The legacy he leaves behind holds much meaning today
“If there is to be peace on earth and goodwill toward men, we must finally believe in the ultimate morality of the universe,and believe that all reality hinges on moral foundations”- Martin Luther King, Jnr.
The recent demise of Nissanka Wijewardane took away one of a fast diminishing group - men of high ethics, decorum and morality. Finding men of their calibre today is like looking for gold on a barren lonely beach.
Nissanka Wijewardane w as a role model whom we tried to emulate in word and deed. The legacy he left behind holds much more meaning today especially at a time in our history when parents should take stock of which direction our children are headed in.
From 1948 when he annexed second place in the Ceylon Civil Service Exam, Wijewardane set his sights high in accomplishing his goals in life. Hailing from a well known family he knew that education, family and religion were the foremost principles to adhere to. In 1949 he joined Import Export Control as a Cadet under N. U. Jayawardena who was Controller.
Later he worked in other locations such as Trincomalee, Galle and Kandy as an administrative cadet. He served in different capacities in Local Govt, the Public Service Commission, as Asst. Director of Immigration , Govt. Agent Badulla and Kandy. Whilst at the Import Export Board he was picked by Governor General William Gopallawa as Secretary to the Governor General which post he held from 1967 to 1970. Buddhism was his main focus at the Governor’s office in Queen’s House’ and “bana” was introduced once a month.
Nissanka Wijewardane was also Chairman of the “Ran Veta” project at the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. He retired from the then Civil Service in 1972 and was recruited by WHO. He was also GM at Walkers Ltd. Later in 1977 to 1984 he was Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon
In April 1984 to December 1987 President J R Jayewardene appointed him as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York USA and also Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Brazil.
Ambassador Wijewardane and his wife Iranganee (nee Madanayake) who also hailed from an influential family were mindful of the Sri Lankan community’s activities in New York . He and his wife attended most events organised by the Sri Lanka Association of New York and were later awarded honorary life membership of the SLANY.
The fact they were both to be invited by Rotary International as Chief Guests when the writer was installed as the first Sri Lankan President of a Rotary Club in the US, brought him closer to the discipline of Rotary itself and in his own inimitable way he worked into the district hierarchy of Rotary’s “Gift of Life” movement.
At a highly attended conference the then District Governor and Chairman of “Gift of Life” paid tribute to his efforts, stating that “using his gentle persuasive diplomacy, Sri Lankan Ambassador Wijewardane was able to convince the GOL Board that we bring to the US Sri Lanka’s first ‘ Gift of Life’ child for open heart surgery here”.
This child was sent by the Matale Rotary Club and was the beginning of hundreds of Sri Lanken children later benefiting from this programme. “Gift of Life” has now taken root in Sri Lanka itself since such surgery is done in SL today.
From 1989 to 1991 he served as Director General GCEC (Greater Colombo Economic Commission) in Colombo. He was honoured with the title of ‘Deshamanya’ by the government of Sri Lanka. In Feb. 1995 he was appointed Chairman Janashakthi Insurance, a position he held for ten years till 2005 .
His illustrious career was attained not only by accomplishment and achievement , but religious fortitude as well.
May he attain Nibbana. Jay Liyanage