IN MEMORY OF RTD. DIG SUBRAMANIAM VAMADEVAN

APPRECIATION

The demise of Rtd. DIG Subramaniam Vamadevan in Sydney, Australia on 1.6.2017, was sad news for both the Police Officers who had worked with him and all those who knew him. He served the Sri Lanka Police with honour and integrity.

Vamadevan was popularly known as “VAMA”. He hailed from a respectable family in Jaffna and was a student at St. Johns’ College, Jaffna. He excelled both in the academic field as well as in sports. He was an outstanding sportsman and Captained the College First XI soccer team. He gained admission to Peradeniya University and even at University he participated in sports. He graduated from the Peradeniya University and joined the Police Department as a probationary ASP in January 1957. After joining the Police Department as an ASP, he had served in several outstation Districts such as Matugama, Kandy, Mount Lavinia and also Colombo.

He was at one time Commandant of the Sri Lanka Police Reservists. It’s here that he stamped his name by his initiative and determination to form a Police Hevisi Band. The band was invited by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for the Edinburgh Tattoo held in 1971. The Band won a Gold Award from Her Majesty the Queen. It was a proud moment for the Police Department to witness Vamadevan, who at that time was Superintendent of Police, being received by Her Majesty the Queen along with the members of the Hevisi Band. Today the Hevisi Band is the pride of the Police Department.

He was also at one time the Superintendent in charge of the Mount Lavinia Division. It was during this period that the communal trouble erupted. He had a hard time performing his duties due to his nationality. He was apprehensive of taking disciplinary action against the miscreants. It’s the same communal trouble which finally made him and his family migrate to Australia. He was residing at Thalakotuwa Gardens in Narahenpita. His house was burnt and ransacked. He and his family had to leave the house under the escort of the late Wg.cdr. Noel Fernando who was a family friend. Fernando went to their rescue and brought them safely away from the marauding mob who were bent on attacking every residence occupied by Tamils. It’s a pity that the Police Department lost a brilliant Police Officer who had a bright future in the Department. His two batchmates the late Ernest Perera and Cyril Herath ended up as IG’S. There was no doubt that he too would have ended up as IG if he continued in the Police Department without migrating to Australia.

When he was based in Kandy, he covered the Katugastota area, where he met the family of Rajakariyar who was a Police Officer who chucked up and went into business as a building Contractor. During his visits to Rajakariyar’s residence, he eyed one of his daughters. He subsequently married Rajakariya’s daughter Charmaine Rajesh Rajakariyar. He has two children.

I have some personal reminiscences of both Mr. & Mrs. Vamadevan when they came to Chennai immediately after the 1983 communal trouble. Then I was serving at the Sri Lanka Dy. High Commission, and they stayed with us. My family members too were happy to receive them and be with them during the days of sorrow and after their harrowing experience in Sri Lanka.

We extend our deepest sympathy and condolence to his loving wife Charmainewho cared for him during his illness for many years- and his two children. “Om Shanthi” “May his soul Rest in Peace.”