Appreciations
View(s):A dedicated teacher who mentored many a scholar
Prof. Mahinda Palihawadana
Palihawadana Ralahamy, the Registrar of Malimbada, had five sons and one daughter: Sunny, Padma, Mahinda, Amara, Siri, and Nimal. Peter Wijesinghe, Palihawadana Ralahamy’s brother-in-law, a member of the editorial staff at the Dinamina newspaper had a special fondness for little Mahinda, the third child in the family. He sought his sister’s permission to take Mahinda to Colombo, accompanied by an elderly housemaid, to enrol him in a suitable school.
At the time, Mr. Wijesinghe’s good friend, Dr. E. W. Adikaram, was the Principal of Ananda Shasthralaya in Kotte. On the day of admission, Mahinda was introduced to the principal by his uncle. Dr. Adikaram asked the calm and composed child a few questions, all of which Mahinda answered promptly and confidently. Impressed by the child’s intelligence, Dr. Adikaram – a visionary educator, recognised Mahinda’s potential and ensured that he was provided with all the necessary support to succeed. Mahinda excelled in school, receiving two double promotions and completing his education in just a few years.
As Dr. Adikaram’s most trusted pupil, Mahinda entered the University of Colombo, where he earned a BA (Special) degree in Oriental Languages. He later returned to his alma mater, Ananda Shasthralaya, as a teacher. Within a few years, he rose to the position of Vice Principal and eventually became Principal.
Upon assuming this role, he was committed to fulfilling several key requests made by his mentor: improving school facilities, establishing a separate girls’ school on Pagoda Road in Kotte, and constructing a new playground at Baddegana on Thalawathugoda Road. The school’s hostel, known for serving nutritious vegetarian meals, was also expanded to accommodate students from distant areas such as Badulla, Bibile, Matara and Welimada.
While continuing his academic journey, Mahinda earned a doctorate in Oriental Languages. He later joined the newly established University of Sri Jayewardenepura as a lecturer. When Dr. Ananda Guruge vacated the position of Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Mahinda was appointed to the role. In due course, he became the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities.
Dr. Palihawadana was known as a compassionate and dedicated teacher, always extending a helping hand to his students. Many of those he mentored now hold academic positions in universities across the country. Among them are Prof. Saman Chandra Ranasinghe, Ven. Prof. Induragare Dhammarathana, Ven. Dr. Maduruoya Dhammissara, and several other bhikkhus and lay scholars.
After retiring from his distinguished academic career, Dr. Palihawadana was appointed Chairman of the Sri Lanka Vegetarian Society by Dr. Adikaram. In 2002, he also became Chairman of the Krishnamurti Centre in Sri Lanka.
Throughout his career and into retirement, he authored several research publications, translations, and newspaper articles on a wide range of topics, including vegetarianism, the teachings of Krishnamurti, and contemporary politics. He also co-authored a revised edition of the Buddhist text Dhammapada with Harvard scholar Prof. John Ross Carter.
From the onset of his illness in 2022 until his passing, he was lovingly cared for by his eldest daughter, Priyamvada, and her husband, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, K. D. Ranasinghe. His son, Ravi, and Professor Nalin Wickramarachchi—the husband of his late daughter Nirmala—also consistently attended to his needs.
As per his wishes, a quiet funeral was held on the morning of Sunday, June 8, and his body was donated to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
May his journey through Samsara be brief, and may he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.
N. B. Palihawadana
School bonds that grew into a steadfast friendship
Lloyd Chandrasiri Rodrigo
It is with profound sadness I heard the news that Lloyd passed away on June 10, in Sri Lanka. I came to know him when we were students at Wesley College Colombo. He was a school prefect in the 1950’s. Lloyd was strict but kind to us juniors. He was a keen organiser of drama at school.
After an illustrious school career, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Arts Faculty, University of Ceylon, Peradeniya. Subsequently, he proceeded to England where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and worked with the reputed firm, Price-Waterhouse.
On his return to Sri Lanka, Lloyd began work with the well-known Sri Lankan economist, banker and entrepreneur, N.U. Jayawardena at Mercantile Credit. Lloyd enjoyed a meteoric rise in his professional career to become the chairman of Mercantile Housing. There he was responsible for low-cost housing projects, the first of many in the country.
He then left Sri Lanka again to work abroad. With his honesty, business acumen and ethical integrity, Lloyd was a fine accountant. He worked in several countries including Malawi, Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia. There he had the talent and the competence to work for presidents and princes.
I met Lloyd in the 1980’s in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia when I was on a brief teaching assignment. There we renewed our friendship and spent many evenings reminiscing about school and mutual friends. We both agreed that the school gave us the foundation on which our personal and scholastic lives were anchored. Although much reserved, he had a gift for friendship.
Lloyd returned to Sri Lanka and continued to work in several challenging yet rewarding roles. After his retirement he and his wife, Seetha, travelled the world together. They enjoyed those trips enormously and they were memorable and happy times for them.
Lloyd found the greatest happiness in his personal life. He was a family man, a proud parent and a grandparent. Seetha and Lloyd were a loving couple and had a happy life together for almost 64 years. Their two children Lakshini and Niranjan were educated abroad. They are now settled in South Africa and England respectively.
Lloyd had a long, happy and rewarding life. He enjoyed good health until the final few years of his life when his memory began to fail. He was cared for with much love and affection. Lloyd passed away peacefully.
His was a life well lived. Farewell, Lloyd. May God grant you rest and eternal peace.
Dr. Nihal D. Amerasekera
My wife, a woman of courage, intelligence and wit
Premalatha Weerakoddy
My beloved wife Premalatha Weerakoddy died at the prime age of 95 years on March 29, 2024. She was ill for about six months and I was saddened beyond expression, physically shattered and mentally exhausted by her demise.
After her schooling, she entered the health services as a pupil nurse. From there on, it had been smooth sailing for her as she attained the post of staff nurse, ward sister and finally matron in quick succession. She was a woman of mettle and maintained high standards of discipline and decorum in the wards.
In appreciation of her sterling qualities and high performance, she was awarded scholarships to India, Thailand and Singapore. After retirement she played an active role in religious activities listening to Buddhist sermons and discussions on radio and TV and visiting temples on Poya days. She visited India on religious pilgrimages.
Her two daughters, both doctors, married to a doctor and an engineer, did their utmost to look after her.
She was a woman of courage, intelligence, wit, dignity and discipline.
Dr. K.J.S. Weerakoddy (husband)
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