.

A Meditation for Lent

Rev. Shelton A. de Silva
(Methodist Church)

Ash Wednesday was on March 8th. As we go forth into Lent it is good for us that we realise that the Lord who experienced all the pain and disappointment of the Passion and Crucifixion was a man like ourselves "being tempted in all things like as we are, yet without sin". But we must not forget that the Lord who experienced these things was a transfigured Lord, who had a vision that all he was going to experience was a fulfilling of the Law and the prophets. In all that he was going to experience, God the Holy Spirit would be with him and guide him. This perhaps was what led him to participate in the happening that took place on Palm Sunday, and in the symbolic act of cleansing of the Temple on the day that followed.

There is in the Vatican a steel engraving of the great picture of the Transfiguration by Raphael. At the top of the picture is Jesus in glory lifted from the earth. Moses and Elijah are beside him and the three disciples Peter, James and John prostrate and adoring. In the foreground is an epileptic boy, naked and distraught, with his twisted limbs and rolling eyes and slobbering lips. He is surrounded by the parents pleading, the apostles helpless and the scribes mocking. For the benefit of those unfamiliar with the story, let us recall it. Mathew 17: 1-16 "And after six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain. And he was transfigured before them and his face shone like the sun and his garments became white as light, and behold there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking to him....And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to Him and kneeling before Him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son for he is an epileptic and suffers terribly for often he falls into the fire and often into the water: "The father said unto Jesus, "If you can do anything, have pity upon us and please help us". We often forget the words in the Bible "As they came down the mountain Jesus ordered them "Don’t tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man be raised from death".

We do not know whether Raphael when he painted that picture realised how terrible a criticism it was upon the Church of his own day, and how searching and ironical a comment it is upon the life of the Church of our own day. Here we are in Sri Lanka in Lent preparing for the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord, and our country is in a very sad mess. I do not think that we need condemn only the Christian Church for its inability to heal the nation. All the religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity have been divided right down the centre by the ethnic conflict and have been pathetically helpless. They have not only been divided racially, but within each religious group there have been those who opt for a military solution and those who say that ultimately it has to be a political solution. Meanwhile the political parties are busy pointing out that the culprits are each other, and have often sold their moral principles for filthy lucre. It is often forgotten that the people in the South who were previously the victims of terror have suffered and are suffering and nobody seems able to help them.

Hero worship

The other day when I was hunting for material on the tribulation of our people, I rang up a friend who was involved in the work of helping our people and was told. "Please do not mention names: This promotes hero worship and makes people forget that the real heroes are the common people. I came across just two Bulletins of the University Teachers for the Human Rights (UTHR) Jaffna.

The authors have dared to write about these things. The first writer of these articles was shot, and the present author has to keep his address secret and move from place to place as he too is on the terrorist hit list. I must admit that I was shocked to read how the principals of schools in the Wanni are told that they must close their schools for three days, and how during these days school girls and boys and their mothers (the groups most prone to exploitation) are subject to a group of propagandists who try to persuade them that if 400 LTTE soldiers died within the last month, then the girls, boys and women must offer to replace them. If they did not do so, it, would prove that they were indifferent to Eelam. If they did not do so, it proved that they did not care for the lot of their people and even indicated that they were on the side of the Sri Lankan Government. The bravery of these young people who are daily under pressure cannot be exaggerated. Imagine a girl or boy of 16 or 17 having to make decisions that will affect not only their future and their lives, but the lives and deaths of their whole families. The torment of their mothers who have lost their husbands and sons in what some of them regard as a meaningless struggle is easy to understand. Only those engaged in trauma counselling can tell us the whole story!

Moral value

There are some who say that there is no problem in the North and East, that the people in the South have not had to face. This seems to be an exaggeration. The terrorists were as ruthless as the LTTE and the unemployment in the South drove many to seek employment in the Middle East with all its attendant problems resulting in the break up of homes. Drug trafficking is fairly common and the child abuse of those who send their young boys to paedophiles for the sake of money is a continuing problem. What this does to the moral values of society is hard to estimate. These are problems the people in the South are facing and all the lotteries and cricket matches cannot distract them from the exploitation of the poor by the rich. There is a sense in which a whole nation has gone epileptic with twisted limbs and slobbering tongues and one of the world’s highest suicide rates. The religious community of our day is as helpless as was the religious community of our Lord’s day. It is true that the Norwegians are trying to mediate between the two ethnic communities and we pray that their efforts may be crowned with success. But we must not forget that this is by no means the first effort at mediation by outside powers and those of us in Sri Lanka welcome such moves because we do not want to appear die-hard reactionaries or because it gives us time to rearm!

What then do we do about all this? In the story of the Transfiguration, Peter suggested that they build three booths on the high mountain and spend their days in detached meditation with Jesus and Moses and Elijah. Jesus told them that the whole point of the spiritual vision given them was that they should go and use it on the hot and dusty city. But when they came to the city and were challenged by the father of the epileptic boy to heal him, they could do no such thing. Jesus rebukes them for their lack of prayer and faith. "If only you believe that God can work this kind of miracle you will say to this mountain be removed elsewhere and it will be removed".

What Jesus was saying was not that they should attempt to change the geography of Palestine but that they should attempt to heal its problems in faith and God will work the miracle. In Sri Lanka today there is a sense of helplessness. At times we feel that the politicians are near a solution and all we must do is to be a little patient. Something will happen sooner or later. Our experience is that nothing really changes and the common people are harassed. While we fiddle, Rome burns. The alternative is to join those who are working in these areas and try to do something. This is dangerous because we may not have a great deal to show after a great deal of effort. The suffering masses are in pain and in their pain they could be fickle and shout ‘`Blessed is He who comes" on Palm Sunday and "Crucify him" on Maundy Thursday night. And when they do so, we may feel that we have been abandoned both, by God and man. But as the hymn puts it (MHB 589)

Go labour on; spend and be spent
Thy joy to do the Father’s will
It is the way the Master went;
Should not the servant tread it still?

This is inspiring as long as you remember that the Master was crucified and following Him may lead to the same kind of end. Perhaps this is what Jesus meant by saying that if you want to be my disciple you must take up your cross and follow me!

International Women’s Day
Sri Lankan mother a role model

International Women’s Day was on 8th March. On this day there is much talk, whether orally or in print, both paper and electronic, about discrimination, women’s rights, demand for equality, and now equal opportunity. That’s all very well. Let those who have loud voices and/or clout shout out and gain more for women. In my very humble opinion we Sri Lankan women are fortunate in this respect, we have and continue to enjoy non-discrimination. If women are not up front, if they occupy second place, it very often is due to themselves - their preference to take the back seat. It is really much easier to have others make policy and take decisions. (Do I hear hisses and curses and brickbats flung at me for saying this? To many feminists and fighters for women’s rights a sacrilegious cowardly statement).

My thoughts at this time, in the midst of all the talk on International Women’s Day and rights of women, is to be grateful for all that women have done for our families and nation. I definitely do not here refer to politicians. I refer to the ordinary woman in the village and city, the pivot of the family, the self sacrificing mother, wife, daughter, daughter-in-law. We may not get the kudos deserved, nor the recognition, but we definitely are the backbone of the family and nation.

The server and concerned parent is still very much evident but times have changed and often we of the present times, and more so the younger women, subscribe to the need to fulfill themselves and attempt giving equal time to career and family, or wholly to career and having a good time. They believe their needs and rights are paramount.

Women of a Generation and Two Ago

Women of a generation ago and beyond, were different. Their entire life was centred around the family. True, they may have passed on from the protection of the father to the service of the husband and then to be bossed over by the son. But they were prepared for it, and in the majority of cases, the father was an excellent, caring parent; the husband honoured and cherished the wife and saw to her well being; the son took over the burden of the family and gave a home and position of respect to the mother. The treatment received was reciprocal to the attitude and behaviour of the women.

The woman was happy so long as the family flourished; the husband was the responsible breadwinner and not given to vices; the children obedient and hardworking. If you think that is unrealistic and boring just cast your mind back to your parents and grandparents. How many broken families were then evident; how many divorces; how many cases of incest, marital rape et al? Hardly ever heard of.

Our grandfathers and fathers were gentlemen. They worked hard and their greatest joy was the success of their children. I was lucky - such were my grandfather and father. When I was of discerning age, I noticed my grandfather and dimunitive but determined, miriskarala grandmother had come to the stage when they did not communicate directly but through an intermediary. How they produced a large family is a wonder! But they lived in harmony since Grandfather knew his duties and Grandmother her’s. He was the head of the family and the Korale; she the boss of the house, the kitchen specially, and the several servants and droppers-in who arrived to pound the paddy, weed the garden, or just have the mid-day meal.

Virtual Heads

Mother was definitely the boss in our home but gave the impression my father was head. He, gentle person, did not mind her taking the reins - it made for peace and perchance, he knew, greater discipline. His pay packet he gave to her and she doled the money out. He didn’t need spending money except for his cigars and charity dispensed generously, much to Mother’s consternation. Here too she gave in. She had just enough for family expenses for the rest of the month, but she acceded to his request when he wanted to give some person some monetary help. He was the earner of the money and she felt she had to give into him. This was done with no rancour but a sense of what was right and proper.

The women of the next generation, my elder sisters for example, had their husbands giving them their entire earnings. And the women budgeted carefully and saw that the rupees given went far. In my case I gave my salary to my husband. He was the keeper of the purse. Why I ask myself ? Love and obedience, soon to turn to revolt and a demand for a privy purse for myself - pocket money, I called it, to buy my little luxuries and the presents I loved giving.

In my time we working women fell into four categories as regards salaries. A very few were like me - the money given to the husband. The second were like my mother - receiver of the husband’s earnings. The third lot had a common pool, maybe a current account or drawer into which both dipped freely whether it was for input or out-take, and the wise fourth category had the wife’s total salary banked immediately, not to be touched but to earn interest for house building or the children’s education.

I hear young ones now keep their salaries entirely separate. The young working wife says it is the husband’s duty to spend on the house and children and her money is her own. That’s equality and women’s liberation for you!

Were Grandmother, Mother and women of yesteryear unhappy? Not on your life! Grandmother seemed happy enough. Mother and my sisters had very stable families and they never felt unfulfilled or relegated to second place or whatever. On the contrary they allowed their men in the driving seat but he drove on their side-seat instructions. And, here’s the crunch: the children all grew up to be fine persons and family life was happy - no two words about that. Hence my inborn scepticism about equality in the family between spouses.

In most families in Sri Lanka, the man of the family appears to be the boss but it is the wife who is the policy maker and decision taker. It may look as if he makes and takes, but it is the wife’s cleverness that puts him in this fool’s paradise. Consequently the home is paradisiacal - no quarrels and prosperity and discipline assured.

Of course there are belligerent men who want to be boss, want to appear to be boss, and want it acknowledged and mentioned that he is boss. Here too it is the woman who is the stronger and to whom is owed most by the children. In such cases the woman suffers but the children doing well in their studies, and later, in professional and marital life is reward enough for her.

There really is no limit to the admiration we should extend to the Sri Lankan mother. Many a mother rises at the crack of dawn, cooks lunch and prepares breakfast, sees her family is fed and departs to office and school. She may have to escort her younger children to school. She has then to fetch them back in the heat of the noon. She supervises their lunch, rest, school homework and then it is preparation of dinner and washing up. Many bear the added devastating burden of having the husband coming home drunk or sitting in his armchair with the newspaper in one hand and the other free to raise his glass of arrack to his addicted lips. Quarrels are frequent, often murderous, but early the next morning the woman is back in the kitchen preparing for another day of toil and strife.

Apple Pie Women

I read somewhere that a good mother is a lot like apple pie: "reassuringly firm on the outside, but soft, sweet, warm and bland within. A good mother gets pleasure from being sliced, diced and eaten alive." BUT "The good mother who gives unstintingly and infinitely is the woman that never evolved, nor could have."

We know otherwise!

These others - students of sociology and primatology - mention other mothers such as those who commit infanticide or are so career conscious the child is relegated to daycare centres and night-time no care. While most primate mothers can rear their infants on their own, human ones cannot. They need help, and throughout history they have got it however and from whomever they can. Hence our Ammes and Ayahs and devotedly sacrificial Punchi Ammas.

The bond between infant and mother, according to these scientists, is not fixed, nor is it clean and sweet and a given. Rather is it "a barter, a supple, ever changing push-me, pull-you negotiation between two individuals who need each other and are closely related, but are not clones and so do not always see eye to eye. "

True.

There are Sri Lankan mothers who could turn out to be Mommy Darlings, being positively cruel to daughters and demanding too much from sons. Some mothers prefer their sons to remain unmarried. I heard a horror story this weekend. The trauma of a schoolgirl in a Calombo Maha Vidyalaya who had to make herself available to the overflow of her mother’s clientele, the mother practising the oldest profession and demanding the daughter’s compliance. Can you imagine such a situation here in SL?

Endangered Species: cast- aside kids

Talking of daycare and packing children off to creches, a primatologist, Sarah Blaffer Hardy, says: "We’re worrying about global warming, the destruction of the rain forest, the ozone layer. Nobody is worrying about the future of Homo Sapiens in terms of daycare issues. And I’m saying we really should. If we care about the future of the human race, and the future of the planet, this is the place to start."

And I say use the typical Sri Lankan mother as a role model. Create/train/breed more of her kind and save the world. - Nan

Tales of a life time
The Lady, the Admiral and the Serjeant Major

by Gerald Cooray
My widowed grandmother loved to entertain. She had frequent dinner parties, at which distinguished guests were present. Among these was Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton, Commander in Chief of Ceylon in the war years. Sir Geoffrey liked my grandmother’s company. He was impressed by her wit and charm. One day in the late afternoon he paid her an informal visit. My grandmother, whose first name was Grace, greeted him by saying "Sir Geoffrey, you have graced me with a visit".

She took him into the drawing room and asked me to pour out a glass of port for Sir Geoffrey. While seated and holding the wine glass in his hand and before drinking, Sir Geoffrey paused, leaned over and asked "And how are you, Lady Peiris?"

Now Lady Peiris at that moment had a grudge. She thought this was an opportunity to come out with it. The trouble emanated from next door, where some RAF men were in occupation. There was much singing going on. The words of the songs were such that would not be considered as respectable in polite society.

Actually if truth be told, my grandmother really enjoyed the songs, as I certainly did. But what shocked her was that the songs were usually accompanied by tunes which found their origin in the English hymn book. This was an affront to her strong Anglicanism and just could not be tolerated.

So when Sir Geoffrey made his polite inquiry about the state of her health, she gave vent to her frustration. "I feel terrible, Sir Geoffrey, it’s those men next door". And she went on to describe her grave misgivings. Sir Geoffrey was furious. Without drinking his wine, he firmly put his wine glass on the table, got up and turning to me, said: "Take me next door".

I hesitated. As he was very angry, I thought it best to avoid a direct confrontation. I therefore suggested that we speak over the boundary wall that separated the two houses.

Grudgingly he consented, so we walked across the tennis court to the wall. Seeing an airman walking into the house, he shouted to him "Tell the Serjeant Major, that the C in C wants to see him immediately".

The Airman rushed up the stairs to the Serjeant Major who was having a shower at the time. We heard him tell the Serjeant Major "The C in C wants to see you". One can’t blame the Serjeant Major for his reply. How was he to believe that the C in C would come to see him, of all people? So he shouted "Oh, Yeah? Tell him to go to Hell".

All this was audible to us standing by the wall. I will not attempt to describe the feelings or the demeanour of the C in C, when he heard these words. Ultimately, the airman convinced the Serjeant Major that this was no joke. The C in C was actually waiting for him. He emerged, barebodied, with a towel wrapped round his waist. All hell broke loose. The dialogue that followed is unprintable.

The C in C returned, sat down, drank his wine and was his usual genial self. Before leaving he said "Lady Peiris, you can be sure there’ll be no more singing". The immediate effect of this verbal assault was terrible, although there was a happy ending. From the moment the C in C dropped his bombshell, not a sound, nor a murmur emanated from next door. This atmosphere of complete and deafening silence continued for three whole days.

Now, to be fair to my grandmother, I must say that although she enjoyed mixing and mingling in distinguished company, she had a kind heart and felt equally comfortable and happy with everyone. So now she realised that she had been hasty and felt that somehow she must make amends. But how? her son, Devar Surya Sena solved the problem. He was a concert singer with an international reputation and was an exponent of both Western and Eastern music. His wife, Nelun Devi, a gifted pianist, was his accompanist.

He suggested that my grandmother invite the whole RAF contingent next door to an evening concert by her son, given in their honour, to be followed by food and drinks. My grandmother considered this an excellent idea. A printed invitation was sent to the Serjeant Major, who promptly replied, accepting on behalf of his men.

The musical evening was a great success. The applause was warm and genuine and revealed the men had good taste and that their interests were not solely confined to altering the words of English hymns!

There were some striking personalities among them. One was Howard Jones, an Oxford graduate who was a teacher with high ideals. In his opinion, a teacher’s period of training should be seven years. He said that if he survives the war, he would not revert to teaching. The reason was not because he was tired of teaching, but because he felt he could not live up to the high ideals he upheld for the profession.

Derek Pelham had developed a great interest in the theatre and made it the subject of an exhaustive study.

Howard and Derek were invited to address the *Lesser Lights Society on separate occasions. Both talks were well attended, much appreciated and followed by long discussions.

Most of the others were professional men and their conversation showed they had variety of interests.

Before they left, the Serjeant Major gave a vote of thanks! After thanking my grandmother, my uncle and aunt, he said "We must also thank the C in C who made it possible for us to enjoy this feast of good music, food and wine and warm hospitality".

Note:

* Lesser Lights — a Literary Society of young students that met monthly in the houses of its members’ parents.

Sundaralingam honoured by U.S. Government

by Kirthi Abeyesekera
A former, top Sri Lankan police sleuth, now Interpol’s leading ‘drug expert,‘ has called for a closing of international ranks to fight the escalating global drug scourge.

R. Sundaralingam, in an illuminating insight to a darker side of human activity that includes the twin-menace of money laundering with direct links to organized crime, sounds a wake-up call to governments around the world. They should realize, says Sundaralingam, that investment in drug control and international co-operation, is a good investment, given the cost in human terms. Now in his 13th year with the World Police organization, Sundaralingam was recently named ‘Expert Drug Consultant’ by Interpol’s secretary-general.

Sundaralingam’s expose of ‘The Drug Scene in Europe,‘ is highlighted in the latest issue of ‘Cross Border Control International’ (CBC), a bi-monthly magazine for the transnational security community, published in the United Kingdom. In selecting Sundaralingam’s intensive report CBC editor, Bernadette Faurie, pays him this tribute: "Earlier this year (1999), at the Heads of European Drugs Services meeting in Edinburg, Interpol’s Expert Drug Consultant, Ramachandra Sundaralingam, delivered one of his famed presentations on the Drug Scene in Europe. Offered the opportunity to publish his report in CBC and bring it to a wider audience, it was one too good to miss. In talking to readers around the world about the ‘kind of information you value in CBC,’ drugs-related topics come high on the list, and it would be difficult to find a more ‘solid-gold’ source than Mr. Sundaralingam."

In recognition of his services in the field of drug law-enforcement, he was awarded a Senior Executive Observation study programme in the United States, by the U.S. government. Sundaralingam’s expertize in drug-related issues is manifested in the in-depth study he presents in the CBC article. Introducing the Sundaralingam story, the magazine editors say there is overwhelming evidence of an escalation in the production, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs on a global scale, despite concerted international law enforcement and control measures. This has serious implications for the international community and Europe, in particular. "R. Sundaralingam examines the current state and future trends in a comprehensive report."

Unprecedented changes

Sundaralingam says there have been unprecedented changes on the European scene, particularly in Central, Eastern European and CIS countries, the fall out from which has exceeded all expectations. He observes that "the uncertainties resulting from political, socio-economic and nationalistic trends, have created a region marked by turmoil, economic disorder and political upheaval - conditions conducive to an upsurge in criminality." Drug-traffickers have become more innovative and ingenious, as traditional methods prove ineffective.

The Sundaralin-gam-study shows that significantly, drug-trafficking and money laundering have shown marked upturns in Europe. He attributes this to the "erasure of national boundaries and scaling down of border-checks which have given impetus to drug trafficking organizations. In addition, with the emergence of electronic mail transfer and instant banking procedures, the money launderers have become beneficiaries of the changing international business environment."

The study shows that heroin remains the drug of choice among hard core addicts. With the flood of Latin American cocaine in Europe, its use has taken Europe’s elite and middle class by storm. However, cannabis products remain overall, the drug of choice throughout much of Europe, as evidenced by the multi-ton shipments brought into the region. Yet another product of substance abuse is the range of synthetic drugs "which have become the hallmark of the new youth culture." The three main substances are amphetamines, ecstasy and LSD. Netherlands-produced ecstasy has also emerged in the Far East, including Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.

Sundaralingam provides 1998 statistics of the top ten cocaine seizures at the European airports of Amsterdam, Madrid, London, Rome, Frankfurt, Lisbon, Barcelona, Brussels, Paris and Zurich. The whopping 6,210 kg. Seized are just a drop in the ocean of undetected cocaine. Other seizures were in Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Panama and several Caribbean islands. Among new production areas of Amphetamines are Estonia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic and Hungary. They join the traditional production areas of Poland, the UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain and Germany.

Day-to-day action

The study says that international co-operation beyond and across national and continental borders, must not just be rhetoric, but should manifest itself in day-to-day action. Sundaralingam lists the following areas needed to focus on: agreement and harmonisation of legislative and other counter-measures; training of personnel involved in law enforcement and criminal justice with inter-country exchange of such personnel; the timely sharing of critical information among concerned agencies; joint operations through task forces; periodic evaluation of achievements and constraints, and developing new strategies and counter-measures; identification and nomination of co-ordinating national authorities; adoption and improvement of the implementation of current agreements and treaties between countries.

Top priority

Sundaralingam urges governments to give top priority to these issues which need urgent handling. "Otherwise," he says, "they will remain the lost opportunities of international drug control in the 21st century." In this context, he says that "Interpol, with its modern electronic, global information and communications capacities can provide countries with timely information for surveillance and assist in building national and regional data bases." It is essential in today’s world, he adds, and crucial in tomorrow‘s millennium that Interpol, with its technical competence and unique data base, should serve as an international focal point for global action against international criminality.

Sundaralingam is introduced to CBC readers as "an Expert Drug Consultant" at Interpol in Lyon (France), having originated from Sri Lanka where he graduated in Economics from the University of Ceylon and joined the Ceylon Police in 1956, where he served in several capacities until he retired as deputy inspector-general. He headed Sri Lanka’s Narcotics Enforcement Agency. As Interpol’s Drug Expert, he has made presentations on various a aspects of the illicit drug trade at numerous international and regional conferences. He has briefed senior government officials, ministers and senior law enforcement officers from Interpol member countries, and has published several drug-related reports.

Sundaralingam summarizes his well-documented study by listing some ‘Challenges and opportunities’ - the most important of which is to "secure commitment from government agencies in providing policy support and resources for the implementation of programmes.

He concludes by observing that "the close working relationships now established between Interpol, the World Customs organization and the UNDCP (United Nations Drug Control Programme) in different areas of drug control activities, show strengthened regional and national enforcement efforts".

He says that consequent to the dismantling of cross-border controls on many European frontiers, there is a need to strengthen cross-border co-operation over control and surveillance. He believes such action would be "mutually rewarding."

"The scope of criminal activities is frightening," Sundaralingam observes. "Interpol, through its international network of law enforcement agencies in 178 countries, leads the world in its fight against Cyber crime, corruption, money laundering, drug trafficking, international fraud, terrorism and crimes against women and children."

Second death anniversary of Gunadasa Liyanage

by Prematilaka Mapitigama
It is two years today since the demise of the prominent writer and media man Gunadasa Liyanage. Several religious ceremonies are being held at his Mirihana residence ‘Liyanage’ and a full day commemoration programme is planned for Thursday the 16th of March, 2000 at the J. R. Jayewardene Centre, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 07.

I cannot recollect specifically when and where I met Gunadasa Liyanage for the first time. After meeting him we became more and more closer to each other because of a monthly magazine titled "Dina Dina" which was in existence since Nineteen Fifties.

I had to leave my home in early in nineteen fifties to do my high studies in Colombo. Whenever I was free I was in the habit of visiting the "Dina Dina" office which was housed in a tin roofed shack just behind the Nadaraja Press in Colpetty.

Although Anandatissa de Alwis was the Editor in Chief, all the work of the magazine was done by the Assistant Editor, G. W. Surendra. Surendra learnt his ABC of journalism under the guidance of Anandatissa de Alwis, the maestro in journalism. I used to contribute to "Dina Dina" and also to help Surendra whenever he needed my assistance. There were several young writers who contribute to "Dina Dina" during this period. Divalakada Gunadasa was one, later he became Gunadasa Liyanage and still later just ‘Guli’. K. G. Nandadasa was another who contributed regularly to "Dina Dina". He was no other, but Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda. Sunanda Mahendra was yet another who is also a professor now. Lalith S. Maitripala, who was felicitated recently, wrote to "Dina Dina" under the name of Lalith Suvinetha Maitri.

When I came to know Liyanage he had not met G.W. One day on my way to "Dina Dina" I met Liyanage. He joined me to visit "Dina Dina" to see Surendra. Afterwards we three became very close to one another and met at "Dina Dina" office very often.

Guli was a clever writer; he had a style of his own. He built a wide readership. He was a popular journalist and a well-known newspaper man with a good sense for news. He started as a provincial correspondent and in a very short period was promoted to the position of a staff reporter.

D. B. Dhanapala was Gunadasa’s guru in journalism. Guli worked in Lankadipa, then in Dinamina, back again in Lankadipa. Thereafter in Davasa and its Sunday paper Riviresa.

Guli did broadcasting too, before he took to journalism. Later he joined the River Valleys Development Board to edit "Gal Oya News". While in Radio Ceylon he wrote "Done Kamalawathie", a fiction based on Radio Ceylon. The book was discussed several times at the Parliament. However, it was released and was later translated to English. In a short period Dona Kamalawathie went into its 6th edition.

"Delgahayata Gedara Viplawaya" was a biographical sketch of Dr. Ariyaratne, the Sarvodaya chief. This book was translated into Japanese. "Thevani Silpadaya Nokadami", another popular novel of Guli was translated into Chinese. Once Anura Bandaranaike picked Guli to make him the Chief Editor of the Lankadipa Group. The environment under which he had to work was always not quite agreeable. He deserted his post overnight and went home. Thereafter, he published his own magazines, newspapers and wrote his own books. He was well known for writing biographies. He started from the then Queen’s House and wrote on William Gopallawa, the first Sinhala Buddhist Governor General. Then he wrote on Bradman Weerakoon who was the Secretary to five Prime Ministers. He edited "Kalpana" on a request from the former Finance Minister, Ronnie De Mel. He translated the collection of speeches made by the former President J. R. Jayewardene and finally the biography of Ven. Walpola Rahula.

Guli was never attached to any political party nor a particular school of thought. Whenever he got an opportunity he exposed corruption and attacked the weakness in society. Felicitations were held very high by the society during the time. Felicitation ceremonies were held all over. Guli organized a ceremony in Horana town to felicitate a porter in the Horana bus stand. With this, felicitation ceremonies that were held in abundance, came to an end.

Guli’s son Indrajith and daughter Chethana are covering the loss of Guli in the field of journalism and telecasting. Wajirapani, Guli’s other son has also taken to journalism. I must say that his style of writing is very close to Guli’s style, Dr. Upeksha, eldest in the family married to Dr. Sampath, is looking after the health of everyone. Chandralatha, Guli’s beloved wife is behind them and is taking care of the welfare and the progress of the family.

Guli foresaw the last days of his life and gave written instructions as to how his last rites should be performed. These were done strictly according to his wishes except the cremation which he wished to be done within 24 hours. They probably could not adhere to this particular instruction as the organizers did not want to be unkind to the large crowds who rushed to "Liyanageya" in Mirihana to pay their last respects to their friend.

| NEWS | POLITICS | EDITORIAL | DEFENCE | LEISURE | BUSINESS| SPORTS | ADS |