Sunday Times 2
Entering the eighty club of elders
View(s):By B. Anton Jeyanathan
Reading the title of the article, one cannot be faulted if the mind goes to the well known social club, situated at Independence Square, Colombo 7, where the elite and the clubbing society meet regularly to socialise. It is said that this exclusive club was established by the colonial masters, of yesteryear, and subsequently patronized by senior Government civil servants, heads of Government departments, heads of the armed forces, Inspector Generals of Police and business tycoons. Games of bridge and other card games are said to have been popular past times indulged in by these patrons.
As the case may be, I am penning these few lines on my entry to the eighty club of elders who have reached the ripe old age of eighty. My entering this club in the month of May was a memorable one. On this memorable day I was an inmate of the Jayewardenepura Hospital convalescing after a total knee replacement (TKR). Traditionally no party has been the done thing on every birthday from my younger days. Whilst taking a stroll down memory lane, I recall that my sixtieth birthday was a significant one not for the birthday party but for the farewell party held at Kurunegala Welagedara stadium, on my last day, the day of retirement from the Police Department, after serving the department for nearly 40 years, about 39 years and 11 months to be exact. It was a sad day to leave a department which enjoyed a high reputation and the officers who served the department were proud to be members of the Police Department. Having joined the department in the year 1957, as a Sub Inspector of Police, and ending up as Deputy Inspector General Police in the year 1993, and retiring in the year 1996, were satisfying achievements in my police career.
Having been born in Jaffna and entering the Police Department as a probationary sub-Inspector in the year 1957, to my recollection, the late Mr. Sidney Soysa well known as a tough cop, was the Chairman of the final selection board which was held at the Senior Police Officers’ Mess. Recruits of about 50, from all over the country of all ethnicities assembled at the Sri Lanka Police Training School now known as the Sri Lanka Police Training College. On the evening of 20th June 1957 we commenced our training. Training was tough. However by the end of six months training only about 40 passed out as probationary Sub-Inspectors. Incidentally, due to the communal tension between the communities the Police Department decided to recruit a large number of sub-Inspectors of all ethnicities. That is how the large number was recruited. I recollect some of the instructors in the Training School used to call us the “Chelvanayakam Batch”.
Posted to the Colombo Division, served in the Harbour Police, Wellawatte, Narahenpita, Pettah, Colpetty, headed the Colombo City Vice Squad and selected to the special branch which is now known as the Intelligence Unit for more than 20 years. Many senior officers colleagues, helped and assisted in guiding me to learn practical police work, investigations, prosecutions, etc., and most importantly to be honest. I am thankful to most of the officers who moulded me throughout my police career which was nearly 40 years from 1957 to 1996. Though born in Jaffna my life has been in Colombo, being married and having three children; I cannot ignore the support they gave me in my progress in the Police Department.
Last week it was reported that our well known cricket lover and cheer leader Percy Abeysekera, had also reached the age of “80”. I recollect that Percy accompanied the Sri Lanka cricket team to Madras (Chennai) in the year 1980 or so. I, serving as First Secretary at the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Madras, was an invitee for the test match between India and Sri Lanka played at the Chepauk Stadium in Madras. This was the period where the members of the Tamil terrorist organizations like LTTE, EPRLF and others were operating in Tamil Nadu campaigning against the Sri Lanka government.
Whenever a Sri Lankan team or a delegation came to Madras they activated themselves by staging protests, distributing leaflets etc., against the Sri Lanka government. When the SL team was in Madras for the test match, there was high activity to show their protest against the SL team. On the first day of the test match they staged a protest campaign as well as distributed pamphlets etc., against the arrival of the SL team. Percy who had accompanied the SL team commenced his cheering by carrying the SL flag and running around outside the grounds cheering the SL team. When he was running around some of the supporters of the terrorist groups who were inside the stadium prevented Percy from continuing his cheering activities.
He too had been threatened not to get on to the grounds carrying the SL flag. On being prevented from exercising his cheering activities he met me and complained about him being threatened and stopped from his cheering activities carrying the SL flag. Having heard him I took him before the Commissioner of Police who was present at the stadium and requested him to ensure that Percy was given the freedom to carry out his cheering activities carrying the SL flag. The Commissioner immediately ensured that Percy was not prevented any further and he continued his cheering activities carrying the SL flag. He still continues his activities and may god keep him in good health and give him strength to cheer the SL team for many more years. Welcome Percy to the “80” club.
No man can achieve success in any field unless the creator showers his blessings on him. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for the good health I enjoy and the blessings He has given me in my police career and my family life.
(The writer is a retired DIG of the Sri Lanka police.)