My friend Asoka – a man of uncompromising honesty and simplicity

My dear friend Asoka Samararatna, Attorney-at-Law and principal partner of Samararatna and Associates passed away on January 10, 2023.

I would like to use these columns to honour him and also recall the many memories of our long friendship, spanning 60 years.

It was at Royal Primary that Asoka and I first met as five-year-olds when both of us were admitted to school on the same day in 1957. In those days, ours was a playground comradeship, when we played children’s games together.

Then in 1963, we entered Royal College together and the foundation was laid for our long friendship. Asoka was clever and shone in class. At that time, very few of us had aspirations or career ambitions for the future. Asoka was an exception - he was very clear in his mind that he wished to pursue a career in law when he joined the Arts stream along with me in 1966. This was reflected in his nickname at that time “Pattaya” which became “Law Pattaya”.

Having a serious aim in life did not mean that Asoka’s schooldays were devoid of fun and adventure. He and I shared many escapades such as taking unauthorised leave from school to visit the cinema, lighting forbidden cigarettes and indulging in other forms of schoolboy mischief. He introduced me to the delights of Hindi cinema and I recall he never missed a Hindi movie with Shanker Jaikishan’s music.

After leaving Royal College,Asoka obtained an LLB from Aquinas University. Then in 1972 he joined the Ceylon Law College to acquire his professional qualifications. In 1973 I also entered Law College. Once again Asoka and I were in the same educational institution. Asoka was already a prominent figure and in 1973 he with elected the Vice President of the Law Students’ Union. He was also a student activist and organised a protest against the changes to legal education introduced by the government in 1974. As a consquence of the change in admission rules, a sitting member of parliament Mahinda Rajapaksa, the then MP for Beliatta entered Law College as a fresher. As advised by the Vice President he was accorded the same ragging treatment as the other freshers! It was all done without malice and at the end of the rag, Asoka and Mr Rajapaksa were seen having a cup of tea together at the nearby Crown Hotel.

In his politics, Asoka was a member and supporter of the UNP from the age of 13. He remained so till the end of his life, unlike many politicians of today who change party loyalties at the drop of a pin for personal gain or other personal benefits. He never had any desire or ambition to contest a seat or to enter

Parliament. Asoka had the greatest admiration for the late UNP stalwart M.D. H. Jayawardena and participated in his canvassing activities. Because of the affection and regard he had for Mr Jayawardena, he accepted the posts of Rent Board Chairman of Battaramulla and Kaduwela and that of Kaduwela Cooperative Chairman. I have had the experience of being out with him and seeing him hailed and greeted by many as `Asoka Aiya' or Asoka Mahattaya'.

I left: Sri Lanka in 1987 but we remained close friends and were in con-stant touch, either on the telephone or on my visits to the country. I have a deep interest in the events of Sri Lanka and Asoka was always available at the end of the telephone to give information and talk or. any situation. We had regular conversations and discussions on many subjects of common interest. His death will leave a void in my life for many reasons and it is difficult to think that I will not hear his voice again.

As a lawyer, his mind was razor sharp. He also spoke his mind fearlessly in his profession and in his communications. He was fiercely and unswervingly loyal to his friends and family, the causes and the political party he supported and to his old school – Royal College.

His firm had a wide ranging and very successful practice. Asoka was well known in the community as a lawyer who championed freedom of expression and other civil liberties, as was acknowledged by The Editors Guild of Sri Lanka in a statement issued shortly after his death. A fearless and independent man himself, it would be natural for him to stand up for journalistic freedom. His support for such causes is a reflection of the liberal values deeply ingrained in him.

He was a man of uncompromising honesty, integrity and simplicity, totally unimpressed by wealth or the trappings of wealth. He enriched the lives of many. He had a close relationship with his only and beloved sister Dr Savitri Kellapatha who was at his bedside in his last moments, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to her.

I shall miss Asoka’s friendship for the rest of my days. I console myself with the thought that I had the gift of his friendship for so long and that my friend Asoka lived a full, happy and honourable life, true to his principles and beliefs to the very end.