Appreciations

Successful planter and darling of our family

Thaththie being a member of a family of planters, followed in the footsteps of his elder brother, after completing his studies at St. Thomas' College, Matale. 

He was courageous and did not hesitate to take bold decisions. His dynamism and mastery of the techniques of tea and rubber planting, made his superiors realise that he was very efficient. They transferred him to larger plantations from time to time, giving him more and more responsibility. After a relatively short period of five years, he began managing large plantations of over a thousand hectares.

At that time a majority of the labour force on estates were Tamils and he found it quite easy to work with them, look after their interests while producing the best results. He was fluent in Tamil and gave priority to ensuring the wellbeing of estate labour, long neglected by the Europeans. 

He was qualified in the preparation of nurseries and the propagation of V.P. and bud-rubber plants. At the time of his death he had more than 40 years' experience in planting and was a recognised Visiting Agent for many large estates. The vast areas he replanted in many plantations in the low country are testimony to the services rendered by him to the industry and also the country.

He married a girl from the well-known Delgoda family of Ratnapura and was the proud father of three children, two daughters and me. We are sorry that Thaththie is not alive today to see his five beautiful grandchildren. To his brothers and sisters, Thaththie was the darling of the family and they were very proud of him. For him, their welfare came first and he was ready to make any sacrifice for them. 

To us he was a loving father and his untimely death on December 1, 1994 has created a vacuum that can never be filled. Tragedy struck like a streak of lightning leaving our family's ship rudderless.

May Thaththie attain Nibbana.

Son Haren

Gentlewoman in every sense of the word

Since I lived just behind her home, we met frequently. Her dear husband Algy, as everyone knew him, died two years ago. Mignon was really bereft for they were such a close and loving couple. I heard from him that he first met her when she was four. He was upset that his father, a widower was to re-marry her aunt. He refused to join the celebrations. Legend has it that little Mignon came to the garden with a slice of buttered bread for him. Algy loved to tell this story. Later, when she was a young lady he married her. 

Mignon missed Algy a lot. At this time I really came to know her as I visited her almost daily to cheer her up. Ours was a great friendship from then on. Both of us octogenarians had much to talk about — our children, grandchildren and all the little happenings of the day. 

Mignon was what I would call a true Christian, always thinking of others, very charitable. A good churchwoman, she was a devoted wife and loving mother to her six children — three daughters and three sons. A daughter and a son chose the religious life and emulate their parents in every way. As it turned out, her two daughters here were joined by three of her children who live abroad, during the days of her hospitalisation and death — one on work, one on holiday, the third coming especially to see her one last time. 

Mignon was sorely tried during the last few years of her life. She had a fall about seven years ago, fracturing her left femur. She went through a subsequent operation and with physiotherapy, was able to walk again. On November 19, she fell again and fractured her right femur. She underwent a successful operation but other complications set in causing her demise.

Having lived down Nuwarawatte Place, Nawala for so long, Mignon was much loved in this area. The religious as well as the laity attended her funeral. 

Mignon had a great sense of humour and my meetings with her were happy occasions. 

I hear that a day prior to her death she said she saw Algy — and he was calling her. My own mother had this experience. Near death, she said she saw my dad. I count it a privilege to have met and become close friends with Mignon — that gentle, dainty lady and saint. Her family and all who knew her miss her very much. I am sure she is happy and blessed now and I know her dear soul will rest in peace. 

Dorothie Ebell 

Exemplary officer

Gamini Jayaweera, a director of the Ceylon Tourist Board, passed away recently. 

He was on circuit, staying the night at the Gurulupotha Rest House at Hasalaka when he suffered a heart attack which led to his demise. 

Gamini was an exemplary officer with a high sense of dedication and sensitivity. 

He worked with me during my assignments with the Tourist Board. 

A loving husband and father, he leaves behind Sriyani and Dushyantha who will miss his guidance and presence. 

Let there be more of his ilk in this country! 

May the turf lie gently over his mortal remains! 

Hope Todd

Not here to savour the victory

He was a fearless officer who gained national and international acclaim. He was in the forefront of action to crush the LTTE and maintain law, order and security in the Eastern Province till 1994. He was also the Brigade Commander of the Southern Province in 1987/1989 and was responsible for crushing the JVP insurgency. No Sri Lankan will disagree that Maj. Gen. Algama was a rare army officer who accomplished these two missions successfully to bring about law and order. 

It is ironic that the UNP was swept into power in the very month in which Lucky was killed two years ago. I am sure wherever he is, he would be happy that the goal he attempted to achieve has now been accomplished.

I salute you, my dearest friend. To all of us who knew you well, your dream has come true!

A.W.

Her death leaves a great void

Noeline studied at Girton School, then a very prestigious private institution in Nugegoda. Later she joined its staff and became a popular teacher, loved by her students. She was attractive and always elegantly dressed. She exuded much charm and a disarming smile often lit up her face.

She made a beautiful bride the day she married Donald Rodrigo. They were blessed with a son and a daughter. Daughter Roshini excelled in her studies and became a doctor. She married Indra Jayewardene and when they migrated to Australia with their two sons, Noeline went to live with them. Son Dilan married Romany and stayed on in Sri Lanka and Noeline enjoyed her holidays here. 

I was filled with profound grief when Iris broke the news of Noeline's death on October 2. I spoke to Preethi, Pearl's daughter and she stifled her tears as she said, "We were very close, she was like my sister. Her death leaves a great void in our lives"

A moving service of thanksgiving for the life of Noeline was held on October 16 at the Methodist Church, Nugegoda.

Irene

He made all of us happy

We can remember the day he walked into our lives, introducing himself with a smile. He was known as a student who always came late to a lecture. He looked upon examinations as a necessity never a burden, always light-hearted after answering a paper. When I was in hospital unable to fathom what was in store for me, he walked to my bedside and made me laugh. For a moment he relieved the gloom. I often think of the good times we had as friends. Life was happy. We never thought that sorrow would come into our lives in this manner. As a young lawyer, he was cheerful and friendly. Whenever he came to the Negombo courts, he never missed the opportunity to come to my home and inquire about me. His death was a shock to all of us. We console ourselves with the thought that his short life brought happiness to all those who knew him. We love him as a true friend. May Janaka and his brother attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana!

"The sea is rough…

Don't know what to expect,

May be… a wave will wash me,

Or will be kind to bring me back ashore,

I never felt the huge stone, before,

It's so tough…

As I never walked before,

Nor dreamt of, too.

It hurts me a lot,

My feet are swollen,

But I can't leave my eyes alone,

I must save them and serve it.

With tears in my eyes but with an open heart,

I'm helping - helping myself to walk back home." 

P.R.