Memories of a champion jockey of yesteryear

With reference to the letter on May 8, as an ex-railway employee, in defending the management of the Sri Lanka Railway, I wish to clarify certain issues raised by Mr. Liyanage. 1. Unlike in the 60’s and 70’s, the General Manager, Railways’ wings are clipped- he does not have disciplinary powers the GMRs of yesteryear had in dealing with staff. The last to enjoy this privilege was B.D.Rampala, at which time, the Railway Department was a government within the government. The GMR at present can neither impose a fine of Rs 10 nor can he punish an employee for indiscipline even after a disciplinary inquiry. 2. Follwing Mr.Rampala’s retirement there were political divisions amongst trade unions to red, blue and green. Political victimisation crept in. When the ministers were corrupt managers too followed suit. This led to a few of the employees becoming shirkers, slackers, and truants. 3. Restructuring programmes aimed at “Privatisation of Railway” were introduced during the late 80s. Public Administration Circular PA 44/90 led to mass retirement of the cream of the skilled and trained senior staff; filling up of such vacancies was prohibited. The approved cadre which had been 27,600+ now stands at 15,500+. The Treasury’s Managerial Service Department officers who never travel by train prevent filling up of vacancies. 4. Vacancies in the approved lower ranks which require tedious and laborious work in the hot sun and rain on the rail track or in workshops are being filled up with women by the Ministers in charge and they are allowed to hang around in offices instead of working on the track or the workshop. 5. Most of the vacancies in the Middle Level grades- drivers, guards, inspectors are being filled with retired officers who are allowed to work until 67 years of age at half the salary drawn at retirement. They carry a heavy burden being responsible for passenger lives. It’s a case of exploitation of the innocents. There appears no value addition to these senior citizens who assist the government in maintaining the rail services. Their dutifulness, unblemished and untarnished records (checked up at reemployment) deserve better appreciation. 6. With regard to the stress and strain undergone by the passengers inside a carriage of “Samudra Devi”, “Fowzie” or Meen Gaya” (12 passenger compartments – with around 200 commuters each amounting to 2400 in each train), this is a result of non-allocation of funds by the Treasury and politicians (who never travel by train) for regular purchase of carriages, locomotive or DMU’s which stands at 50 passenger carriages for a year. 7. In relation to operational losses incurred by S.L.R., don’t blame the Railway Management and the staff, it is not their folly at all. I shall explain some technicalities. a) The pioneers laid a rail network in Ceylon from 1864 – 1925 for a “Plantation Railway”and not for a“Passenger Railway”. The specifications used – the sharp curves with low side check rails, the steep gradients, uncompensated curves, reverse curves with short straights, insufficient transition lengths need to be mentioned. Colombo to Rambukkana has 22 permanent speed restrictions (P.S.Rs) and Colombo to Matara 67 PSRs; none of which were eradicated with the Rehabilitation and Upgrading project Matara to Kalutara South - undertaken by the Indian firm “IRCON” even though they boasted of a high technology and high speed track. b) The stretch from Rambukkana to Kadugannawa and Nawalapitiya to Badulla (106 miles out of a 129 mile stretch) the speed is 20 Mph or 32 Kmph. In railways the world over this speed is used only for railways used for mining purposes, agricultural, military, tourism, safari, heritage and industrial railways not for passenger railways. c) The British in 1947 – 1948 pre-independence, pasted P.S.O. status to C.G.R. (Public Service Obligation) status when they left the country, and subsequently proposed closing down some of the sections through multilateral financial agencies to cover up their sins. d) Neither the GMR nor the Ministry of Transport is allowed to fix rates and fares. 8. What needs to be done (better facilities for travelling public) is all very well known by the past and present Transport Ministry officials and Rail Managers who have to go with a begging bowl to the fiscal authorities in the Treasury. Dear commuter, we agree that out-sourcing is a necessity of the hour but for the lacklustre performance do not blame the Transport Ministry, Rail Management and the staff. Remember that after the tsunami, they completed the repairs in a record 57 days. For the last 68 years after Independence, the Railway in Sri Lanka has had no investment unlike in other sectors such as Mahaweli development, airport, seaport development, health, housing, telecommunications and Highways. Ranjith L. Dissanayake

Pannipitiya

Yohan Devananda’s entry into a fuller life recently has brought to an end a distinctive period in the life of the Church and nation in Sri Lanka. In his life, the action and contemplation of the founder of the Devasaranaramaya; the beauty of a liturgist par excellence and a caring people-oriented priest; an advocate for the poor farmers and a passionate activist for justice and human rights for all oppressed people were fused into a single personality.

Although we shall miss this many-faceted and gifted human being, many of us will treasure his memory and be inspired forever as he had a profound impact on our lives. His vision as embodied in his writings and simple lifestyle and in the lives of present day ‘sevakas’ and peacemakers will undoubtedly live on.

Under the tutelage of the first Bishop of Kurunegala, the Most Rev. Lakdasa de Mel, the Rev. Yohan Devananda began living the religious community life in 1957 at Hevadiwela and later in the ‘Devasaranaramaya’ in 1960 at Ibbagamuwa near Kurunegala. This ashram drew its inspiration from the Christian monastic tradition as well as the ‘ashrama’and ‘aramaya’ traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Till 1984 Yohan served as “Prathama Sevaka” and exercised a remarkable influence on the life and witness of the Church both locally and abroad and the Diocese of Kurunegala in particular; in the spheres of indigenisation and dialogue with the Buddhist Sangha and involvement with the issues of the peasantry, workers, students and rural youth.

He made a great impact on the youth in the Church of Ceylon Youth Movement (CCYM) and students of the Student Christian Movement of Sri Lanka (SCM). Christians from the villages in the Diocese of Kurunegala, social activists, intellectuals and secular humanists were attracted to the Devansaranaramaya and supported it through a meals calendar and in other ways.

In the wake of the first youth revolt led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Yohan began the collective farm at the request of unemployed youth and with the support of Bishop Lakshman Wickremesinghe. Yohan thereafter got more deeply involved in the issues of the peasantry and was active in reviving the All Lanka Peasants Congress. He was instrumental in encouraging the formation of the Progressive Women’s Front and the Vimukti Dharma Kendra.

Yohan was a strong supporter of the Christian Workers Fellowship (CWF) and played a creative role in the crafting of the May Day workers mass. Since 1960 at its inception, he was unfailingly present at the May Day mass to lead in the chanting of the ‘great thanksgiving’ with bishops, clergy and laypersons from all the churches. We shall now miss his glorious voice and passionate liturgical presence! There was creative liturgical interaction between the CWF and Devasarana for a long period. The new world liturgy in the context of inter faith worship inspired the CWF’s fellowship meal.

With the intensifying racial conflict between the Sinhala majority and the Tamil minority, Yohan became a peace activist and worked tirelessly to build bridges of understanding between these two communities. The World Solidarity Forum (WSF) for Justice and Peace (established 1990), founded by him and other like minded peace makers in Sri Lanka and abroad was one of several NGOs presenting an alternative vision and a space for dialogue and action towards ensuring human rights for all Sri Lankans, within a repressive political context. He consulted widely with religious leaders and challenged successive governments to move in the direction of a just political solution. The booklet ‘War or Peace’ and many open letters to the political leadership since the 1980s bear witness to Yohan’s passion for peace drawing on the resources of the four living faiths.

He was well supported in this journey by his wife (since 1985) the Rev. Canon Malini Devananda; whose gifts in her ministry of Christian education, in mobilising women, engaging in wider ecumenism, theological formation and in her writings supplemented and extended the range of Yohan’s ministry in church and society. They sustained the work of the Devasarana Development Centre and ‘Meth Piyasa’ (a modern expression of a women’s religious community) at Ibbagamuwa.

Yohan was often controversial but even those who disagreed with him respected his firm commitment to justice and peace and his faith, his prophetic writings and actions inspired many over a considerable span of 60 years.

May his social witness be a seed in the soil of Sri Lanka and bear fruit in this climate of social change.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory!

Agampodi Keerthi de Silva was born on April 26, 1944. He was the 7th offspring of Agampodi Nomis de Silva and Magilin de Silva of Dehiwala. Our father Nomis de Silva was better known as Ebert Silva Mudalali mahatha, the founder of Ebert Silva omnibus company and Madampe and Thabagalla Coconut oil mills.

My parents were blessed with eight children - five boys and three girls.

Even as a small boy my brother Keerthi showed caring qualities.

Our parents gave us a happy childhood and brought us up in a Buddhist environment. Keerthi attended St. Thomas College and at Guruthalawa he was popular and excelled in sports and hockey. He took part at international meets with the college team.

He was loved by all who came his way. His employees had a special love and respect for him. Our relations and friends and even outsiders in need of any help would always go to Keerthi as they knew he would always help them. We were at times sur-

Beginning a career at the age of 14 is remarkable in anyone’s life. Here bravery and timeless efforts went hand in hand to excel in a sport much loved in its heyday.

When the term horse racing comes to our mind there is one special person whose life was devoted to this career. He was champion jockey Willie De Silva known as Willie Silva whose 32nd death anniversary fell on March 27.

A sportsman and gentleman par excellence, he was the first Ceylonese to ride against the prised and astonished by his magnanimous qualities. He would even go hungry and give his plate of rice if someone wanted it.

Keerthi was a devout Buddhist and a Dayake at the Dehiwala Subodarama Temple. The priests at the temple liked him very much. Any time a priest fell sick they informed Keerthi and he would do the needful.

In memory of our parents Keerthi organised two almsgivings annually at the Victoria Home at Rajagiriya. Together with my sister Chandra and brother-in-law Sarath and myself he used to do this with great devotion and happiness.

Keerthi, your loving wife Davika is doing exactly what you wanted her to do at your death bed “Davika be strong”. She is managing everything very well with your son Upendra by her side.

May you be born among us again and again in sansara until you attain the supreme bliss of nirvana.

Your loving Podi Akka, Europeans. A freelance rider, he rode in the Havelock race course Colombo, Boosa, Nuwara Eliya and Talduwa where history records his glorious victories of winning over 1,000 races. His crowning moment was in 1953 when he won the Governor General’s Bowl riding on “Sudden Choice” knocking off the favourite and champion horse “Cotton Hall” in Galle.

He was a loving husband and adorable father to his only daughter and six sons.