My banking guru, the man with a heart of gold

Although he breathed his last some months ago, the sweet fragrance of memories so vibrant lingers on. He was warm hearted, charismatic, highly intelligent, eloquent, enthusiastic, analytical and disciplined.

He was D. Attanayaka, retired Senior Deputy General Manager of the Bank of Ceylon, a personality who was greatly respected by the entire staff of the bank.

Mr. Attanayaka belonged to sterling stock from Kundasale, Kandy. His father was a highly respected Principal of a school in the Kandy District while his beloved mother was a housewife. He studied at one of the leading Buddhist schools in the district- Dharmaraja College, Kandy.

He was a brilliant student who excelled in Sinhala and English and in co-curricular activities. After passing his senior school certificate examination with distinction he worked as a clerical staff member at the beginning of his career.

In the early 1940s Mr. Attanayaka joined the Bank of Ceylon. He served with distinction at the City Office, York Street, of the Bank of Ceylon and was appointed Manager of the Sinhala Department.

Mr. Attanayaka obtained his degree from the University of London. He was a great scholar in both Sinhala and English.

I served under Mr. Attanayaka for about a decade at the Sinhala Department of the Bank of Ceylon. Later, I was appointed as the Public Relations and Marketing Manager. I can proudly state that Mr. Attanayaka was my “guru in banking”. I am ever grateful to him. After serving BOC for nearly 16 years, I resigned and joined Sampath Bank as one of the pioneer staff members.

A charming personality, Mr. Attanayaka was ever willing to help everyone. He played a vital role, when he served at Anuradhapura Bank of Ceylon as its Manager by granting agriculture loans to the farming community of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

He revolutionized the English oriented Bank of Ceylon into a Sinhala oriented organization. His name will be written in gold in the annals of the Bank’s proud history.

Mr. Attanayaka was also an active member of the Bank of Ceylon Buddhist and Sinhala Literary Association.

When I introduced the “Aradhana swara dehena” musical extravaganza to BOC, Mr. Attanayaka was a tower of inspiration to me. In fact, when he was in charge of the Anuradhapura District, he organized the Poson Aradhana Musical Show at Anuradhapura in the mid-1980s.

Mr. Attanayaka was an active member of the Buddhist

Association. He was also instrumental in organizing the Buddhist Bhakthi Gee Programme.

After retiring from the Bank, he joined the Retired Bank Officers Association where he was an active member.

He was a devoted family man. He looked after his ailing wife Daisy with much devotion.

Mr. and Mrs. Attanayaka were blessed with six children -Jayantha, Padmini, Senerath, Mahasen, Gunarajan and Ananda.

What counts in life is not the mere fact that we lived; it is what difference we made to the lives of others to make them happy. Mr. Attanayaka always helped people. A man of honesty and integrity he possessed a golden heart.

Dear Sir, I am positive the angels gladly welcomed you to Heaven. Abide till such time you achieve the deathless state of Nibbana.