A gentleman ‘cop’ of the grand old guard

With the death of Ernest Perera, we lost yet another ‘Gentleman Cop’ of the Old Guard. He belonged to a clan of officers who formed the nucleus of the Police Service in the bygone era. He joined the Police Service as a Probationary A.S.P. in 1957 and served in Colombo, Gampaha and Matara. In 1981 on his promotion to the rank of DIG he came to Police Headquarters.

Though my service at Police Headquarters began in 1958, when I came on transfer as a civilian officer from another Department, I did not have the opportunity to meet him until 1981. Besides my service under him as his personal steno when he was I.G. Police, I worked under him when he was Snr. DIG Ranges and Snr. DIG Admin as well.

In all I served him for 11 years. During this period what struck me were his simplicity, understanding, regard and respect for others. I found him to be a gentleman of the highest order. He was humane, kind and caring, a popular figure who was loved by all ranks. He was always calm and collected. I have never seen him losing his temper. Even at the worst of times, he did not display any despair or disappointment. He epitomized the Man in Kipling’s ‘If ’ !

In office, his telephone conversations were brief. Though he was thorough, his conferences were brief. He never left a file unattended at the end of the day. He had told me that he did not believe in carrying office burdens home and vice versa. He did not raise his head when he was attending to his files.

The indication that he had finished was his lighting a cigarette. He never smoked while working. His report writing too was a lesson in brevity. He had an abiding sympathy for the lower ranks. He was lavish in granting rewards/ special increments/promotions whenever such recognition was deserving. These no doubt contributed to the contentment in the Service. The insurgency of 1989-90 period however, was a testing period for the whole Service. The insurgents’ call for desertions and the mayhem caused made the weak to waver. It was in this backdrop that he visited selected police stations, especially in the south, to give them the moral courage that was necessary at that time. Ultimately, he was able to successfully face the challenge posed by the insurgents. For this he had a set of dedicated, loyal and brave senior officers posted in key and sensitive areas.

Ernest Perera had to serve three Presidents during his tenure, each different from the other not only in character but in various other respects. He did not encoun- ter any problems with them. Similarly, he had to interact with leading politicians like Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake who were senior Cabinet Ministers and a belligerent Defence Minister like Gen. Ranjan Wijeratne.

Moreover, during his period as I.G. he had to work with Defence Secretaries of the calibre of Gen. Ranatunga and Gen. Attygalle. Perhaps, the personal traits which were inborn in Mr. Perera would have come to the fore in dealing with such men.

At the end of his period as InspectorGeneral of Police, he was appointed as High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Malaysia. Unfortunately dirty politics intervened to deprive him of completing the full term.

His beloved wife Mrs. Enid Perera, who did yeoman service to the Police Seva Vanitha Unit as its chairperson, predeceased him. After her loss Mr. Perera felt the usual loneliness but was able to resume his normal life with the assistance of his three loving daughters, their spouses and the grandchildren who cared for him.

Death came to Mr. Perera at the ripe old age of 81. He had lived a full life; served the country as the Head of the Police Service. His was a worthy life. Goodbye Sir. May your soul Rest in Peace.

Lionel Fernando