Many are the fruitful discussions we had on a range of subjects

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”

Jeremiah 1:5 Among many differences, such as race, born in faraway cities, of Jaffna, Galle etc. we met at No 89, Church of St. Francis of Assisi Mount Lavinia, according to God’s plan.

Your simple outlook, humbleness, and active participation in God’s work brought many of us together and made us all good friends.

Hepsy, one thing we admired in you, is your trustworthiness. Any problem that we shared with you was kept safe, you carefully listened to us and comforted us by sharing our sad and happy moments. We can’t value the relief we had at those difficult moments.

You were an active member of the Mothers Union.You never waited for someone else to do things or never asked questions”why only me” when we assigned a task to you. You tried to bring a youthful and novel touch to our Mothers Union. I will never forget the announcement you made at our 7.30 a.m. Service. “Credit Cards are not permitted, come with a pocketful of money for the Mothers’ Union Sale”. That was two weeks before you were diagnosed sick.

The long skirts, black bag on the shoulder, and flat pair of sandals never spoke about your actual wealth. But your helping hand at different activities of the church and towards people in need showed the amazing richness of your heart.

Your departure brought deep-deep sorrow to all of your friends - Daya, Dann, Angeline Acca, other siblings, Debo, nieces and nephews. We all had many unanswered questions. For a while we all forgot that God sent us to this world for a purpose. Hepsy has fulfilled her part for God’s Kingdom on earth. At present she is rejoicing with our heavenly Father in the kingdom of God.

Dear Hepsy, we all love and miss you in our own special way. Anusha Adhihetty

Circa 1977, Barnes Place - someone was plinking the melody of ‘Amazing Grace’ with one finger on his sister’s piano. That was his favourite song then, and remained his favourite right through his days. He was no great piano player, but then, Rajan Yatawara was destined for much, much greater things.

Reading of (especially in the Old Thomians Forum) and listening to the many tributes paid to Rajan on his passing away at the age of 71 years, one could not help but realize that here was a colossus of a man. Someone who had achieved everything he had set out to achieve with a singlemindedness of purpose and direction be it in his personal life or in his chosen profession.

Much has been written about Rajan’s career at Hayleys – from his beginnings at Chas. P. Hayley at Galle as a Management Trainee in 1974, to his ascent to the position of Chairman of Hayleys PLC in 2004, so it would be superfluous to go this route. Why gild the lily!

Let’s look at the other Rajan - the schoolboy, the husband, the father, the benevolent human being.

Born on June 16, 1946, he was the youngest of four children of Dr. Jayampathi Yatawara and Daisy Dodanwela Yatawara. He

Three months have elapsed since the demise of a lovable human being, Justice Ranjith Dheeraratna, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Although, little belated, it is my fervent obligation to pen a few lines on the life and times of a very good friend with whom, I had the privilege and pleasure to associate for more than three decades. Mine is not at all a full assessment of his life and work in the judiciary which I believe should be undertaken by his colleagues at the Bar and Bench, but that of a close friend who enjoyed every moment of his company.

Justice Dheeraratna hailed from Matara District to which I too belong, and had a distinguished career at the Bar, both at had his primary schooling at St. Thomas’ Prep School, Colpetty, and went on to STC Mount to complete his secondary studies. He was into Cadetting, and enjoyed the many trips to Diyatalawa, which he would fondly recall – especially the puffs on the forbidden cigarettes which were procured for him by the obliging Armoury Boy who accompanied the platoon. His family believed he would join the armed forces, given that he loved to march up and down when a little boy with a broomstick for a rifle on his shoulder, and his obvious love for the uniform as a youth. But fate decreed otherwise.

Rajan, by his own admission was no “great” sportsman, but did represent STC at hockey, playing in the position of goal keeper. At that time STC was unbeaten in all its outings, and according to Rajan, he would fall asleep leaning on a goal post since all the action was in the opponents’ half. That was until they came up against St. Benedict’s College. As usual all the other ten players were in attack mode and crowded in the opposing side’s 25, when there was a sudden break and the SBC Captain came streaking towards the STC goal with the ball well in control. Rajan who had not Matara and Kalutara. He was a popular figure among his clients as well as the general public. My close association with him, goes back to 1978, when I assumed duties at the Kalutara Kachcheri.

Justice Dheeraratna was a person with rare qualities, who did not use or misuse his status as a top ranking judicial officer of the highest court in Sri Lanka. He was loved by everybody. Often one could see him at the gate of his residence at Nagoda Kalutara, dressed simply, having a chat with the passers-by.

Justice Dheeraratna was a family man who loved to be in his private residence at Kalutara, rather than enjoy the perks and privileges due to him as a Judge of the Supreme Court been part of the action all season, was woken from his slumber by shouts of “attack Rajan” from the rest of the team, and “defend Rajan” from the Coach and supporters standing behind the STC goal. Rajan was confused – go forward or remain in goal. He says he finally ended up neither here nor there, and the shot at goal flashed between his legs and thudded into the boards. The only time the Thomian defence was breached all season – something his team mates never allowed him to forget, whenever they got together in later life.

Rajan met the love of his life Rosemarie, only daughter of Connie and Rose Manatunga during his Chas. P. Hayley days in Galle.And after a whirlwind courtship, they were married at Saint Mary’s Church, Bambalapitiya on June 18, 1970 with his future buddy for life, Hemendra Ranaweera as Bestman.

The latter had many a tale to tell of those bygone days – stories which he regaled us with in the course of the speech he delivered on Rajan and Rosemarie’s fortieth wedding anniversary celebrated at the Hilton in June 2010.

Both children married well, and in course of time Rajan was of Sri Lanka. I loved to visit him at home and every meeting was a fruitful session. It was a pleasure to listen to him. We exchanged views on many matters from society to religion, other than any judicial matters pending in our courts.

I sought his valuable advice on very complicated official duties, which saved me from embarrassing situations. He too enjoyed my company and would call me to see him, if I failed to contact him for a couple of days.

Justice Dheeraratna, in his judicial career delivered a number of landmark judgments shown in the S.L.Rs, which I believe should be fully elaborated by those in the legal fraternity, as a gift for posterity. One such judg- presented, first with a granddaughter, and then with a grandson, the latter aptly having “Rajan” as his second name. It was joy complete, the proud grandparents spending many a happy holiday with the grandchildren both at home and abroad.

By this time, Rajan had retired from Hayleys and became the complete “family man”, going out only when it was absolutely necessary or on the rare occasion to pop in at his favoured watering hole for a tete-a-tete and a shot of cheer.

Sadly, during the past few years, Rajan’s health became a cause for concern to Rosemarie and the children. As could be expected, he received the best treatment possible. But eventually even giants must fall, and Rajan passed away on November 7. The many who called at his home to pay their respects, and the crowd that gathered at the cemetery to bid farewell were testimony to the high regard that he was held in.

And so it was that as Rajan’s mortal remains were being gently lowered to his final rest, the assemblage raised their voices to the heavens with Amazing Grace. Rest in peace, Rajan.

Isy Bahar ment, which I perused was the Priyani Soysa vs Arseculeratne, case which will be discussed among the legal fraternity for a long time.

Although, Justice Dheeraratna’s whole life was at the judiciary, he had a good grasp of Buddhism and its scriptures. He loved to discuss religious matters with me, and had been a member of the Kalutara Bodhi Trust for some time.

Justice Dheeraratna led a very simple and pious life and was well taken care of by his wife and children and was the favourite of his grandchildren. My wife Dr. Dulcie and I wish him the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana in his journey in Sansara.

A. Andrew de Silva

Engineer Gamini Weerasiri Gunathilake passed away in Australia during the early morning hours of October 27, due to massive heart attack. He was only 68 years. He had his primary education in Ratnapura Sri Sumana Vidyalaya, Pelmadulla Gankanda Central College and Pannipitiya Dharmapala Vidyalaya. Having passed the BSc. Engineering at the University of Peradeniya he joined the Mahaweli Development Board as a Project Engineer in 1974.

He spoke on a range of subjects, civil engineering in particular as applied to water resources, project management and management of people. He spoke on Buddhist values, social standards and life. He spoke everywhere – at universities, at the Institution of Engineers, professional groups, conferences both local and overseas, to mention a few.

He spoke no harsh words and had no illwill towards others or carried tales. He was focused on environment technologies, innovative construction technologies and utilisation of local resources in his engineering pursuits. His pioneering efforts and contributions are well known in areas of irrigation, hydrology and low cost structures in the Mahaweli area during his work period in Sri Lanka.

He was a member of the institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, London and member of the Institution of Engineers, Australia. He obtained the Master of Engineering at Texas A&M University, USA and the Master of Business Administration at University of Queensland Australia in 2004.

By 1996 he joined New South Wales, Australia in South Coast Region Parramatta as a Resource Officer and in 1999-2004 he worked as a Hydrograpic Coordinator in the same institute. In 2004-2009 he worked as a system planner in Sydney Catchment Authority. On 2009 onward till his sudden death he worked in Murray Darling Basin Authority in Australia as a Hydstra Administrator.

He was a man of virtue. He spoke the truth based on both his learned knowledge and tacit knowledge on a wide range of subjects that benefited the people. He also travelled widely with his wife Anoma on pilgrimages overseas. Gamini was involved in various religious activities organised by the Buddhist Centre in Australia.

May all the merit he accrued during his lifetime, help him attain the supreme bliss of nibbana in the shortest possible time. Major Jayantha Gunathilake