The epitome of sincerity
Born as the eldest son to illustrious parents P.L.N. Raddalgoda, JPUM, of Hiniduma, popularly known as ‘nadukara hamuduruwo’ and Lillian Margaret Abeynayake on December 13, 1933 at Unawatuna, Galle, Asoka passed away over ten years ago on December 26, 2007.
He studied at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and during the war years at Richmond College, Galle and opted to become a planter following in his father’s footsteps. He was a creeper at Non-Pareil Estate in Belihul Oya under the well-known British planter, Superintendent Boyd Moss.
After several years of planting, he had no option but to return to his village as his father had a bad bout of rheumatoid arthritis. Asoka offered all support to his mother and the family left no stone unturned to help their father back on his feet. Asoka also looked after his beloved grandfather who lived upto almost 97 years. A few months prior to his passing, he offered a roadside portion of his land where a ‘budu medura’ was built in memory of his grandfather, Andreas Dias Raddalgoda Maha Ralahamy of Hiniduma.
Asoka was the apple of his mother’s eye for all the sacrifices he made to take care of his family as well as maintaining the family properties as his younger siblings Sriya Ratnayake and Senaka were stationed away from home.
Asoka served as a Visiting Agent in the Southern Province. In 1973, when the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority was launched, he was one of the first to represent the tea small holders on its board. Whatever task he undertook, his service was honourable and selfless.
We married on May 15, 1972 through a proposal. I at the time was a resident teacher at Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, where I had also studied. My student hostellers, who knew about Hiniduma, were quite shocked and discouraged me from going to Hiniduma. “There will be pandals and garlands for you but you will not be able to find students like us and life will be boring for you!” they said. Nevertheless, I went ahead with the grand engagement, wedding, home coming and all that was being planned.
Asoka took good care of me. It was the very best of gifts that he always gave me. After the wedding, he took me to his favourite hill station, NonPareil Estate in Belihul Oya which had 18 hair pin bends along its 16 km approach road. It was most enjoyable. After we went to Hiniduma - as fore-warned by my students, there were pandals and garlanding at every junction and finally a guard of honour! I was stunned to hear Asoka’s speech made in flawless Sinhala.
Both his parents as well as relatives greeted us very warmly and gave me the best of attention to make me happy and comfortable. The village students were simply bewildered by the attention I paid them and every day would come with a bouquet of wild orchids to show their gratitude.
After some time, Asoka decided to bring me back to town as I was to have my first baby. We were in Galle for a while and thereafter in Bambalapitiya, when I resumed teaching at Visakha Vidyalaya. Despite our moving, Asoka never failed to look after his parents.
Asoka was an adorable father to our two children Kalhara and Lokeshwari. I can’t remember him ever punishing them. Hence, I had to be the disciplinarian. He was also a good and caring son-in-law to my mother, who enjoyed staying with us very much.
Asoka was quite close to the monks in the area wherever we were residing. He was keen on organizing Katina Pinkamas and did it very successfully, the last being at Mahamegharamaya temple at Maharagama. He never failed to offer alms at very short notice to any monk from the South visiting Colombo. Ven. Neluwe Gunanada Thera and Ven. Akuretiye Amarawansa Thera were frequent visitors. During the last days of Ven. Narada of Vajiraramaya, Asoka used to take home -made kola kenda daily which was appreciated by the priest very much. With my influence, Asoka also began to observe sil regularly at ACBC.
Asoka had no craving for money or possessions and was always prepared to help the needy. Once, when we came in for a bit of a windfall by the sale of a property at Unawatuna, his first donation was to the Valley Devale there. He electrified the temple, prior to its the annual perahera which was much appreciated by the people of the area.He was a rare tax payer who sought the advice of the Commissioner of IR himself to pay his taxes and his honesty was much appreciated.
When we came to live at Mahamegha Gardens at Maharagama, he became a loyal dayaka of the Mahamegharama temple under the Most Venerable Ankumbure Sugunapala Thera and later, Ven. Ankumbure Amarawansa Thera. He continued with the many pinkamas, the annual Katina, Sangika and Upasaka danes with much dedication. He was a popular resident of the area, always available to help those in need.
He went through a bad spell healthwise in the late 1990s, when he was hospitalized at the Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital, but recovered miraculously due to the care by Dr. (Mrs) Neomali Amarasena, the late Dr. (Mrs.) Niluka Karunaratne and their team of doctors. He was able to live on happily for almost ten more years, and saw his dear son Kalhara’s marriage to Piyumal and his first grandchild, bonny little Bimaya.
His pilgrimage to Buddhagaya too during this period brought him great solace.
With all the merit accrued by him simply by the way he lived his life, may he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.