Yes I will miss this noble man with a cultivated mind

Nihal passed away a few days ago.

His father Dr. Aelian Abeysundere was my father Clement Alles’s cousin. Chevaliar William Abeysundere was our greatgrandfather. The Abeysunderes were a wellknown southern family, prominently featured in

Arnold Wright’s tome, the ‘20th Century Impressions of Ceylon’. Our ancestor William was a prominent benefactor of the Roman Catholic Church.

Nihal like his father was a Doctor of medicine. After working in the Ministry of Health for many years, he joined the World Health

Organization and was in Nepal from 1987 – 1989. Following that, he was the representative for the W.H.O in Bangladesh till he retired.

He was a family man blessed abundantly in every way. I was proud to be present when he and his charming wife Nalini celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Nalini hails from a very well known, erudite family in Colombo 7. I have known her Perera family for long - a very warm, friendly people.

Nalini and Nihal were never avaricious. Nihal shared his wealth with family, and friends. Music was a passion, shared with his talented sisters Erin and Rani.

Families like this are very rare in today’s society. They are more like the taste of an English summer on a winter’s day.

In this strange and transcendental world between the here and hereafter, life and death seems one, even as the river and the sea are one.

The Buddha taught us that there is nothing in this world that’s lasting. Wise words indeed.

Yes, I will miss Nihal, the noble man with a cultivated mind. I will not burden my remembrance of him with a heaviness of heart, knowing full well that he rests in eternal peace.