An honest man who met with success where-ever he went

Anthony Kumar Fernando passed away on the morning of September 12 in a hospital in Melbourne, Australia at the age of 66. He had so much of life ahead of him, but it is always said that God chooses whom he desires and loves, according to his time and will.

I am penning these few lines in appreciation of this close and faithful friend for 47 years. I first got to know Kumar through a mutual friend way back in 1972 when he played Rugby for St Anthony’s College, Kandy. He was a member of the champion rugby team of 1972 led by Tuan Dole.

Soon after leaving school Kumar chose planting as a profession and joined Whittalls Estates and Agencies in around 1973. We both learnt work under the same boss, the late Brian Ratwatte, though at different times and later served on different estates in the early 1970’s in Pussellawa. It’s from this period that we became very close friends enjoying many a good time together, which culminated in Kumar inviting me to be his “Best Man” at his wedding in 1976. That was an honour I still cherish.

Kumar excelled as a planter serving in different capacities in some of the most prestigious tea estates in Sri Lanka, and finally at Stonycliff estate, Kotagala which is one of the most renowned estates any planter would wish for at a relatively young age. It was from Stonycliff estate that he was selected to proceed to Transkei, South Africa where he worked with Magwa Tea Corporation for 14 long years. This was the zenith of his planting career rising to the position of General Manager Operations in the company after a few years.

I recall Kumar bringing some of the owners of Magwa Tea Corporation from South Africa to visit tea estates in Sri Lanka including those of Aitken Spence Plantations and how happy they were that Kumar was working with them. Kumar was an asset to the company.

However, after a long stint in South Africa, Kumar made his new home in Melbourne, Australia, a decision he always looked back on with pride and contentment. His entrepreneurial competence helped him and his wife Nelu to build a successful restaurant business, in the heart of Melbourne, within a few years. This was a hallmark of his business acumen, even in a highly competitive environment like Melbourne. He always led from the front and believed in honest, hard work, and it was not surprising that he met with success everywhere he went.

Kumar believed in sharing his success with others, and I have personal knowledge of the numerous times he has helped people in different ways, to build up their businesses and getting people on their feet without the least expectation of receiving anything in return. He would even help someone who had wronged him, that was the measure of the man I knew so well.

Although I knew Kumar for a long time, you didn’t have to know him for years to feel his kindness, warmth and care for others, particularly for the underdog and less fortunate. It was this quality of his that touched me the most.

He and his family were always God fearing, despite his fun-loving nature. He loved God and served him wholeheartedly, and I have no doubt that our creator God, Jesus Christ has welcomed his loyal and faithful servant with arms wide open when he moved over to the other side.

Nelu and the children could take comfort in that Kumar lived an impeccable life, which will be a hard act to follow. His pride and joy were his family, Nelu, the children Tehani, Ayesh, Sudesh and the extended family. His grandchildren had his heart and he spoilt them all to bits, and often unknown to the parents. We will all miss this wonderful human being.