Born into riches he later chose a spiritual path

March marked both the birth and death anniversaries of a kindly gentleman, whom this writer has always held in the highest esteem. He was born in Sedawatta on March 8, 1908 and was named Corbet Edward Jayewardene. His father, E.W. Jayewardene, was away in England at the time, working in the chambers of counsel Corbet. Also, around the time of his birth his father had been introduced to Prince Edward, heir to the British Throne. Hence instructions were sent by him from England to his wife to name the new-born, Corbet Edward.

In later years, Corbet Edward Jayewardene (CEJ) renounced his lay life and moved on as Ven. Sedewatte` Dhammarucci Thera on March 23, 1981, after a fruitful sojourn on earth of 73 years. His dear wife had predeceased him in 1977.

His life had been many-faceted. Born into one of the more prominent families of the day, Corbet Jayewardene was educated at Royal College where his father Justice E.W. Jayewardene, as well as his brothers were also educated. In school he had enjoyed a full life participating in many activities the school had to offer. He had represented his school at Rugby Football in the pre-Bradby era. He once told me that he played as a Second-Row Forward (now called Lock) and bound alongside his schoolmate and later lifelong friend, Ronnie Schrader. Going by the size of both of them, together they must have been a formidable strength to their front-rows! Both CEJ and his elder brother, the first President of Sri Lanka, J.R.Jayewardene (JRJ), were regulars at the annual Old Royalists Rugby Dinner (ORRD) from its very inception in 1966.

Though I had known of him as a lawyer, I really came to know him during my stint at Hulftsdorp, through another kindly gentleman, J.W. (Will) Subasinghe, a highly respected Advocate and former Registrar of the Supreme Court. In truth, fortuitous circumstances brought me happily to the Chambers of Corbet Jayewardene. For reasons best known to him, the lawyer, who officially signed me on as an apprentice hardly gave me any opportunity to learn from him. Mr Subasinghe, who came to know of this unfortunate situation, readily asked me to visit his chambers, while at the same time introducing me to Corbet Jayewardene.

Mr. Jayewardene invited me to ‘devil’ under him without any hesitation. It was one of the best things that happened to me professionally at the time. It was, indeed, a great pleasure ‘devilling’ under CEJ both during, and after, my period of apprenticeship. Undoubtedly thorough and learned in the civil law, CEJ at the time enjoyed a gainful practice mainly in the outstations. This was to be expected as he had been earlier practising as a Proctor from around 1940 along with Merril Pereira down Silversmith Street, before he passed out as an Advocate around 1945.

In the meanwhile, on January 2, 1941 he married the lady of his choice, Essie (nee` Garth), in Mannar with his friend Vere de Mel, GA Mannar at the time, in official attendance. Out of this marriage was born his only child, Amitha, the apple of his eye. He had been enjoying his practice as an Advocate when he suffered his first heart attack in 1954, thereby compelling him to pursue a less stressful path in the profession. That was when he joined the Judiciary and served as a District Judge in Galle, Gampaha, Panadura, finally ending up as ADJ, Colombo before reverting to the private bar, after his retirement. He had also served as Secretary of the JSC in the early sixties.

The combined experience he had gained in all these different roles relating to the law made him undoubtedly an extremely competent Advocate; a commanding voice behind a wealth of knowledge and experience. It also made working under him a very vibrant and intellectually rewarding experience, indeed. Many were the pleasant times this writer spent in his Chambers at his home in Kalubowila in the late 60s and early 70s delving into the intricacies of Partition Law and other civil matters, particularly matters relating to land law. Furthermore, doing the rounds with him to the District Courts of Negombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Panadura was quite a gainful experience, not only listening to his erudition in the law but also about men and matters of mutual interest. Together we used to visit his old school friends Ronnie Schrader at Kimbulapitiya Estate after court work in Negombo and Advocate Asoka Jayatilleke at the latter’s home on the way back from Kalutara, for a spot of lunch and a chat.

In the forties, CEJ had been closely associated with the socialist movement then burgeoning in Sri Lanka and had been a loyal supporter of the LSSP stalwarts , such as Drs N.M. Perera and Colvin R. de Silva, Leslie and Vivienne Gunawardene. In fact, he had been the instructing Proctor to his elder brother, Advocate J.R.Jayewardene, in the successful Habeas Corpus application filed by Leslie Gunawardene against Vivienne’s father. CEJ had also gone by the name of Komara Jayewardene and had been donning the Ariya Sinhala suit in keeping with the mood of the times.

When I came to know him in later years he had developed a deep interest in the Dhamma and I happened to be a ready recipient of quite a few succinct discourses, in addition to the many legal principles he discussed relating to the cases we were handling, both in his chambers and while doing the DC rounds in his Plymouth, in which he travelled not for a show of affluence but on medical advice. Following his first heart attack he had been medically advised to travel in comfort. He was also ever ready to take a break from his practice to visit the Sri Maha Bodhi at the foot of which he spent long hours in meditation along with his very dear friend, that gentle, highly respected sentinel of the law, the late Justice Wanasundera, who was then in the A.G.’s Department.

Indeed, it was not surprising that he was to take to robes in the closing years of his life. He was ordained in November 1978 as Sedawatte Dhammarucci Thero under the tutelage of the very Rev. Madihe Pannaseeha Thero at Maharagama, the name ‘Dhammarucci’ being most apt on account of his love of the Dhamma. In his final years, reasons of ill-health compelled him to reside at the Gangarama Temple at Hunupitiya to be close to the cardiologist, who attended on him. In keeping with his wishes, though his remains were initially donated to the Colombo Medical Faculty for research, in the ultimate a few fortunate beings were to be the beneficiaries of his vital organs. His ashes were finally sprinkled where the Kelani River meets the Ocean.

He was a man of learning, well-versed in the Dhamma. Position and, moreover, powerful connections rested very lightly on his shoulders. Honesty and integrity was second nature to him. Indeed, it was my great good fortune to have known him. One can still picture him vividly, bearing a large, protuberant, frame, within which was nurtured a large, magnanimous heart, for which he will always be remembered with undiluted gratitude.

Born into riches and connections, he finally moved on as a Buddha Putra along a spiritual path to salvation – in the sublime words in the Mangala Sutta: ‘Unmoved by contact with worldly contingencies; sorrowless, stainless and secure’.

ULK