Appreciations
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CMW
- the illustrious maths master Charles Mendis Weeraratne, a diminutive, impeccably clad, impressive figure, graced the portals of Ananda College for 40 long years like a colossus, coaching students in mathematics. They came in their numbers, almost the cream of the country's mathematical intelligentsia, the professors of mathematics and physics, engineers, doctors, accountants, commissioned officers in the army and many others among the ordinary mortals who serve the length and breath of the country in various capacities, to pay their last respects to their beloved 'maths master'; reminiscing nostalgic memories of times when life was simpler and more carefree. C.M. Weeraratna joined Ananda College as a secondary mathematics teacher in 1937 at the age of 19 after getting through his London Matriculation, a barometer in education of the times, from Ananda. It was P. de. Kularatne, that doyen in education, who brought him to Ananda, having noticed his promise as a Grade 5 student at St. Luke's College, Ratnapura. CMW elected to serve his alma mater which was badly in need of competent teachers. He pursued his studies while serving on the staff of Ananda, and those seven days leave he had taken, were probably because he could not sit for exams in the afternoon at the training school and the university. Even the day his father died he was attending school, as if to say that there was no better way to pay tribute to his father who taught his son to put duty before self. CMW was always made to teach the cream of the students in school at the O/Ls, as he himself represented the cream of the teaching fraternity at the time at Ananda. There was a scramble by the students after Grade 9 to be selected to one of the Grade 10 classes taught by 'Weeraya', because you could then be assured of a credit or a distinction for maths hence classes taught by CMW always had a few more students in the register than other classes. What was remarkable with his teaching was that he made complex mathematical puzzles appear simple with a step by step approach. With years of experience and the sheer weight of his personality he always got the message across. He always spoke loud and clear. There was never a dull moment in our mathematics period and all the students looked forward to it. To make the lessons more interesting he would throw in a bit of banter to go with the lesson. He made reasonable fun out of his students too. In our class there was a bright student called L.S.R. Wijayawardene and he would always say "The day Professor LSRW comes to see me with his better half.." True to his prophecy LSR, presently is Professor of Physics in the University of Massachusetts. My father, through sheer enthusiasm to ensure for me a distinction in mathematics at the O/Ls, took me along one day to CMW's house at Sri Vipulasena Mawatha, Maradana with a packet of biscuits and suggested that I join some of the tuition classes Mr. Weeraratne was conducting at the time. That suggestion drew an expression of bewilderment from the master and he said "This man is in my class and none of the students in my class needs tuition. If they do the sums that I tell them to do after school they are sure of a distinction". He refused to entertain that topic thereafter. What a contrast to the teachers of today who compel the students in their regular class to attend their tuition class! His tuition business was conducted so discreetly and selectively that only a few knew that he ever entertained students for tuition after hours. In those initial years at Ananda he had also served as the Cadet master and had been adjudged the best marksman at the annual cadet camp. Those were the days Ananda became a rising star in the cadetting arena and Mr. Weeraratne ended up as a lieutenant in the Cadet Corps. A versatile man of many talents, he produced dramas and also took part in art exhibitions. Whenever the school had an important function CMW was always called upon to do the announcing for his diction in English as well as in Sinhala was equally good. At school and family informal get-togethers he played the violin like a maestro. Dressed in spotless full suit with a necktie to go with it, he had a penchant for red ties. His shining shoes were the talk among the students. In the '60s and '70s it was a pleasant sight to see 'Weeraya' driving in to the school in the morning in his well-kept Austin Cambridge. Later in his career he was bestowed the post of Deputy Principal at Ananda, but knowing him, I am sure he preferred to teach the students rather than discipline them. May be he considered teaching as the best method of disciplining the students. Mr. Weeraratne was also the author of a number of textbooks in mathematics and arithmetic and among his books were the 'Pathashalleya Angkaganithaya' and 'Pathashaleeya Veejaganithaya' which were made prescribed textbooks for schools by the Education Department. He also published books for leisure reading and one of those was the 'Mathematical tit bits and antidote for gloom'. In the '60s and '70s his regular mathematical lessons over the SLBC were very popular. He also served as the Chief Examination Officer of the GCE (OL) exam for a number of years. After retirement Mr Weeraratne served as a visiting lecturer of the University of Colombo. Palitha Senanayake My
friend and confidant There are no words to express the grief and sorrow your darling parents, your close friends and I go through when we think of you. I always wonder what it would have been if you hadn't gone on that fateful trip. Rasika to me you were more than a friend. You were also a big brother. I regret that I didn't have that special moment to tell you that you were such a good friend to me. It's been three long months and I still contemplate how and what really happened on that fateful day. I have now lost two of my most treasured friends. When I lost my other dear friend it was you who comforted me and told me everything would be alright. You
were a great student at Royal College and I was always told by my
loving parents to follow your example and be as hardworking as you
were. But I don't think I could ever be what you were. You were
one of the greatest IT guys I have seen. And your loss cannot be
replaced in my life or at your work place. Navin De Alwis Reminiscences
of a 50-year friendship Helen Steiner Rice's verse comes to mind as I think of Athukoralage Don Dharmasena, my friend, affectionately known as "Dharme" to most of us, whose first death anniversary fell on March 26, 2005. Our friendship spanned over half a century. I first met Dharme in 1950, as students in the Sixth Standard, when we both joined Matugama Central College, as winners of the fifth standard scholarship. He was from Welgama in Pasdun Korale, East and I came from Ittapana in Pasdun Korale, West. We soon struck up a friendship, a bond which continued to blossom for more than five decades. After leaving school, Dharme joined the Health Department and his first appointment was at the Mental Hospital, Angoda in 1957. While there, he entered the Vidyodaya University. After passing out from the University, Dharme joined the Ministry of Trade and Commerce and served in the Sri Lankan Missions abroad as Trade Commissioner, Commercial Secretary and First Secretary (Commercial) and retired as a Deputy Director of Commerce. His first appointment was to Cairo and the last was in Brussels, and he also served in Karachi, Moscow, Bonn and at a few other missions for short spells. He had a sound knowledge of the subjects that he handled and was an asset to the department. This was acknowledged by the fact that he was requested to serve as a consultant even after retirement. He was one of those "odd" men who never took full advantage of the facilities he was entitled to. He was a man of simplicity. Dharme excelled not only in studies but in sports as well. He represented the college in cricket, volleyball and soccer and later played cricket for the Health Department. He had a fanatical love for cricket. While in school he collected cricket pictures as a hobby. He walked nearly a mile every evening to the Matugama town, to collect the evening Observer for the Sports Master, in return for cricket pictures appearing in the paper, which he later passed onto me. While employed in Colombo, we never missed the whistle-stop games played by the visiting West Indies, English and Australian teams against Ceylon XI at the Colombo Oval. We enjoyed every bit of those matches, just for an entry fee of one rupee in the open stands, baking in the scorching sun. His enthusiasm for cricket did not end at the grounds, but was shared with his colleagues in the chummery at the Angoda Mental Hospital quarters. He would reenact and demonstrate Conrad Hunte's graceful late cut with the help of a broomstick and relate how Ted Dexter became abusive after being dismissed for a duck bowled by a L.R. Gunatilleke scorcher. Dharme had an altruistic desire to help others, and immensely enjoyed the company of his friends. In this world we rarely come across such lovable men. As a youngster in school, he never spent the 10 cents pocket money alone, but kept it in the safe custody of another, and the collection was later used to buy some sweets, simply for the thrill of sharing it with others. The chummery that he and his office friends ran at the Angoda Mental Hospital quarters was a good meeting place for most of us, who made it an occasion to enjoy his gracious hospitality. D.P. Jayasinghe |
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