Wilfred Harischandra Niriella
Lawyer, Miltary Officer par excellence
It is indeed a privilege to pen this epitaph as a token of gratitude to the late Colonel Wilfred Harischandra Niriella with whom I was indeed fortunate to be associated with since my childhood, and with whom I remained in constant touch till his recent demise. It was a very close comradeship of six decades.
He hailed from a very respectable family in Mahagama, in the Kalutara district. He was born in 1933, one among many siblings. He was a pillar of strength to all his siblings. His paternal affection to all his siblings was regarded with high esteem and appreciation by his family.
But his greatest asset was the pure and genuine heart he possessed. Also, his leadership qualities along with his honesty and integrity were formidable strengths he possessed. He always looked to lending a helping hand to others and was always generous with his family and friends, helping in any crisis, with whatever help needed without expecting anything in return, which is a rare quality these days.
After completing his primary and secondary schooling where he excelled in sports and academics, he joined the Law School to pass out as a lawyer.
He commenced his practice after joining the Kalutara Bar and went on to build a lucrative practice at both Kalutara and Matugama Courts.
He was a stickler for perfection. We can learn many things by looking at his life. One of them is punctuality and the other is honouring promises made. He was well organized and very methodical. His daily diary that he maintained is an example for the younger generation. His commitment towards achieving goals, loyalty to friends and generosity and willingness to help the needy were qualities rare in an individual. Indeed, his was a very generous heart.
He married Prema, who was also a person of many talents and an intellectual in her own right. They were blessed with a son Danajaya who is now a PhD qualified Environmental Engineer working for the Canadian Municipal Government.
His meeting Prema is especially memorable to me as they first met at my place when Prema came to give tuition to my sister and he being my brother's best friend was always in and out of my place. I, as a little boy then, was instrumental in their first introduction to each other. His love and affection for his wife Prema was unlimited. She predeceased him and he personally took care of her during her last few years.
Nirl as he was affectionately known by colleagues as well as friends and “Sudu Mama” by his nearest and dearest, was indeed a man in a million. I recall during his early career he owned a Fiat 600 into which is 6 feet plus burly frame could only just manage to wriggle into. Inspite of his busy schedule as a leading lawyer in the Kalutara Bar, his love for the military life and uniform saw him commission as a Second Lieutenant in the 2CLI to lead the contingent based in Kalutara. Niri was an officer of rare stature. He persuaded many of his colleagues also to volunteer for military service.
During the many emergency situations Ceylon was faced with during the late 1950s and early 1960, Niri was mobilized many times and he faced many near-death encounters. He carried out the most stressful assignments by tackling it head-on rather than delegating them. He was a man of action and always commanded his men to do their duty professionally and with dignity. He expected nothing but unswerving loyalty from his men. Niri had a tremendous capacity for staying cool under the most hazardous circumstances, never cracked under pressure, never wavered in times of crises and when he was attacked, he always stood tall and strong. After marriage, another important decision he made in life was to join the regular Army.
When the Army Legal Department was formed in the mid 1960s, Niri was an automatic choice owing to his legal background and experience in the volunteer force.
As a Captain therein, he handled many important and vital cases for the Army, which had an important bearing on the country's well-being. He always immaculately turned out and on ceremonial occasions dressed in full regalia, with his handsome features was an ‘out of the world sight to behold'.
Niri owned an unique personality and he was a charismatic person. He constantly adhered to the Rule of Law. He led by example, acted on the courage of his convictions and was a man of unquestioned moral uprightness. Niri never hesitated to call “a spade a spade”.
His dedication to the military was legendary. He rapidly climbed the ladder to the rank of Colonel and was appointed to the post of Judge Advocate General to the tri forces, which was an early testament to his dedication. The story of his long and meaningful career in the army would undoubtedly fill many volumes.
We had many common interests which helped to maintain our personal association, in spite of our age difference. I always cherished his company and his conversations and we grew helping each other in good times as well sad times.
Niri was blessed with a brilliant visionary mind and was a pragmatic man. He was also a man of indomitable courage coupled with a burning ambition to succeed in life. It is very rarely in one's life that one come across a human of exceptional and rare qualities. Those who were fortunate enough to associate closely with Niri can count themselves lucky. He was a man of vision, a great planner and a perfectionist. The one thing he enjoyed most was making others happy. He would always say “my forte is helping others”.
He never sought personal gain, shunned publicity and never lost his identity and common touch. Even his wish and desire to be at his death is as follows: “My wish is that absolute anonymity and simplicity be maintained at my funeral" and "there should be no Civil or Military ceremony in any form whatsoever.”
Sadly, the last few years of his life were plagued by ill health which deteriorated rapidly with Prema's demise.
Niri's cremation took place at the Borella Cremation grounds amidst a large gathering of distinguished current and ex-army top Rankers and legal luminaries.
Niri was a devout Buddhist and the last few years of his life were spent in contemplation of the deeper aspects of this sublime doctrine. May these few lines be a tribute to our long and sincere friendship.
'Though you are no longer with us
We will always remember you forever
Sweet memories are treasured within our hearts
So precious and special to us you are
We will remember you with love
Unforgettable and irreplaceable
To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die'
- Thomas Campbell
May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana!
Shanthakumar Ratnajeewa, Talawathugoda
Professor J. E. Jayasuriya
Visionary educationist
I consider it an honour and a privilege to be provided the opportunity to pay my tribute to late Professor J.E. Jayasuriya whose 100th birth anniversary falls on February 14. Unfortunately, I did not have the privilege of being a student of Professor Jayasuriya nor had any personal acquaintance with him. However, I was fortunate to get to know him through the prism of his publications and writings and verbal lore of his colleagues and students who have greatly admired and revered him.
Born on February 14, 1918, he started his primary education at Nawalapitiya Anuruddha Vidyalaya, then joined Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda and finally Wesley College, Colombo. In 1933, he sat the Cambridge Senior Examination and displayed his brilliance by securing the third place in the order of merit among all candidates of the British Empire. In recognition of his brilliant performance, he was awarded a scholarship to the University College, Colombo. In 1939, at the age of 21 years, he graduated with a First Class in Mathematics.
Prof. Jayasuriya commenced his career as an educational administrator being the first principal of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya. In recognition of his abilities Dr.C.W.W. Kannangara invited him to be in charge of the central school established in the Minister’s own electorate, Matugama.
On his return after Post Graduate studies at the Institute of Education, University of London, he was in charge of Mathematics education at the Teachers’ College Maharagama until appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Education of the University of Ceylon. In 1957, he succeeded Prof T.L Green as Professor of Education. He became the first Sri Lankan to hold that post.
In his capacity as the Professor and the Head of Department, Professor Jayasuriya undertook the task of professionalizing education. He was the role model for all the academic community with his professional attitude, open-mindedness, multi-disciplinary versatility and commitment to his vocation. It was his vision that made him initiate the first undergraduate degree in education, the Bachelor of Education at the University of Peradeniya in the late nineteen sixties, to ensure the pre-service training of graduate teachers. Even though the programme was suspended after a few years of operation, the majority of the first generation of B.Ed. graduates have achieved high professional status both locally and globally. The popularity of this course which is now offered at the University of Colombo testifies to the foresight of Professor Jayasuriya in developing this programme. However, while there are moves to expand the Bachelor of Education programmes it is necessary to review these programmes in the light of Professor Jayasuriya’s vision to maintain quality in the B.Ed course he designed.
Professor Jayasuriya was a pioneer in introducing intelligence testing. The National Education Society Intelligence Test, which he helped to develop was the only standardised test available for teachers at that time in national languages. He also adapted the Raven’s Non- verbal test to Sri Lankan standards. These were the instruments used in testing for many years.
The first National Education Commission ever to be appointed, in 1961/62 of which Professor Jayasuriya was the Chairman, proposed far-reaching reforms in many areas of education.
At a time when the Educational research was not in vogue in Sri Lanka, Professor Jayasuriya was a forerunner in the culture of research with an array of research on diverse fields. He was also a prolific writer of books and monographs, both in Sinhala and English. They are a great treasure trove to the students and researchers even today. Undoubtedly, he personified the ideal university teacher, dedicated to the three goals of a university: teaching, research and service to society.
Professor Jayasuriya was also known as the father of Population Education in the Asian region After premature retirement from University service he took up an assignment as the Regional Advisor in Population Education at UNESCO, Bangkok and worked there for five years. He headed a team of specialists to help the countries of the region to forge ahead with this novel program. Professor Jayasuriya developed and published a Source Book on Population Education in Asia which was widely distributed in the region and was influential in the evolution of the concepts and programming practices of population education. Further, he launched programming missions in the countries in the region which led to the establishment of population education projects. He was also responsible for setting up a clearinghouse of publications on population education at UNESCO Office to which he himself authored many articles.
As mentioned at the outset I was acquainted with Professor Jayasuriya through his books. I was fortunate to be one of the last batches of students to learn Mathematics using the set of books he authored. Learning Mathematics was a pleasure as the concepts were presented clearly and logically with adequate exercises to practice what is learned. Sadly this is not the case in relation to learning mathematics in Sri Lanka today.
Many who have written about Professor Jayasuriya has highlighted his forthrightness, fearless advocacy of the cause he believed in and an uncompressing intellectual honesty.
These qualities come through his writings especially in "Some Issues in Ceylon Education" which is a critical reaction to the distortion of his recommendations of the National Education Commission Report (1962).
"Educational Policies and Progress. During British Rule in Ceylon where he analyses the education system during British rule in retrospect, “Education in the Third world – Some Reflections" which highlights the need to deviate from the western education models and how Sri Lanka has lost its direction in education policy.
At a time when Sri Lanka’s education reforms are being discussed, it is most opportune to step back and glimpse the views and vision of an educationist par excellence of yesteryears.
The medium of instruction, English language education, free education, expanding Bachelor of Education programmes, private sector involvement in education, these are all current issues which had been discussed by Professor Jayasuriya in his publications. In discussing the British period in Sri Lanka in retrospect he discusses many dualities that existed in the school system at that time. Regarding English language education, he states that “compulsory English for all children in and above grade 111 is one of the greatest deceptions perpetrated on the people of this country.” He cites two reasons to justify his stand. About 20 -25% of schools never had a single teacher of English and secondly, the calibre of the teachers recruited to teach English was “substandard”. Regarding free education, he says that “education became indeed free for all, but what was free was a good education for the few and a bad education for the many”. These statements are valid for the present as well. Hence, Professor Jayasuriya was truly a visionary educationist and his insights should guide the present policymakers.
Prof. Marie Perera
( The writer is a Senior Professor and Director of the National Education Research and Evaluation Centre of the University of Colombo)
Geetha Kusumini Howie (nee De Silva)
Beloved sister
The day I heard that you met with a tragic incident on November 27, 2017, and lost your life in an untimely and unbelievable manner, I could not believe, focus or envisage anything other than say to myself, “Akka, you have not gone. You know I need you to be with me at this time, at my only son’s wedding, the eagerly awaited family get-together which we have planned throughout the year.”
We were to meet at the airport and hug each other and enjoy the holiday with our family at my place in Sri Lanka. Instead, I had to squeeze my mind with tears. From that day onwards, life was never the same to our family.
Geetha Kusumini, my beloved sister born in Kandy to my parents Upali and Kusumalatha as their first born baby in 1954 January 29, was a bundle of joy. According to my mother, they have welcomed her as a little princess to their family with decorations and comforts in the specially designed baby room.
Her first birthday frock is still with me as she wanted me to keep it as a token of her childhood memory before she migrated to the USA. She was looking forward to seeing all that old stuff when she visited Sri Lanka this time. I can’t believe that cute frock is still in good condition for this past long years but the girl who wore it to celebrate her first birthday is no more.
She started her primary schooling at Mahamaya Girls’ College Kandy and later attended Southland College, Galle where she learned and nourished. She was involved with Girl Guiding, Home Science cooking, sewing, arts and craft, and drama and many other extracurricular activities. She grew with her special artistic ways as a beautiful lady. She had two siblings, me and my younger brother, Varuna who lives in the UK. As siblings, we share many memories in school, home and with friends.Though I am younger to her, we moved with each other’s friends and their families and I still can remember even the teachers at school sometimes misunderstood us as twins.
I can still remember how we played with our “Paper Dolls”. When creating dolls’ costumes, Akka was the leader and used her creative and artistic talents to create fabulous designs. I, who had no such talents, always appreciated the way she attended to all these fantastic creations. She had an inborn talent for art, especially for drawing figures and sceneries. She loved animals and children. I can still remember when we were living in Galle, how she treated newborn birds who lost their nests or parent birds. She had many pets during her childhood. I can remember the bird Myna, who freely moved through the house and the squirrel and parrot whom she used to keep in cages and fed daily.
She chose her life partner David Howie and got married in 1979 and was blessed with two children, Shahani and Shane. She always spoke highly about her daughter Sahanis’s educational and professional achievements and later, she was so fond and loved Sahani’s only child, her grandchild Evangeline. She loved Shane as her only good looking, handsome son. She always said Shane has her features. They migrated to the USA in 1989 and built their family nest in New York, Staten Island.
Although we lived apart in different countries, we were so close in our hearts. Every Sunday evening we used to have skype chats. My brother Varuna and mother who lives in the UK also joined and we used to have family chats. Modern technology helped us to be close.We enjoyed the cute behaviour of baby Evangeline over skype. Beyond that, Akka and I always used to have separate discussions for hours and hours, girl talk about fashion, friends, films and family. We even discussed Dhamma. Akka used to go to the temple in New York and listen to “Suthra Deshana” and when she wanted to simplify things, she used to come up with her notes on skype and talk to my husband Sena who has much knowledge about Dhamma.
Akka worked at Shiel Medical Laboratory as a Lab Technician and she was to start a new position with Quest Diagnostics in December soon after she finished her two weeks’ holiday in Sri Lanka. She was a responsible worker who always finished her work for the day before leaving the lab. This made her stay longer hours at work and sometimes she used to say that she even skipped her lunch when the workload needed to be clear on time.
She had many talents. She was an excellent driver. She used to drive anywhere in any country and her friends know how capable she was when driving. She enjoyed making cakes, cake structures, talented with flower arrangements, dress designing and cooking.
Her talent for nail art was excellent and admirable. Every Sunday, she came up with new patterns of nail art and proudly showed them to me. She herself can neatly apply these patterns to both her hands.
She was a healthy person and a livewire to the family. If this tragic death had not happened, she could have lived for many years, probably more than 85 easily.
I hope that she will not have such a death in Sansara and we offer all blessings and merits in her name for her to have a good life in her rebirth and make possible for her to reach the esteemed path to Nirvana.
Pushpamala Perera
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