Appreciations
View(s):GED GOONERATNE
A stalwart of Royal answers his Maker’s call
Well done thou good and faithful servant
T.G. Gooneratne, affectionately known to one and all as Ged, passed away on August 2 after a brief illness at the age of 82 and was cremated at the General Cemetery, before a large and distinguished crowd of old Royalists, members of the legal profession, leaders of the corporate sector and others.
At the time of his passing away Ged was a consultant to the legal firm Julius and Creasy where he became a Senior Partner in 1994 after a long and distinguished career of 28 years at the Attorney General’s Department, where he headed the State Attorneys Division from 19 80- 1994. He served as a member of the disciplinary panel of the Supreme Court from 1992 having been appointed by the then Chief Justice.
Ged was called to the Bar in 1957 and was an Attorney at Law, Notary Public, and JPUM for the District of Colombo, a founder Life Member and honorary Life Member of the Colombo Law Society, and a founder Life Member, Trustee, and Honorary Life Member of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.
In his ‘personal life’ Ged was a member of the Legal Committee of the National Council of the Y.M.C.A, member of the forum of the Organisation of Professional Associations and mostly a very active and loyal life member and Vice President of the Royal College Old Boys Union where he was also a trustee. He was a Senior V. President of the Royal College Lawyers Association, and held numerous other positions of trust and responsibility at various times on the College Council serving with exceptional honour and conscientiousness.
I have known Ged for over the last 30 years whilst associating with him in the Royal College Union and our friendship grew as I worked with him on various Committees on the Council since the early 80’s, mostly when he was elected to the position of Chairman of the Rugby Matches Organising Committee.
Royal was for him the Alpha and the Omega of his life, the College that he joined in the early forties, excelled in ‘Books and Men’ and played the game he loved so much, rugby. He represented the College in 1952, played in the Bradby, won his Colours and then decades later was given the mantle of Chairman of the Committee that took the game to heights of fame during difficult times.
Ged came from a family of disciplined, dedicated and God-fearing parents, and these qualities were embodied in his character, temperament and moral fibre from his early days. His father Major L.V. Gooneratne also educated at Royal was a proficient educationist and served his Alma Mater as a devoted and committed teacher from 1917 -42. After retiring from Royal he joined the British Army, and later took to politics and became the first Mayor of Dehiwela/ Mt Lavinia Municipal Council. His mother Rhoda, a pillar of St. Mary’s Church Dehiwela was a devout Roman Catholic and worshipped regularly until the time of her death a few years ago. Rhoda it was who disciplined and groomed the two Royalists into being the men they turned out to be in later life The family including Ged and his renowned younger brother Clement (C. V) more popularly known as Puggy, lived down Station Road Dehiwela for many years. Ged moved into his matrimonial abode after marriage whilst ‘Puggy’ continued to live at his parental residence until his tragic demise.
Ged married the love of his life Sriyani and changed churches to become a devout Methodist. Ever since he became a loyal and committed worshipper at the Methodist Church Kollupitiya where he was a regular and devoted church-goer.
He was rigidly and pointedly disciplined in his lifestyle almost to a fault, and would time and again stand up with a sheaf of papers in one hand, and his fore finger pointing with the other, peering through the black rimmed specs on the bridge of his nose making a point in an articulate and precise tone of voice.
He would leave nothing to chance, everything had to be meticulously planned and carried out. Come Bradby time and the planning and preparation for the match arrangements should be faultless. As Chairman of the Rugby Committee he would ensure that all 16 or so members of the Committee would have their duties and functions in writing and that they were carried out to the ‘t’. He took upon himself the responsibility of the seat numbering of the Stadium Grandstand. “You see….one person to one seat” he would say, “we can’t have problems on seat allocations”, and so it was that the number on the ticket had to have a corresponding seat number: the Stadium numbering was chaotic and could not be left to chance, particularly at a Bradby; it would spell total disaster for the organisers. At the end of a well executed day you could see a smile of satisfaction on his usually placid, poker face. “Went off well eh?…” he would say.
I remember his instructions at the Sugathadasa Stadium on a Bradby forenoon; “no one must be allowed in without a ticket”. Mahinda and another were manning the gates with the Stadium Security strictly enforcing the “law” when a politician of repute, an old Royalist, drove upto the gates in his green Benz. “Ticket Sir”, “couldn’t get one men”, “sorry no entry”. An argument of sorts followed then pleading with the Stadium Security who were willing and wanting to accede. But we stood firm by the instructions given. “No ticket, no entry, sorry” chapter closed. The story was told after the match during resume time, amongst many others of similar nature. “Well done chaps” and no repercussions from any quarter, despite the position.
1988 Bradby up in Kandy. Severe JVP insurrection time. Should the match be played? Discussions were frantic between the two Principals Capt Leonard de Alwis of Trinity and B.A. Sooriyarachchi of Royal, two of the better men of recent times. Ged was consulted, and he discussed with the Royal Committee. We should play. Capt Leonard assured 100% security up in Kandy. The decision to play was taken and the parents left it to the Principal, and the Principal took advice from the Committee, the Chairman of which was Ged.
“We must also go in our vehicles, in support, if the boys are going we must also go” and so we decided to do so. Only a very few went up from Colombo that day. There were more armed STF and police dogs than spectators at the game which was totally incident free.
Unlike his father and brother Ged did not dabble in politics, although he had his political preferences. Hereto he applied rigid principles of right and wrong. It was recently that he had proposed a resolution at the OPA which was carried unanimously, that the country’s Constitution should be amended to disqualify any defeated candidates from being appointed to Parliament through a National list. Such was the man.
He counted amongst his close compatriots and friends Nihal (Gulba) Seneviratne, Dr. Mahalingam, Dr. R. Attapattu (late M.P and Minister of Health), Gamini Salgado (late) D.K. Wijeratne, Tissa Guneratne (late)and a few others while he associated and related closely with everyone he worked with in all fields of activity.
When the College was threatened by a reduction of ‘old boys’ intake at grade 5 by the authorities, it was Ged who with the Principal and a couple of others that took up the cudgels to fight successfully, for the maintaining of the status quo. It was he under the leadership of the then Principal who garnered the support of the other Colleges in Colombo who were likewise threatened to make a strong case for the old boys/past pupils quota to remain untouched on the premise that over 75% of the funding for the different activities of the Colleges were met by the old boys/past pupils and that it was incumbent on the Government not to upset this system, so that the commitment of the pupils down the line could continue unhindered.
Many an anecdote is recounted of the great times that are had during and after the Bradby over the years, at the annual stag nights in Colombo. After the usual Seafood Cocktail, Cream of Cauliflower soup, Chicken A’La Kiev, Mashed Potatoes,, Assorted Vegetables, the Chocolate Mousse and Coffee/Tea at the Old Intercontinental, the fun and games would start . The piano and the Bongos would start up and the basses and tenors would tune up and songs, most of them only for the ears of those Rugby men of yesteryear present would be belted out till the wee hours. Amidst all that rumbustious noise there were tall tales told and retold of Bradby happenings led by that most avid story teller of all….Ged. He loved this environment as do most former Royal ruggerites. The next afternoon however Ged would be at the grounds with his file and sheaf of papers, bleary eyed no doubt, but still as conscientious as ever to ensure that all arrangements for that evening’s match went off according to plan.
And finally, talking of plans, all things have been planned by that great planner, and Ged too must fall into that plan of things : he would be the first to acknowledge it and respond. We who are left behind mourn the fact that Ged has gone, we have lost a great friend, colleague, and mentor and all we could do at this point of time is to wish that his soul finds eternal rest and peace with his Maker and then express our condolences to his charming wife Sriyani, son Dr. Lalindra and daughters Deepthika and Ruanthi and their respective families.
“ They have repaid the debt they owed They kept thy fame inviolate”
- Lucky de Chickera
Vijaya Nandasiri
He had great talent, humility and compassion
Vijaya Nandasiri, the veteran actor of the stage, small screen and film breathed his last on the way to the Kalubowila hospital from his residence at Kalapura,Templars Road, Mount Lavinia on the morning of August 8 after suffering a heart attack. He was 72. Thus Nandasiri the celebrated thespian had his final curtain call after providing ample smiles, joy and laughter to audiences, dominating the stage and silver screen for over five decades.
He was born on May 6, 1944 to a humble family in Maharagama and studied at Vidyakara Vidyalaya in Maharagama. He had become interested in acting during school and made his theatre debut in 1966 in Vidura-Diva produced by Amaradasa Gunawardena for the State Drama Festival. He next took on a role in Naribena, Jasaya saha Lenchina by Dayananda Gunawardena.
Nandasiri was attached briefly as a catering officer at the Bandaranaike International Airport in the late ‘60s. He subsequently appeared in many stage dramas including Bakmaha Akunu by Dayananda Gunawardena, Thahanchi and Baka Thapas by Sathischandra Edirisinghe, Kontharaya, Wahalak Nathi Geyak and Sarade Sina by Prema Ranjith Thilakarathna and Bedde Goranaduwa by Ananda S. Wijesiri.
After Ran Kanda, Nandasiri was in much demand, and starred in the plays Subha Saha Yasa, Nariya Saha Keju Kella, Ekadipathi, Tharawo Egilethi, Kuweni and Hunuwataye Kathawa among others.
Over the next 27 years he played the character of Prince Maname in Ediriweera Sarachchandra’s celebrated drama Maname, and appeared in Singha Bahu, Mahasara and Ratnawalee. He achieved more fame in 1971 in the play Ran Kanda. He had acted in over 40 plays staged islandwide.
Vijaya Nandasiri’s early television credits included Gamana and Pramada Wedei. He was later a producer of the teledrama Humalaya. He became famous as a comedy actor with the character of “Preem” in the teledrama “Nonawaruni Mahathwaruni” broadcast on Sirasa TV and later in Yes Madam, Ethuma and Yes Boss.
Vijaya Nandasiri was married to renowned actress Devika Mihirani. Their first close encounter was at Sudarshi Visual Arts Center, where Mihirani learnt dancing. He was the one who invited her for the drama Subha Saha Yasa in 1974. They have two children, Navanjana and Rasanjana Suchitra. Navanjana is married to Chaminda Guneratne and they live in Brisbane Australia while Rasanjana is studying in USA.
In 1976 Nandasiri met K.A.W. Perera the renowned film director and producer while staging T. B. Ilangaratne’s Shailasanaya who gave him his first film role in the movie Nedayo. He portrayed a blind person and the song “Sanasum Susuman Pavila” is still popular as his.
He has had roles in such films as Mage AmmaYasa Isuru, Sandakada Pahana, Bangali Walalu, Sasara, left right Sir, Bahuboothayo, Rail Para, Mage Amma, Magodigo Dayi, King hunthar, Sakvithi Dadayama and Suhada Koka and won the Best Actor award for his role of the match maker in Sikuru Hathe.
More recently he had focused more on his stage plays such as Balloth Ekka Behe and Malwadum Anawashai. His great talent, accompanied by humility and compassion, will no doubt would be etched in the minds of his fans.
May his walk through sansara be short and may he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.
- Sunil Thenabadu
Uditha Liyanage
Remembering a dear friend
It was in 1978 that I first met and came to know Uditha, when we both joined Maharaja’s about the same time. Over the years we developed a closeness that few will ever experience. Uditha managed a wide portfolio of products which included the Black Knight men’s range. Television advertising in Sri Lanka was just emerging at the time and we had some interesting, humorous times trying to produce commercials for airing.
From Maharaja’s Uditha moved as Marketing Manager to Shaw Wallace and Hedges, a significant advancement in his career. My kids remember even now, Uditha uncle bringing them Kandos Promises Chocolates marketed then by Shaw Wallace, regularly. Even though he had moved on, our friendship kept getting stronger and our evening meetings continued as before. In 1982, when Lever Brothers (now Unilever) offered me a position on their Marketing Team, it was Uditha who encouraged and persuaded me to accept – I am ever thankful to him for helping me make the decision.
Moving to Lever’s, our friendship continued and he was a frequent visitor at our home. We even did trips out of Colombo together, something Uditha enjoyed – places that come to mind are Tree Tops in Bentota (a Shaw Wallace bungalow), Moray Estate in Maskeliya and Kataragama. Uditha was very much a part of our family. When Lever Brothers sent me on a cross-posting to work in Bangkok, my youngest son who was only four years old fell very sick and was hospitalized for a month. I wasn’t aware of it until two weeks into the illness. My wife will never forget how Uditha would come to the hospital every evening after work and spend hours to give them support and strength.
I clearly remember Uditha telling me that his desire was to become an academic and he worked towards it. He excelled in everything he did including finding a great partner in Sriyani and an adorable daughter in Chaturi. They stood by him every step of the way.
We moved to Canada in 1990. Although distance parted us, our friendship never faded; in fact it grew stronger than before. He visited us many times, usually when he had to come to the UK for CIM meetings and once with his family, when he travelled to Bermuda where his sister-in-law lived. Being a lover of nature and the great outdoors, Uditha really enjoyed his visit to Niagara Falls, which he did more than once. Similarly, when we were on holiday in Sri Lanka we enjoyed their hospitality on many an occasion – his home was for us, a home-away-from-home.
Uditha’s passion and unfailing commitment to everything he undertook contributed to the enormous success he achieved throughout his lifetime.He remained positive through adversity and the greatest expression of this was when his illness took him down. I spent a great deal of time with him during this period. Uditha was my very close friend as was his family, including his parents and siblings. His demise dealt a heavy blow on our family as it did his, plus thousands who loved and respected him wholeheartedly. His loss was a great loss since he had very much more to offer for the benefit of others.
May he attain the ultimate bliss of Nirvana!!
- Deepal (Chico) Guneratna
DILIP MOTHA
A gentle giant who was my best friend
‘DIP Uncle’ as I fondly call him has gone to his Eternal Rest. It is not an easy task for me to pay tribute to this gentle giant who was my best friend. Dilip uncle and aunty Niranjali have been our family friends long before Ammi and Thaththi got married. Therefore their friendship is more than two and a half decades old.
I think I have spent more than half of my life span in the company of Dilip uncle as he was always there for me.
My earliest memory of uncle is the day akki and I were playing in the balcony of their Fredrica Road home. We dropped a plastic bottle on to the Peterson Park and when uncle saw it he held me by my hand and walked me to the park to pick it up. He was so very tall and looked a hero to me. Uncle remained the same caring person always.
Before akki and I started formal school, our families had a habit of going for Saturday night’s dinner to the Intercontinental Hotel now the Kingsbury. This habit may have lasted for more than 3 to 4 years. Therefore our families had a unique bond. We loved staying with uncle and aunt as they always treated us to the best of play time. We played hide and seek inside the rooms and built tents with pillows and bed linen to hide ourselves. I also remember the many colouring books uncle bought for me when he returned from overseas.
One of the happiest days of my life is the day that Dilip uncle and Niranjali aunty came to live in our neighbourhood at Mount Lavinia. Our parents insisted that they find a home closer to us so that we could continue our special friendship. We were overjoyed when they shifted to their new house.
Uncle depended a lot on me for his IT work and to teach him a lot of things in his laptop, smartphone and iPad. It was I who selected his phones, laptops etc. I took pride in going around with uncle advising him on his purchases. I do not think Niranjali aunty knew about many such secret adventures we took.
The last one of such events was uncle getting me to drive his old Corolla all around Sirimal-Uyana the last Friday of his life. Uncle was looking forward to my 18th birthday in April this year. He was very keen that I get my driving licence the very week I celebrate my birthday, hence he took special interest in my driving abilities.I will remember the special statements he made that day for many more years to come.
He drove me to classes sometimes when thaththi was away. We spoke about uncle’s schooldays and all the un-technical fun they had.
On Saturday, January 23, I went to visit them as usual. Both uncle and aunty were born in the month of February.
So I discussed a combined birthday party. And uncle suggested that we go out on Valentine’s Day for dinner. Uncle even got me to order a Valentine’s Day gift for aunt on eBay which I did. We had many interesting conversations that day. Little did I know that the fun-filled day was going to be my last encounter with uncle Dilip. Aunt received her Valentine’s gift on the day of uncle’s birthday, by then uncle was no more. We even found a Valentine card uncle had bought for aunt, when we cleared his drawers on a later day. There were too many ironies attached to this sad event. According to aunty, February 26, the day we had the Thanksgiving service for uncle would have been the 26th anniversary of uncle proposing marriage to her.
I do not think I would ever meet a gentle giant like Uncle DIP in my life again.
- Chanuka Gurusinghe
VIMALA RATNAVIBUSHANA
Exemplary cookery teacher
My very dear family friend for over 50 years passed away one year ago on August 4, 2015. She was born in Tangalle on September 25, 1929. It is an unusual coincidence that her birthday and our wedding anniversary fall on September 25. Her father was Karunanayaka , a post master in Tangalle. Her family consisted of five, one sister and three brothers. She was the second in the family.
She first went to school at the Little Flower Convent Tangalle. In 1936 her father was transferred to Colombo, and the family lived in Moratuwa and she went to the Lady of Victories Convent at Moratuwa. In 1938 her father was transferred to Bogawantalawa and she was boarded at St. Gabriel’s Convent Hatton.
She and her sister finally ended up at Museaus College Colombo. In 1950 she was given in marriage at the age of 21 to a Dental Surgeon from Galle, named Arnold Ratnavibushana. They went to UK in 1956, for post graduate training and higher qualifications in London, at the Royal Free Hospital, along with their daughter Maya, where they stayed two years.
During this time, she decided to follow a cake decorating course at Hartley Smith School, and a cookery course at Cordon Blue. They came back to Sri Lanka in 1958, and he was stationed at Galle Hospital as Dental Surgeon. During this time Vimala started her cookery and cake making classes in Galle, Matara and Ambalangoda. Arnold was transferred to the Dental Institute Colombo in 1966.
Tragedy struck Vimala, when Arnold died of a cancer in 1968, at the age of 44, and she became a widow at the age of 37, with two young children to look after. She underwent tremendous hardships during this time, but she continued her cookery and cake making classes and came to be well known in the country for her cake making. I am happy that Maya took over from her mother and became a cake expert. This talent has gone to the third generation, as Lalanthi, her granddaughter, is now following in her footsteps.
I came to know Vimala for the first time, when I came to Colombo in 1972, through her friends in Galle Zain and Zarina. At this time she lived in an upstair house on Galle Road, Kollupitiya . Subsequently, she became my patient and I became the obstetrician to the family, delivering the grand children.
She married again in 1976 to a Jim Geelkirken, from the Netherlands who was working in Sri Lanka for the United Nations. Jim got on very well with all of us. He was transferred to Indonesia, and they were there for nearly six years, till his retirement. They settled down in Netherlands and she was very happy there till his death in 2002. She returned to Sri Lanka soon afterwards and lived in her own house at Kalubowila, adjacent to her daughter Maya’s house.
Vimala was a remarkable lady and cookery teacher par excellence. Maya is hoping to publish her recipes in a book very soon.
- Prof.Wilfred Perera