A simple, sincere, and noble person

James Henry Lanerolle was one of five candidates who were successful at the Ceylon Civil Service examination in 1951. He held many prestigious positions in the Public Service and subsequently seconded to the corporate sector.

He was the first Managing Director of the nascent Industrial Development Board and participated in the planning and establishment of several promotional agencies launched and nurtured by the Board, including the Investment Information Bureau, the Technical Services Agency, the Exports Promotions Agency, the Industrial Estates Agency and the M.D.P.C (now the NIBM) etc.

He left the Public Service in 1973 and lived abroad for some time and was re-employed as a Counsellor at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC, USA where he was in charge of economic affairs and later served as Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Aviation and Tourism where ‘inter-alia’, he participated in formulating plans for the new airlines and major improvements in the Colombo Port. He was then appointed Secretary, Ministry of Power and Energy and Chairman CEB, and was also the Chairman of the Special Committee on Energy. A 15-year development plan for electricity which included provision for coal-fired thermal generation plant was prepared under his supervision. Further he was employed by the Commonwealth Secretariat as Advisor/ Liaison Officer to the CHOGRM Group on Energy. Some of his close associates were D.I.P.B.S. Siriwardena, W.T. Jayasinghe, David Loos and Bradman Weerakoon.

In 1984 he joined Upali Newspapers Ltd as Managing Director. He developed immense love and respect towards his employees maintaining a close rapport with them and at times being personally involved in resolving their individual problems. He opened doors to many young budding journalists, listened to and valued their views.

A simple, sincere, and unassuming person with a noble and magnanimous heart, James Henry Lanerolle was an outstanding student at Richmond College, Galle where he won the prestigious Darrel Medal for the best academic achievement, actively participated in oratory, debating, literary activities and athletics. He was also editor of the College Magazine, Head Prefect and went on to obtain an Honours Degree in Political Science from the University of Ceylon.

He cherished his schooldays and the education and values he received from Richmond -to strive to be humble but at the same time cultivate good qualities, honest persistence of hard work and of achievement. He loved the School hymn and remembered it word to word.

‘Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less’the quote by C.S. Lewis, vividly brings to life the way my Uncle lived. He was indeed a humble and honest man who walked the talk of his learnings. He used to remind us most often that ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God…’

The eldest son of W.A. Lanerolle and Lilian Lanerolle, he spent his entire childhood in Galle, Richmond Hill. The eldest of seven children, two younger brothers, Cyril and George, and four younger sisters Kathleen, Rose, Dora and Rachel, he was ‘ Loku Aiya’. For the nieces and nephews, he was ‘James Mama’.

In 1963 he married Lilani Dias and they have a son, Dr Rushika Lanerolle, a loving daughter-in-law and two grandsons, whose company he enjoyed very much. He was a loving husband, father, and loving son to his parents. I remember how my grandparents used to sit outside under the porch and wait for his arrival. He sat on a certain chair in the house and always hummed a song when he was not chatting. I was attached to a British organization and whenever I met him his question was ‘when are you going to be the High Commissioner?’ He was always cheerful and used to crack many jokes with his nieces and nephews.

We will miss you, but we have many fond memories to cherish and smile over. May your soul rest in peace until we meet you, James Mama.

“And we know that God works all this together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28

Savanthi de Silva nee

Gurusinghe