A brilliant, industrious and hardworking officer throughout his career

Samithamy Jeyaram passed away on January 29, at his home at Zacharias Road, Periya Uppodai, Batticaloa. He was born on May 29, 1936 and had his primary education in Batticaloa.

After completing his B.Sc degree he was appointed as a Planning Officer and worked in the Amparai and Batticaloa districts for several years later going on to be Deputy Director and finally Director, Planning. He was known to be a very brilliant, hardworking, industrious and honest officer throughout his career. I write this appreciation as I was a close associate of Mr. S. Jeyaram while I was in Government Service.

I came to know him in the Kachcheri, Batticaloa and associated with him for more than 15 years as an Asst. Govt Agent (then) and now Divisional Secretary at the Divisional

Secretariat Divisions of Eravurpattu, Manmunai North (Batticaloa Town) and finally as Addl. Government Agent, Batticaloa. I had a very close rapport with him then as the entire District administration was in the hands of the Government Agent (now it is not so) and frequent visits and deliberations with the District Director, Planning were obligatory for us to take final decisions. When Mr. K. Tharmalingam was Director (Planning), Mr. Jeyaram was the Deputy Director –Planning working with him for a long period of time.

While he was serving in the District, he had undergone many inservice training courses and also functioned as Acting Project Director of District Rehabilitation and Reconstruction for the Batticaloa District. He was also a member of the Eastern University

Council for some time.

He was instrumental in the compilation of the Statistical Hand Book of Batticaloa for 1985 and served as a team member for the preparation of the ‘Batticaloa Today’ magazine published in 1993 and thereafter the annual District Profiles of Batticaloa.

He had worked under many Government Agents in Batticaloa from 1982 upto retirement. A significant fact that should be mentioned was that it was a period when the civil administration was in the hands of freedom fighters who dictated terms and wanted the public servants to do things against the Government rules and regulations and if not they were either threatened, abducted or even shot at or killed. It was also a time when the Kachcheri premises came under rocket air and land attacks several times; he along with other staff survived this darkest period in their life which cannot be easily forgotten.

He retired from Public Service when he reached the retirement age of 60 and was given an extension till 64 because of his efficiency and competence. Immediately after retirement, he did not relax much at home but instead made use of his leisure to write a book on ‘Planning’ in Tamil. It gained appreciation and acknowledgement from academics.

His efficiency, competence, leadership, and soft spoken attitude were par excellence. He was a religiousminded personality. His image cannot be erased from the minds of those who knew him well. Words may not serve to express our feelings of sorrow.

May his soul rest in peace.