Appreciations
View(s):ROBERT CYRiL FERNANDO
He blew no trumpets and sought no publicity
Looking back over the years, one is reminded of the solemn passage in the Book of Revelations, chapter 7: “I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people” from every corner of the island. “One of the elders then spoke and said: Do you know who these people are?” Dressed in the familiar ‘blue and white’ these are the ‘boys’ who grew up to be men from the grand old school: St. Joseph’s!
Among this glorious multitude, I like to remember with filial piety and with pride and gratitude my own father, Robert Cyril Fernando. He hailed from the ‘little Rome’ of Sri Lanka, Negombo, and was born on July 5, 1890. He had his early education at St. Joseph’s College where he distinguished himself in studies. After a very successful school career he left for England to pursue his engineering studies in the School of Science and Technology under M/s Hensford Worth (Civil Engineers) at No. 42 George Street, Plymouth. He was only 17 then. At the age of 22 he had passed the studentship and the Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Civil Engineering. In 1914 whilst working under Mr. Hensford Worth as an Assistant Engineer he applied to the Crown Agents for the colonies for the post of District Engineer in the Public Works Department of Ceylon.
The application was strongly supported by his peers in England. But the PWD of Ceylon requested the Colonial Government at White Hall Gardens, London SW not to fill the vacancy. He then continued to work in England, till he became the chief assistant under Hensford Worth before the Colonial Secretaries (Ceylon) appointed him as District Engineer in the Public Works Department on June 1, 1917.
During the 11 years he spent in England, besides gaining the valuable experience required of a Civil Engineer, he became an active supporter of the Catholic Revival in England. Both in England and later in Ceylon, the most important thing about Robert Cyril Fernando (and he would have been the first to say it), the most distinctive quality in him was a quality which he shared with more than 300 million of his fellow-men; he was a Catholic! His religion mattered furiously to him.
The Church of England in the 19th Century could have written its history round the names of eminent personages like Bishop Milner and the three great Cardinals; Wiseman, Newman and Manning. Robert Fernando specialised in the study of these eminent men. Both in England and later, on his return to Ceylon he lectured on several occasions on Cardinal Newman and the Oxford Movement. He also delivered lectures periodically at his alma mater where for many years he was the Secretary of the OBU.
Returning to Ceylon, Robert Fernando entered Government service and distinguished himself in the many offices he held. The early part of his career was served in the unpopular districts reserved especially for the ‘natives’ in places like Pallai, Mannar, where malaria was rampant at that period of time. He was later posted to Galle, Ratnapura, Kurunegala and finally at Public Works Department, Colombo where he was promoted as Deputy Director. It is interesting to note that the popular stations especially in the ‘up-country’ regions were the special preserve of the European Engineers for many years! Robert’s first appointment was as District Engineer, Pallai in Pachchilaippalli!
It was whilst yet a young engineer at Pallai that he married Francina Fernando, a wealthy daughter of the planter L. David Fernando. They were married on April 1, 1921, at St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Katana. Bede Beckmeyer, the Bishop of Kandy solemnised the marriage. The attesting witnesses were Cyril Leonard Wickremasinghe of the Ceylon Civil Service, Kurunegala and Reginald Marcus Fernando (planter) of Devronshireside, Edinborough Crescent, Colombo.
As Crown Agent for the Colonies, for 18 years, Robert Fernando held numerous Government, public and honorary posts.
Both his colleagues and the many others who came to know him during his public career held him in high esteem and considered him a gentleman of the highest integrity. He was both persevering and diligent in his work, an enlightened Christian, greatly attached to St. Joseph’s College. He never crowed over his achievements, blew no trumpets and sought no publicity. He shunned popular applause and preferred to hide behind an impenetrable veil his many charities. Only his intimate friends knew how much he helped the needy. In spite of his academic achievements and his great public service, he lived a simple life, devoted to his family, avoided both luxury and extravagance and maintained the common touch.
His untimely death on September 12, 1935 at the young age of 45 years was indeed a sad loss to both his church and to his country. He was to be promoted to a high office in the Department of Public Works on October 1. He died 18 days before that date.
With grateful memories of a life lived in the service of his people we thank God for his life and for his work here on earth. Yes, his body has been buried in peace…. the people will continue to proclaim his wisdom and the assembly will continue to celebrate his praises.
- Cyril Fernando
VICTOREEN M. HASSAN
Forever my shining star
It is eight years since God called Victoreen to eternal rest. Victoreen passed away peacefully on August 25, 2008 after a brief illness. God’s fingers touched her and she closed her eyes and slipped away to the land of no more pain. This was the moment I lost the light of my life.
Fate has been unkind and that was the day that broke my heart. My days and nights have been so lonely since. We married on October 8, 1968 and spent almost 40 years in wedded bliss, filled with fun, laughter and joy. The day I first held her and kissed her sweet face are precious memories time cannot erase. Victoreen was loving, caring and the greatest blessing in my life. Victoreen was my one shining star, I loved and guided her, and I was always beside her until her untimely death.
Though we may be far apart she’s always in my heart as we were partners in life. She was always there for me in everything I did and my life was so complete when she was beside me. There are many, many, reasons why I loved Victoreen, the sweetest smile she gave me every morning and her loving arms that held me every night, all this made my world a brighter place.
But remember Vicky although you have gone so far away, the love in my heart for you will always stay and very soon we will meet again. The only consolation is that she is now in God’s hands. All I have are memories and a photo in a frame of a wonderful wife I am proud was mine. For all you gave through the years, for your time, love, your prayers, your patience, caring, sharing and for all this and more “I still love you” as you were my own.
Finally thank you for the wonderful and generous sacrifices you made for me, and our children and all the loving care and affection you showered on us. Till we meet again
Sadly missed by your loving husband.
- M. Kamil. A. Hassan
A.C.S. Hameed
He strengthened the bond among communities
There are some politicians and philanthropist of all faiths who engage in useful work in our country which benefit many people. These people make the bonds among different communities much stronger.
September 3 marks the 17th death anniversary of Dr. A.C.S.Hameed, who while serving as Member of Parliament for Harispattuwa from 1960 to1999 was much loved and liked by all communities for his honest and dedicated service to them. Dr. Hameed was one parliamentarian who never forgot the Sinhala Buddhist people who supported him. They formed about 85% of the population in Haripattuwa and preferred to vote him instead of the other Sinhalese candidates.
The Amarapura Nikaya Buddhist community of Harispattuwa were keen that a Seemamalakaya should be constructed on the bank of Mahaweli river which flows through the Harispattuwa electorate. The Amarapura Nikaye Pradana Sanganayake Ven. Hapugoda Nandarama Himi of Batagalla Rajamaha Viharaya temple, who was in his 90s led a delegation to meet Dr. Hameed to discuss building the Seemamalakaya. Dr. Hameed said that if he had known the Ven. Thero was joining the delegation, that he would have gone to the Temple to meet them. After listening to the delegation, they decided to construct the Seemamalakaya, at a place called Waratanna, close to Haloluwa overlooking the Mahaweli river.
Dr. Hameed said he would be happy and privileged to complete the building as quickly as possible. Work was completed fast as he took a keen interest. When he went to Kandy, he never failed to visit the site. He appealed to all sources and collected money and allocated the rest from the D.C.B. funds. The project cost about Rs. 48 Lakhs. He built two Bauddha Mandalayas, one at Alawatugoda and another at Ranawaana road at Katugastota.
On his first death anniversary, the Buddhists of all Nikayas arranged an all-night pirith ceremony at Katugastota Bauddha Bala Mandalaya which he had built, and had a Dana the following day for 77 Buddhist priests. All the priests along with the people went on a procession from the Bala Mandalaaya to Sri Rahula College grounds and back. The Buddhists of Harispattuwa also presented 108 Atapirikala on this occasion.
This chanting of pirith all night and the dane with 77 priests and presentation of 108 Atapirikara shows the affection the Buddhists of Harispattuwa had for Dr. Hameed . This is considered a historic gesture by the Buddhists of Harispattuwa for a Parliamentarian who was not communal, and helped the people irrespective of whatever religion or race they belonged to.
- A.C.A.Ghafoor
CHANDRA JAYASINGHE MEEHITIYA
After you are gone!
Strolling down memory lane
I recalled the time
You asked me to write a poem
About you
When I smiled
You asked if it’s to be done
After you are gone
That time, we were free
Free from the shackles of Death
To come in a raging fire
To take you away
To topple our world
So sudden, so very sudden
And something died within
It’s one year since you’ve gone
That emptiness without you
Is wordless
The carefree flow of life
Has since been diverted
Taking a sudden plunge
With more ebbs than flows
You knew it for you
Felt the same
Decades ago
With regrets and despair
And sadness that flowed
In losing the spring of life
A mother’s love
When memory assaults
World gives its cold stare
I think of you
And your words echo
In the deepest core
And a smile radiates
My tears are no more
Love that’s unparalleled
Unconditional it is
Inspiring, ever lasting
Nothing could replace
Words cannot explain
That eternal bond
Of being mother and child
- Savithri Jayasinghe Cooray
MARGRET KINGSLEY
You left me oh so lonely
An ode to my dear Margaret, who left me lonely one year ago. I can only presume you are in a better place!
“There is something about you. That sets me at ease,
When I was with you, I was free to do what I liked,
Free to say what I felt,
Free to be myself.
I felt so lucky to have found someone like you.
You understood me, made me feel really special,
No one has ever done that for me before.
I guess that’s why I loved you from
The beginning every day,
In life I loved you and in death I
Love you more and more.”
As husband and wife for 48 wonderful years she was God’s gift to me as my partner. But a fall in 2011, changed her life entirely. Operation no progress, physiotherapy no progress. In the walker no progress. In the wheel-chair seated most of the time, no progress. On that fateful August 21, 2015, we both cried and you closed your eyes and were snatched away from me. What a great loss and I am left lonely.
For one year I have not seen my loved one.
A sickness has fallen upon me, my limbs have gone weary.
Everybody have I forgotten, when relatives come to see me.
Their consoling did not relieve my suffering
No wise man can find a solution but when
I hear someone say, here she comes
I spring to life, her name revives me
My loved one is the best of all medicines to me, when I see her.
I am restored to health when she opens her eyes
She makes my heart young, when she speaks, it grows strong.
When I embrace her, the sickness goes away.
Only one year has she been away from me.
I have seen how seeds that fall on the earth grow into new grass.
I said to myself perhaps the earth restores to life anything placed in it. But in the case of humans like you my dear Margaret, the earth does not restore. So, let it be, I miss you, miss you my dear Margaret.
- Kingsley D
DAYA WIJESEKERA
His simplicity and wit were endearing
I met Uncle Daya, the well-read entertaining personality in the mid 90’s when I was introduced to him by my parents to source an overseas job for his son – which was described in his own words as the pre-qualifying dowry to make him give his only daughter Dumini in marriage to my brother Shanaka. Today they both have moved on and celebrated 18 years of wedded life a few weeks ago.
He was a gentleman of many talents – great role model in task orientation and an artist of networking; a person of PR and personal touch; a man with finesse and flair. He had many interests and the foresight to challenge the thinking of any individual and create value to every discussion – he was a true gentleman, with a lively curiosity that made him dissatisfied with superficial explanations.
That curiosity frequently led lively social discussions down avenues and into areas that, otherwise, would have remained unexplored. I used to enjoy listening to him at family evenings as he took his place in that rocking chair with his pets (the cats) jumping all over him.
I recall this famous saying he used when I told him to go for a medical check-up: ‘My dear, don’t trouble yourself with trouble, till trouble, troubles you’; and life is ‘Que Sera, Sera’ the very words he said from his hospital bed, when I last spoke with him by phone, days before he departed this world on August 5, 2015.
One had only to speak to Uncle Daya to recognise his openness and eagerness. It is easy to mistake this for naiveté, an error I made at first. He was enriched with many qualities and this amazing mix included openness to new places, people, understanding cultures and customs – I am sure this perfect mix was the hallmark that made him stand out in his profession as a great diplomat.
Congratulations Uncle Daya, you lived life to the fullest – a great dad to my sister-in-law Dumini and Duminda; an adorable father-in-law to my brother Shanaka and a man who stood by his wife in good times and bad till the very end.
- Ranjeewa Kulatunga
CHRISTOPHER ANDRADI
He was precious to family
Christopher R.T. Andradi, my dear cousin, kept his tryst with death on July 24, 2015. Born to the late Rev. Canon Raylin Andradi and Letiticia Andradi of Moratuwa, he had his primary education at Prince of Wales’ College, Moratuwa and completed his secondary education at St. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia where he proved to be a bright student and won the Liturgy prize twice.
He graduated from the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya and joined Mackwoods Ltd. as an executive. Shortly after, he proceeded to the United Kingdom where he easily assimilated the ways, customs and culture of that country and stayed put for 38 long years as an accountant.
He was an avid reader. He had a thirst and craving for books, paintings, works of art symphonies, plays and similar cultural pursuits and UK was the God-given place to satisfy such interests as well as to expand his knowledge in various fields ranging from comparative religion, politics, culture to classics and art. His library was the pride of his life stacked with around 6,000 books, some priceless. He kept himself up-dated in such interests.
He ran his own apartment here and abroad paying huge rentals ostensibly for residence but in actual fact to house mainly his vast library and video collection as once he left in the mornings, he returned only late in the night after dinner out. He spent most of his spare time in bookshops and where his interests took him and when he returned in the night decided to communicate with close friends and relations, read or watched videos (he had a valuable collection here too) and retired to bed generally in the early hours. After his return from UK, time was hanging on his hands but his thirst for the pursuit of his interests did not diminish. Nor did he alter his routine of leaving home early and returning late or reading.
He was devoted to his only sister, Pauline Opatha and much later decided to visit her and his niece Kshiara for what he considered lunch at around 4 p.m., only to resume his stroll thereafter. His friends were a chosen few.
Only a few could have shared his keen sense of humour and incisive wit. Knowledgeable in varied matters, he did not suffer fools gladly. Like most intellectuals, he was a man of few words and was not prone to a display of his knowledge.
He did not have much opportunity of tasting seriously the intricacies of Sri Lankan society nor the tricky internal machinations or manifestations among relations. In the footsteps of an upright conservative Englishman, he was uncompromisingly steadfast in principles, common courtesy and etiquette. He remained a gentleman to his fingertips. He was fond of his two grand-nieces as well and despite his long sojourn abroad very concerned about the family and their welfare.
A God-fearing man, he loved his alma mater and was proud of the “blue, black and blue” ensuring as a last wish that the tie he was to be adorned with bore the colours. Although not specifically willed by him, the family was by circumstances compelled to have the last rites performed at the College Chapel – ‘The Chapel of the Transfiguration”, before burial at the Moratuwa Holy Emmanuel Church burial grounds.
- I.P.C. Mendis