A selfless man with a great love of humanity
Dr. Lorenz Perera was born on November 12, 1921 to Vivian Conrad Perera and Dorothea Celestina De Silva. He was one of the most brilliant students to walk the corridors of St. Peter’s College. His excellent academic performance won him a prestigious scholarship to the University College.My mother jokingly tells me that he was only seen at the Uni when scholarship allowances were paid.
While at St.Peter’s he was recruited by the Samasamaja Party. He was such a selfless man with a great love of humanity and a strong desire to fight against suffering that it drove him to drift away from his academic pursuits. He engaged in political activities much to the annoyance of the British colonial government which incarcerated him along with the party stalwarts N. M. Perera, Dr. Colvin R de Silva etc. at the Bogambara Prison Kandy. After being sacked from the University, he used the two years in prison to study and regain admittance to the Colombo University College as a medical student.
During his medical studies he was staying with my parents Dan and Rene at Pagoda. He continued his political activities and about this time fell in love with the beautiful Mabel living just a hop step and jump away from the Party Office at Bagatelle Road.They later married.
He never asked for any assistance from my parents who were unaware of his marriage and he and Aunty Mabel then moved to a small annexe at Norris Canal Road close to the Colombo General Hospital. He was doing some small jobs, working at the Colombo Race Course on weekends to keep the home fires burning, but never asked for any assistance from his parents or mine.
Regi Siriwardena, the well known literary figure, one of uncle Lorenz’s contemporaries at the University and fellow LSSPer extols the virtues of Lorenz Perera in his book “Working Underground”. According to him my uncle Lorenz was one of the most sincere, transparent, honest and humble persons he met, who touched the hearts of all he associated with. The main reason for writing the book, he had said, was that as time goes on persons like Lorenz Perera would be forgotten.
Uncle Lorenz’s first posting was at Ragama Hospital and next Wirawila close to Tissamaharama. He left Government service and joined Dr. Hector Fernando’s medical establishment in Negombo. Dr. Fernando was the LSSP MP for Negombo at that time. Then he started his own private practice at Wennappuwa but later moved the practice to Marawila and finally Madampe. I used to visit him very often at these places. Once I was Santa Claus to his kids Lilanthi, Lalith, Kusum,Rohan and Mohan.
The next phase in his life was his utter disillusionment with the party to which he sacrificed so much when the LSSP joined the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Government. It was then that he decidedto migrate to Trinidad. Finally on retirement he started life in England where he breathed his last.
He leaves behind his beloved children Lilanthi, Kusum, and Mohan, and also the late Lalith and Rohan.
Uncle Lorenz never everforgot his moral commitment to alleviate human suffering. When he left politics, which was his first dream, he merely transferred that dream to benefit his poor and worthy patients who looked up to him as a life-giver.
Today he lies alongside his great grandfather, his beloved parents Vivian and Dorothea, his siblings Doris, Rene and Sita, and my father Dan Aryaratne at the Holy Trinity Church Nuwara Eliya.
Uncle Lorenz was one of the finest persons to ever tread the earth.No words can adequately express my love and admiration for him. Thank you dear uncle for leaving in our hearts such poignant memories.
Ananda Aryaratne (nephew)