The people of Tissamaharama still remember him with gratitude

He was born to a very prestigous family in Matara, his father being the District Judge nearly 90 years ago.

After his education at S. Thomas `College he chose Agriculture and worked in his own paddy field in Tissamaharama. He was a fully-fledged Samasamajist and though he came from an affluent family he worked hard to improve the lives of the downtrodden. Earlier he wrote about them in the newspaper Samasamajist with the pseudonym Southern Farmer and it was read by all at that time.

I knew him since 1962 and I know how much he loved the people and how much he worked for them. He had dreams about building a Public Library in Tissa, much needed for the children of the area. Vast is the work he did to enhance the life of the poor. He built a pre-school -- the

first in his village Polgahavelana in the 70s -- and it still stands. He gave over six acres of his paddyfield to poor families who didn’t have any means of sustenance or a decent house to live in.

It’s sad that many of his ambitions were not fulfilled as he passed away 26 years ago before he could proceed with them. But the people in Tissamaharama still remember him and are grateful for the help he gave them.

May his Sansaric journey be short and may he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.

Anandi Kulatilleke