Memoirs of a just, caring and endearing personality

A tribute to late Lady Elina Jayewardene:

Clarence WELIKALA

The demise of Lady Elina Jayewardene (nee Rupasinghe) occurred on November 17 barely a month prior to the celebration of her ninety fifth birthday.

I must emphasise that I never failed to observe the September 17 and December 15 each year, the dates on which the late President and Lady Jayewardene celebrate their birthdays to meet and greet them.

I do not wish to elaborate on late President Jayewardene and his unmatched success academically, professionally and politically. To state that, as the saying goes, Lady Jayewardene was the unseen strength behind his incredible success is certainly not an over assessment.

However, she shunned, avoided political and public limelight and kept as low a profile as she possibly could - fulfilling her duties as wife and being a loving and devoted mother to her only child Ravi.

It is with a deep sense of nostalgia that I reflect upon the life of Lady Jayawardene through my association with her son, Ravi, which began when I was ten-years-old. Ravi and I received our education at Royal College, Colombo.

I travelled daily with Ravi to school and back in his car. Our friendship, which blossomed throughout the entirety of our academic careers, brought about and ensured a very close relationship between the two families, and it is with a deep sense of nostalgia that I reflect upon her life and the impression her gracious personality left on me.

Mrs. Elina Jayewardene carried the mantle of “First Lady” of our nation with distinction, and decorum and aplomb. She was an extremely charismatic and modest person who despite her gentle manner possessed a strong personality.

Mrs. Jayewardene embarked on and was the founder and driving force of the “Seva Vanitha Movement” and, as a result, the beneficiaries from this organisation are numerous. No doubt, the memory of this magnanimous deed will linger in the hearts of many Sri Lankans who have derived benefits from this worthy endeavour.

Absolute honesty and worshipful ideals are extremely rare, however much you search.

But, Mrs. Jayewardene stuck to her ideals, set high standards and believed in truth and thereby achieved her goal in serving the needy.

Sri Lanka has lost one of her illustrious daughters - a modest, amiable, yet humble, lady.

As a human being Mrs. Jayewardene rates high as a woman of honour, integrity and discipline. Her greatest attribute was the love and respect she had for all people, be they rich or poor, adult or child. She impressed me as a person with immense humility.

Evidence of her popularity and deep affection was portrayed by many and this was clearly and amply displayed by the vast gathering both at “Braemar” and those who assembled at the cemetery to pay their respects and bid her goodbye.

To re-iterate once again I must confess that the physical sensation that brings about the pain of losing a caring, endearing and gracious person becomes more manageable with the advent of time, but it never leaves all together which, in effect, is an experience difficult to come to terms with.

Her light may be extinguished but her spirit will live on in her family members - they are special people who will continue to make her proud.

A thought that crossed my mind was probably the same thought which struck most, if not all, who received the sad news of her demise and graced the funeral ceremony, viz. the awesome reality that Mrs. Elina Jayewardene had passed from our midst into the realms of glory.

Words could never describe Lady Jayewardene adequately, however much I may try. She was a colossus in her time.

I will miss her, but never forget her, as she will always have a very special place in my heart.

In conclusion, I wish to add that Lady Elina Jayewardene was without doubt one of a kind - A lady in every sense of the word.

God Bless Her!