Administrator, scholar, writer and ardent Buddhist
Dr. H.A.P. Abeyawardena who passed away on August 28, this year, had his primary education at the Bilingual School Mirissa and secondary education at Rahula College Matara.He obtained his B.A.(Hons) in 1954 and M.A in 1957 from the University of Ceylon.
He joined the Government Service in 1955 as an Assistant Commissioner of Local Government and held several key positions as the Government Agent, Director Cultural Affairs and Additional Secretary and retired from public service in 1988 after an illustrious career of 33 years.
Dr.Abeyawardena was the author of several research papers and books. Among his research papers, ‘Legal Environment for Local Government in Sri Lanka’ was published by the Post
Graduate Institute of Management. But his magnum opus was ‘ kadaim poth vimarsan
aya’ his thesis accepted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Sri Lanka, subsequently translated to English as “Boundary Divisions of Medieval Sri Lanka”.
Dr. Abeyawardena says he undertook the study of ‘ kadaim’ books as there was a significant amount of historical writings in Sri Lanka but these documents had hitherto not been subject to any scientific study. Although the main objective of the ‘ kadaim’ books had been the exposition of the boundaries, Dr. Abeywardena had unearthed a wealth of information on other features such as regional history, traditions, origin of place names, caste organisations, administration of settlements, prominent personalities and notable institutions. Prof. Emeritus, D.E. Hettiarachchi who wrote a foreword to this publication states, “Dr. Abeyawardena deserves the admiration of all for having presented to scholars such a comprehensive research work while engaged as a busy public servant.”
Due to his knowledge, experience and expertise in district and local administration Dr. Abeyawardena was the obvious choice of the government in 1998 to head the Commission of Inquiry on Local Government Reforms. It was expected to inquire and report into the existing system of local government and on the reforms required and amendments necessary to the existing laws relating to local government. It was also expected to report on ‘the reforms necessary to ensure a uniform system of law applicable to the entire country’.
A comprehensive report prepared under the leadership of Dr. Abeyawardena with many vital recommendations had been submitted to the then Government . But only a few recommendations had been implemented.
On the Heritage Project of the Central Bank, Dr. Abeyawardena produced three highly researched monographs, Ruhuna Paraveniya (Heritage of Ruhuna), Sabaragamuwa Paraveniya, (Heritage of Sabaragamuwa) and Kandurata Paraveniya (Heritage of Kandurata).
Coming from the same village as Ven.Panditha Mirisse Gunasiri Maha Thera, he came under his influence from childhood. He attended the Daham school at Sunandaramaya Mirissa which was founded by the venerable Thera and passed the Dharmacharya examination. He knew his Buddhism and practised it and wrote about it. His Bhavana Meditation –the methodology to attain enlightenment was published by AHAS Publishers. In his autobiography “Sesatha” he says that Buddha’s teachings had always nurtured his thoughts and actions, especially in his dealings with the public, as an administrator.
Following the teachings of the Buddha, he practised “giving up”. He donated his library collection to the National Library and also had made arrangements to donate his mortal remains to the Medical College Colombo which had been duly done by his close relatives on his passing away.
Dr.Abeyawardena was a rare human being.
Dr.P.G.Punchihewa