Appreciations
View(s):Malli, you were and will always be my unflinching strength
LAKSHMAN HULUGALLE
If my brother Lakshman were alive now, he would have been 70 on January 29. I can see his face and his grimace, if I had said that in his presence. He was eternally young and full of life from the day he was born. We were poles apart. I was too cautious from my childhood, but my brother enjoyed taking high risks.
He also had a big heart for underprivileged people and animals. He could not watch any animal suffering or starving. All the stray dogs and cats in the vicinity were fed by him as a kid and to the end of his life. I wish I were half as good and compassionate as he was.
He had a following even as a child. He was a leader and dared to do the impossible. He also had a forgiving heart. When someone wronged him, he would forgive them and start afresh. I was amazed at that trait. He did not worry too much about the future just like my father. They had the conviction that things would work out in the end. Like a phoenix he could rise from the ashes.
My father was regimental, but my brother challenged him to the maximum. I always feared for him. Being my one and only sibling I loved him. Probably he knew that, but I did not accept him as he was. I always tried to mould him according to my own expectations. My parents loved him tremendously but being parents, always censured him. However, he knew how much we loved him. He was a lovable character and had a magical and infectious smile.
Some memories still hurt but they can easily be erased with millions of happy memories of him. I have given up trying to feel my brother has left me. I think all of them – my parents and my brother – still live in my heart, so I am not alone.
Attachments bring suffering but for me, those attachments bring strength. As we traverse this journey of sansara, undoubtedly, we will meet again and again.
Malli, you were my unflinching strength in life and even beyond this life, your protection still reaches me. You were always happy for me and believed I could handle life alone. I will always love you as I did all through my life.
May you attain supreme bliss of Nirvana and let us be side by side on that day too.
Sriyani Hulugalle
A visionary who built bridges to futurethe
D.L.O. MENDIS
Many have written about D.L.O. Mendis as an outstanding and visionary engineer, recognizing his technical contributions to Sri Lanka. However, for us, he was a visionary of a different kind—one who genuinely contributed to our country’s growth by opening the doors of global education to the next generation.
Growing up in the 1980s—an era long before the internet—accessing information was a monumental challenge. There were no agencies for overseas placements and no television advertisements for foreign degree programmes. For most, the dream of studying abroad seemed financially and logistically out of reach.
‘Goi Uncle’ as we called him, had a special dream. Having navigated the scholarship process for his own children—Kolita, Sunetra and Renuka—he saw a way to support Sri Lanka’s national growth by helping other young people find similar paths to higher education in the United States. The value of such guidance was all the more important, given the crisis Sri Lanka’s higher education was experiencing at the time, with universities being closed for over a year and thousands of aspiring students left looking for alternatives.
He didn’t just offer advice; he offered a lifeline. Because of Goi Uncle, my sister and I had the incredible opportunity to study in the U.S. on full scholarships. He knew how to navigate the thousands of American universities and select the most suitable ones, not only in terms of study stream but also those that offered scholarship schemes for foreign students. We were not alone; he guided countless others to secure funding according to need, transforming lives that might otherwise have been limited by circumstance.
Though his permanent residence was in Kandy, Goi Uncle often stayed with us during his visits to Colombo. We had the privilege of seeing his process firsthand. Armed with his well-worn Almanac of American Universities and Colleges and his loyal assistant and wife, Agnes Aunty, by his side, he would sit happily at our dining table, meticulously researching the best matches for every high school student who sought his help.
We later learned from my cousin Renuka that he had personally travelled to most of these universities across the United States using his own funds in a rented car driven by his sons to gather firsthand information to share with students back home.
What remains most inspiring is that Goi Uncle did all of this completely free of charge. He was driven solely by a generous spirit and a belief in the power of education. His greatest source of happiness was simply knowing he had helped a student win a scholarship for Sri Lanka.
We were profoundly fortunate to benefit from his wisdom and boundless energy to sit for hours advising and guiding. Our only wish is to live up to his expectations and continue contributing to the development of the country he loved so much.
Nisha and Himalee Aruntilaka
Deeply committed to solving the human-elephant conflict
CLAUDE PANANWALA
Claude Pananwala of Pananwala Walawwa, Talatu Oya passed away a few days ago after a brief illness.
He was a son of Abeyratne Banda Pananwala, a former Basnayake Nilame – Kandy & Hanguranketha Pattini Devalayas (1941-1963), Maha Vishnu & Aluthnuwara Devalayas (1963-1973) and Vimalawathie Mapitigama, daughter of M.B.Mapitigama of Meedeniya Walawwa, Kegalle and Tikiri Kumarihamy Hurulle of Morakewa Walawwa, Horowapathana.
Educated at Trinity College, Kandy and in Australia, he was employed for a few years and thereafter managed his family properties.
He had a deep and abiding concern for the fate of elephants in the wild and farmers whose crops were destroyed by marauding elephants. Over ten years ago, he even proposed the establishment of a Presidential Task Force to make a comprehensive study and recommend ways and means to bring relief to farmers and spare the lives of both farmers and elephants. His proposal was to appoint people like Dr. Nandana Attapattu (elephant expert and former Deputy Director, Department of Wild Life Conservation), reputed elephant conservationists, and experts from India, Thailand etc to the Task Force. Unfortunately, it was not picked up by those in authority, and the human-elephant conflict continues in spite of genuine efforts made to resolve it over the years.
Among his other interests were art and Hindi music. He was an accomplished artist and a connoisseur of Hindi music. He was an ardent fan of Mohamed Rafi from the time Radio Ceylon launched the Hindi Broadcasting Service, which attracted millions of listeners from India, Pakistan, the Gulf countries etc and admired H.R. Jothipala who launched his career by singing songs in Sinhala to the tune of Rafi’s popular songs.
He leaves behind his wife Damayanthie, son Niroshan (G.M. Macktiles Ltd) and daughter-in-law, Nilakshi, daughter Ayomie who looked after him with great love and affection during his illness and son-in-law Namal, as well as five brothers and two sisters.
May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.
K. de Silva
Footsteps of friendship: A walk from Galle to Adam’s Peak
Sunil Adhihetty
In April 1966, two young friends set out on foot from Galle Fort to Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak), covering nearly 132 miles in eight days. What began as a scouting requirement soon evolved into a journey shaped by endurance, faith, generosity, and, above all, friendship. I recall that walk today in affectionate remembrance of my late friend, Sunil Adhihetty, whose quiet resolve and steadfast companionship made it possible.
I was born at No.92, Pedlar Street, Galle Fort, the fifth of six children, and from an early age drawn to the outdoors. Scouting played a formative role in my youth, and by the age of 18, I aspired to earn the Queen’s Scout Badge, which required a 50-mile hike. When I spoke of this challenge to Sunil, who had recently moved to Galle Fort with his family, it was he who suggested that we go far beyond it, and walk all the way to Adam’s Peak.
We trained diligently for a month, jogging around Galle Fort and undertaking long practice walks to build stamina. With the kind assistance of W. Dahanayake, who issued a letter enabling us to stay at police stations along our route, we commenced our journey on April 11, 1966, carrying only basic supplies and firm determination.
Our route took us through Akuressa, Morawaka, Deniyaya, Hayes, Rakwana and Ratnapura. Along the way, we traversed tea estates, forested terrain near Sinharaja, and steep mountain paths, often replenishing our water from roadside streams. Offers of lifts were politely declined; we were determined to complete the journey entirely on foot. Throughout those demanding days, Sunil’s calm determination steadied us whenever fatigue threatened to slow our pace.
At Deniyaya, we stayed as planned at the Willie Group tea estate bungalow belonging to Sunil’s uncle, where the superintendent, Mr. Munasinghe, and his son Anil extended warm hospitality and much needed rest. In Ratnapura, we were once again sustained by the kindness of Sunil’s family, whose care restored our strength after a particularly arduous day.
On April 18, 1966, at 4.30 a.m., we reached the summit of Adam’s Peak and watched the sun rise slowly over the hills – a moment of quiet spiritual fulfilment. As temple bells sounded and the soft cadence of morning pirith drifted through the air, we stood together in reverent silence, united not by creed, but by friendship and a shared sense of awe.
After our descent, we walked on to Maskeliya and then to the Shannon Estate, where Sunil’s uncle, Neil Yapa, the estate superintendent, and his wife Indra welcomed us with warmth and thoughtful care, bringing our journey to a gracious close.
Nearly six decades later, that walk remains one of the most meaningful chapters of my life. It was not a journey I undertook alone. It belonged equally to Sunil Adhihetty – a friend whose vision, courage, and humanity guided every step. This tribute is written in grateful appreciation of a friendship that turned miles into memories and youthful effort into lifelong pride.
Jiffry Abdulla
Eloquent propagator of the Dhamma
Alec Robertson
The 23rd death anniversary of Deshabandu Alec Robertson fell on December 31, 2025. Born in 1928, his outstanding propagation of the Dhamma continued till his demise in 2002 at the age of 74 years.
He was a self–taught Buddhist scholar with a knowledge of the Dhamma acquired by wide reading of the Suttas and learning and discussing the Dhamma with lay scholars and at the feet of scholar monks including Ven. Nyanatiloka and Ven. Nyanaponika, who made Sri Lanka their home for several years. He had the ability to fluently convey the message of the Dhamma both in the English and Sinhala, though he revelled in the English language with quotations from Shakespeare and Milton.
Born to a Catholic family, he became a Buddhist by conviction as a teenager. His father in latter life became a free thinker and had a large collection of books on leading religions. The young Robertson read these books and convinced himself of the validity of the Buddhist identification of the central problem of life as Dukkha or unsatisfactoriness and that the way to overcome it was the Noble Eightfold Path enunciated by the Buddha 2600 years ago.
Mr. Robertson was closely associated with the Servants of the Buddha Society founded in 1921 which continues to meet every Saturday evening at Maitri Hall on Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya. He was first the Assistant Secretary and then Secretary of this Society. Subsequently he served as its President for a continuous period of 30 years from 1968 to 1998 when he relinquished office due to declining health. Yet he continued as an Adviser until his demise. At the meetings of the Society, as President, he usually delivered the first Saturday Dhamma talk of the month.
Mr. Robertson was connected with broadcasting for around 50 years delivering talks and participating in discussions on the Dhamma over the SLBC. He was first a member and later the Chairman of the very popular Buddhist radio programme, the Buddhist Forum.
To me personally he was a kalyanamitta in respect of the study of the Dhamma and encouraged me to deliver talks at the Servants of the Buddha Society. He introduced me to the Buddhist Forum where after his retirement I was Chairman for a considerable period. He also appointed me as President of the Servants of the Buddha Society when he gave up this role due to failing health.
Mr. Robertson has a large number of publications on the Dhamma. These include ‘Buddhist Attitude Towards Christianity’, ‘Nibbana-Happiness Supreme’, ‘The Triple Gem and The Uposatha’, and ‘Buddha-the Healer in Comparable’. He also contributed Buddhist articles to journals and newspapers including the Buddhist annual, Vesak Sirisara, over an unbroken period exceeding 20 years.
In his younger days, Mr. Robertson travelled to many parts of the country to deliver Buddhist talks in Sinhala on the invitation of Buddhist organizations.
In 1989 President Ranasinghe Premadasa appointed Mr. Robertson as a Member of Parliament on the National List of the UNP to represent Buddhism and Buddhist cultural affairs. He served the Supreme Legislature of the country from 1989 to 1994. He was advisor on Buddhist Affairs to both President Premadasa and President D.B. Wijethunga.
In recognition of his yeoman service to the nation and the Buddhasasana, a commemorative stamp in the denomination of Rs. 5.00 was issued on October 30, 2013 by the Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts.
Let me end this short appreciation with a quote by late Asoka Jayasinghe (writing in 2005) who considered himself as an adult sishya of Mr. Robertson.
“We are left with the memory of this great Buddhist layman whose life was that of an ideal Buddhist; both in erudition and practice”
“Sabba danam dhamma danam jinati”
Prof. Mahendra Fernando
Remembered with love
Marian de Almeida (née Fernando)
Marian de Almeida passed away on January 11, and was laid to rest on
January 12.
She was a retired teacher who served at Our Lady of Victories, Moratuwa, and St Bridget’s Convent, Colombo.
Marian will always be remembered for her strength, warmth, humour and many talents. She will be sadly missed and will live in our hearts forever.
Of all the special gifts in life…..
However great or small
To have had YOU, as our sister
Was the greatest gift of all.
May her beautiful soul rest in peace.
Desmond, Shirani and families
A Trinitian to the core and an old school banker
ALLAN DE ALWIS
Allan also affectionately called Casie made his exit from this earthly life in the same way he lived his life.
Born in Katukelle, Kandy, in his parents’ beautiful home, he was the eldest in a family of three boys. His father Frank was the Shroff of the Kandy Municipality and his mother Olive (nee Aluvihara) was a popular music teacher.
He went to the best school of all and among his classmates were Sarath Amunugama, Jayantha Dharmapala and S.M. Marikkar. He was throughout, a strong supporter of Trinity rugby and if his team was not doing well, he would not be in the best of moods. He was also a strong believer in the school motto and looked to meet the girl at the end of the street.
While still in school he was selected for employment as a trainee executive by the Mercantile Bank (now Hatton National Bank) and was among the first Sri Lankans in this then expatriate-dominated institution.
He was a conventional banker and his work ethic was based on the high standards of integrity of the banking profession till his retirement over 40 years later.
Many did not know and Allan never disclosed that he was an accomplished pianist. But it was typical of the man that he never showcased his abilities and preferred being in the shadows.
He is survived by his two brothers – Michael of planter fame and also one of Sri Lanka’s ruby greats and Capt. Leonard - a former Principal of Trinity.
Rest in peace my friend and let angels sing to you.
Wasantha Rajandran
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