Appreciations
View(s):My sister, my inspiration
Mangayarkarasi Yoganathan
Mangay was the middle-born of my five sisters and, when we were growing up in Colombo, I would sometimes amuse myself by comparing her with Mary, the middle-born of Jane Austen’s fictional Bennett sisters. There were some similarities but, unsurprisingly, not complete parallels. She was certainly the most studious member of the family, seemingly always immersed in her books and (this may surprise her children and many who knew her in her adult life), she was reserved as a teenager and not as extrovert as her sisters. But, unlike the bespectacled and seemingly dowdy Mary, Mangay was pretty, vivacious and amusing (as well as informed) in conversation.
At school, Mangay was certainly the most accomplished member of the family, boys included, incessantly winning class and special subject prizes and I recall that she recorded the best results in her year across Ceylon in the examinations held by the overseas Senior Cambridge Examination Board. Mangay went on to University, entering the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ceylon as one of its earliest female alumnae. Again, her career was studded with distinctions and prizes which I would use as an inspiration when I decided to follow a career in Medical Sciences myself, several years later.
After qualifying as a doctor in 1950, Mangay joined the Faculty staff, specialising in Clinical Pathology, and proceeded to London where she wrote a prestigious dissertation at the Hammersmith Hospital, earning her PhD from the University of London. Returning to Ceylon, Mangay spent most of her subsequent career in the country but made numerous visits to other Universities across the world, enhancing her teaching and professional experience.
Mangay was very aware of the importance of family connections and she was probably the most conscious of us in keeping connected with the wider family community of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews (what is termed ‘kudumbam’ in Tamil parlance) despite being separated literally by oceans and continents in latter decades. She was enormously helpful to me throughout my life and we had many experiences in common especially as we were the two medically qualified members of the family. As I was the youngest in a family of eight, it was inevitable that I would have a fair share of being told off by my elder siblings but, I cannot recall Mangay ever seriously remonstrating with me though I gave enough opportunities for doing so.
I owe much to her and I would also like to make reference here to the kindness shown to me by her late husband Dr Ponniah Yoganathan, who I also remember with great affection. I pass on these memories with my sympathies to all members of the family, especially to her three children Ajit, Anoma and Renuka.
Mangay entered glory on April 4, aged 97+.
Visvan Navaratnam
Memories of your generous spirit will never fade
S.D.M. ZAROOK
I write this appreciation with a profound sense of sorrow. I received your usual call on Thursday, March 10 after Esha prayer, inquiring about my health and wellbeing. And on Friday, my younger brother called me to say that you had passed away early in the morning, proving the dictum that death hangs over our heads like the “Sword of Damocles” in the midst of life. Did you have a premonition of your death, dear brother?
The news was heart-rending and sent shock waves all over me. Brother, it was Almighty Allah’s Rule of Law that you should leave this earth on a Friday, a day important for followers of Islam. Moreover, you had a peaceful death without suffering.
It had been your practice to call me two or three times a week after Magrib or Esha prayers . These regular conversations proved a soothing balm to me in those times of restrictions and lockdowns.
You entered the world of work after successfully completing your secondary education, considering our family circumstances. You joined the National Milk Board as a Dairy Assistant, receiving training at the headquarters in Narahenpita.
Later, you were posted to Nattandiya, leaving our family home at a young age and thereafter to Polgahawela. When you got a promotion as Dairy Manager, it was a feather in your cap. You went on a FAO scholarship for further training in the art of milk testing technology to two of the world’s leading milk producing countries, Denmark and New Zealand, in 1976. You achieved this through devotion and dedication to duty.Thereafter, you were posted to be in charge of milk collecting centres in places like Batticaloa, Akmeemana, Labuduwa, etc. where you were given furnished quarters. You invited our parents to stay for a week or two and I too have enjoyed your hospitality and goodwill. I look back on those happy times when you were very busy but as happy as a lark. When you were in charge of these centres, you used to tell us when you rejected barrels of milk for not meeting the required standards, and how dairy farm owners offered tempting bribes. But with your honesty and integrity you never yielded in accordance with your Islamic principles.
I am aware that whatever you earned by honest endeavour, you gave generously even to our relations as well and never failed in your duty towards our family. Your contributions helped me immensely in my secondary and tertiary exams.
When you left the Milk Board, you sought greener pastures in Saudi Arabia. There too, you never forgot your kith and kin. You performed the Haj pilgrimage, but never wanted to prefix your name with the title Hajji. In the Maldives where your wife was a teacher and daughters were schooling, you continued your generosity with unfailing regularity.
Your stewardship at the Milk Board was your golden years. In those days, you had a passion for all things foreign. You would spend lavishly. From outstations, you maintained a regular correspondence with our late father. Coming to our home on leave, you played your favourite mouth-organ as a pastime. I have nostalgic memories of those carefree days.
Your eldest son was indeed a tower of strength and your daughters all shared and cared for you. Almighty blessed you with caring children.
I pray my brother Zarook will be blessed with the highest place in Jennathul Firdouse. Inna Lillahi we Inna ilaihi rajioon. (From Allah do we come and to Him is our return.)
M. Azhar Dawood
My grandfather a pioneer of CBSL
Edmund Eramudugolla
Today, May 1, marks what would be the 100th birth anniversary of Edmund Eramudugolla, my beloved maternal grandfather who passed away on November 26, 2004. Born in his ancestral village in Pamunuwa Wasama close to Dullewe in Asgiri Udasiya Pattiya of North Matale, he had his early childhood in the village of Raddegoda in the Kurunegala District where his father was appointed ‘Korale Mahaththaya’. His father was Rathnadivakara Bandaranayake Wasala Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Punchi Banda Eramudugolla, and his mother was Matilda Udalagama. He was the second child in his family, and had three sisters.
A product of Trinity College Kandy, in 1940 he entered the University College of Colombo, where he read for a BA in Arts, and graduated in 1943 in the very first batch produced by the University of Ceylon. In 1944 he entered the Ceylon Law College and passed out with First Class Honours in August 1947 topping his batch. Although he took oaths as an Advocate of the Supreme Court he had no desire to pursue a career in law and found his ‘calling’ when the Central Bank was established.
Edmund was a pioneer staff member of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka who joined at its inception in August 1950 as Staff Secretary. He served in several departments of the Bank and was appointed Deputy Governor and subsequently Senior Deputy Governor. He acted for the Governor and presided at meetings of the Monetary Board on several occasions during the absence of the Governor. He served as Alternate Executive Director on the Board of the International Monetary Fund, in Washington DC and retired from the Central Bank in July 1980. During the early stages of his career he was the first Sri Lankan to be sent to the World Bank as a trainee in 1953.
In December 1990 he was invited to serve on the Presidential Commission on NGOs which was appointed by then President Premadasa. The commission was chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice R.S Wanasundera, and included my grandfather and Irvin Weerackody, Chairman of Ogilvy Group Sri Lanka.
My grandfather recounted his three decade-long career in the bank in his book, ‘Reminiscences of The Central Bank of Sri Lanka’, published in 2004 by Vijitha Yapa Publishers. During a conversation, my grandfather told me that he had forgotten to include a detail of how the Central Bank’s crest came to have a border of lotus petals surrounding the image of the lion. He said that it was the suggestion of Dr. G. P. Malalasekera to include the lotus petals to symbolise the country’s Buddhist cultural heritage. He hoped that perhaps in a subsequent second edition of the book this detail may be added. Sadly this was not to be, as he passed away a few months after the book’s release. The book was dedicated to my grandmother, Nalini Thelma Madugalle Eramudugolla, with whom he shared his life’s journey since their marriage on September 7, 1949, until her passing on June 29, 1992.
Many are the happy memories that can be recalled by family, friends and colleagues who knew him. And thus on this day, many a fond memory is sure to be especially evoked in the thoughts of his three daughters Savithri Peeligama, Vinodini Boange and Dayani Samarakoon, as well as his grandchildren Suranthi Boange, Shyamika Peeligama, Dr. Shanil Samarakoon, Hashani Boange, Shashika Peeligama, Sharini Samarakoon and myself.
A devout Buddhist in many ways, my grandfather told me once that he wishes that his very last conscious thought would be to conceive in his mind a vision of the Buddha having attained enlightenment walking to the city of Saranath to deliver the first sermon and thus begin the propagation of the noble Dhamma. May his journey in samsara be brief, and may he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.
Dilshan Boange
He played hard but clean
ROYDEN DE SILVA
Royden de Silva, a gentleman to his fingertips who passed away on December 19, 2021 could be considered one of Sri Lanka’s outstanding sportsmen having represented the country in rugby and basketball, two sports which demand the utmost endurance.
He started his sporting career as a 16-year-old at St Peter’s College in the two sports and was spotted by Dr. Hubert Aloysius, a Havelocks captain in the ’60s who invited him to join the club offering him a place and position in the team.
In a seven-year period from 1966 he was a key member of the Havelocks rugby team which won two Clifford Cups. During that period he represented Orient’s Basketball Club and was a member of the National team. He captained Havelocks Sports Club in 1973 before leaving Sri Lanka to further his career in shipping in West Asia..
A particular incident which is worthy of mention was when he represented the Havelocks in a game against their traditional rivals the C.R. & F.C. which was a rugby cup final and then immediately left to play for Orient’s in a basketball final the same day!
An unassuming and popular figure, he played hard but clean in the best traditions of the game. He took early retirement to care for his ailing mother. Sadly shortly before her demise fate dealt him a cruel blow with a debilitating illness. He bore it with his characteristic charming smile that tamed many an opponent on the playing field.
The only son of late Mr. and Mrs. Wilson de Silva, he lived in his childhood home in Wellawatte then a leafy suburb which produced an abundance of sportsmen. He will be now in the company of team mates and close friends of the golden era of Peterite basketball – Autry de Silva, Naufer Mahroof and Justin Perera.
May his soul rest in peace.
Wasantha Rajandran
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