A TOWER OF STRENGTH TO THOSE WHO KNEW HIM
D. Priyalal Dias 1946 -2016
I have been associated with Priyalal for nearly 50 years since our advanced level days, when we used to attend practical classes at Pembroke Academy at Flower Road. Since then (in the latter part of 1966), our paths crossed several times at the Science Faculty of University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, at the Geological Surveys Department when he was reading for his Masters in Science with Dr. N.R.DE Silva while on study leave from Ceylon Ceramics Corporation and I underwent training on Mineral Analysis under late Mr. J.P.R. Fonseka. Subsequently, Priyalal worked at Ceylon Pencil Company for a short time where late Wijitha Malewana and I worked after his departure to the Middle East in 1980. When he returned to Sri Lanka in 1982 I was residing at Ratmalana and he started his own company, Foundation & Waterwell Engineering at Ratmalana and I was a frequent visitor to his office and home.
He was a true professional and personally we had the good fortune of obtaining his services on several occasions and perhaps before his untimely sickness he was working on an Environmental Study related to one of our projects as his last active assignment. He was giving his services to the clients more than for financial gains, but he used to defend his clients even at public audiences and we are grateful for his help extended to us. Also, he was an active member of the Old Thomian’s Group of his vintage.
In 1990 October, late Mr. Malcolm Wijithapala and I met Priyalal at his office when we were requested by the Peradeniya University, Alumni Association to form the Colombo Chapter and solicited his help to make the initial meeting a success and Priyalal got many of his friends enrolled in the membership and since December 1990 served on the Committee of the Colombo Chapter of the Peradeniya Alumni Association in various capacities and finally became the President. At the time of his death he was the Immediate Past President. Mr. Dias was a great asset to the Association and he was a live wire in organizing gettogethers and used to participate in all events at Peradeniya and we will miss him very much at our Association events.
He was also actively involved in other professional associations especially as the President of the Geological Society of Sri Lanka and as Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee of the National Science Foundation.
In 2009 he was the recipient of the prestigious Ananda Coomaraswamy Award for his services to Geosciences and obtained his D.SC from the University of Dublin.
Before winding up I must say that with all his professional involvements he loved his family and was also proud of the achievements of his two sons and we miss his parties at home and at friendly gatherings.
During the last three years, Priyalal has been suffering immensely after a stroke and he was spending his time at home with great stress, and remained without meeting friends as he has told his family members that he needs his friends to remember him as he was. The members of Peradeniya Alumni will certainly remember him as the jubilant, generous, straightforward professional who was a tower of strength and a pillar of the Colombo Chapter and we trust that his soul will rest in peace. C.W.JAYASEKERA EX. PRESIDENT COLOMBO CHAPTER – UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA