He was well known for his organisational skills

Wasantha passed away in his sleep on the morning of November 7. He was 77 years old. He was the sixth child in a family of nine headed by the only sister, now living in the USA. Two of his older brothers predeceased him. Wasantha’s father was a leading businessman engaged in sales as a franchise holder and in planting, living in Tennekumbura, Kandy. His mother was from a respectable family living in Hanguranketa in the Nuwara Eliya district.

Wasantha had his education at Dharmaraja College, Kandy from where he joined the Timber corporation when its Chairman was the Cambridge Wrangler and member of the Civil Service, P.H.Wickremesinghe. He rose to the position of an accountant soon. He then married Kusum Jayasuriya, who was also working as a translator in the same Corporation. She was a Catholic from Moratuwa. The inter-religious and inter-caste marriage was a blessed one, lasting for close to fifty years.

The family had two daughters, Sandamalee and Wathsala both of whom continue to enjoy inter-religious marriages, like their parents. Wasantha and Kusum are proud grandparents to five grandchildren.The senior son-in-law, Chaminda Perera,the owner of Sunpic Graphics Co. is a businessman in Canada while the other, Harsha Samarajeewa, an IT professional and former CEO of EWIS Peripheral Ltd, is the Managing Director of the Wettasinghe Pharmeceuticals .

I came to know Wasantha a year before his marriage when I married Kusum’s older sister Kantha Jayasuriya. I found him to be an intelligent and sociable person with whom I could associate as a friend, brother-in-law and confidant.

When Kusum later joined the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) and qualified as a pharmacist she managed to obtain a dealership, as a local wholesaler on retirement, it was Wasantha who, with his financial and organizational skills revived and developed the enterprise at a time when the business was tottering, initially due to unforeseen circumstances. It was during this latter period that Kusum was adjudged the best dealer in the island by the SPC.

Wasantha was a leading Lion in the Colombo district. He was also a club man, a well known figure at the Colombo Capri and the Moratuwa Carlton. As an investor in the share market I used to obtain his advice on matters relating to investments. There were several banners on display at the funeral home in Lunawa, Moratuwa, indicating Wasantha’s association with organizations like the Surf Society, Asia Crimes Prevention Foundation and several others.

He was also an active member of the political party now led by the President who was represented by some of his ministers and Members of Parliament at the funeral home.

Both parents would have been proud of the performance of the grandchildren. The eldest two granddaughters were able to pursue higher studies in universities in Canada while the older grandson, Kevan, played the role of a commentator at the last Royal Thomian cricket encounter. He is also a leading member of the Royal College orchestra as the first violinist.

I mourn deeply the loss of a good friend.I wish to offer my condolences to members of his family.

Wasantha’s body was cremated at the Rawathawatte public cemetery.

May his sojourn in Samsara be brief.