I will treasure your legacy always

I write this reflection for what would have been my father’s 100th birthday on November 16 this year. My father was the nicest person that anyone could wish for. He passed away 41 years ago and I am still struggling to come to terms with his demise.

A product of St. John’s College, Panadura, he was a keen sportsman. His flair for journalism was evident even as a student as he showed a keen interest in writing articles to newspapers on a regular basis.

He started his career as a clerk attached to the Department of Prisons and rose to be the Chief Clerk but soon bade goodbye to the clerical service and joined the teaching profession.

His first assignment was at Polgahawela RC School where he rose to be its Headmaster. He did not stick to teaching for long either, because the call of journalism was in his blood. He joined the Times of Ceylon as a journalist attached to the Daily Mirror and covered almost every field. Later as Parliamentary Reporter, he associated closely with leading politicians of the time including Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Dr. N.M. Perera, Dr. S.A. Wickremasinghe, Peter Keuneman, Dudley Senanayake, J.R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa and later Anura Bandaranaike.

The crowning point in his journalistic career was when he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Mirror.

My father who penned the biography of Dr. N.M. Perera was widely travelled and represented the Times of Ceylon at several sessions of the International Organisation of Journalists.

My father had a nasty experience when travelling to Cuba with his friend, B.A. Siriwardana, Editor of the Aththa newspaper. The plane they were on was hijacked in Bermudas. However, it was released with the passengers after being held for several hours by the hijackers and my father and his friend were able to proceed to Cuba where they would meet President Fidel Castro.

My father was very duty conscious and always endeavoured to be of service. He was very fond of his granddaughter Maya but he was not there to see his second granddaughter Gayathri though she was born on the same day as him – November 16.

He passed away in March and his funeral was held at St Sebastian’s church cemetery in Moratuwa. Prominent personalities such as Ranasinghe Premadasa, Anura Bandaranaike, ministers and many others were present at the funeral.

Thank you Dad for being a good father. I will treasure your legacy always and remember you with love, joy and gratitude.

Till I meet you again, I love you. May your soul rest in peace.

Sadly missed by your eldest son,