Teacher pays tribute to loyal, gifted and generous alumnus of Ananda College

Janaka Bogollagama of Kurunegala died in November 2010. This appreciation is somewhat different in that it is a tribute to a student by one of his teachers.

I came to know Janaka when he was a pupil at Ananda College, Colombo.

He was a hosteller and I was hostel master at the time. I taught him mathematics. I saw the cheerful young boy grow up to be a leading businessman, social worker and above all a gentleman par excellence.

He was a sportsman at school and excelled in badminton and ten- nis. He went on to become public schools tennis champion.

Tennis became part of his life. When I congratulated him on being elected President of the Sri Lanka Lawn Tennis Federation, he humbly said his thoughts went back to the day the late Mr. A. D. Karunananda, the then Master In Charge, Tennis, placed a racquet in his hands on the Ananda College courts.

Janaka had a great love for his alma mater and its teachers. He gave us an open invitation to visit Kurunegala and be his guests. We obliged. One Saturday afternoon a busload of us made our way to Kurunegala. We were cordially received by Janaka and his beloved wife, Sunethra, and accommodated in the best hotel in the area. For dinner, we were taken to the Kurunegala Sports Club, of which he was the president. He proudly introduced us to his friends, the gentry of that town.

In the morning we climbed Athugala. Again Janaka was there to give the “push” and see that we reached the top. After breakfast at his residence, we went to the Ridhee Vihara and returned to his estate for lunch. Having enjoyed right royal treatment from Janaka and Sunethra, we bade goodbye that Sunday afternoon. His response was, “Come again, with a larger number, and for a longer stay”. That was typical of Janaka.

He rendered immense service to the landless of this country. Thanks to Janaka’s development programmes, thousands born without a claim to any land were able to put up a roof over their heads in a plot of land of their own. I see this as a great and meritorious act.

May Janaka attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana. May his sojourn in Sansara be happy and content.