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12th November 2000
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  • W.P.P. (Willie) De Silva
  • Nissan needs help
  • Gold award for Ranweli director

  • W.P.P. (Willie) De Silva

    The first death anniversary of my brother-in-law W.P.P. de Silva falls tomorrow.

    It is with the greatest sorrow that I recall the last day I saw him alive. It was early morning on October 22, 1999, the day he was to leave with his wife to Canada on holiday. 

    His sister-in law- had invited them for a visit. 

    Aiya was dressing and seeing him having difficulty putting on his new pair of socks, I knelt down and helped him. 

    We then wished them a happy and a trouble- free journey as they left for the airport. My wife, son and I were to stay at their residence during their absence.

    In their frequent telephone calls they told us how much they were enjoying their holiday and how wonderfully well they were being looked after. 

    As the days passed we were eagerly looking forward to welcoming them back. 

    They were going to London on November 12 and returning on November 17. Now this day was special as it happened to be Aiya's birthday, so we planned to welcome them with kiribath. Alas! it was never to be. On November 13, I heard the most shocking news of my life. Aiya had collapsed while disembarking from the plane at Heathrow Airport and passed away. We were devastated. The subsequent events and the agony his wife, children and all of us went through are history now.

    But I must write of the qualities of the most extraordinary human being I have ever come across. 

    I have to consider myself very fortunate to have had him as a brother-in-law. He was a human in a million. He possessed admirable qualities such as patience, integrity, serenity etc. 

    He was a husband and father whose devotion to his family was unparalleled and he brought up his son and daughter more by example than advice. 

    In fact, Aiya was a second father to my son and I know very well the immense love and respect my son had towards his 'Lokuthaththi'. Actually for my wife and myself too he was a father- figure who always stood by us in adversity. 

    I have never seen him losing his cool or heard him speak harshly to anyone. 

    He was a practising Buddhist in every sense of the word.

    Willie' as he was affectionately called amongst his professional friends was a lifetime journalist. The respect he generated amongst his Fourth Estate colleagues was evident from the many accolades bestowed on him. We take this opportunity belated though, to thank them too for their many gestures.

    Memories of this calm, quiet and dignified man will linger forever. 

    We as Buddhists wish for the ultimate attainment of Nirvana. 

    And in the case of Aiya, the trek in Samsara until that greatest moment will be short. 

    Nihal Amarasekera


    A homely experience away from home

    Attending a Katina Pinkama thousands of miles away from home was not something we expected to do when we arrived in Sydney in time for the Olympics. When we took alms one weekend to the Lankaramaya, the Buddhist temple in Sydney's farm country many miles from the city, plans were being made to hold the Katina Pinkama at the end of the Vas season - the annual event eagerly looked forward to by Buddhists wherever they are.

    For everyone's convenience a week-end had been picked for the Pinkama. Having participated in the Pirith ceremony the previous evening, hundreds of devotees gathered at the temple around nine the next morning and made preparations for the Katina Perahera, just as we do back home. The Katina robe along with Atapirikara was taken in procession with devotees chanting 'Sadhu, Sadhu' and drums beats being played through a recording - creating the right atmosphere.

    Fourteen monks led by two senior Australian monks were present for the Pinkama which was conducted by the Viharadhipati, Ven. Panditha Meegahakumbure Dhammagaveshi Thera who explained the significance of the Katina Pinkama both in Sinhala and English. Thereafter the Katina robe was offered by Tilak Ekanayake, President of the Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara Association of Sydney, who looks after the affairs of the temple. The Sanghika Dana was followed with a lunch for everyone present and a swift clean-up operation afterwards. Lankaramaya serves around four thousand Buddhist Sri Lankans in and around Sydney - in addition to the many Australians who are increasingly showing a keen interest in Buddhism. Venerable Dhammagaveshi also tries to help them through meditation sessions with Ven. Talangalle Siridhamma who assists him.

    Situated in a picturesque setting on a five-acre block, there is plenty of space for the temple to expand. A Bo tree is coming up nicely and a Chaitya is also being planned. There are also plans to build three 'kutis' for the use of those who wish to come and spend a few days of mediation in an undisturbed, peaceful environment. 

    A library, four Daham schools with over 300 students in attendance and poya programmes (with Vesak and Poson drawing huge crowds) are some of the other features available to devotees.

    The Buddhist Association is quite active, with over four hundred members. A lot of development work is also being carried out. The approval of the local authority has been obtained for Lankaramaya to function as a place of worship. 

    "Our aim is to make Lankaramaya a fully-fledged Buddhist centre to be of service not only to the Sri Lankans and Australians but also those who visit seeking knowledge on Buddhism," says L.T. Fonseka, on behalf of the Association.

    D.C. Ranatunga


    Nissan needs help

    Seven-month-old P. Nissan of Madakele, Kandy, is suffering from a serious heart ailment and needs urgent surgery to save his life, according to Dr. Anura Kapuruge of the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital.

    The surgery is estimated to cost Rs. 175,000. His parents, workers at Hagala estate, Madulkele do not have sufficient funds and appeal to the public for help. Contributions can be sent to, Manager, Commercial Bank, 90-92 Kotugodella Veediya, Kandy to the credit of A/c No. 8040005828.


    Gold award for Ranweli director

    Chandra de Silva, a Founder Director of Ranweli Holiday Village won the Gold Award for the Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year 1999 of the North Western Province.

    The award was presented by Tissa Jayaweera, Chairman, Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry on behalf of S.B. Nawinna, Chief Minister of Wayamba, who could not attend the award ceremony as he had to be in Colombo on an urgent matter.

    The awardees are selected each year by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Sri Lanka.

    Prior to the presentation of the award the following dissertation was read by H.U. Hamangoda, Director- General, Wayamba Chamber of Commerce & Industry:

    "The award goes to an institution on the borderline of the Wayamba Province - a hotel which goes beyond the realms of traditional hoteliering; their facilities extend to learning experiences for their guests. They have introduced a new concept to the country in 'ecotourism' where conservation and sustainability are focal points. Profitability is only one aspect we look at and we see a greater significance in the preservation of the environment. This is the criteria on the basis of which Chandra de Silva, Founder Director of Ranweli Holiday Village, was selected as the Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year 1999 of the North Western Province and he wins the Gold Medal for this achievement."

    Mr. de Silva is the President of the Ecotourism Society of Sri Lanka and an Advisory Member of the International Ecotourism Society (TIES) based in the U.S.

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