He was a tower of strength to us all

As a soft spoken father, unforgettable brother, helpful relative, and cheerful friend, I remember him forever. So it is my privilege to write a tribute to my brother H.M. Premarathna (Loku Aiya) often called Prema by his friends and relatives. He passed away after a brief illness on August 1, 2011.

Premarathna had his early education at St. Thomas’ College Matale where he excelled his studies in the late 1940’s under veteran principal Charle’s Robinson. He was in the senior cadet platoon and was a keen sportsman too. He took part in sports in college as well as in the public services sports club and societies. He founded a community centre at Harasgama, and put up a building for the welfare of the centre, and formed a volleyball team of which he was the captain.

His team managed to win the Matale district ‘Paramanathan’ challenge shield and later all island championship challenge shield, which was presented by the then prime minister Sir John Kotalawela.

In his professional life he served in the clerical staff of the Matale election office at the start and as an acting election officer at Polonnaruwa office. He was later an immigration officer and served in the post until his retirement.

He was an avid reader and had a collection of English as well as Sinhala books on many topics.

He was a tower of strength before and after we lost our dear parents. He was a loving husband to his wife Indrani and a loving father to daughter Arosha, sons Sidath and Nishantha who is in London and loving grandfather to Ronali in London, Sachiththa in Australia, Amiththa, Nisal and Shenali also in London and father-in-law to Janak, Manjula and Sathya who too is in London. They all cared for him until his demise.

Many are the cherished memories I have of my dear brother. Though he is no more, his soul is with us all.

May his sojourn in sansara be brief and with the least amount of grief until he attains Nibbana, that ultimate sublime bliss.

‘Death leaves a heartache no one can heal’

‘Love leaves a memory no one can steal’