She had a smile for whoever crossed her path
June 5, 2013 marked eighteen months since a wonderful friend departed from this world. Her family, friends and relatives still feel her absence sorely.
I have known Deemathie de Silva for over 22 years. We worked together at the same Voluntary Organisation, and met once a week. Deemathie headed our group of volunteers, and the members of our organisation had the deepest respect for her kind nature and gentle leadership. I admired her most for her quiet humility and her sweet simplicity. She was a devout Buddhist who lived an exemplary life.
Deemathie came from the well known Amarasuriya family and received her education at Southlands Galle. She was known as one of the beautiful and best dressed girls in the school and excelled in her studies.
She was devoted to her late husband Nanda, whom she spoke of so often and so affectionately and her only son Mahen. How often I’ve heard her say that her daughter-inlaw Christine, was the ‘daughter she never had’ She adored her grandsons Ruwan and Amrit. Deemathie was a soft spoken lady, who never clamoured for the limelight. She encouraged others to the forefront and delighted in their success. She was always tastefully attired in sarees of the softest shades. She had a smile for whoever crossed her path, be it the Director of our establishment or the cleaning girl.
Deemathie had a quiet sense of humour, with the ability to relate a story cleverly, and maintain a serious face, while her listeners were in fits of laughter. One day, while I was not in my seat, the monies for our teas had to be paid. As I was not around, she kindly paid my dues on my behalf. On my return I thanked Deemathie, and as I paid her back, I enquired if there was anything more owing. With a naughty glint in her eye she replied very seriously, “You haven’t forgotten the million I gave you in April have you Beatrice?” She was a generous person who had great joy in giving to those in want. A close friend of hers once said, a rural community centre connected to our organisation had been starting up a project to train young women to sew. Funds were insufficient, to purchase a sewing machine and they appealed to our centre for help. The moment Deemathie heard about this, she opened her handbag, signed a blank cheque, and handed it to her friend Dulcie, who had been the bearer of this request. ‘’Fill in the amount you need” she said. This little story told by Dulcie truly touched my heart. We will always miss our dear friend Deemathie and cherish memories of the times we shared together.
May her new life be a blisssful one and her journey a blessed one. Beatrice Balaratnarajah
Colombo 3.