“A man has honour if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.”
Walter Lippman
During the last fifty years, our public service has been blessed with extraordinarily talented men and women, be in the field of law, medicine, politics, engineering or general administration. Some have shown almost super-human qualities in problem solving; some have displayed superlative ability in man-management, some have produced unbelievably creative programmes for human development, yet fewer men have been seen in public service, who in the words of Walter Lippman, “held themselves to an ideal conduct though it was inconvenient, unprofitable and dangerous to do so.” N. G. P. Panditharatne was one of that rare species.
Whether it was as Director-General of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka or Chairman of the United National Party, Pandiths, as he was mostly fondly referred to by many of his friends, showed remarkable stature as a very dignified, principled and honourable human being. Paditharatne assumed office as the first Director-General of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka when it was established by the then-UNP government in 1979. At that time,  Gamini Dissanayake was the Minister of Irrigation, Power and Highways and when President J. R. Jayewardene took the most momentous decision to accelerate the development of the Mahaweli River Basin settlement scheme, President Jayewardene chose Pandiths as its administrative head. What was envisaged to be completed in thirty years was telescoped into six years. The President had the youthful Gamini Dissanayake as the Minister of a portfolio which was once held by D S Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake and J. R. himself. To steer the smooth operation of the new scheme none was more qualified than N. G. P. Panditharatne.
A chartered accountant by profession and as senior partner of the famed Ford Rhodes & Thornton,  Panditharatne was an acknowledged leader of the business community in Sri Lanka. My association with Panditharatne began with his assuming of duties in the Authority as DG. As private secretary to the Minister of the Mahaweli, I used to meet Pandiths almost on a daily basis.
Many a time it was on a new scheme that he introduced into the settlement area on public relations and educational enhancement which was geared towards the upliftment of the settler children. In all, fifty three public relations officers were recruited and they were placed in systems H, C, B, G, Uda Walawe and Weli Oya. A manager was appointed to overlook the systematic operation of the various programmes and even a well-known Buddhist monk was assigned to inaugurate “Daham Pasalas” in newly-developed settler systems. The word “colonist” was obliterated from the lingo and replaced by a more dignified term “settler”. And among an overachieving bunch of government servants,  Panditharatne stood out as a tall professor lecturing to and directing his brilliant students with patience and finesse.
One learnt many values from Pandiths. His patience to listen to a dissatisfied employee, his loving care for a bereaved settler, his punctuality and sartorial elegance which he showed at all times and functions are but a few of this man’s great qualities that made him a role-model to all under his command. People were awed by this soft-spoken giant.
I was with him at the time of his departure from the office of Director-General of the Mahaweli Authority. It was indeed a very moving scene. After a relationship that lasted for almost four decades with his boss, JRJ, Panditharatne fell in the bad books of the President over the settlement of Sinhalese Buddhists on the right banks of the Mahaweli Ganga in System “B” along the Eastern border at Welikanda.  JRJ did not fire him,  Panditharatne resigned. He gave instructions to his domestic staff to disconnect the official telephone lines and asked the driver to return the official car forthwith. He never used the official car other than for official purposes. He led by example where others faltered time and time again.
They say Gamini Dissanayake had one of the best ever teams of officials around him. He was blessed with the calibre of officials that any government would long to have in its fold. The creative genius of Dr. Wickrama Weerasuria, the sharp knowledge of Secretary Sivagnanam, a human dynamo in Mahi Wickramaratne, never the-procrastinator Dougie Ladduwahetti, taskmaster A. N. S. Kulasinghe, loyal perfectionist Lalit Godamune, brilliant executives,  Dakshitha Thalgodapitiya and Gamini Kannangara and master-drafter of cabinet papers, Nanda Abeywickrama were among those who had the privilege to serve Gamini Dissanayake. But the dignity and honour that Pandiths possessed overshadowed all the brilliance and skills of the others.
It was indeed a privilege to have known Panditharatne and even a greater honour and priviledge to have occupied the same seat that he once sanctified as Director General of the Mahaweli Authority. Of all the qualities that he instilled in me I value honour and integrity the most, for such traits are in short supply in today’s administrators.
Sir, you not only led us, you showed the way too.
May you attain Nibbana!

By Palitha Pelpola        

On November 27, 2011, the Irrigation Department Ex-Officers’ Association (IDEA) with a membership of more than 300  inaugurated a scholarship award programme to benefit deserving students to follow a Sri Lankan University course. The scholarship is named in honour of a former Director of Irrigation who lived and died more than a quarter of a century ago.
A.J.P. Ponrajah was a fairly hot tempered man who would sometimes openly scold us when some mistake was detected. Well, that does not seem to qualify him for such an honour! Then what was Ponrajah’s secret that made IDEA bestow this rare honour after 25 years? He was one who stood by his staff and Department against any pressure. His motto was, “Honesty, Integrity, Efficiency, — Plus, Plus”. We knew that he was outspoken and honest and in spite of his sharp tongue he would not hold anything against his officers or workers. We knew that he would stand by us, and readily welcomed his scolding, and subsequent fatherly advice. We loved him. Still do.
He joined the department in 1951 and served in Huruluwewa, Ampara, Colombo and Head office. From 1970 to 75 he was seconded from ID to the newly formed Mahaweli Development Board as Chief Engineer (Designs), and rose to DGM. In January 1976 he returned to ID as Senior Deputy Director (Designs). In Sep 1980 he became Additional Director of Irrigation and in Oct 1981 Director of Irrigation
He realised the need for updating our design standards. He started writing his (now famous) “Technical Notes” and “Technical Guidelines” which were handwritten, with calculations done manually and later with a pocket calculator and typewritten (no computers then!) by his secretary and issued in small stapled booklets. These notes were hungrily devoured by the staff. Those notes, and his, “Data for Costing” became a source of invaluable data and knowledge which was sorely lacking not only in the Irrigation Department, but all allied users of water, earth, cement and steel.
Here is Ponrajah’s next secret. He made it a point to sit almost every night, even while on inspection, with a cigarette in his left hand, and a pencil in his right hand and write in his very steady, legible small handwriting on pads of paper, which his secretary later typed out.
In 1981 the Village Irrigation Rehabilitation Programme (VIRP) under World Bank funding was implemented to rehabilitate 500 village tanks in the next few years. Using the existing design standards, it was found that some of the tank spillways became extremely long and not practicable. The design practice then was to use storm durations of 24 hours to calculate the spillway length. Ponrajah found that storms of even a few minutes or hours could be critical to the design of a spillway. He tapped the computing capability of the newly acquired Radio Shack computer to calculate the peak discharges for storm durations differing by one minute to identify the critical storm. His method enabled us to design the 500 tanks in a record time with the computer churning out up to 50 reservoir designs in a day. Ponrajah took the trouble to make his design methods available to all of us and for posterity by writing his famous Booklet, “Design of Irrigation Headworks for Small Catchments”. This booklet is a design standard used in the department even now.
Murapola Reservoir in the Kandy District was the first major reservoir that benefitted from his new design methods. By reducing the original 12 feet diameter morning glory spillway to a five feet diameter Hume pipe spillway, the construction time was significantly shortened for President J. R. Jayewardene to inaugurate it on schedule in August 1984.
Irrigation Department paid tribute to Ponrajah by putting together all his Technical Notes and posthumously publishing a hard-cover book in 1988.
Ponrajah, on February 4, 1985 (his 58th birthday) cleared his desk and retired from the Irrigation Department. This was a great loss to the department. We all feel that if he remained for at least another year, the Irrigation Department and our country would have been richer by his further contributions.
He passed away on January 26, 1986. He is no more. But his memory and his works will live long in all of us. With these scholarships in his honour the Irrigation Department Officers are ensuring he lives forever amongst us.
by N. Madusuthanan
(Retd. Senior Deputy Director of Irrigation

Tribute to Daphne Lord

With a warm smile and outstretched hands,  she graciously welcomed anyone and everyone who had the good fortune to walk into her world. Friends, relatives, teachers, students, or simply those in dire need ….. she always had time for them all…. That was her most human quality.
Daphne was a legend in her lifetime… a pioneer in education and in the art of English speech and drama. She made the language of the world accessible and affordable to students young and old in her hometown, Kotahena and gradually over a lifetime of dedication to teaching, spread her talents, in teaching elocution to the whole nation.
The DLS school of Speech and Drama was a leading school in the country and Daphne’s pioneering efforts put so many students, now leaders in their professions, on their feet,  with the correct use of the queen’s language. She also gave a solid foundation to many teachers who followed her path to set up schools on their own.
It is not an easy task to count how many students went through her magic touch but today the school has spread its wings to all big cities in the country.Her AlmaMater Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena was the biggest beneficiary of Aunty Daphne’s talents and skills.
She was the creator and producer of many well-known dramas,  staged by students of Good Shepherd Convent. Daphne spared no pains when she undertook to produce a performance,which enthralled her audiences. She brought Christmas cheer to everyone in her world with her nativity plays and Christmas parties.
But Daphne’s greatest treasure, pride and joy were her family of six; three girls and three boys and her husband Maurice. Her dear husband, children and their spouses and their children made her life complete.
To have known Daphne as a close friend and to have a lifelong friendship with her and her family, is a gift from god. May the good Lord Bless and Keep her.
Ranjini Jayasinghe

By: Dusheckha Samaraweera

How do I even begin, where can I even start to speak in appreciation of my beloved Grandfather, Brian St John Assey. He was Gampy to me and all his grandchildren. I know he was one of St. Benedict’s greatest teachers of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. His students are among the best physicians, surgeons, lawyers, accountants, journalists, educators and business leaders in Sri Lanka and around the world. He was one of Ceylon’s best hockey coaches.
My grandfather rescued us, gave us a home, put clothes on our backs and educated us.  My strong, handsome grandfather became a terrific father to his grandchildren.
When I think of my grandfather I will always remember him as being a strong, courageous man who stood up for what is right. He had an integrity that no other male figure in my life could ever compare to.
His heart was for his family. He would have done anything for us. Even running on burning tar streets to bring his daughter, my mum, back home when she had to walk away from her husband.
He covered up for me when I dropped his plate of lunch. I remember running to him every time Mummy would be chasing me to whack me with the cane. He’d stand in between my mother’s wrath to protect me. That’s the kind of grandfather he was.
He was fair, generous, kind and had a cheeky sense of humour. I now remember the days he used to walk into my room and ask me to give him a kiss. He’d say give your old Gampy one kiss daughter; the times he used to pinch my bum for a heated reaction from me.
I will remember and laugh at his broken Sinhalese. Or when he got worked up he’d wave a hand in the air and shout No! No! No! You are not listening to me daughter!
How I wish I could go back in time and freeze those moments just to sit on his lap as a child and give him the many kisses he wanted.
My beautiful Gampy, more than anything in the world I need to thank God for creating a man like you and choosing you to be my grandfather. I cannot think of a better man God chose to be the patriarch of our family. I’m so proud to be his granddaughter.
I’m going to miss you my Gampy Boy, Im going to miss you so much at Christmas, asking me what I bought you..
But I know without a doubt in my heart that I will see you again. I’m sure you are sitting by the Lords’ feet and having great talks with him about his great word.
I will love you forever my darling Gampy. Rest In Peace for God surely knew you needed the rest.
Photo:Brian Assey with future hockey stars

S . Pathiravithana was a journalist of unshakeable belief and composure who went through the immense convulsions of the journalistic profession in his time with grace and dignity.

I met Pathi—  he was called Pathi by one and all— as a reporter in the Daily News in the mid-seventies when he returned to his old newspaper as its Editor. He was perhaps 15 years my senior in the profession and was not there when I joined the formidable bastion that was Lake House in the sixties.
Pathi was a man of few words and I could not gather from him the reason for his departure from Lake House in the late fifties (or was it early sixties?). Unconfirmed stories (from senior colleagues) said that he was compelled to leave Lake House because of his socialist convictions. Another story was that he had gone on a travel grant to the Soviet Union and when he returned, his job as sub-editor was not there.
Whether these stories had any basis at all I am not able to confirm but it was apparent all that this gentle man with a pleasant smile was a socialist in his thinking. His writings—articles, editorials and editing all revealed that he was a firm believer in equi-distribution of wealth, social justice, free speech and with an open mind that was capable of tolerating those with diametrically opposite views to  his thinking. His thinking was so flexible that I wouldn’t know whether he would even agree with my conclusion about his socialist convictions.
He may have not like to be put into any mental strait-jacket—even that of a socialist.
My analysis of his writings would no doubt place him as one who sincerely believed in indigenous culture and questioned most of the Western values which we Sri Lankans had come to accept as  facts of life. Indigenous Sinhala culture, literature, Ayurveda, the way of life of our ancestors and the genius of our ancients in creating a unique civilisation are all reflected in his writings. These aspects had rarely been presented in such elegant writing in the English language to readers before and perhaps even thereafter.
His thoughts were refreshing and cogently expressed.  They were original thoughts, so unlike the contributions of English language writers of his day. I wonder whether anyone had put together  a selection of his writing during his long stays in compulsory exile from newspapers.
Pathi walked into the post of Chief Editor as political turbulence was sweeping through Lake House in the seventies. The 1970 United Front victory of Sirima Bandaranaike and the Marxist parties resulted in legendary editors like Denzil Pieris, Ernest Corea departing overseas. Lake House was taken over by the government and Mervyn de Silva the controversial and flamboyant  was appointed Editor in Chief  but was sacked soon after. Fred de Silva another polished writer dating back to the D.R.Wijewardene days was made editor of the Daily News but soon he was jailed for contempt of court and died a month after his release. Pathi’s second coming to the Daily News was in those days when political events shook the establishment.
He found the going easy because he was apparently one with Sirima B’s policies. But they were difficult days. The LSSP broke away from the coalition numbering its days. The economy was sunk with the first OPEC oil hike. And a severe drought gripped the country. J.R Jayewardene became leader of the UNP and set about plotting a course to take over power.
With the General Election of 1977 the SLFP was swept out of power and Lake House and with it Pathi and many other professional journalists were sacked on the demands of the UNP trade union junta.
Pathi went out with grace and was eventually  compensated for wrongful dismissal by the Supreme Court.
He disappeared from journalism for long years and in the nineties was made the Editor of The Island (daily) and later The Sunday Island.
When Chandrika Kumaratunga became president, Pathi made it his ‘Third Coming’ as Editor of the Daily News but once again he left, this time into permanent retirement.
Pathi passed away in the simple way he lived and worked—no fanfare, no glossy print outs or publications in his memory and no great fraternising by politicians—the hallmark of a genuine editor.
But as a sincere, honest and humane journalist and editor he will live in the hearts of journalists of his time.
By Gamini Weerakoon

When  you  have  a  friend  who  was  larger  than  life  itself,  as  was Gamini  Fonseka,  the  words  of  appreciation  fall  short  and  can  never do  justice  to  the  person.  Such  is  the  situation  I  now  find  myself – in  trying  to  describe  my  friendship  with  Gamini.
Many  years  ago,  an  association in  Los  Angeles  organised  a  Tribute  Dinner  and  Film  Festival  to  honour  the  film  career  of  Gamini.  He  organised  a  holiday  to  include  the  Event  and  enriched  my  life  immensely   by  staying  in  my  home  in  Westlake  Village / Thousand  Oaks,  California. I  thoroughly  enjoyed  watching  and  listening  to  him  “holding  court”  -  as  only  Gamini  could – with  a  continuous  stream  of  visitors – every  morning  after  an  early  breakfast  and  all  throughout  the  day.  He  basically  took  up  residence – claiming  a  favourite  spot  in  the  backyard  patio  by  the pool.  He  said  he  liked   the  cool  breezes  and  listening  to  the  birds  singing.
Gamini,  as  most  of  you  may  remember,  had  a  marvelous  voice – which  always  enchanted   the  wonderful  stories  he  would  share.  He  was  a  master  story  teller,  with  an  unending  source  of  a  variety  of  stories.  I  was  never  tired  of  listening  to  him  and  missed  him  terribly  when  his  holiday  was  over. When  you  have  the  good  fortune  to  have  a   friend   such  as                     Gamini  Fonseka,  one  as  close  as  any  friend  could  be,  because  you’ve  shared  so  much  together,  you  can  even  feel  like  family.  Gamini  helped  me  to  think  things  through,  we  somehow  seemed  to see  the  most  important  things  the  same  way  and  -  he  had  that  rare  ability  of  making  me  comfortable,  whenever  we  were  together – no  matter  what  and  no  matter  how  infrequent.   When  you  have  such  a  friend,  you  know  that,  whatever  life  may  bring  you’ve  got  a  friend  forever.
I  will  never  forget  the  good  times we  shared,  the  wonderful  sound  of  his  voice  and  the  special  sound  of  his  laughter.  His   friendship  meant  the  world  to  me.  I  shall  treasure  those  special  times  forever  and  shall  never  forget  the  force  of  nature  that  was  Gamini  Fonseka.
Judith   Rutnam

If anyone had walked into the lobby of the National Savings Bank, Head Office around  8:00 a.m. on a working day during the period September 1994 to March 2002 he or she would not have missed a middle-aged person waiting in the queue for his turn to enter the lift.
Clad in trouser, long sleeved shirt and tie, well-built, slightly balding with a pleasant demeanor, he stood in the queue among peons, clerks, executives, and senior managers to go to his room to start the day’s work.  No one would have ever thought that he was the Chairman of NSB waiting his turn to enter the lift because it is unthinkable that a Chairman of a bank would stand in a queue to get into the lift. And that was Deshamanya Cyril Herath.
Deshamanya Cyril Herath departed from this world on September 8. I first came to know Herath when he was DIG, North Western Province. That was in the late 70s and I was the District Manager, Bank of Ceylon, Kurunegala District. I had only a casual acquaintance with him at that time.
It was when I was appointed as the General Manager of National Savings Bank (NSB) in 1996 that I came into close contact with him. The primary consideration that influenced me to accept the stewardship of NSB was the fact that Herath was its Chairman.  By then I had heard of Herath’s reputation as a person of strong character, highest integrity, and one who will never compromise his principles.  I knew about the supreme sacrifice he made by resigning as IGP on a matter of principle when he had about five more years to serve.  So I thought what a privilege it would be to work under such a person. This kindled a desire in me to make a contribution to NSB which was at that time perceived to be inefficient, bureaucratic and old fashioned. At that point I had an intuition that with  Herath at the helm I was embarking on a rewarding and exciting career.
I would like to say very emphatically that if not for the strong, effective and enlightened leadership displayed by Herath, NSB would never have been the profitable, progressive, and market oriented bank that it is today. It is the good fortune of NSB, its staff, as well as the nation that he was appointed to this exalted position at a critical time in the annals of the bank.  This was the time NSB was taking a beating from the World Bank and there was pressure on the government for it to be privatised. The future of the bank was at stake. Only a few people in the financial circles know what the World Bank prescribed for NSB.  Since I was the General Manager at that time I was privy to the under – currents, manoeuvres and the immense pressure from the World Bank to privatise the NSB under the guise of Financial Reforms.
The World Bank report said that there was no rationale for continuing the operations of NSB and therefore the bulk of its branches should be sold by auction to private and foreign banks.  We, together with the unions, vehemently opposed this move. The management, staff, and the Ceylon Bank Employees Union were furious because this recommendation was an insult to them.  Because of our resistance and as the authorities could not counter the arguments against privatisation they, presumably at the behest of the World Bank, followed a strategy of indirectly and tacitly breaking our back bone. The tax concessions granted to the people depositing with NSB and   the interest subsidy granted by the Treasury were withdrawn. And the authorities went to the extent of tacitly ordering us not to give publicity to the fact that NSB deposits were guaranteed by the government.  I  mention all these because it is in the context of this scenario that Herath’s role as chairman and his contribution to NSB need to be evaluated.
Although people know about the transformation of the bank under his leadership they hardly know the severe obstacles NSB had to surmount. As a result of the withdrawal of the substantial concessions enjoyed by the bank for 25 years the very survival of NSB was at stake in the intensely competitive environment. The survival of NSB in the backdrop of these threats and its transformation into a profitable and a modern bank is, therefore, incredible. Only a Cyril Herath could have done it.
I was with Herath for over five years during his two tenures as Chairman. It was the most rewarding, productive, and memorable period in my banking career. It gave me immense pleasure, satisfaction and pride to work under a great leader of the calibre of  Herath.  The people of Sri Lanka, the government and the staff of the NSB should be eternally grateful for the contribution he made to the NSB and indirectly to the national effort.  I recall what a top banker told me in a causal conversation with me – referring to  Herath he said, How can a policeman run a bank?” – his very words!  I told him he didn’t have to do anything but the fact that Cyril Herath was the Chairman was enough and would make the difference. It is not banking knowledge or expertise that is necessary to lead an institution.  What an organisation  needs, particularly in a time of crisis and a time of change is strong, effective, inspiring and enlightened leadership; in addition probably intelligence and commonsense.  At NSB this was what he provided. I, Eastman Narangoda (presently Chairman of Seylan Bank) and our management team only provided banking knowledge and operational support. Herath provided the rarest and the most crucial ingredient – leadership!
Apart from the right leadership  Herath provided, the most important role he played was to act as a buffer against political interference. This is a vital factor in a state organisation.  Political interference, as all of us know, has a debilitating and a frustrating effect on organizations.  Part of NSB’s problem at the time Herath was appointed as Chairman was politics – external as well as internal.  Staff had undergone victimisation and hardships due to unreasonable transfers, unfair promotions, punishments and so on; the morale was low.  But all that was changed by Herath. NSB at his time was free of politics. Because of his strong personality and reputation, politicians were wary of interfering.  But those who did, he handled very tactfully without offending them. Fairness and impartiality were the cornerstones of his management style. This factor motivated the staff who were hitherto harassed due to political interference. And our top management team and the staff were able to work, show exceptional performance, innovate and compete with other banks.
Herath was very particular in giving an opportunity to all the staff regardless of the grade to air their grievances and problems. He set aside all Wednesdays for anyone to walk into his office, without a prior appointment with his/her tale of woe. He gave a patient hearing and took steps to resolve them. This quality of accessibility and being able to empathise with the subordinates is one of his commendable leadership qualities. Another endearing practice he followed was to visit all the staff in their workplaces in the Head Office on the January 1 every year to personally wish them.
Out of the numerous incidents relating to his leadership qualities I would like to mention one incident. At the Annual Staff Get Together of the NSB the tradition had been to serve the Chairman, Directors and the top management with special food and drinks superior in quality to what was served to the other staff.  When Herath noticed this, he instructed that at all future parties all participants should be served with the same food and drinks and that there should not be special treatment to the Chairman and the top management.  At these parties he made it a point to mix with the rank and file freely, engage in banter; and ended up joining the staff on the dance floor along with Mrs. Herath.
Herath is a unique person and possessed almost all the leadership qualities such as integrity, humility, emotional intelligence, courage, commitment and fairness.  Ostentation, which is now the order of the day, was anathema to him. Above all, he walked the talk.
There is overwhelming empirical evidence and research to prove that these leadership qualities can work miracles to transform organisations. Jack Welch made a remarkable difference to General Electric, while Lee Iacocca made it possible for Chrysler to rise from the brink of bankruptcy to a profitable company.  Jan Carlzon transformed the ailing SAS into the world’s best airline for business travel a few years after he took over. And in the local scenario Deshamanya Cyril Herath will go down in history as a legendary leader who was responsible for the dramatic transformation of NSB.
I would like to say that to have known him and worked under him has been a privilege and a blessing. My association with him enhanced my reputation and changed my life.
I and Eastman Narangoda associated him like close friends, particularly after his retirement. We derived immense pleasure talking to him, visiting him and socialising at his house where we were always welcome.  Over the last ten years we became very close to him and shared his every happy moment. His demise is a great loss to me as well as to Eastman. But we shall cherish his memory for ever.
I know that the life of his beloved wife Mrs. Ranee Herath, sons, Arjuna, Sanjaya, Dishan and daughter Priyanthika will not be the same without him. While I offer my heartfelt condolences to them, they can take comfort from the fact that Mr. Herath was an extremely rare human being who served the country with distinction and without compromising his principles.  I am sure they will emulate the noble qualities he displayed while he was alive.
I am grateful to you Sir, for your affection, the lessons I learnt from you and for making a difference to my life. Good Bye Sir, until we meet again during our sojourn in Samsara.

NBSB Balalle
(Former General Manager, National Savings Bank)

By Deshamanya M.T.A. Furkhan

The lives of Great men all remind us that  we can make our lives sublime and departing leave behind us footprints on the sands of time – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Whereas every year the Death Anniversary of Dr. Azeez was commemorated on the date of his death, namely  November 24, this year the Dr. A.M.A. Azeez Foundation has decided to commemorate Dr. Azeez’s centenary year  by  timing  the  commemoration on his birthday, October 4. I consider it a privilege to write a tribute about a person who was my Principal, and in several respects a legend in my time.
Having spent my first five years of primary education in the Sinhala language at Siddhartha College, Balapitiya, my parents took me for English education to Zahira College Colombo in September 1946 and lodged me in the Hostel. The timing was perfect for many reasons in that Ceylon as it was called then had survived World War II which ended in 1945 with little damage. In 1946 Dr. T.B. Jayah was still the Principal of Zahira College Colombo. So, I was at the College in the post Primary Classes for two years before Dr. Azeez assumed duties as Principal in 1948.
I had, therefore, the good fortune of being a student of the College both at the tail end of the Jayah period and also in the first five years of the Dr. Azeez’s Golden era which for me ended in 1953. Although I was only a teenager at that time, I still recall distinctly the enormous fanfare that accompanied the changeover of the Principals at the College when Dr. Azeez took over from Dr. T.B. Jayah. The event is recorded in beautiful photographs displayed at the Zahira College Principal’s Office when the first Prime Minister of newly independent Ceylon, Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake visited the College for the event.
Whereas Dr. T.B. Jayah enjoyed enormous bonhomie of the students, teachers and parents of the college, Dr. Azeez from day one, by virtue of his height, personality and charisma cut an awesome figure that commanded everybody’s attention and respect. We, as Zahirians, of that time just loved to look at him, to watch him step down from his big American limousine when he arrived at the College portico and walk erect with so much confidence, enthusiasm and earnestness. It was indeed a joy for us young men at that time to behold a man whose every move, every look and every word attracted so much attention. He was very fair in complexion, dapper, always upright and immaculately dressed in light coloured suits.
Born in 1911 in Jaffna, Dr. Azeez joined the Allapichchai Quran Madrassa in 1916 where he learnt to read the Quran. He passed the Standard III examinations in the Tamil medium in 1920 at the Mohammadiya Mixed School. He joined the Hindu School, R.K.M. Vaidyeshwara Vidyalayam in 1921 and the Jaffna Hindu College in 1923 and studied there until 1928. Dr. Azeez was a child prodigy having always been one year ahead of the age limits during his academic career, so much so that when he came to entering University in 1928, he had to wait for a year as he was underage. He spent that excess year at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo. In the formative years of his life, the socio culturally religious mixed education moulded the future of the young man who learnt a great deal from his Maulavis at the Madrassa, and the Teachers at the predominantly Hindu Schools.
Dr. Azeez completed the 1933 examinations of the University of London which were conducted in Ceylon finally achieving a Degree with Honours in the subject of History. The excellent performance at University Degree level won him a Government Scholarship to the Cambridge University in England to pursue a Post Graduate Degree. However, just before he left Ceylon, he sat for the competitive Ceylon Civil Service Examination in an attempt to embark on a solid career in Government Service.
While Dr. Azeez was at Cambridge, the Civil Service Examination results were announced in Ceylon with Dr. Azeez being second out of the chosen nine in the order of merit in the Island whilst at the same time being the first Muslim to successfully complete the Ceylon Civil Service examinations. That was indeed quite an achievement in that day and age and a prized one at that. He then had to make a choice between terminating his post graduate studies prematurely and returning to Ceylon immediately to take up the appointment in the Civil Service or alternatively to give up the Civil Service career and get on with his Post Graduate Studies at Cambridge. He opted for the first choice and never regretted it.
Having started as a Cadet in 1935, Dr. Azeez was recognized as a very capable Administrator and a relentless worker whose ability to get things done were soon spotted and rewarded. From Matale where he started, he was transferred to the AGA’s Office in Kandy and thereafter he held the post of Administrative Secretary, Department of Medical and Sanitary Services, Secretary to the Minister of Health (Dr. W. A. De Silva), Additional Landing Surveyor, H M Customs, AGA (Emergency, Kalmunai), Department of Food Control, AGA Kandy, Information Officer, Additional Controller of Establishments, Treasury, Assistant Commissioner of Parliamentary Elections and Additional Secretary to the Minister of Health and Local Government (S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike), all in a short space of 13 years – an exemplary record for any Government Servant.
It was in Kalmunai in the early forties while working as the AGA during World War II under the Emergency Regulations that Dr. Azeez realised the utter hopelessness of the poor Muslims of Kalmunai, which in a way inspired him to dedicate his life to help the needy and the poor. Kalmunai stood to benefit from his period there, and today the people of Kalmunai stand grateful to Dr. Azeez for his relentless efforts to turn that part of the country into the “Granary of the East” which people of those days remember as “Azeez Thurai Kandam”. It was indeed a brilliant career in the Government which he sacrificed when the call came to take up the post of Principal of Zahira College Colombo in 1948.
When one studies Dr. Azeez’s history, one factor that becomes very self evident is his outstanding ability to plan, re-plan and execute. It is more than conceivable that Dr. Azeez was guided by the famous saying “failing to plan is planning to fail:” (which incidentally helped the author of this article too significantly in his life). He seems to have had simple plans, medium term plans and grandiose long term plans such as setting up Zahira as the “Radiating Centre of Islamic Culture.”
History also tells us that although there are Muslims who had excelled in various fields, by the beginning of the twentieth century in Ceylon there were virtually no intellectual giants in the Muslim community to match the calibre of Dr Azeez. In addition to God given intelligence, Dr. Azeez also was endowed with rare talents and the ability to communicate in the written and spoken medium in both Tamil and English. His senior students in the College had always looked forward to the weekly Assembly, especially to listen to the articulate deliveries.  He was not only a handsome leader to behold but he was also a great speaker who kept the audience spellbound. For us as young men at that time his rhetoric was a treat.
In the Zahira College Hostel where this writer was boarded for six years, under the tutelage of the very capable Warden, Sheikh Abdul Cader (nicknamed the Bull Dog), we had a very unforgettable upbringing under strict disciplinary rules which benefited us for the rest of our lives. In all those years the visits of the Principal, Dr. Azeez to the Hostel was an event to look forward to. His customs and, mannerisms at table where we had to partake in a Dinner in his presence and his speeches left indelible marks in our minds. he always led from the front. For us it was an unforgettable experience.
Being a man who had enormous  vision, he set himself targets that automatically established his missions in life which were to improve the  education of Muslim children, (a hitherto neglected subject at that time) setting up  the Ceylon  Muslim Scholarship  Fund in 1945 to offer financial assistance to needy brilliant up and coming Muslim youth whose parents could not afford their higher education, achieving hitherto unprecedented levels of success at Zahira and widening the  scope for employment of young Muslims in the Island by setting up youth organizations such as the Y.M.M.A in 1950. These were all simultaneous efforts, well thought through, meticulously planned and painstakingly set up so that each institution flourished on its own. That was the brilliance of the man – a master planner, a master achiever.
Having served in the Civil Service for thirteen years he retired prematurely to accept the post of Principal Zahira College at a time when the total College student population did not exceed 1,500. He quickly realised that one of the biggest drawbacks of the Muslim community was the very little attention paid by the leadership to educate the future generations in appropriate ways to meet the challeges that were ahead after the end of World War II in 1945. So, he took the challenge in 1948 to succeed Dr. T.B. Jayah who left the School to take up an appointment as a Minister in the first Cabinet of Independent Ceylon. Being a man with tremendous capacity for administration, he quickly set up the plans for the improvement of education standards starting with Zahira College Colombo. At Zahira the results of examination passes and Sports achievements in Cricket, Rugby, Soccer, Boxing and Wrestling were indeed legendary. Zahira during Dr. Azeez’s time gained an overnight reputation for excellence and I experienced that in my time as an HSC student: The demand for school admissions from both Muslim and non Muslim children from Colombo and all parts of the Island were to say the least, unprecedented.
A man of erudite scholarship with matching capacity to perform and deliver, Dr. Azeez was also a great team builder who having identified a goal, was equally dexterous to build a team of players under him to fulfill selectively the human resources needs to achieve success.  At Zahira he soon had  a brilliant team  consisting  of individuals  like the Deputy  Principal, D.S. Wijeratne, M.A. Oxon, Vice Principals Caldera and Shuhaib, Head Master Anif Doray,  Administrator par excellence  Mr. Awoof and Sportsmen in charge of games of the calibre of  Bahar Snr. (Cricket), David (Boxing), Yesudian (Wrestling & TT) , Muhular (Cadeting & Rifle Shooting) Samad (Rugby and Soccer).  Equally noteworthy were some of the unforgettable teachers that we were blessed with including the late Hon. Stanley Thilakaratne, Speaker and MP for Kotte, who actually taught us the subject of Government at the HSC level.
On the occasion of the 34th Dr. A.M.A. Azeez commemoration when my good friend the late Prof. Sivathamby wrote the commemoration article, he recalled the names of some 33 old boys of Dr. Azeez’s era at Zahira who had achieved name and fame in the academic field. Siva guardedly did say they were only a few. Perhaps a hundred entered the portals of the academic world. There are yet another twenty such as E. Pararajasingham, M.Y Mohamed, Dharmadasa Banda, Farook Saleem, A.C.M Thassim, Late M.Ajward Hashim, Hussain Hashim, M.Azhar, Vaz Gunawardene, M.Bakir, the late M.S. M. Nalim, M. Zackariya, Razik Zarook, M.R Thassim, S.B.C Thassim, Jauffer, Kanaka, M.T.M. Hamza, Rishard, Irshard, Mowjood and political heavy weights such as A.H.M Fowzie, Alavi Moulana, Azwer and Hussain Baila of the same vintage that this writer can recall. I hope those whose names were not mentioned will forgive Siva and I. In addition to that, many of the products of the Azeez era who did not pursue the academe entered the world of business and also politics and achieved tremendous success. All in all in the thirteen years from 1948 to 1961 – the Golden Era of Zahira where Dr. Azeez set the pace and gave encouragement to each and every one who appeared to be promising at that time, Zahira’s countless heavyweights in the fields of Education, Sports, Enterprise, Politics and Leadership are ample testimony to his greatness.
The awesome records will show beyond doubt that over a hundred Scholars, not to mention the numerous top class Business Entrepreneurs, Politicians and Sportsmen generated from the Azeez era – all in a space of thirteen years. That should, once and for all put an end to the debate as to which exactly was the Golden Era of Zahira.
In the immortal words of Shakespeare “some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them”, Dr. Azeez certainly fell into the second category in that by virtue of his intellect, his enormous contributions to mankind – the Food Programme in the Eastern Province during World War II, setting up of the Ceylon Muslim Scholarship Fund, the Y.M.M.A and a host of other institutions, his period as a Senator in the first Parliament of Ceylon and the greatest contribution of all being the multiplier effect educational developments that he contributed at Zahira and elsewhere are lasting monuments to a great man who has left his footprints on the sands of time.
The Ceylon Government and the British Empire awarded Dr. Azeez the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1951. Surely, Allah will have a special place for him in the Jennath. Ameen.
-The writer, currently the Chairman of the Confifi Group of Companies and the Bairaha Group, was at one time Professor of Management Accounting at the University of Sri Jayawardenapura. He was also a Member of the Finance Commission of Sri Lanka and the National Police Commission of Sri Lanka. He was awarded the title Deshabandu in 1987 and elevated to Desamanya in 2005 by the Presidents of Sri Lanka.

Shyam’s second death anniversary was on the August 12. Shyam studied at Royal College and left for London in 1986 and he passed out as a Barrister in Novermber 1990.
He obtained the LL. M. (London) Degree in Novermber 1991, and completed his studies at the Ceylon Law College, to be enrolled as an Attorney-at Law in August 1992. He joined the Chambers of Mr. Daya Perera P. C. where he worked as a junior counsel till June 1993. He joined the Attorney General’s Department as a State Counsel. From June 1993 to April 1999 Shyam prosecuted in the High Courts in addition to appearing in the Courts of Appeal. He was known for his wit and humour and the rich anecdotes surrounding his court appearances. Wherever he was there was laughter.
In April 1999 Shyam left the A. G.’s Dept. to contest the Southern Provincial Council elections in June and won with the highest number of votes in the Southern Council. Shyam never lost heart that his remarkable victory was not duly recognised but he continued as a Provincial Councilor for five years serving his electorate with dedication. During this period he also carried on his practice in the Ratnapura District and in the Sourthern Province.
In 2004, Shyam joined the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal in Arusha, Tanzania where he diligently prosecuted in cases of genocide and war crimes committed in Rwanda. His efficiency and tenacity as a prosecutor resulted in that he was promoted in June 2009 within five years by the United Nations. The impact Shyam had as a human rights champion is reflected in the statement made by Steven Rapp, the former Chief Prosecutor at the War Crimes Tribunal who was subsequently appointed as a legal advisor to the White House. Addressing the allegations, perhaps the highest though a remote compliment that could be paid to Sri Lanka.
Shyam came from a colourful and distinguished family in the country. He is the grandson of the late D. M. Rajapaksa and the only son of George Rajapaksa, MP (1960-1976) a former cabinet Minister who held several portfolios and of Mrs Lalitha Rajapaksa. His only sister is Nirupama Rajapaksa, member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Water Supply and Drainage.
Shyam met Prashanthi Mahindaratne at the Attorney General’s Department in 1993 and they got married in February 2002. Prashanthi also served as a State Counsel for ten years before leaving herself for the Netherlands to take up an appointment at the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal, which tries genocide and war crimes committed in Yugoslavia during the Balkan war.
Shayam had a unique personality. He dressed fashionably and danced gracefully. He was articulate in whatever language, he spoke. He was also an excellent cook and prepared exquisite dishes and taught his wife also to cook. He was loyal to his family and friends-supported them consistently. Shyam loved his family and friends. His friends were numerous. His relations were also numerous! Wherever he went there was someone who knew him. Appreciations written by his colleagues at the Un in Tanzania record how he became extremely popular in Tanzania within five years to the extent that they would joke that Shyam ought to contest for parliament in Tanzania. He loved life and everybody who knew him loved him. The most endearing quality of this remarkable man was his ability to make friends, from whatever background. His ability to integrate into any part of society and be friends in reflected in the condolence book sent by the UN War Crimes Court to his family. In that there are people who have written personal and emotional messages expressing their shock and grief over his untimely passing and they range from the minor staff, right up to the Counsel and Judges of the Court. He had no barriers when it came to making friends.
There were many heartwarming stories of Shyam’s kindness and care. One woman spoke about his travel to the Hambantota Magistrate Court about 15 times and appearing for her husband who was in remand due to lack of money for bail. Shyam defended the accused and one the man was acquitted Shyam gave him money to get home.
Even his wife did not know these deeds until his passing away. In Tanzania he did much for the poor, from getting electricity for the home of his housemaid at his cost, to sponsoring her and her children to learn English, to teaching poor children in the neighborhood, to financially assisting poor people in the area to start small business ventures as selling fruits and vegetables.
There lies the essence of this wonderful young man with the sparkling smile. He helped people out of compassion. In his premature passing, we probably lost a very good human being who had an abiding love and cared for humanity.
Sam Wijesinha

It  is  with  much  sadness  that  I  announce  the  passing  away  of  Donald  Thomas  McDevitt,  affectionately  known  by  one  and  all,  as  ‘ Don’  on  Thursday,  August  04,  2011  in  his  home  town,  Bedford,  Texas,  USA.

He  was  a  frequent  visitor  to  Sri  Lanka  and  had  many  Sri  Lankan  friends.
Don  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  USA.   He  served  his  country  honourably  as  a   US  Army  Major  and  Helicopter  Pilot.  Among his many decorations,  whilst  serving  in  the  US  Army,  were  the  Vietnam  Campaign  Medal  with  Device  60,   Army  Aviation  Badge  and  the  Distinguished  Flying  Cross.
After  his   decorated  military  career, he  graduated  from  the  University  of  Oklahoma  and  subsequently  graduated  from  Law  School.
Don  was  one  of  my  closest  friends,  with  whom  I  had   associated with  for  many  many  years,  so  much  so,  that  I  cannot  even  remember  an  exact  year,  month  or  date.   I  would  say  he  was  my  closest  critic,  my  closest  friend  and  as  near  to  me  as  a  brother.    He  was  an  incredible  man  with  rare  human  qualities.
Our  mutual  understanding  towards  business,  blossomed  to  the  extent  of  forming   ‘Lionair ’   Don  was  the  pioneer  co-founder  of  Lionair.   It  was  my  dream  and  passion  to  have  an  Airline  of  my  own  and  my  friend  Don,  contributed  to  it  and  helped  to  fulfill  my  dream.  I  shall  always  owe  my  gratitude  and  appreciation  to  him.
Don  will  always  be  remembered  for  his  sense  of  humour,  his  cheerfulness,  his  pleasing  mannerisms,   his  alertness  to  any  situation  and  his  unfading  memory.
I’ve  lost  a  good  friend,  but  I  shall  always  cherish  and  treasure  his  memory.
Don  leaves  behind  his  beloved  wife,  Susan,  his  sons  Donald,  Kevin  and  Michael,   his  sister  Faith  and  his   brother  Marc.
His  funeral  took  place  on  Monday,  August  08,  2011  at  Bedford,  Texas,  USA.            Chandran  Rutnam