He learnt as much as possible and gave back to society

Harry Waidyasekera was born to Martin and Grace Waidyasekera on November 6, 1931 at Beruwala. He was my mother’s eldest brother and the eldest of four children.

All four children were rendered orphans due to the sudden demise of their parents when they were very young. They were brought up by their stepmother Lila Wijetilaka whom their father married following their mother’s death at the age of 29, when Harry was eight years old. Harry’s father Martin died at the age of 45 years.

Harry studied at St Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, with his two other brothers Sam and Chandra.

All three were bright with an aptitude for scholarly work and were successful in entering University. Harry graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) Degree from the Faculty of Economics of Peradeniya University in 1956. Thereafter, he joined the Department of Commerce. He later joined the Department of Inland Revenue as an assessor and progressed steadily becoming the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.

During his career at the Inland Revenue Dept. he was appointed as the Secretary of the

Presidential Taxation Commission where he applied himself tirelessly to complete and submit the report to the President. He retired in 1991 at the age of 60 years.

Harry Waidyasekera was a past president of the Sri Lanka Institute of Taxation and Editor/ Consultant, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka. He was also President of the Theosophical Society of Sri Lanka.

He served as a life member of the Royal Economic Society, London and as the Sri Lankan correspondent of Tax Notes International Amsterdam.

He has written extensively to books, journals and magazines published in Sri Lanka and abroad on taxation related topics.

His other main interest was historical research on the Kandyan Kingdom and in particular about artificers. He will be especially remembered for his ground breaking research on the life and work of Devendra Mulachari, one of the most brilliant designers and artificers produced by the Kandyan Kingdom. Devendra Mulachari designed and built the famous Octagon or the Paththirippuwa under the watch of the last King of Kandy, Sri Wickrema

Rajasinghe. My uncle’s research was later published as a book ‘The Great Royal Artificer of the Kandyan Kingdom’ (Stamford Lake: 2017).

He led a very simple, down-to-earth life. A man of high integrity, he was honest to a fault. He was always helpful and went out of the way beyond the call of duty to serve others especially relations, friends and students. Being a bachelor he looked at his nephews and nieces as if they were his own children. He was a scholar heavily inclined towards research and writing. He was well versed in the western classics as well as Buddhist Philosophy. He was always correct in his conduct and dealings and a role model for others.

He attended to all his work independently. During his last few days we did our best to care for and comfort him. He passed away peacefully on December 16, 2019 at the age of 88 years. His remains were cremated at the Mount Lavinia cemetery the next day as per his wish.

My Uncle Harry’s entire life was driven by a laudable motive: to learn as much as possible and give back the results of his learning to society.

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.

Sudath Devanarayana