He strengthened the bond among communities
There are some politicians and philanthropist of all faiths who engage in useful work in our country which benefit many people. These people make the bonds among different communities much stronger.
September 3 marks the 17th death anniversary of Dr. A.C.S.Hameed, who while serving as Member of Parliament for Harispattuwa from 1960 to1999 was much loved and liked by all communities for his honest and dedicated service to them. Dr. Hameed was one parliamentarian who never forgot the Sinhala Buddhist people who supported him. They formed about 85% of the population in Haripattuwa and preferred to vote him instead of the other Sinhalese candidates.
The Amarapura Nikaya Buddhist community of Harispattuwa were keen that a Seemamalakaya should be constructed on the bank of Mahaweli river which flows through the Harispattuwa electorate. The Amarapura Nikaye Pradana Sanganayake Ven. Hapugoda Nandarama Himi of Batagalla Rajamaha Viharaya temple, who was in his 90s led a delegation to meet Dr. Hameed to discuss building the Seemamalakaya. Dr. Hameed said that if he had known the Ven. Thero was joining the delegation, that he would have gone to the Temple to meet them. After listening to the delegation, they decided to construct the Seemamalakaya, at a place called Waratanna, close to Haloluwa overlooking the Mahaweli river.
Dr. Hameed said he would be happy and privileged to complete the building as quickly as possible. Work was completed fast as he took a keen interest. When he went to Kandy, he never failed to visit the site. He appealed to all sources and collected money and allocated the rest from the D.C.B. funds. The project cost about Rs. 48 Lakhs. He built two Bauddha Mandalayas, one at Alawatugoda and another at Ranawaana road at Katugastota.
On his first death anniversary, the Buddhists of all Nikayas arranged an allnight pirith ceremony at Katugastota Bauddha Bala Mandalaya which he had built, and had a Dana the following day for 77 Buddhist priests. All the priests along with the people went on a procession from the Bala Mandalaaya to Sri Rahula College grounds and back. The Buddhists of Harispattuwa also presented 108 Atapirikala on this occasion.
This chanting of pirith all night and the dane with 77 priests and presentation of 108 Atapirikara shows the affection the Buddhists of Harispattuwa had for Dr. Hameed . This is considered a historic gesture by the Buddhists of Harispattuwa for a Parliamentarian who was not communal, and helped the people irrespective of whatever religion or race they belonged to. An ode to my dear Margaret, who left me lonely one year ago. I can only presume you are in a better place! “There is something about you. That sets me at ease, When I was with you, I was free to do what I liked, Free to say what I felt, Free to be myself. I felt so lucky to have found someone like you. You understood me, made me feel really special, No one has ever done that for me before. I guess that’s why I loved you from The beginning every day, In life I loved you and in death I Love you more and more.”
As husband and wife for 48 wonderful years she was God’s gift to me as my partner. But a fall in 2011, changed her life entirely. Operation no progress, physiotherapy no progress. In the walker no progress. In the wheel-chair seated most of the time, no progress. On that fateful August 21, 2015, we both cried and you closed your eyes and were snatched away from me. What a great loss and I am left lonely. For one year I have not seen my loved one. A sickness has fallen upon me, my limbs have gone weary. Everybody have I forgotten, when relatives come to see me. Their consoling did not relieve my suffering No wise man can find a solution but when I hear someone say, here she comes I spring to life, her name revives me My loved one is the best of all medicines to me, when I see her. I am restored to health when she opens her eyes She makes my heart young, when she speaks, it grows strong. When I embrace her, the sickness goes away. Only one year has she been away from me. I have seen how seeds that fall on the earth grow into new grass. I said to myself perhaps the earth restores to life anything placed in it. But in the case of humans like you my dear Margaret, the earth does not restore. So, let it be, I miss you, miss you my dear Margaret.