Asoka Raddalgoda
An epitome of sincerity
Born as the eldest son to illustrious parents P.L.N. Raddalgoda, JPUM, of Hiniduma, popularly known as ‘nadukara hamuduruwo’ and Lillian Margaret Abeynayake on December 13, 1933, at Unawatuna, Galle, Asoka passed away on December 26, 2007.
Having studied at S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia and during the war years at Richmond College, Galle, he was popular among his villagers.
At the end of his studies he had opted to become a planter following in his father’s footsteps, and joined Non-Pareil Estate in Belihul Oya under the supervision of the well-known Englishman planter, Superintendent, Boyd Moss.
After several years of planting, he returned to his village as his dear father had fallen ill with a bad bout of rheumatoid arthritis. Asoka, thereafter offered all possible support to his mother, until his father was back on his feet.
Also, he looked after his grandfather who lived up to almost 97 years, who had been doting on this first grandson of his. Asoka, a few months prior to his passing away, offered a roadside portion of his land where a ‘budu medura’ was built in memory of his dear grandfather, Andreas Dias Raddalgoda Maha Ralahamy of Hiniduma.
He was his mother’s apple of the eye for all the sacrifices he made to take care of his parents and the grandfather. Also maintaining the family properties had fallen on him, as his two younger siblings, Sriya Ratnayake and Senaka were stationed away from home.
The then M.P. for Hiniduma, Henry Dissanayake was his pal and with his assistance, he was able to serve his villagers in numerous ways. Hector Kobbekaduwa, the then Minister of Agriculture, with a team of officials was once invited by Asoka to the family home and the villagers afforded an opportunity to air their grievances direct to the Minister. The distribution of land to the landless also took place that day. The suspension bridge that stood across the Gin Ganga near the family home had been swept away by the floods, however the Minister and his team were able to cross the river via a ‘pontoon bridge’ promptly put together by the villagers, lining up several boats/rafts across the river.
Asoka, served as a Visiting Agent in the Southern Province. In 1973, when the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority was launched under the chairmanship of Umagiliya, he was one of the first to represent the Tea Small Holders on its board. His services were always honourable and selfless.
Our marriage took place on May 15 1972 – a proposal. At the time, I had heard of Hiniduma only as a very remote village in the Island. My only attraction was that he was a Thomian and had been brought up in Colombo, with his father being an old Aloysian.
I, at the time was a resident teacher at Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, my alma mater. My student hostellers, quite a few being planters’ children, and knew about Hiniduma, were quite shocked and discouraged me from going to Hiniduma.
“There will be pandals and garlands for you but you will not find students like us and life will be boring for you!”, they said. Nevertheless, I plucked up the courage and went ahead with the grand engagement, wedding, and home coming.
Asoka took good care of me. After the wedding, he first took me to his favourite hill station, Non Pareil Estate in Belihul Oya.
It had 18 hair pin bends along its 16 km approach road, and was most enjoyable. After ten days in the hill country, I experienced the ordeal at Hiniduma as fore-warned by my students : there were pandals and garlanding at every junction and finally a guard of honour! I was stunned to hear Asoka’s speech in flawless Sinhala though he had been educated at S. Thomas’.
His parents as well as relatives greeted us warmly and his mother informed me that it was the first of its kind in forty years. Thereafter, Asoka and his parents gave me the best of attention to make me happy and comfortable.
I did not make a difference in my teaching to the village children, and they were simply bewildered by the attention I paid to them. Every single day they would come with a bouquet of wild orchids to show their gratitude and Asoka’s parents were quite pleased with my ways.
After some time, Asoka brought me back to town as I was to have my first baby. First, we were in Galle, and thereafter in Bambalapitiya, when I resumed teaching at Visakha Vidyalaya.
In spite of our moving, Asoka never failed to look after his parents, ensuring that all their medical needs were met till the very end.
Asoka was an adorable father to our two children Kalhara and Lokeshwari. I can’t remember him ever punishing them for any mischief. Hence, I had to be the disciplinarian and became the unpopular parent.
Nevertheless, they turned out to be wonderful children. Asoka was quite proud about them. Also he was a good and caring son-in-law to my mother, who enjoyed her stay with us very much, wherever we were.
Asoka was close to the monks in the area wherever we resided, organizing Katina Pinkamas. He never failed to offer alms at very short notice to any monks from the South visiting Colombo. Rev. Neluwe Gunanada and Rev. Akuretiye Amarawansa were frequent visitors. With my influence, Asoka also began to observe sil regularly at ACBC for several years.
Asoka was a man who had no craving for money or possessions and was always prepared to help the needy. Once, when we came in for a bit of a windfall by the sale of a property at Unawatuna, his first donation was to the Vallay Devale there. He was a tax payer who sought the advice of the Commissioner of IR himself to pay his taxes and his honesty was much appreciated.
Finally, when we came to reside at Mahamegha Gardens at Maharagama, he became a loyal dayaka of the Mahamegharama temple under the Most Ven. Ankumbure Sugunapala Thero and later, Ankumbure Amarawansa Thero. He was a popular resident of the area, always available to help those in need.
He went through a spell of ill health in the late 1990s, when he was hospitalized at the Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital, but recovered miraculously due to the medical attention rendered by Dr. (Mrs) Neomali Amarasena, the late Dr. (Mrs.) Niluka Karunaratne and their team of doctors.
He was able to live for almost ten more years, when he also saw to the marriage of his dear son Kalhara to Piyumal and had the pleasure of seeing his first grandchild, bony little Bimaya.
His pilgrimage to Buddhagaya during this period brought him great solace.
With all the merit accrued by him simply by the way he lived his life, may he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.
Rukmani Raddalgoda
(nee Seneviratne)
Prof Chandra L. Jayasuriya
The heart and soul of our family
“The ones that love us never really leave us. They can always be found in our hearts”
A fact of life we often tend to forget when growing up, is that people we love are also growing older.
The sad reality of this dawned on me on May 2, 2018, when at the age of 79, my grandmother - Prof Chandra Jayasuriya passed away. My grandmother was a constant presence in my life from my formative years, and try as I may, this is but a vain attempt to do justice in a few words for what she meant to me.
A product of Southland’s College, Galle and Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, Aachchi was both hardworking and smart, an ideal recipe for success. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Peradeniya and went on to do her Postgraduate Studies in Statistics at the University of South Carolina, USA.
After returning to the island, she initially lectured at the University of Peradeniya, before moving to the Faculty of Education, University of Colombo.
She lectured there for over 30 years, rising to the level of a Professor and later being appointed the Dean of the Faculty. She was a knowledgeable teacher and an inspiration to her students.
Aachchi had a keenness for acquiring knowledge, a quality she inculcated in her two daughters whom she brought up to be educated women. Apart from her career, Aachchi’s interests were varied. She was a voracious reader, even going on to pen a few books of her own.
She also loved to sew, and I have many fond memories of her painstakingly adjusting my clothes so they would fit the way I wanted. Being the versatile person she was, she also prepared delicious meals for us on a regular basis.
Aachchi, as the eldest in a large family was the respected matriarch, a role she thrived in, offering words of advice or support in any way she could, when needed. She was a compassionate person, and her magnanimity often extended to the less-fortunate. The door of Aachchi’s home was literally open to her many friends and relations to walk in and have a quiet chat while enjoying her hospitality. She was forthright in what she said and did, yet never caused offence. She was a doting grandmother to both me and my cousin brother, forever looking out for us, understanding, supportive of our dreams and encouraging us to work hard. She would not only celebrate our achievements but also spur us on when we fell short.
Her immense love for me was evident, in what she did for me. Be it buying me gifts for no apparent reason, never forgetting to send me a birthday card or once keeping vigil by my hospital bed when I was sick.
She was in many ways, the heart and soul of our family, and we’re all a great deal poorer without her.
I feel blessed to have had so many opportunities to talk to Aachchi in the last few months, but there are still things I wish I’d had the chance to say.
She was one of my biggest role models and I hope that I grow up to be a woman half as successful and kind as she was.
We love you Aachchi. You will forever be missed.
Marlene de Silva
A.E. Yogeswaran
Helped those in sorrow
Your demise last March makes me feel sad
And led me to pen a few words on your qualities good
Kind and humorous talk with a smiling face
And a heart to help those in sorrow to find solace.
That’s in the latter part of the Seventies, we
First met at Pettah, by God’s grace, it be
You noticed my woe then and assisted me willingly
That’s the greatness in you, seen obviously.
Hailed from Thunnalai to a respectable Hindu family
Received your education at K/Vigneswara College successfully
Joined the Inland Revenue Department as a clerk
Reached the position of Tax Assessor by hard work,
Lived on earth for three score and eleven
Loved by many and their hearts you win
Faith in ‘Vallipura Aalvar’ and a great devotee
May your soul attain ‘Shanthi’
K.K. Arumainayagam.