To the good times

A rare breed indeed! To climb the corporate ladder whilst retaining his down to earth personality.

I met Vasantha at a study group preparing for engineering exams. Though he came from a high echelon of society, he was a simple man with an amiable manner. We became friends.

After the exams Vasantha went to England to further his studies. We met again at Ceylon Tobacco Company where I was working. He joined as a management trainee, and later became a departmental manager. I was then an assistant departmental manager and we worked together for ten long years. One week in the month we were on night shift and throughout the night we had interactions, discussing about life, future plans, including marriage etc. Those were good days of our youth that we spent together.

We parted company again when I left for overseas employment. We kept in touch. I later learnt that Vasantha had become the head of the Ceylon Tobacco Factory. He did not strive for this position but it came his way due to his efficiency and empathy for the people. He was a much-loved boss of the factory and got on well with the workforce. It is during this period that he came to Sydney and we met again. Whilst in Sydney he informed me that he was planning to move to Singer.

After many years, I came back to Sri Lanka for a few months and we had many memorable interactions. When I was about to return, Vasantha suggested that I should join Singer. With his persuasion, I joined Singer and stayed in Sri Lanka. We then had another long spell of ten years at Singer, till he retired at age 60. During this time, we made several trips abroad and participated in many social gatherings. Our families were close and my wife still keeps in touch with Roshen, Vasantha’s wife.

We are very sad to have lost Vasantha less than two months short of his 80th birthday. I am sure he has had a good life and leaves behind many grateful friends. I am one of them.

Rest in peace, my friend.

Ananda M. N. Perera