We all felt bereft of a father, companion, mentor and preacher

On a warm Monday morning, in the salubrious climes of Diyatalawa in early January 1995, the English Department of the Sri Lanka Military Academy was awaiting the arrival of retired Lieutenant Colonel Ananda Arthur de Alwis who had just returned to Sri Lanka after a long spell of 18 years in Canada where he headed a College. The officers of the English Department had mixed feelings not knowing much about him. As he arrived, they inquisitively watched him getting down from his Japanesemade blue hatchback car dressed immaculately in European coat and tie.

As he walked in, these junior officers were to introduce themselves in keeping with military traditions. “Good morning gentlemen, I’m Ananda de Alwis!” he straightaway greeted them, introducing himself. Then, he went on to the officers – one by one, from table to table, and spoke to them cheerfully. The officers were surprised beyond words to have received “an officer and gentleman” in the best sense of the phrase.

Thus, dawned the renaissance of the English Department of the Sri Lanka Military Academy and the Sri Lanka Army, as most officers say with the highest respect to him. The officer cadets whom he first taught at SLMA are now senior officers in the Army and all of them speak highly of him whenever they reminisce about the good old days. His immense knowledge on diverse subjects was passed on to cadets and officers in his innovative English classes. All those cadets were so fortunate to be his students.

He loved teaching and could be considered the best English teacher the Sri Lanka Army ever had. His sense of humour was unmatched and he used attractive teaching methods, and praise and rewards to motivate his students. Often, cadets were found singing songs that all teenagers ought to know and narrating stories from different continents of the world. They not only enjoyed these sessions but also improved their vocabulary and grammar through these songs and stories.

At the end of each successful term, the cadets put on a delightful show comprising various songs and stories to an audience full of officers, students and teachers from neighbouring schools. These events were happy occasions and all who performed on stage and sat in the audience would be ever grateful to Col. Ananda de Alwis for his efforts to introduce a novel, innovative student - friendly teaching methodology promoting happy learning.

One day, he was speaking to a high ranking officer about a transfer of a young officer, whose wife was away and pregnant, “Kumar (not the real name) you’re not married and I have no children, but we have to understand the sentiments of our subordinates…” These words were a classic example of his humanness in uniform and his empathy.

Everyone who came in contact with Col. de Alwis virtually fell in love with his vast knowledge, unparalleled human qualities and remarkable sense of humour. It was so pleasant to be with him and listen to his anecdotes.

His respect and love for nature was also amazing. While coming to work from Nuwara Eliya, he used to bring flowering plants to beautify the camp. A beautiful bushy flower plant (Buddleia Pugster Blue commonly known as “Butterfly Bush Flower”) that he had brought from Canada is seen to date in the Diyatalawa area.

Though an Anglican Christian he had a high respect for other religions and his knowledge on Buddhism was surprisingly high. Often he would draw parallels from Buddhism in his conversations. He believed in giving rather than being attached to and craving for material things.

He began life as a planter in the 1950s and was the first Sinhalese Manager of Mahaberiatenna Farm/Estate, Teldeniya when he succeeded Captain Willox, a retired officer of the British Royal Navy. Whilst a planter he had enlisted as a Second Lieutenant with the 2 (V) SR in Kandy which was under the command of Late Col. Stanley Ratwatte. He served with great pride as a volunteer officer in the Army where he commanded a battalion in the late 60’s. He is credited with raising the 3rd Battalion of the Sri Lanka Singha Regiment in Nuwara Eliya during the JVP uprising of 1971.

After some years of service in the ceremonial Army he left for Canada where he earned his Bachelor’s degree and thereafter a Master’s in education. He attended McGill University of which he used to be very proud. Afterwards he worked as the principal of a college in Canada, before leaving for Sri Lanka in 1995.

The greatest among all the good work done by Col. de Alwis was the introduction of the degree programme at SLMA. He was the first officer to foresee that the war was going to be over. “Brigadier, when the war is over, what are you going to do with these yakko fellows?” ( Yakko fellows was used to refer to young cadets in a humorous way) he asked the then Commandant and in the dialogue that ensued he proposed to introduce the degree programme, which currently runs under a fullyfledged teaching faculty with two departments.

In 1999, the officer cadets of regular intake 51 became the first batch to receive the Bachelor’s Degree in Military Studies. To date, the Academy has produced over 1,000 graduates to the Sri Lanka Army and each time a graduate is commissioned, the institute blesses and remembers Col. de Alwis.

The former Bishop of Kurunegala Shantha Francis appointed Col. de Alwis from 2004 - 2016 to the dual roles of member of the Board of Governors of Hillwood College, Kandy as well as Manager of this famous private Anglican girls’ school. He did yeoman service to this school where his elder sister Barbara de Alwis had been the Principal until April 1977. New classrooms were constructed, heritage buildings were renovated to pristine condition and it today boasts of one of the best school kitchens in the country.

Col. de Alwis passed away on February 26, 2019 at the age of 89 years after a brief illness at a private hospital in Colombo. We all felt as if we were left sans a father, companion, mentor and preacher. In flashback, we see how he influenced our lives for the better, advised us on all important matters and helped us whenever help was necessary. Together, we all wish and invoke our blessings on Col. de Alwis to rest peacefully in heaven. We will remember him forever for all the good work he has done and left behind for his successors to carry forward. God bless him.

“At the going down of the sun, and in the evening we will remember him”