| Appreciations |
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His
doors were open to all He had a good heart and bore malice towards none. He was a sincere friend and wise counsellor who was always available for guidance and support. All those who associated with him had implicit trust in him. His achievements were enormous. The vacuum created by his demise cannot be filled easily. His dealings with his clients were with a positive frame of mind and his deliberations and findings, officially or otherwise, were evenly balanced. He was not afraid to call a spade a spade and did not fear to take up any challenge and politely explain to his opponents where they went wrong. The biggest triumph he achieved was that he did not leave room for any individual to point a finger at him. Mr. Alexander first joined Messrs. Heller & Co., as its manager and subsequently Messrs. Bonars (Ceylon) Ltd., as one of its Directors. He was a founder member of Diesel & Motor Engineering Co. Ltd., and later rose to the position of Chairman. On his retirement, the then Board of Directors, in recognition of the services rendered to the company, named him President of the DIMO Group of Companies, which post he held till his death. After World War II, through sheer dedication and determination on behalf of the DIMO Company, he negotiated with the Benz Company in Gemany and obtained formal approval to be the sole agent to import Mercedes Benz cars etc. He was a specialist in the motor trade. Mr. Alexander married Miss. Gunawathie and the couple were blessed with eight children, two daughters and six sons. They guided their children with utmost care. They gave the children priority over personal matters and provided them with the best of education. Mr. Alexander was willing to uphold his principles without fear or favour. He did not make compromises for personal gain or cheap popularity. He never lost his temper and always led from the front, which enabled him to enjoy success in a fiercely competitive world. He was a faithful husband and dutiful father. Despite his tight professional schedule, he never neglected his obligations towards his family. He was a religious and social worker. He was a senior member of the Dayaka Sabhawa of the Gangaramaya Temple and also Dayaka of the Balapokuna Raja Maha Vihare, Pamankade and Sambodhi Vihare, Fort. Messrs. Ranjit, Mohan and Gahanath Pandithage are following in the footsteps of their late father. Ranjit is the CEO of the DIMO Group and Gahanath is a Director. Mohan holds the dual post of Managing Director of the Maritime Group and Director of the Hayleys Group of Companies. Mohan makes it a point to visit the Gangaramaya Temple every Monday morning to get the blessings of Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thero before going to office. I can vividly remember the day following the conclusion of the Katina Pinkama about 20 years ago when Madam Alexander came in the evening to the Sambodhi Vihare, Fort and offered a sheaf of betel to the late Ven. Chandrajothi Maha Nayake Thero. She gave him a solemn undertaking that from the commencement till the completion of the next Vas period, she will provide the necessary requirements to all the resident bhikkus of the temple. The Viharadhipathy gave his formal consent with a nod. Such a rare pinkama can be performed once a year at one place only. Before anybody could seize this rare opportunity, she lost no time doing so, one year in advance. That year, under her guidance and with the co-operation of the members of her family and well-wishers the Vas pinkama ended on a grand scale. She was a member of the Kantha Kulagana Samithiya of the temple. As a mark of
gratitute and respect, I salute my dear mentor, Mr. Alexander with
a humble prayer that the never ending journey in Sansara be short
for him. T. Edward Peiris Sunethra, I
still mourn for you! I miss your
laughter and ready wit, I think of
you in sorrow, I miss you everyday. Mirelle A tribute to
a young artist She was a dutiful daughter, adored sister, devoted wife and affectionate friend who made a myriad sacrifices for those she loved. As a friend, she was steadfast in her loyalties. Even when disillusioned, as must happen in an imperfect world, she merely endured and never spoke a word in anger or recrimination. She was pure in heart and devoid of malice. She was a gracious and benign hostess, which role she played with finesse. Her forte was art and she showed dexterity with brush and paint from an early age. Her art exhibitions at the Lionel Wendt won her kudos from teachers, parents, friends, art connoisseurs and critics. Some of her works adorn the drawing rooms of homes and lounges of corporate offices in Sri Lanka and overseas. Her greatest resource was her devotion to the Catholic faith and Christian values. She clung to them with steadfast sagacity and faith, even through the six months of her failing health. She was always fortified by her love of Jesus. Ashvini was the epicentre of her family, her parents and her only brother. She was the embodiment of life and zest and gave verve and vitality to those near and dear. Her simplicity endeared her to her peers and elders alike. When she went on her final journey, it was a triumphant cortege, judging by the number of mourners who escorted her. It is indeed a shock, how a flame so bright could have been extinguished so early. Like every perfect rose, she was nipped in the bud. Gone to your
heavenly rest, V. Vamadevan We
salute your memory All who knew Shiran (believe me there were plenty) knew him as a fine officer not withstanding the fact that he was an even better human being! Having served S. Thomas' College in the highest rank of cadeting as a Regimental Sergeant Major, his only ambition was to join the Sri Lanka Air Force, to serve his motherland. As such, on getting his GCE A/L exam results in 1987, he rushed to Katunayake with Mum to register himself with the SLAF. At the age of 18 when there were many opportunities to join any blue chip company, with the prospects of a sparkling career and more importantly a safer path, he discarded all and opted to defend the country at the height of the JVP problems! At some point in our lives, we come to crossroads. The right path is the rockiest and more difficult to climb. Most of us, including me, would rather take the easiest, which may not necessarily be the right path. Very few take the rocky path, but Shiran was one of them. Notwithstanding the gruelling training and at some point the humiliation of being held back from passing out, he trained relentlessly. It's interesting to figure out how the SLAF operates. The incident involved a cadet officer in training, being ragged by other officers. Of course, the student concerned was the son of a government official and had squealed to his parents and as is the norm in such situations an inquiry was held. Shiran was to be a witness but was at the crossroads again! Does he take the easy path and squeal on his officers or does he take the rocky path and stand by them and face the consequences? Being a man of principles, with mild ragging being part of life in the Forces, he decided to stand by his batchmates and his principles. The consequences were dire. Shiran was demoted, and passed out a year later than his batch. However, Shiran was not one to be disappointed over such issues. His mission was clear: to serve the country he loved to rid itself from the evil grip of terrorism. It is no secret that his bravery won him many an accolade, including the Rana Wickrema and Rana Suriya medals on no fewer than 11 occasions. As it is well known, September 16 was a day of sorrow to many. Today, three years later, the heartbroken families still weep for their lost sons and fathers. In our case, our mother passed away a year after Shiran's death. Her heart was broken and she grieved for her lost son. Any parent who has the misfortune of burying their child will know the intensity of this grief. Shiran, most of us owe our lives to you and your brave comrades. We salute you! You may no longer be in this world, but memories of you, our childhood, school days and your relentless yearning to free this country of evil will always be cherished and will live with us forever. Farewell my brother, my friend, my mentor! May you find eternal peace in paradise. Krishan Perera |
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