She remained our mentor to the last
Vasula Labutale nee Weerasinghe Amunugama
This is a tribute to a dear mother, a loving wife, a wonderful sister and a dedicated school teacher on her third month remembrance which falls on June 2, 2015.
Vasula Kumari Weerasinghe Amunugama was born on September 5, 1931 in Kandy. Her father, the late D.B. Weerasinghe, who worked for the Forest Department and had to serve in various parts of the island from the early nineteen thirties to the fifties enabled her to have her early education in schools like Seevali Vidyalaya in Ratnapura and Vincent Girls’ High School in Batticaloa. She often spoke of the times she spent as a student in these schools before ending up her schooling at the Mahamaya College in Kandy, the esteemed Buddhist Girls’ School, as an immensely talented young lady.
“Sudu Akka” or “Thathu Akka”as her siblings lovingly called her in a family of six sisters and two brothers pursued teaching as a career after her O/ Ls and was appointed to Nugawela Central College as an assistant teacher. Later at the Maharagama Teachers Training College she met her lifelong partner our dearest Appachchi and they were married in 1956. Her brother Deva used to fondly remember his sister and often spoke of her unmistakable early talents in the world of music, drama, films and the social activities she was actively involved in whenever she got the opportunity to do so. It was later in life that we discovered that she has passed her talents to three of her children. In the early sixties she got an appointment to teach at Tissa Central College in Kalutara as a fully-fledged teacher and her first two children were born there. She single handedly brought them up when Appachchi was out on a scholarship in Britain for two years. After Appachchi returned and became Principal she followed him to Anuradhapura Central College and Kingswood College Kandy, teaching subjects like English, Health Science and Agriculture. She was a very popular teacher among the staff and students due to her committed and novel methods of teaching and techniques.
Her final period before retirement was spent at Senkadagala MV (now named D.S. Senanayake Vidyalaya) at Buwelikada in Kandy. Known affectionately as “Labutale Teacher” by all her students they still speak of her as one who moulded them to be responsible individuals with a high degree of self-esteem and guided them towards the correct path.
Amma was a gem of a woman with a strong will power, a strict and ambitious lady and always looked for the welfare of everyone. She was a tower of strength to Appachchi when he came across the usual inhibitions when dealing with officials and old boys. She was the guiding light to her sisters, brothers and in-laws and they all will miss her very much. She correctly influenced Appachchi for our education in leading schools to secure formidable jobs in the fields of Engineering, Defence and Medicine.
She lost her lifelong loving companion with the demise of our dearest Appachchi in 2005 and was involved in religious activities on his behalf in remembrance. Though her health began to deteriorate she fought a brave battle facing her ailments with that unmistakable smile. Without a burden to the children she continued to be their mentor until the end. Nearing her 84th birthday she finally lost the fight leaving all of us in sadness and with lingering memories.
May our beloved Amma attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana through this arduous path of Sansara and until then to be born among us. There will be Bana and Dana on June 2 and 3, at her Attidiya residence where she lived for nearly a decade, to bestow merits on her.
Affectionately remembered by her loving sons and daughter.