‘Unmasked’ and facing the world with humility

“There were oils ( thel) and guli that had to be taken scrupulously,” says Serena recalling how Dilhan’s face would rupture out as diya patta (blisters), not tiny but huge which would then begin oozing. Those were the times he was in agony. That ended when they found that metals such as mercury and gold were part of the so-called treatment, which were impacting adversely on Dilhan’s liver.

The ‘camouflage’ came next with another friend taking Dilhan to a salon but he looked like an avatar. He kept trying different camouflages, even actor’s make-up where the solvent was alcohol based and extremely painful, like “pouring spirits onto a wound” which he used for a while, gritting his teeth.

This was the point when he and Serena questioned: “What is this? Why all this suffering?”

Dilhan groups his life after vitiligo into three – the first phase when they remained completely isolated, not venturing out anywhere, becoming social outcasts. “My self-con- fidence was shattered,” says Dilhan.

The second phase began with an encounter with Nissanka Wimalasuriya who was introduced by a friend with the words, “He’ll help you”. The recollections of that meeting are still vivid, for unassuming Mr. Wimalasuriya had said a prayer in the very area that we are seated and pointed towards a tree in the garden.

A little digging unearthed a charm. Mr. Wimalasuriya’s advice to them was to follow two courses of action – look at it in the true spirit of God and don’t seek the perpetrator for revenge but forgive him, says Serena.

Around this time Dilhan had found makeup which could be used to cover what he felt were shameful scars on his face. The substance came in jars and tubes of Kryolan from Charles Fox, well-known manufacturers of make-up for artists in Covent Gardens.

For Dilhan and Serena these depths of despair were part of God’s plan to teach them humility and re-build and mould their characters, while inculcating in them the need to help and serve others. Gradually, they found it in their hearts to forgive the person who had concocted a charm against Dilhan, both say in one voice.

“We learnt to be thankful that we woke up, that we had fresh air to breathe, that there was light around us and that there were birds singing in the trees,” says Dilhan.

The third and crucial phase began on July 24, 2015, say Dilhan and Serena without hesitation over the date. They were visiting friends in America, when Dilhan looked at a picture of Christ in his room and said: “Jesus if You are real, heal me”.

As they prayed, what another man of faith said “chilled” Dilhan to the bone……“God created you and sees you as beautiful” and next morning Dilhan was moved to do away with his make-up.

But it was not easy and he just could not leave the bedroom, until his daughter Amaya walked in and gave him moral support.

Dilhan and Serena talk of the immense support from their three children, their close rela- tives and staff of Dilmah. Son Amrit had photographed Dilhan soon after the make-up was off, addressing large gatherings during six high teas Dilmah hosted in Australia and used it as his wallpaper on his mobile with “Why fit in, when born to stand out”.

All this is recent history and the family believes that choicest blessings are being showered on them. Recently in Singapore when UNDP hosted the ‘Responsible Business Forum’ in November, CNBC (Consumer News and Business Channel) chose just three for TV interviews – two Ministers from Singapore and Thailand respectively and Dilhan from Sri Lanka. Dilhan, however, humbly attributes this to serving God’s purpose rather than dubbing it a personal achievement.

For Dilhan the message is simple: “We often define our expectations from God in our own terms, whether it is healing from vitiligo or any other issue. God does not subscribe to our terms. I initially thought that when I was not receiving my healing, that He did not hear my prayers. I learned later that He hears every prayer, but His response was much greater than I could imagine.

“The cosmetic healing from the issue I faced was only a part of it and in God’s terms, He wanted so much more for me and therefore gave me strength of character, a fundamentally different perspective – elements of wisdom that I could never have acquired had He simply granted the miracle I desperately sought. When people question why they have to go through situations, they need to understand that it is those situations that build strength and while God may not give a ready response in the form of a miracle, He will use those situations to mould, refine, strengthen and ultimately bless.”

Whether it is a child with Down’s Syndrome, a youth with autism or a man or woman from a slum, the interaction not only with Dilhan but also his whole family says it all – they may be from the highest echelons of society but the humility, the caring and the sharing are obvious, fostered by absolute faith.

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