APPRECIATIONs
View(s):A rice breeder par excellence
DR. M.P. DHANAPALA
It is with great sadness I learnt that Dr. M.P. Dhanapala (Dhane to many of us) had passed away earlier this month after a brief illness. Dr. Dhanapala was the Director of the Rice Research and Development Institute at Batalagoda and has been a long-standing loyal servant of the Department of Agriculture.
Dr. Dhanapala belonged to an amazing group of devoted scientists in the Department of Agriculture with a signal focus on improving our rice varieties. It is pertinent to mention scientists such as Dr. Chandraratne who started the rice improvement programme, followed by scientists like the late Dr. Dharmawansa Senadira, who met with an untimely tragic death in Bangladesh, and Dr. Dhanapala, Dr. Sumith Abeysiriwardana and the team at Batalagoda in the 1990’s.
I had frequent interaction with him when I was at the Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy, and he was the Director at RRDI. My initial impressions of him were his demonstration of the quintessential qualities of a gentleman – politeness, integrity, forthrightness, and respect for others. Of course, he was on top of rice genetics. I still recall with great pleasure an evening I spent with him and Dr. Senadira in the latter’s house at the International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos, where Dr. Senadira kindly hosted me for dinner.
My knowledge on rice genetics at that time was basic; I listened with bated breath the discussions between the two of them on how to improve Sri Lankan rice varieties. It was so informative and created in my mind a deep respect for both of them on their commitment to the motherland and their concern on the food security of the people. Occasionally, one would ask me whether I was bored – then they would divert the discussion to another crop which was fascinating. At the end of the evening, I was a wiser man replete with a fine Sri Lankan meal– not only on genetics but also on farmer receptiveness to new technologies.
One achievement we have to recognise is his development of Batalagoda 300 series (BG 300) rice variety which gave yields unheard at that time. BG 300 series became very popular amongst the farmers due to its qualities and agronomic aspects. Farmers’ income increased significantly when they used BG 300, and they were ever grateful for this development.
What has gone unnoticed was the contribution of BG 300 to Sri Lanka’s paddy production, and our achievement of ‘self-sufficiency’ and food security. The general public is unaware of these achievements, and I have rarely heard them complimenting the Department of Agriculture for these developments. On that note, it is sad that people have very little awareness of the Department’s contributions to improving other crops, especially field crops and horticultural crops.
Dr. Dhanapala’s contributions were recognised by the Government; in the 90’s his work was recognised by the Sri Lanka Agricultural Research Policy; previously, the Rice Breeders’ Group received the Presidential Award. Once I mentioned to him that he deserved the Presidential Award such as ‘Vidya Jyoti’ – he smiled and humbly said that he was paid a salary, and that his work is the return for what the Government paid and helped him in his post-graduate studies. With a wry smile, he said farmers recognise him. Such was his humble nature.
He lived a quiet life in his retirement, near Pugoda. We would speak occasionally over the telephone, and the last conversation a few months back veered interestingly to cultivation of field crops in paddy lands during the Yala season in some areas of the country. I promised to see him, and I regret not having done that although it was in my ‘must-do’ list.
As a nation, we owe him our gratitude for his contributions to the development of high yielding paddy varieties. Every time we tuck into our plate of rice, we must pause and reflect on his contribution to the very meal we eat – that would be the simplest way of expressing our gratitude.
May he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.
Ranjith Mahindapala
(Past President, National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka)
She had a heart full of humility and genuine concern for others
Clytie Goonawardena
In this month of April, I remember two departed lives who were close to me and the sisterhood they shared. My aunt Clytie’s birthday fell on April 11 and my amma’s birthday a few days later on April 16. My amma shared stories of their childhood growing up and attending Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena. Later, our homes were nearby in Kollupitiya, and I remember my aunt Clytie whenever on an errand, always had time to stop by our home, and chat with Amma.
When my thatha was ill and our family faced its hardest days, Clytie aunty was our family’s rock. Whether she was bringing over a meal or standing beside me during my father’s illness, she was the steady presence, and almost every one of her extended family turned to her in times of trouble. Her strength, compassion, and quiet reassurance carried me through moments when I felt I might fall apart. She had a heart full of humility, compassion, kindness and genuine concern for others.
Aunt Clytie started her teaching career at her alma mater Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena. From there she moved to Saint Sebastian School in Hulftsdorp, where she taught the former Speaker of Parliament M.A Bakeer Markar, whom she had the privilege of visiting when he was appointed as Speaker. After her stint at Saint Sebastian School, she received a teaching appointment at C.M.S. Ladies’ College, and joined the school when Olive Hitchcock was Principal.
My aunt served throughout the tenure of Principal Sirancee Gunawardana, teaching Christianity to middle and upper school students, shaping many young minds with deep dedication. Recognizing the importance of acquiring deeper learning, and to stay abreast of best practices in education to improve student learning outcomes at Ladies’ College, she took classes at the Theological College of Lanka at Pilimathalawa, and when she went on vacation to the U.K, she obtained O Level and A-Level Biblical Studies course syllabi and past examination papers offered through the University of Cambridge international examinations.
Even after she retired from full-time teaching, Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala had requested her services as a part-time teacher to teach A-Level Christianity. During her long tenure at Ladies’, among her pupils were Srimani Athulathmudali, Nirupama Rajapaksa, Srima Dissanayake, and numerous other students who went on to hold prestigious positions in the public and private sectors both in Sri Lanka and abroad—who have made positive and enduring contributions to society. After her time at Ladies’, she continued teaching and inspiring younger generations at the Asian International School.
In later years, she accompanied Amma on her birthdays when we visited churches like St. Jude’s Shrine, Indigolla and the Kudagama Church in Rambukkana, and also on our day excursions to Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, and down south to see the “Hummanya” blow hole.
So, this month, I remember two beautiful, kind, and steady lights who now shine in heaven.
Damayanthi Panangala
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