did not fail to meditate at least an hour every day.
Nancy hailed from a reputed family. H.E. Weeraratne, retired Post Master, was her father. She was the fourth in a family of six siblings, three older brothers and two younger sisters. She was educated at Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 10, and passed the Senior School Certificate Examination in 1933.
She started life as a teacher in 1935 at St. Mathew’s College Dematagoda. In 1945 she married Sonny Fernando, who was employed at the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) and they were blessed with three children Kamanitha, Kokilanee and Ananda who received the best of education, and who are now happily married and well placed in life.
Nancy was a kind and gentle lady, of very high integrity and a great sense of humour. She was eloquent in both Sinhala and English. She was equally at ease with the rich as well as the poor. As a friend she reached out to help anybody who was in need.
She retired from teaching in 1977 after serving for 42 years. The last post she held was that of Vice Principal of Presbyterian Girls School, Colombo 08.
Sri Dharmawickramaramaya, Meegahawatte, Peliyagoda was her second home. The temple lacked necessary facilities as a result of which the resident monks faced hardships.
She planned to equip the Viharaya and Dharmashalawa with fans, and have a washroom built. These improvements were carried out utilising her pension, without donations from others.
Her children have planned to erect a belfry in the temple premises in memory of their mother.
-Meghavarna Kumarasinghe
Truly a banker with a heart
C. Abraham Mathew
C. Abraham Mathew was called home on May 22, 2014. His last email to me was dated May 21.
His primary education was at St. Paul’s Kandy, and he was later admitted to Zahira College Colombo, because his father, an educationist, was a friend of T. B. Jayah.
After securing an Honours Degree he had joined the Bank of Ceylon in 1946 as a Staff Assistant when its General Manager was J. H. Mortlock. Quick promotions came his way, and during the Loganathan era he was Manager, Galle Branch and later assigned to the London Branch.
On his return he held senior executive positions in the fields of domestic and international banking. The story goes that when he was the Manager of the Loan Department a customer was interviewed by him, and at the end of it he had stated that the application would be processed after receiving the report from the CID.
The intrigued customer had inquired whether his criminal record was also necessary to process the loan application but was relieved when he was told that it was the Bank’s Credit Intelligence Division. During the tenure of Mr. S. M. Sirimanne as GM, he was mainly attached to the International Division, and the GM very often referred to him as “Abraham the forefather”.
At that time there was a set of closely knit friends. He was affectionately called “Maths” and the others were Christo (Anthonisz), Bartie (Rajasingham who was also called Bishop),Budge (Donald Perera), Hamlin (Saldin) , Leo (Singham), Dougie (De Mel) ,and Muru (Murugesan).
Mathew took a keen interest in the affairs of the Bank’s Christian Association and was a member of the task force that organised their first Christmas Carol service in 1965. He retired from service in 1977 as the Assistant General Manager of the Inspection Department.
He then proceeded to Monrovia to take up the position as a Consultant to National Bank of Liberia, and later he was made the IMF advisor to the same institution.
On retiring his services from the banking sector, he opted to settle down in Cochin, his native place, and came to Sri Lanka several times to see his friends. His last visit was in 2002 to celebrate his 80th birthday in their company.
He was happily married to Mary for over 60 years and was a devoted father to Susan, Dilip and Ajith and a doting grandfather to his five grandchildren.
-Merril de Silva