Appreciations
View(s):A brilliant lawyer and man for all seasons
Vernon Gunasekara (Jnr.)
Does a name speak for itself? In most instances the answer would be a “No”. But in the case of Vernon Malik Akbar Gunasekara, the answer was always “yes” and his name spoke for itself about him in volumes.
Vernon – one of the most amazing men on the planet, a true friend in time of crisis and horrible enemy to anyone who harmed someone he cared about. Vernon was a true gentleman, always putting others before himself. He possessed a heart of gold even if it had been broken in the past.
Malik – King of kings
Akbar – Great
Gunasekara – (Guna + s (h)ekara) – value at its zenith
An Attorney-at-Law, and author, Vernon or “Verna” as we used to call him, was called to rest on April 10, at a very young age of 53.
Born on May 31, 1964 to a Christian father and a Malay mother, he practised all religions without discrimination. During the holy month of Ramadan, he was a true believer and did his fasting to the letter. He was a Christian on the day Christ was born and I myself had seen him observing sil on two occasions.
He had his early education at St. Anthony’s College, Kandy of which the motto was “Lux De Coelo” . He himself was a “light from heaven” to his alma mater.
Soon after A/L’s he joined Sri Lanka Law College, where by popular majority he became the vice-president of the Law Students’ Union. Back then the Law-Medical was a single day event. A cricket match between the law students and medical students, a netball match between the fair sex of the two institutions, followed by a dinner-dance was the order of the day. Then came Verna and company who changed it into a week-long fun and frolic. Thus the Law-Medical week was born and Verna was a pioneer who made this happen.
Sir Oliver Gunathilake was the maternal uncle of Verna’s late father; Vernon Gunasekara (Snr.) Senior Vernon was one of the founding members of Lanka Sama Samaja Party and its first secretary. Being an ideologist in Communism and Trotskyism, he assisted the eminent lawyer H.V. Perera in the famous Bracegirdle case. Mark Anthony Lister Bracegirdle, an Australian national came to then Ceylon as a trained tea planter (creeper) in April 1936. Soon he realized the magnitude of the exploitation of Indian labour by British rulers and started addressing the issue at LSSP meetings. The governor at that time Sir Reginald Stubbs issued a deportation order against Bracegirdle, who evaded the order and canvassed the same in the Supreme Court. Vernon Gunasekara (Snr.) filed a writ of habeas corpus after the arrest of Bracegirdle at Vernon (Snr’s) residence at Hulftsdorp. Chief Justice Sir Sydney Abrahams, an Englishman himself together with two other judges ruled that Bracegirdle should not be deported for exercising his right of free speech. Remember that this was an era where fundamental rights were unheard of and the British rulers made mincemeat of anybody who opposed them. Such was the illustrious career of Vernon Gunasekara (Snr.). But our Verna was even better.
Our Verna’s cross-examination skills were beyond imagination in the Abanwala acid throwing case. Even his opponents admired the tolerance and endurance he practised during the trial of the Gampola bomb incidence. A professor’s wife and daughter were killed at Deveni Rajasinghe Mawatha, Kandy. The suspects were arrested years later and Vernon Gunasekara (Jnr.) was their counsel. One accused turned into a crown witness. His legal arguments pertaining to the ‘accomplice’ were par excellence at the High Court. His loss will be greatly felt in the Kings Park murder trial. His absence will be an irreplaceable void among his friends and foes alike in the Kandy Bar.
De Mortuis nil nisi bonum; of the dead nothing but the good is to be said. I tried my best to find something bad about Vernon Malik Akbar Gunasekara. But there was none. A true believer in “Que sera sera” he never hesitated to enjoy worldly pleasures the world could offer. His scholarly knowledge in any subject made him a man who could walk with kings and still dine with commoners.
May he attain the supreme bliss… of whatever he intended!
Nanda Senanayake
A beautiful heart that shone through her beautiful smile
Damayanthie Chithrani Fernando
Those we love don’t go away
They walk beside us everyday
Years may pass and fade away
But memories of loved ones are here to stay
It has been 12 months since she departed to be with the Lord. Our family was made to look poorer by the untimely demise of one of its most humble and helpful cousins.The ever-smiling and lovable Damayanthie came into my life 37 years ago when I married the cousin of Damayanthie’s husband Warren.
Her affection was contagious. Her care and concern was irrespective of considerations of class, caste or creed, and no recipient could ever resist responding to that disarming love which knew no bounds in transmission. Immense were the acts of her love, sharing and feeling for people both rich and poor.
A product of Methodist College, she never lost the common touch as she was able to move with the highs and lows of society. She was a prominent participant in all family activities.
Damayanthie was a hands-on individual who would do her utmost to alleviate the hardships faced by the underprivileged -she would walk the extra mile to help anyone in need.
Aggression was never in her vocabulary. She was a beautiful lady who had a beautiful heart. She had compassion, understanding, love, joy, happiness and readiness to forgive and forget, always with a beautiful smile. She was courageous and never hesitated to stand up for justice.
I will never forget her hospitality when we were going through a crisis in our lives in 1988. Her home was our home during that period. Their bedroom was given to me and my wife and I have no words to describe her hospitality. Early morning she would bring a cup of tea and in the night a glass of milk without fail.
We as a family feel the void left by our loving cousin’s absence. We miss Damayanthie dearly. She was more of a sister than a cousin to Roshani and I. We were blessed to have her in our lives. We will remember all the times she helped us and those wake-up calls to check after a court hearing about my cases.
Many would speak of her and share their thoughts of her remarkable and unshakable faith in God. How can anyone forget that smile of hers, which always meant so much to those who met her?
I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to her dearly beloved husband, Warren who stood by her at all times and to her children Gayathrie, Gayan and Ramesh.
Death is not the greatest loss in life; the greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.
She was indeed a living saint.
Damayanthie, may you rest in peace.
Premakumar Fernando
Orthopaedic surgeon who cared deeply for his patients
Dr Elmo T. Samuel
Elmo, known to his many friends as “Chum”, was born on January 8, 1940 in Jaffna. He grew up in Colombo and attended St. Benedict’s College. He graduated from the Ceylon Medical School as a physician in 1966 and migrated to the United States in 1972 to continue his specialisation in orthopaedics. After completing his residency in Coney Island, NY in 1976, he and Vajantha moved to Toms River, NJ when he joined Ocean Orthopaedics.
Elmo loved being an orthopaedic surgeon and cared deeply for his patients and their well-being. Until his recent illness, he had never taken a sick day. Outside of his work, Elmo had two passions – golf and nurturing deep relationships with family and friends. Elmo and Vajantha’s house was the first home for many friends and family members when they first moved to the United States. A glass of red wine and a wonderful meal was always available.
It gave Elmo great joy to watch the birds and boats on the Toms River from his home. He would happily greet his fellow golfers at the 7th green to offer them cold beers and cigars.
Elmo passed away on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at his home.
Elmo is survived by his beloved wife of almost 44 years, Vajantha, their two daughters Jennifer and Michelle, and his son-in-law, Nathan Mertins. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters Betty, Joe, Renee, Eric, Dawn, Olga, Frank and Nita and by many loving cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Solomon and Mercy, and his brother, Oscar.
Renee Joganathan
Goodbye and adieu my godly doctor
Dr. Rosemary Muthumani
Dr. Rosemary was a “Doctor” who had the heavenly touch,
When ever my family visited her, we felt her healing touch,
Though the syrups and tablets tasted awful,
Doctor’s words and concerned look made us joyful.
I am sure you would all agree with me,
If I say “ she was a Lovely Doctor”
Who worked for the patient,
And not for the money.
Goodbye and adieu my Godly doctor,
We still think of you,
Though you are no more.
Pulle family