Download - A Reverie
A Reverie
by
Leeda Wijewardena
I
Foreword
My sisters and I grew up with achchi. She was first and foremost achchi, then English teacher and at times Doctor (who gave us a sip of Brandy when we were sick!). Before I read A Reverie, I saw her as one person – a loving grandmother. I now see has as a child full of wonder, a mischievous student, a defiant young woman and much more. I am certain that others who know her will also see her with new eyes upon reading A Reverie. Although customs, fashions and modes of transport may change, achchi’s candid stories made me realize that the dreams, relationships, fears and aspirations of each passing generation remain the same.
A Reverie breathes new life in to a family whose memories were shelved away in dust laden albums. I feel a deep connection to the vibrant characters in achchi’s book, of which many are my ancestors. She masterfully threads out personas, places, encounters and dialogues to create a rich tapestry of personal and family history. Such a backdrop really helps ‘third generation’ readers like my sisters and I to understand who we are and where we belong.
Achchi’s prose and style flows gently and easily like a river. In addition to the narrative, the subject and style of the book also reflect changes that took place in her life during the time of writing. This makes A Reverie especially beautiful and compelling. I am extremely thankful to achchi for sharing her life in such an intimate and uninhibited way.
This book is by and about one of the most influential and beloved people in my life. Reading it only confirmed my love for her and showed me new ways of relating to her. It enabled me to see the world through achchi’s eyes and to marvel at the beauty and innocence of that world.
Anyone who reads this book will ‘fall in love’ with my grandmother. My sisters and I are glad that our children will read about the adventures, antics and musings of a wonderful little girl and fall in love with achchi in the years to come...
Niluka , Menaka and Anushka
II III
Acknowledgments
Publishing A Reverie has been a collective labour of love. Chandani and Senaka Samarasinghe lovingly contributed a family tree for this book. It’s part of a laudable initiative to map out the constellation of our ancestry. Damitha Silva undertook the last- minute, herculean task of transforming that family tree from a sprawling hand written diagram to the crisp digitized version featured this book.
Chandra Silva and Rajendra Kumar contributed several priceless photographs to enliven and adorn this book.
Many others contributed their time and effort to type-setting, proof- reading, editing, layout and printing. This book would not be in your hands today if it weren’t for their heartfelt endeavors.
The Author Mrs Leeda Wijewardena In Her Young Days
II III
Acknowledgments
Publishing A Reverie has been a collective labour of love. Chandani and Senaka Samarasinghe lovingly contributed a family tree for this book. It’s part of a laudable initiative to map out the constellation of our ancestry. Damitha Silva undertook the last- minute, herculean task of transforming that family tree from a sprawling hand written diagram to the crisp digitized version featured this book.
Chandra Silva and Rajendra Kumar contributed several priceless photographs to enliven and adorn this book.
Many others contributed their time and effort to type-setting, proof- reading, editing, layout and printing. This book would not be in your hands today if it weren’t for their heartfelt endeavors.
The Author Mrs Leeda Wijewardena In Her Young Days
IV
"Peace I ask of Thee O River
Peace, peace, peace
When I learn to live serenely, cares will cease"
1
1
My heart feels glad when I hear that birdsong starting with a warbling deep down in its throat and rising in to a high crescendo. I hear it far away in the distance. I have heard it in my childhood and later in far off lands thousands of miles away from my palm fringed island home. It is such a thrilling song that birdsong. It's not a soul searching mellifluous song like that of the peacock or the koha that ushers in the new year, but it is dear to me because it brings me memories of far away and long ago………
CHAPTER 1
Early Years
Perched on the road by the hillside was the house in which
we lived. All along the front edge there grew a hedge of
small pink and red roses. There were large pink roses too -
all well maintained and a pleasure to look at. In the garden
on the left side of the house was a pool of sparkling clear
water with large smooth stones around it. Some of the
stones were conspicuously out standing while others were
just the size to sit on. We sat there on some evenings
when mother was not too busy to be with us.
Mother was young and pretty and had her long black hair
tied in a knot. Her home attire was a printed multi-
2 3
2
coloured long skirt and white blouse edged with narrow
white lace but when she went out she wore saree. She was
proud that she was one of the first to wear saree. With the
new awakening the new generation gave up there Colonial
Styles and got back to what was considered a national
costume. Mother’s uncle had been an active member of
the national movement which has inspired not only India
but Sri Lanka too. Daya Hewavitharana and Anagarika
Dharmapala had become popular names in Sri Lanka .It
was Anagarika Dharmapala who has established our claim
to Buddha Gaya which until then was solely considered a
Hindu shrine.
By the river was a red roofed four storied factory and
office. Father was in charge of this division. A European
planter was in over all supervision of all the groups
belonging to George Stuart and Company in Yatiyanthota
and Dehiowita. Sometimes he came on horse back and we
hurried to greet him and to communicate with him in the
little English we knew.
Father had got pneumonia which was considered fatal
those days. He might have died had it not been for his
3
DMO friend Dr Munidasa after whom he named his eldest
son. Father had been warded at the Karawenalla and it
was mother's brother uncle SP who came to her rescue,
others being in far away Matara.
Mother used to talk about her uncle Peter who used to
drop in when on his Railway Trips. He later rose to be the
first local Assistant General Manager of Railways, but I was
too young to remember his visits. Our hero then was
Indian Uncle who came on his rare visits from India.
Below the factory was the river - a shallow wide stream to
be more accurate. We bathed in these waters and waded
across collecting smooth rounded stones. In the evenings
mother sent us for walks to the factory and riverside,
sometimes going in the opposite direction we went for
longer walks with father. I used to lag behind to pick the
way side flowers. To this date I remember the sweet scent
of the greens that grew on the hill side. They had their
over flowing rills and trickles of water singing a strange
quiet tune among the ferns.
My grandmother used to be our most frequent visitor. But
it was Indian uncle, my mothers youngest brother who
2 33
DMO friend Dr Munidasa after whom he named his eldest
son. Father had been warded at the Karawenalla and it
was mother's brother uncle SP who came to her rescue,
others being in far away Matara.
Mother used to talk about her uncle Peter who used to
drop in when on his Railway Trips. He later rose to be the
first local Assistant General Manager of Railways, but I was
too young to remember his visits. Our hero then was
Indian Uncle who came on his rare visits from India.
Below the factory was the river - a shallow wide stream to
be more accurate. We bathed in these waters and waded
across collecting smooth rounded stones. In the evenings
mother sent us for walks to the factory and riverside,
sometimes going in the opposite direction we went for
longer walks with father. I used to lag behind to pick the
way side flowers. To this date I remember the sweet scent
of the greens that grew on the hill side. They had their
over flowing rills and trickles of water singing a strange
quiet tune among the ferns.
My grandmother used to be our most frequent visitor. But
it was Indian uncle, my mothers youngest brother who
4 5
4
was our favourite. His white national garb of a Punjabi kind
was an unfamiliar sight when all men -gentlemen -wore
European Dress. His costume fascinated us. He was our
Indian uncle of the Indian fairy tales."Tell us a story" we
used to pester him, as we pushed each other in our
attempts to hold his hand and walk with him. I think he did
tell us stories as we sat by the water side. We were just
the three of us- MR, Lily and I.JR was a wee baby and it
was the three of us who considered ourselves important. I
believe I must have started schooling in Matara by then.
School Days
St Thomasa's Girls High School Matara was where we all
started our education. I had come to live with my Grand
Mother in Matara. We used to get about in buggy carts, a
popular mode of travel at that time. Jamis was our buggy
driver .He dropped me in school and drove uncle to his
office in the Fort .Uncle was a lawyer. Every affluent
household had its own buggy cart .Another of my uncles
was married to a rich lady from Anuradhapura had a Ford
car. His car was a rare phenomenon, and specially so
because it had the most amusing horn which the young
5
ones loved to toot when ever they got a chance
"poop,poop,poop" it sounded.
I never knew when we had a declared holiday and there
was I coming to school and finding it closed. A few others
who were clueless like me finally went back home. Driven
to my own resources I wondered round the vast school
garden collecting flowers. Near the school gate was a
mauve flowering tree which dropped a pretty carpet of
flowers under its friendly shade. Picking massang, a rare
species today was another of my pre-occupations. No
massang tasted so good as the masang I used to eat in
school. They were like small apples.
On one such day instead of waiting for uncle to pick me up
on his way back home I plucked up courage and followed
the others who were going back to their homes in the fort.
But crossing the Nilvala on the foot bridge was a horrible
ordeal performed with a great deal of fear and trembling.
My heart might have been beating so hard that it was after
I got past the Fort gate and in to uncle’s office area that I
regained my composure.
4 5
5
ones loved to toot when ever they got a chance
"poop,poop,poop" it sounded.
I never knew when we had a declared holiday and there
was I coming to school and finding it closed. A few others
who were clueless like me finally went back home. Driven
to my own resources I wondered round the vast school
garden collecting flowers. Near the school gate was a
mauve flowering tree which dropped a pretty carpet of
flowers under its friendly shade. Picking massang, a rare
species today was another of my pre-occupations. No
massang tasted so good as the masang I used to eat in
school. They were like small apples.
On one such day instead of waiting for uncle to pick me up
on his way back home I plucked up courage and followed
the others who were going back to their homes in the fort.
But crossing the Nilvala on the foot bridge was a horrible
ordeal performed with a great deal of fear and trembling.
My heart might have been beating so hard that it was after
I got past the Fort gate and in to uncle’s office area that I
regained my composure.
6 7
6
Water babies
I could sing and dance well, hence I was always selected
for school concerts .Recently I met a schoolmate of mine
after long years. We had both been fairies and danced in
fairy wings. We wore pointed green caps, coloured
pettaled skirts and even our green blouses and skirts had
their lower ends cut to produce a petal effect. Grace still
looks like a fairy even though she is a grand mother. My
rose fairy friend and several others have gone to rest long
ago. Miss B.D. Alwis and Miss Armstrong did good work
guiding our stage performances.
When I was in the Upper KG I remember drawing a fish.
The teacher in charge who has taken much trouble to
show us a flat pink fish praised my drawing. I too thought
it was good as the original. Cecily who sat next to me
wanted me to draw one for her too. I was quite willing and
we exchanged books. Meanwhile to hood wink the teacher
Cecily went on using her crayons on my fish which turned
out to be a sorry mess. I could have cried, for mine had
been such a beautiful fish.
7
I remember taking part as a water baby in" Tom and the
water babies". Coming to school in the morning, costume
,lunch and all there was a long wait till the concert was
over at night. It was at the Broadway Hall."Little stream
flowing through woodland and valley" which we water
babies sang still rings in my ears. When I was in the UK I
went looking for forget-me-nots growing beside such a
little stream where the willows bend low and did I find
them?...The willows were there in plenty but the forget-
me-nots were scarce.
Tom was played by chubby Lorna Ferdinands who added a
great deal of charm to her role. She is no more she left us
a long time ago. Miss B.D. Alwis played a significant role in
molding us in the middle years of our school lives. Later
we had Miss Esme de Alwis who was a very good teacher.
It was in her time I started taking an interest in all subjects
rising to the first position in class - a position I maintained
until I finally left school. I remember with a degree of pride
how when the Senior Preparatory and Senior form worked
together as one unit due to the shortage of numbers going
up for Cambridge examinations (about 30 in all) or the
scarcity of qualified teachers ( it may have been both) I as
6 77
I remember taking part as a water baby in" Tom and the
water babies". Coming to school in the morning, costume
,lunch and all there was a long wait till the concert was
over at night. It was at the Broadway Hall."Little stream
flowing through woodland and valley" which we water
babies sang still rings in my ears. When I was in the UK I
went looking for forget-me-nots growing beside such a
little stream where the willows bend low and did I find
them?...The willows were there in plenty but the forget-
me-nots were scarce.
Tom was played by chubby Lorna Ferdinands who added a
great deal of charm to her role. She is no more she left us
a long time ago. Miss B.D. Alwis played a significant role in
molding us in the middle years of our school lives. Later
we had Miss Esme de Alwis who was a very good teacher.
It was in her time I started taking an interest in all subjects
rising to the first position in class - a position I maintained
until I finally left school. I remember with a degree of pride
how when the Senior Preparatory and Senior form worked
together as one unit due to the shortage of numbers going
up for Cambridge examinations (about 30 in all) or the
scarcity of qualified teachers ( it may have been both) I as
8 9
8
a student in the Prep Form used to come top in the
combined class.
While still in the Primary classes we took part in several
plays such as "Get up and bar the door" but it was the
musicals with Miss B de Alwis at the piano, that I
remember most. I can still visualize her playing the piano,
swaying from side to side and singing with us.
When we were in Cambridge Junior, the school staged a
grand operetta. It was a big musical involving the whole
upper school. Aruni Gunathilaka was the princess in
"Princess Ju Ju or the Golden amulet." Brenda. Conyta and
I were three prince who hoped to win the hand of the
princess. Jane Selliah was the Emperor. It was a grand
musical extravaganza with Japanese court scenes crowded
with beautiful Kimono clad ladies, songs and dances
galore. "Hail to the land of the rising sun" we all sang with
gusto. Miss Janson taught many dances, two of which
were a fan dance with colourful Japanese fans performed
by the ladies of the court- the umbrella dance was by us,
the princes in disguise. These Kimonos, fans and umbrellas
were freely available in those days. Condemned to death
9
as an imposter who had stolen the princesses' golden
amulet, I sang a sad "Sayonara"- farewell- to my beautiful
princess when I was to be marched off by the Lord High
Executioner. His tone and personality were both awe-
inspiring. "I am the Lord high Executioner" he sang. He
could easily terrify any lesser mortal who would cow down
before him. But as luck would have it, the golden amulet
was found among the princesses clothes, and the emperor
rose up to declare that all's well- that ends well. There was
much singing and dancing in which the princess and the
princes participated and everything ended on a happy
note.
A touch of Shakespeare
Next year the Seniors presented "As you like it" and " The
Tempest." even though we were not old enough to
appreciate Shakespearian drama we cannot forget some
of the melodies that linger " where the bee sucks, there
suck I", "Under the green wood tree", " It was a lover and
his lass" are some of them. Then Gladys and Ariel in
Tempest did a superb performance. And how is it that I
remember Mabel Jayasekara as Portia in "The Merchant of
Venice" or was it in the boys school next door that we saw
8 9
9
as an imposter who had stolen the princesses' golden
amulet, I sang a sad "Sayonara"- farewell- to my beautiful
princess when I was to be marched off by the Lord High
Executioner. His tone and personality were both awe-
inspiring. "I am the Lord high Executioner" he sang. He
could easily terrify any lesser mortal who would cow down
before him. But as luck would have it, the golden amulet
was found among the princesses clothes, and the emperor
rose up to declare that all's well- that ends well. There was
much singing and dancing in which the princess and the
princes participated and everything ended on a happy
note.
A touch of Shakespeare
Next year the Seniors presented "As you like it" and " The
Tempest." even though we were not old enough to
appreciate Shakespearian drama we cannot forget some
of the melodies that linger " where the bee sucks, there
suck I", "Under the green wood tree", " It was a lover and
his lass" are some of them. Then Gladys and Ariel in
Tempest did a superb performance. And how is it that I
remember Mabel Jayasekara as Portia in "The Merchant of
Venice" or was it in the boys school next door that we saw
10 1110
the complete play performed by their seniors and staff.
But those were the days with intelligent pupils and
encouraging staff there was much we could achieve. Our
principal at that time, Sister Mary Kathleen, was a driving
force and a dynamic personality who disciplined us. The
very sound of her jingling keys struck terror in the heart of
the younger students. It was she who directed "The
Midsummer Nights Dream" played by the Seniors of her
time. But our good fortune did not last long. She was
transferred to Bishops College as principal.
When Miss Thambimuttu a new graduate teacher who
joined our staff. She infused a new and different
enthusiasm into us. In Tagore's "Post Office", I was the
uncle and the youngest of the Livera's, Phyllis was my
nephew. Phyllis gave a soulful rendering of a dying child
earning for holidays and home. Acting in such drama was
one thing, but watching such drama was not much fun, I
always thought. No wonder Rabindranath Tagore's "Post
Office" was not one of his popular dramas. We could have
acted something better I thought.
11
The Golden Jubilee of St.Thomas' Girls School
The Golden Jubilee of the school was celebrated with a
great deal of fanfare. Considerable energy was spent on
the Sports Meet and Inter-house activities. They were so
popular that we would do anything for the House and the
House Captain. We were caught in an infectious whirl of
explosive enthusiasm. At the Grand- finale which was the
Prize Giving the Governor of Ceylon presided. However
out-door activities were the highlights for us. We had
several dances- one to the music of the Blue Danube.
Another, a Kalagedi dance - rather a dignified performance
unlike the lively dance of today. However the greatest
attraction was The May Pole Dance in which my normally
quiet sister Lilly was a gay participant. With the bubbling
energy of Youth children would dance endlessly marveling
and raveling the colourful mystery of the May Pole. At
night the school premises between Broadway hall and
Main Street were a real fairyland with multi-coloured
lanterns. Everything worked out beautifully and we who
were young students carry with us haunting memories of
our Golden Jubilee Celebrations. Soon we were back in
school and engrossed in our school work.
10 11
11
The Golden Jubilee of St.Thomas' Girls School
The Golden Jubilee of the school was celebrated with a
great deal of fanfare. Considerable energy was spent on
the Sports Meet and Inter-house activities. They were so
popular that we would do anything for the House and the
House Captain. We were caught in an infectious whirl of
explosive enthusiasm. At the Grand- finale which was the
Prize Giving the Governor of Ceylon presided. However
out-door activities were the highlights for us. We had
several dances- one to the music of the Blue Danube.
Another, a Kalagedi dance - rather a dignified performance
unlike the lively dance of today. However the greatest
attraction was The May Pole Dance in which my normally
quiet sister Lilly was a gay participant. With the bubbling
energy of Youth children would dance endlessly marveling
and raveling the colourful mystery of the May Pole. At
night the school premises between Broadway hall and
Main Street were a real fairyland with multi-coloured
lanterns. Everything worked out beautifully and we who
were young students carry with us haunting memories of
our Golden Jubilee Celebrations. Soon we were back in
school and engrossed in our school work.
12 13
12
Being Girl Guides was another popular activity under the
tutelage of Miss Armstrong our Guide Captain and
subsequently our Guide Captain and subsequently our
District Commissioner. Scouting and Girl Guiding were
very popular in Boys and Girls schools (there was no
cricket then),
We were proud of belonging to various groups such as
Golden Orioles, Wood Peckers and King Fishers -proud of
our array of efficiency badges and emblems. Many were
the camp fires we had and many were the rounds and
songs we sang deep in to the night. Attending the All
Island Rally at Girl Guide Headquarters in Colombo and at
the Viharamahadevi Park was a unique experience. The
Boy Scouts had also camped there in their tents and open
air groups. It was a memorable experience sharing
combined knowledge. It was the first such rally held in
Ceylon.
13
Sinhala Drama
Prior to the times I write about, when we were penalised
for talking in Sinhalese within the school premises it is no
wonder we did not blossom out in the direction of Sinhala
drama. Those who had their primary education in
vernacular schools, we couldn't equal. However, the
Seniors staged "Yasalalaka Tissa" where the King was
ousted by the gatekeeper whom he resembled. My aunt
Derbie- a senior student played a prominent part in that
play. But one short skit I will never forget. In those remote
times we had a humorous play which caused a minor
uproar. It was about a vedamahathaya who doled out
impossible remedies to his patients. I happened to be the
Veda. However, the words spoken seemed to have upset
the finer sentiments of the English speaking elite audience.
I don’t think anyone blamed me but the new teacher who
haled from Moratuwa and was in charge of the item came
in for considerable blame. The Principal Sister Ada Mary
who understood no Sinhala was clueless and caught
unawares in the hullabaloo.
Towering above all these mishaps, guarding and guiding
the destiny of the close-knit family (I don't think we were
12 1313
Sinhala Drama
Prior to the times I write about, when we were penalised
for talking in Sinhalese within the school premises it is no
wonder we did not blossom out in the direction of Sinhala
drama. Those who had their primary education in
vernacular schools, we couldn't equal. However, the
Seniors staged "Yasalalaka Tissa" where the King was
ousted by the gatekeeper whom he resembled. My aunt
Derbie- a senior student played a prominent part in that
play. But one short skit I will never forget. In those remote
times we had a humorous play which caused a minor
uproar. It was about a vedamahathaya who doled out
impossible remedies to his patients. I happened to be the
Veda. However, the words spoken seemed to have upset
the finer sentiments of the English speaking elite audience.
I don’t think anyone blamed me but the new teacher who
haled from Moratuwa and was in charge of the item came
in for considerable blame. The Principal Sister Ada Mary
who understood no Sinhala was clueless and caught
unawares in the hullabaloo.
Towering above all these mishaps, guarding and guiding
the destiny of the close-knit family (I don't think we were
14 15
14
more than 600 on the role), was Sister Ada Mary our
English Principal-infallible and indefatigable and ever-
lasting ( so seemed to me) She was the veritable Rock of
Ages, I thought. I remember how she took our singing
classes. We were singing about Queen Dido and Aeneas
stately and tall. To Sister, "Aeneas" was the same as
anayass and ( to the amusement of singing students) or
"Anyarse" (the way Sister pronounced that honorable
name Sister who saw nothing amiss went on with her
surplice sleeves flying in wild animation. She was as good a
conductor of music as any in the present day.
In the hostel
We were a fairly big group among the sixty five boarders.
I don’t think we resented the hostel routine. We were well
disciplined waking up with the bell which informed us
about various changes in the schedule. We soon got used
to Sister Ada Mary, Huldah, Evelyn and Joan Margret
befriended us at various times of our school life. They
were not only our superiors but kind friends. In later years
I visited sister Joan Margret at East Corinstead in England.
She was very old, confined to her bed but mentally alert.
She remembered only the Christian boarders of her time.
15
No wonder she wasn't one of our teachers. Miss Kemps
was our matron and was a kind and gentle lady. She made
our hostel a home for us. There were little ones like my
sister Nellie who became hungry long before the lunch
bell. She used to stamp her feet and cry and make such a
fuss that the kinds nuns rushed to pacify her with a biscuit
or two.
After lunch which was most popular on the days when the
menu consisted of meat, dhal and pol sambol we made a
beeline to the tuck shop. There was not much of a choice
of material there, but the coconut rock Sister made and
sold at 10 cents a piece was delicious. I can still see the
rosy pink colour and feel the taste of that coconut rock
that never tasted better anywhere else in all these years. It
was superb!
On Saturdays and Sundays after lunch we had a period to
rest. We all had to be in bed. Sister distributed books for
reading and also gave us a few coloured sweets which
were brought in a big tin. She carried to each boarder’s
bed-side, no conversation was allowed and we had to be
in bed till the next bell announced tea time. After tea on
14 15
15
No wonder she wasn't one of our teachers. Miss Kemps
was our matron and was a kind and gentle lady. She made
our hostel a home for us. There were little ones like my
sister Nellie who became hungry long before the lunch
bell. She used to stamp her feet and cry and make such a
fuss that the kinds nuns rushed to pacify her with a biscuit
or two.
After lunch which was most popular on the days when the
menu consisted of meat, dhal and pol sambol we made a
beeline to the tuck shop. There was not much of a choice
of material there, but the coconut rock Sister made and
sold at 10 cents a piece was delicious. I can still see the
rosy pink colour and feel the taste of that coconut rock
that never tasted better anywhere else in all these years. It
was superb!
On Saturdays and Sundays after lunch we had a period to
rest. We all had to be in bed. Sister distributed books for
reading and also gave us a few coloured sweets which
were brought in a big tin. She carried to each boarder’s
bed-side, no conversation was allowed and we had to be
in bed till the next bell announced tea time. After tea on
16 17
16
Saturdays we got into our neat white uniforms and school
ties and got ready for a walk to the beach near Browns
Hill. This was a outing we looked forward to. On Sundays
the Christians went to church with the nuns and after Even
Song, the Parish priest Rev. Clive Perera came to tea with
the nuns. He came in his open two seater sports car. He
was a jovial priest. Often he brought visitors to see the
nuns and on one such visit sister brought them round to
our study where the Seniors were deeply engrossed in
their home-work. To my utter dismay Sister singled me out
as a good student and the visitors who took some special
interest on hearing about a good student took a keener
interest in me and there was I with a copy of "Wuthering
Heights" carefully concealed under the History Text I had
placed on top. Father Clive said " Ho Ho," with a merry
twinkle in his eye, and the kindly visitors only smiled, but I
didn't know where to hide my head. To my great relief
neither Sister Ada Mary nor the Matron who supervised
our studies pulled me up and the incident was soon
forgotten.
17
Sunday Evenings
On some Sundays we-Christians and non-Christians sat in
the study and sang hymns. Hymn books were distributed
and to us, singing a hymn was like singing a song. However
on some Sundays when the Christians went to church with
the nuns we who were left behind threw sticks and stones
and even our shoes at the massang tree which grew in
front of the hostel. How we relished the ripe fruit. I don't
think we cast envious eyes at the Sappatilla tree which
grew behind the hostel and was within easy reach. There
wasn't a ghost of a chance of getting any because Sister
Ada Mary's butler Hendrick and his kichen staff were
always around and inform" Sitter" - that's what he called
her -about any miscreant who touched the hollowed fruit
which was reserved for the nuns and the teachers.
But one day Mabels' shoe was found in the thorny
massang tree.Mabel was a popular senior boarder. There
was no doubt about the ownership' because it was made
of crocodile skin. But could Mable do such a thing would
have puzzled the nuns for quite some time before Mabel
Jayasekera was finally reprimanded.
16 17
17
Sunday Evenings
On some Sundays we-Christians and non-Christians sat in
the study and sang hymns. Hymn books were distributed
and to us, singing a hymn was like singing a song. However
on some Sundays when the Christians went to church with
the nuns we who were left behind threw sticks and stones
and even our shoes at the massang tree which grew in
front of the hostel. How we relished the ripe fruit. I don't
think we cast envious eyes at the Sappatilla tree which
grew behind the hostel and was within easy reach. There
wasn't a ghost of a chance of getting any because Sister
Ada Mary's butler Hendrick and his kichen staff were
always around and inform" Sitter" - that's what he called
her -about any miscreant who touched the hollowed fruit
which was reserved for the nuns and the teachers.
But one day Mabels' shoe was found in the thorny
massang tree.Mabel was a popular senior boarder. There
was no doubt about the ownership' because it was made
of crocodile skin. But could Mable do such a thing would
have puzzled the nuns for quite some time before Mabel
Jayasekera was finally reprimanded.
18 19
18
Sometimes we managed to do a hat collection for two
loaves of bread and a tin of salmon carefully hidden away
until midnight. It was a midnight feast we enjoyed
immensely in the semi-darkness of the dim lit Senior
dormitory.
The little boarders were an endearing lot. On the day that
the new church was consecrated there was a grand
function and all the boarders too were taken to the
function. I, a senior by then was not feeling sorry I was left
behind because I had fever. I was too sick to think of the
function I had missed. I was awakened late in the evening
by little hands that pulled out patties and sandwiches and
biscuits and cakes out of their pockets. They placed them
beside me, sorry that I could not enjoy the goodies they
had, had. What dear little people to be so considerate but
I couldn't eat a thing they had brought .They were bitter in
my mouth.
A few months before I sat for my Cambridge Senior
Examination I got an attack of mumps. Confined to the sick
room I was given soups and puddings which I could
19
swallow easily. I was given books to read and I read almost
one book a day. I had right Royal treatment. Soon after I
started my baths more than half the dorm caught the
infection, and the tragedy or comedy was that they had no
preferential treatment. Only conjee and corriander!
Soon after that, not even two months later we got
measles. The hostel had to be closed and the boarders
sent home. Home was too far away for us, so we had to go
to grandmother. On our way there Silva who drove our
buggy made an error of judgment ending in all six of us
going down in to the drain measles and all. At the start the
buggy has been covered all round in the way the Muslim
women do when on a buggy ride perhaps visiting friends
and family-but after the fall there we were on the Old
Road exposed to the sun and the wind and prying eyes
waiting until Silva got the buggy started and the poor bull
made comfortable. I had the feeling of sand in my eyes
and the others too were having various degrees of measles
infection, but thank our lucky stars we were back in the
hostel after a little more than a fortnight of grand
mother’s hospitality.
18 19
19
swallow easily. I was given books to read and I read almost
one book a day. I had right Royal treatment. Soon after I
started my baths more than half the dorm caught the
infection, and the tragedy or comedy was that they had no
preferential treatment. Only conjee and corriander!
Soon after that, not even two months later we got
measles. The hostel had to be closed and the boarders
sent home. Home was too far away for us, so we had to go
to grandmother. On our way there Silva who drove our
buggy made an error of judgment ending in all six of us
going down in to the drain measles and all. At the start the
buggy has been covered all round in the way the Muslim
women do when on a buggy ride perhaps visiting friends
and family-but after the fall there we were on the Old
Road exposed to the sun and the wind and prying eyes
waiting until Silva got the buggy started and the poor bull
made comfortable. I had the feeling of sand in my eyes
and the others too were having various degrees of measles
infection, but thank our lucky stars we were back in the
hostel after a little more than a fortnight of grand
mother’s hospitality.
20 21
20
More Cousins
By that time my uncle's sons Indra and Chandra joined St
Thomas'. They were day scholars. The lower KG in which
Chandra studied was next to the Music Room. While we
Senior Girls were singing with Sister Ada Mary at the
piano, in comes a chubby intruder, Cousin Chandra also
singing the scales "Cucku cucku cu coo oh ah" taking his
place by my side. Sister who had a soft corner for the little
one, never so much as scolded him, but gently lifting him
up left him where he belonged in the KG next door.
Brother MR - Munidasa who was at St Thomas' until he
passed Std 11 lead everybody a dance. When the senior
girls were playing cricket, he would rush to the field and
boldly run away with the wickets. With the senior girls
screaming and running behind him he would run the
length and breadth of the vast school garden until he
decided for himself that he had had enough of the
enterprise and surrendered the wickets.
On a Saturday where we had gone to the beach Jeswyn
and Jinadasa had been following Sister Ada Marys wooly
terrier Jill who had started to dig the sand looking for
21
turtle eggs buried there. Going down on all fours to help in
the digging Jeswyn had got a cactus thorn into his knee.
There was much anxiety and even a few tears too when
some all knowing one said Jeswyn would die when the
thorn reached his heart. When we got back to the hostel,
the sister in charge of the sickroom dressed the wound
and Jeswyn was none the worse for the experience.
Bazaars and carnivals
No one ever stayed away from a carnival. The school had
its own carnival, though not in my time. The two carnivals
held in Colombo on two separate occassions -London
Calling at the Vihara Maha Devi park and "Harbour Lights"
at the Colombo harbour were magnificent. I was so
enthralled by everything I saw, the glitter of the coloured
electric lights simply hypnotised us - the teenagers and the
little ones too. Father took us to both carnivals. The song "I
saw the harbour lights" came about the same time and no
wonder Harbour Lights continued to haunt us years later.
20 21
21
turtle eggs buried there. Going down on all fours to help in
the digging Jeswyn had got a cactus thorn into his knee.
There was much anxiety and even a few tears too when
some all knowing one said Jeswyn would die when the
thorn reached his heart. When we got back to the hostel,
the sister in charge of the sickroom dressed the wound
and Jeswyn was none the worse for the experience.
Bazaars and carnivals
No one ever stayed away from a carnival. The school had
its own carnival, though not in my time. The two carnivals
held in Colombo on two separate occassions -London
Calling at the Vihara Maha Devi park and "Harbour Lights"
at the Colombo harbour were magnificent. I was so
enthralled by everything I saw, the glitter of the coloured
electric lights simply hypnotised us - the teenagers and the
little ones too. Father took us to both carnivals. The song "I
saw the harbour lights" came about the same time and no
wonder Harbour Lights continued to haunt us years later.
22 2322
Borders - sisters and others
When I left St. Thomas', it was 5 year old Chandra who
took my place. She was supposed to have brought much
luck to the family. Mother used to send Arnis Appu with a
parcel for us all. On such an occasion she said we had
another little sister - that was Arundathie.
Meanwhile, I should not forget to remember others who
made my school life worthwhile. We had at the hostel -
Marguerite, Myrtle Phoebe and Philine Peiris. Placida
Wijesinha, Gwen Karunaratne, Aruni and Nancy Pearl
Wijetunge, not forgetting a host of others who enlivened
life in our hostel. Marguerite de Mel used to get lots of
chocolates - slabs of Nestle and Cadbury which we valued
highly because of the tokens in each pack. We collected
these in albums - pictures of English Royalty, places of
interest in England, English flowers and many more.
Phoebe and Philine, Margarette's cousines, joined Bishop's
College. Margarette who went with them came back and
she and Myrtle remained at St. Thomas' throughout.
23
Disappointment
Nanda, who settled down in London was another of my
classmates. I got the Senior Prize for English Language at
the last prize giving of my school career but the leather-
bound gold lettered "complete works of Shakespeare" -
the Eileen De Mel Prize for English Literature went to
Nanda Muthucumarana. I suppose Nanda was senior to
me and had joined us having had her earlier education
elsewhere and deserved it, but how I wish I had got it. Of
what use was English Language without literature! This
was one of the few disappointments in my school career,
which was otherwise a happy one.
Lucky escape
Regina and Mercy Gnanamuttu, whom I considered my
best friend, the Livera sisters and so many other bright
faces I seem to see as I look down the years. Unforgettable
is Leela Nanayakkara who was thrown under the piano
stool when a huge tree crashed on the school roof in a
huge storm. She was sitting on the piano stool, lucky to
have been saved with only a spinal injury, whereas the rest
of the furniture, with the exception of the piano was
reduced to smithereens. Although a senior student, she
22 23
23
Disappointment
Nanda, who settled down in London was another of my
classmates. I got the Senior Prize for English Language at
the last prize giving of my school career but the leather-
bound gold lettered "complete works of Shakespeare" -
the Eileen De Mel Prize for English Literature went to
Nanda Muthucumarana. I suppose Nanda was senior to
me and had joined us having had her earlier education
elsewhere and deserved it, but how I wish I had got it. Of
what use was English Language without literature! This
was one of the few disappointments in my school career,
which was otherwise a happy one.
Lucky escape
Regina and Mercy Gnanamuttu, whom I considered my
best friend, the Livera sisters and so many other bright
faces I seem to see as I look down the years. Unforgettable
is Leela Nanayakkara who was thrown under the piano
stool when a huge tree crashed on the school roof in a
huge storm. She was sitting on the piano stool, lucky to
have been saved with only a spinal injury, whereas the rest
of the furniture, with the exception of the piano was
reduced to smithereens. Although a senior student, she
24 25
24
too had forgotten that she needn't have come to school
that day - it was a holiday.
When I look down the years I remember with gladness, the
time we spent at St. Thomas' Matara. In the early days we
sang the school song to the tune of 'Dyou Ken John Peel'.
Later, when a new tune was introduced, we sang joyfully
"In our work and our play,
through the live long day,
we'll be loyal and true
and keep in view
our school's good name...".
Those were happy days and happy years. We loved our
school and were really loyal and true to it.
24 25
Happy timesSpent with grandmother
in her home atWalgama Matara
26 27
My Beloved Grand Mother Johana PujithaGunawardena nee Panditha Gunawardena
25
CHAPTER 2
Matara Grandmother
My grandmother lived in her ancestral home in Galle road,
Walgama, Matara. Before my sisters and brothers invaded
the field, I was the first member of my family to live with
my grandmother. I accompanied her wherever she went.
She used to visit her relatives in Madihe. We did not go
there by buggy cart but walked across the coconut lands,
most which were ours or belonged to our relatives. We
jumped over stiles and went through Hettige watta to
Bajjang watta and Walauw watta chatting with people
whom we met along the way to the seaside, where Punchi
mahaththaya, a popular Ayurvedic physician lived.
Grandmother was a fast walker and I could hardly keep
pace with her, but more so because I got left behind as I
lingered to pick berries and flowers and meekaranchi
(both fruits and flowers were edible). But we made it
somehow, I running half the way. The Ayurvedic physician
we visited was a relative. He was an expert orthopedic
surgeon. He had a special ward for those who came from
far off places to seek his aid. He had a brother who took
26 27
25
CHAPTER 2
Matara Grandmother
My grandmother lived in her ancestral home in Galle road,
Walgama, Matara. Before my sisters and brothers invaded
the field, I was the first member of my family to live with
my grandmother. I accompanied her wherever she went.
She used to visit her relatives in Madihe. We did not go
there by buggy cart but walked across the coconut lands,
most which were ours or belonged to our relatives. We
jumped over stiles and went through Hettige watta to
Bajjang watta and Walauw watta chatting with people
whom we met along the way to the seaside, where Punchi
mahaththaya, a popular Ayurvedic physician lived.
Grandmother was a fast walker and I could hardly keep
pace with her, but more so because I got left behind as I
lingered to pick berries and flowers and meekaranchi
(both fruits and flowers were edible). But we made it
somehow, I running half the way. The Ayurvedic physician
we visited was a relative. He was an expert orthopedic
surgeon. He had a special ward for those who came from
far off places to seek his aid. He had a brother who took
28 29
26
after him. Although he ended up as a lecturer at the
Ayurvedic hospital, Borella, nevertheless did not have the
same healing touch.
Most of the houses we visited were close to the sea; but I
had no fascination for the sea. I still prefer the peace and
serenity of inland waters to the awful grandeur of the sea.
In Madihe, grandmother visited her favourite cousin -
Reverand Pannasiha's mother. They both had a lot to talk
about while I sat on an interesting Dumpty like structure
keeping myself turning round and round - clock-wise and
anti clock-wise. I have a faint recollection of the
Mahanayaka. He was a tall school boy always busy with his
books. He was a student at St. Thomas' Boys' School.
Open Air Dramas
Not far from my grandmother's home lived grandfather's
cousin, old Gurunnanse Mutta. He had been a popular
Nadagam Gurunnanse in his heyday. The old ralahami had,
with the collaboration of friends and relations in the
locality produced open air dramas. He was very popular.
27
Sometimes my grandmother visited sisters in Polhena - an
adjoining village. The youngest Welvina was married to my
grandfather's uncle and was well to do - not only having
many coconut lands, but also many sons in government
service. We used to go there by buggy cart. I don't know
why we didn't walk there as we did to Madihe. Two of
grandmother's sisters were married to grandfather's
uncles and were Jayawardenas like us. The youngest of the
grand aunt's daughters was Derby, a senior student at St.
Thomas' and we called her Derby as we did in school, but
the day she married her cousin, uncle Diwin (who was also
my mother's cousin), an advocate, I had to call her aunty
Derby. The other Mrs. Velmina Jayawardena was said to
have been the beauty of the family but I scarcely
remember her, except for the fact that she was a very fair
old lady. There was a very old custom prevelant among the
families those days. On Poya day, my grandmother
observed Sil and her youngest sister, Welvina sent her
noon dane - a large plate of rice and curry fit for a
princess. It was served in grand style and the magic was -
there was enough and more for all four of us who were in
grandmother's house. Sometimes this was delivered by a
servant, but often my grand aunt who accompanied the
28 29
27
Sometimes my grandmother visited sisters in Polhena - an
adjoining village. The youngest Welvina was married to my
grandfather's uncle and was well to do - not only having
many coconut lands, but also many sons in government
service. We used to go there by buggy cart. I don't know
why we didn't walk there as we did to Madihe. Two of
grandmother's sisters were married to grandfather's
uncles and were Jayawardenas like us. The youngest of the
grand aunt's daughters was Derby, a senior student at St.
Thomas' and we called her Derby as we did in school, but
the day she married her cousin, uncle Diwin (who was also
my mother's cousin), an advocate, I had to call her aunty
Derby. The other Mrs. Velmina Jayawardena was said to
have been the beauty of the family but I scarcely
remember her, except for the fact that she was a very fair
old lady. There was a very old custom prevelant among the
families those days. On Poya day, my grandmother
observed Sil and her youngest sister, Welvina sent her
noon dane - a large plate of rice and curry fit for a
princess. It was served in grand style and the magic was -
there was enough and more for all four of us who were in
grandmother's house. Sometimes this was delivered by a
servant, but often my grand aunt who accompanied the
30 31
28
servant made respectful abeyance to my grandmother
after serving the meal.
Tall and Good Looking
My grandmother was a dignified lady with a wonderful
store of wisdom. Her mother had been a Miss Fonseka
from Bambalapitiya. They owned most of the properties
bordering Galle road from Kollupitiya to St Peters' College
area and Wellawatta canal. When her mother died my
great grandfather Pelene Panditha Gunawardena the
renowned scholar had married a Miss Serasinha from
Pelena and had several children one of whom was the Rev.
Pelene Vajiranana Thero later of Vajiraramaya,
Bambalapitiya. Grandmother who lived with her father
and step mother in Pelena had gone to a school -Bouna
Vista Galle- one of the earliest missionary schools for girls.
After that she had been sent to a finishing school of a kind.
She had been taught cooking, sewing and lace making as
befitted young ladies of her era. Perhaps her education
was an all rounded one. But proof I have is that she could
sign her name in English. I still treasure her signature in my
autograph album.
29
I used to visit the ancestral Pelena home with my
grandmother. She told me how one day a young English
speaking gentleman had come to Pelena to another house
to see his prospective bride. After having seen the girl, the
young mans parents had decided to pay their respects to
Pundit-Tudawe Pandita Gunawardena before returing
home. Then quite by chance they saw the Pundits elder
daughter Dona Johanna, the young man decided that she
and she alone must be his bride.
After the visitors left Johanna had been summoned and
asked to decide whether she would marry a rich merchant
or an educated gentleman and it was no wonder she made
the right decision. That’s how Dona Johanna Panditha
Gunawardena married Jacovis (Jacob?) Poojitha
Gunawarena. He had become a Christian to gain an English
education and employment but once again he reverted to
his Buddhist faith to marry the Pundits daughter. He had
been for sometime on the staff of Royal Academy which
had preceded Royal College of today. Later he had left for
Kacheri service. His salary had been around fifty Rupees- a
princely sum in those days. After marriage the new couple
settled down in Walgama Matara and had four sons and
30 3129
I used to visit the ancestral Pelena home with my
grandmother. She told me how one day a young English
speaking gentleman had come to Pelena to another house
to see his prospective bride. After having seen the girl, the
young mans parents had decided to pay their respects to
Pundit-Tudawe Pandita Gunawardena before returing
home. Then quite by chance they saw the Pundits elder
daughter Dona Johanna, the young man decided that she
and she alone must be his bride.
After the visitors left Johanna had been summoned and
asked to decide whether she would marry a rich merchant
or an educated gentleman and it was no wonder she made
the right decision. That’s how Dona Johanna Panditha
Gunawardena married Jacovis (Jacob?) Poojitha
Gunawarena. He had become a Christian to gain an English
education and employment but once again he reverted to
his Buddhist faith to marry the Pundits daughter. He had
been for sometime on the staff of Royal Academy which
had preceded Royal College of today. Later he had left for
Kacheri service. His salary had been around fifty Rupees- a
princely sum in those days. After marriage the new couple
settled down in Walgama Matara and had four sons and
32 3330
three daughters. Of the eldest Arthur AP, Sugathapala SP,
Upatissa UP and Junian Piyatissa JP, who grew up to be
handsome men. Arthur was a planter, SP an executive at
Bosanquet and Skrine, UP a lawyer and JP a teacher at
Mahinda College Galle. Mahinda College had an
Englishman- Mr. Pearce, as Principal. When Mr. Pearce left
Mahinda, and went to India JP also followed in his
footsteps making India his foster mother. He visited his
mother and family on very rare occassions, and once we
all gathered at Seeta Vasa, Walgame to welcome Aunty
Sushila his Indian bride from Benares. Later they came to
live in Ceylon at grandmother’s request. Although Uncle JP
came back home his heart was always on the other side of
Palk Strait.
The loss of Uncle UP, an up and coming lawyer was a
crushing blow on my grandmother. Uncle had died of
appendicitis, unbelievable in these days. Uncle had been
married to a gentle lady Rosalin Dias Abeygoonewardena,
and had three little sons. By this time not only Loku
Mamma but uncle SP had lost his beloved Jessie. She had
died a short while after Jeswyn was born. Uncle had been
heart broken. I cannot remember their wedding but
31
judging by their wedding photograph they must have been
a remarkably good looking couple.
The daughters my grandmother had were Flora Jane,
Sujatha and Leela, all beauties in their days. My stately
grandmother spoke such words of wisdom. "Dress well"
she said meaning that " the apparel oft proclaims the
man." "Be frugal in your expenditure, don't spend
extravagantly on food and drinks; no one knows what goes
inside of you". "look after your money-though you may be
willing to part with yours-you cannot go asking people if
you happen to be in need." She used to say "neither a
lender nor a borrower be."
I had heard other ladies speak with disdain, sheer
arrogance. My eldest aunt was on the haughty side-but
not so my grandmother, and my gentle aunt Sujatha and
my good mother. They were gentle in demeanor as well as
speech.
32 3331
judging by their wedding photograph they must have been
a remarkably good looking couple.
The daughters my grandmother had were Flora Jane,
Sujatha and Leela, all beauties in their days. My stately
grandmother spoke such words of wisdom. "Dress well"
she said meaning that " the apparel oft proclaims the
man." "Be frugal in your expenditure, don't spend
extravagantly on food and drinks; no one knows what goes
inside of you". "look after your money-though you may be
willing to part with yours-you cannot go asking people if
you happen to be in need." She used to say "neither a
lender nor a borrower be."
I had heard other ladies speak with disdain, sheer
arrogance. My eldest aunt was on the haughty side-but
not so my grandmother, and my gentle aunt Sujatha and
my good mother. They were gentle in demeanor as well as
speech.
34 35
32
The Abrahams
My mother's eldest sister had married a son of a rich
leather merchant. Uncle was Don Carolis Abraham. They
had started life at Bambalapitiya where her eldest sons
were schooling at Royal College and their daughters at
Holy Family Convent. Windowed quite early in life, she left
her home in Colombo and settled down on Mirishena
Estate Kalutara. Her estate of rubber and coconut
provided her with a comfortable income. Her eldest son
Victor joined the CGR. Another son Hector who was at the
Medical College died of Typhoid. It was tragic and
unexpected blow. Her younger sons never came upto that
level. Geeta, Ena and Nerissa were all good looking girls.
Specially Nerissa "who looked liked an ancient Sinhala
princess" so said my friends who saw her when she came
to see me at the Training College. They were after a
wedding.
My mother was the youngest of grandmother's daughters
Jane, Sujatha and Leela. My father was a nephew of the
Jayawardena who my grandmother's sister was married
to. He had studied at St Thomas' Boys school in Matara. It
was his proud boast that he had walked five miles from his
33
brothers home in Dondra in order to get to school. Later
we heard that Dondra was only three miles away. He
wanted to make a favourable impression on his sons, now
boarders. They were studying in relative comfort at St.
John's College Panadura in "Lansi school". His father was
from Dickwella where assets were reckoned not only by
"goda bima" coconut lands but also by mada bima paddy
lands and by herds of buffalo which made Rahuna famous
for its curd. My father was the youngest of a family of
eleven brothers and three sisters. Having got through an
examination from which would have made him eligible for
coveted Government service, he had however followed
the advice of his brother in law to be and joined the
plantation sector which had "so many fringe benefits", so
they said.
34 3533
brothers home in Dondra in order to get to school. Later
we heard that Dondra was only three miles away. He
wanted to make a favourable impression on his sons, now
boarders. They were studying in relative comfort at St.
John's College Panadura in "Lansi school". His father was
from Dickwella where assets were reckoned not only by
"goda bima" coconut lands but also by mada bima paddy
lands and by herds of buffalo which made Rahuna famous
for its curd. My father was the youngest of a family of
eleven brothers and three sisters. Having got through an
examination from which would have made him eligible for
coveted Government service, he had however followed
the advice of his brother in law to be and joined the
plantation sector which had "so many fringe benefits", so
they said.
36 37
34
Mirishena Estate Kalutara North
"Peace I ask of Thee O river
Peace peace peace
When I learn to live serenely cares will cease"
I was by the Kalu Ganga. Their bungalow was on a hill
which sloped gradually to the river. I loved that river and
longed to bath in it. My cousins were not interested. A film
of soft dust settled on your skin after a river bath was their
excuse. Long afterwards I heard a tragedy had befallen
them .A cousin of theirs from Bambalapitiya who has been
recuperating after a nervous breakdown had got drowned
after playing in the shallow waters near the river bank. He
had been playing" wolf wolf" with passing fishing boats
shouting to them and calling them to his rescue but
sending them back once they came. One day when he had
actually got in to trouble and shouted for help they did not
take him seriously and he had got drowned.
By the house on the hill was a huge banyan tree -Nuge -
the botanical name Ficus Bengalinsis a landmark you could
identify from the Bo Tree in Kalutara South. They said that
35
on some nights strange lights - devata eli -rose from the
Nuge tree and flitted to the Bo-tree on the lower reaches
of the river. I never had the good fortune to witness this
phenomenon, but I believed in it's existence.
Like all other families the Mirishene residents had a big
buggy cart (cars were scarce or even non-existent during
this period). They had a big white bull but this bull would
never allow his buggy driver to tie him to the yolk with out
the lady of the house or one of the young ladies patting
him on his head and tying the first knot.
I loved to walk from the bungalow area to the riverside. In
a small area of flat land bordering the river, village women
made cadjans out of coconut fronds .On the hilly slopes
they tapped rubber which they carried in pails to the
smoke-room where the latex was converted to sheet
rubber. There were veralu and mango trees on the estate.
Nerissa and I would eat so many mangoes in one sitting
that to this date I can't imagine how we ate so many. Only
the seeds collected in a heap would bear testimony to the
extent of damage done but nobody bothered because
mangoes were plentiful.
36 37
35
on some nights strange lights - devata eli -rose from the
Nuge tree and flitted to the Bo-tree on the lower reaches
of the river. I never had the good fortune to witness this
phenomenon, but I believed in it's existence.
Like all other families the Mirishene residents had a big
buggy cart (cars were scarce or even non-existent during
this period). They had a big white bull but this bull would
never allow his buggy driver to tie him to the yolk with out
the lady of the house or one of the young ladies patting
him on his head and tying the first knot.
I loved to walk from the bungalow area to the riverside. In
a small area of flat land bordering the river, village women
made cadjans out of coconut fronds .On the hilly slopes
they tapped rubber which they carried in pails to the
smoke-room where the latex was converted to sheet
rubber. There were veralu and mango trees on the estate.
Nerissa and I would eat so many mangoes in one sitting
that to this date I can't imagine how we ate so many. Only
the seeds collected in a heap would bear testimony to the
extent of damage done but nobody bothered because
mangoes were plentiful.
38 39
36
The vegetable plots on the soil enriched by receding
waters of the river in flood were luxuriant. The Watakolu
(fence buoys) which have more fruits than leaves is still a
favourite of mine. I must admit that no Watakolu tasted as
good as those cooked in the Mirishena kitchen.
Swing and Rabana playing
As children, Nerissa, Wopedeva and I used to play on the
swing during the new year season. Wopedeva who studied
as Holy Cross college always beat me at Carrom and cards.
Although I had been rated as very intelligent according to
my performance at school, I thought Wopedeva was heaps
better than I. During the New Year season the women
labourers from the estate warmed up the household
rabana and played familiar tunes (Tum tumba gata
thunata palan, thiththa kekiri thunata palan).
Often the ladies of the household and even the more
fashionable Don Carolis cousins - visitors from Colombo -
joined them. It was a jolly sight to see aunty Rose and her
cousins with bejeweled rings on their plump fingers
playing the rabana. This they did well, even thought they
37
were the piano playing crowd. Their coconut property was
at Heediya Watta where we spent the day sometimes,
travelling there leisurely by buggy cart. But trouble
seemed to be brewing over there. Boundary problems had
come in to a climax with the watcher shooting a stubborn
villager who refused to allow the construction of a fence.
To save her son, his mother had jumped in front of him.
Both the mother and son had died on the same spot.
Lokku Mamma, who had been an eye witness to this
tragedy, was implicated in this case, which cost the
Abrahams a tidy sum. She also had to look after the
watcher's family until he came out of prison.
Matara
Way back in Matara, uncle Arthur's sons, Amaradasa and
Sugatadasa lived with my grandmotrher. In the adjoining
village, Pamburana, was my aunt Sujatha and her family.
This elder sister of my mother's had married in to a fairly
rich family, where the only son, a reckless type had run
through his resources leaving my aunt and children in
relative discomfort. Being educated, the children soon
picked up quickly, entering universities here and abroad
38 39
37
were the piano playing crowd. Their coconut property was
at Heediya Watta where we spent the day sometimes,
travelling there leisurely by buggy cart. But trouble
seemed to be brewing over there. Boundary problems had
come in to a climax with the watcher shooting a stubborn
villager who refused to allow the construction of a fence.
To save her son, his mother had jumped in front of him.
Both the mother and son had died on the same spot.
Lokku Mamma, who had been an eye witness to this
tragedy, was implicated in this case, which cost the
Abrahams a tidy sum. She also had to look after the
watcher's family until he came out of prison.
Matara
Way back in Matara, uncle Arthur's sons, Amaradasa and
Sugatadasa lived with my grandmotrher. In the adjoining
village, Pamburana, was my aunt Sujatha and her family.
This elder sister of my mother's had married in to a fairly
rich family, where the only son, a reckless type had run
through his resources leaving my aunt and children in
relative discomfort. Being educated, the children soon
picked up quickly, entering universities here and abroad
40 41
38
and achieving what earlier generations had failed to
obtain.
Uncle Arthur's sons, Amaradasa and Sugathadasa were
with grandmother because by this time, their mother from
Kahandawa in the deep south was no more. Memories of
Kahandawa nanda are associated with uncle and pots of
curd he always brought, but I don't remember her. In the
evenings, all the nephews including Dywynne ayya were at
grandmother's house to do their homework with uncle U
P. Amaradasa was always in hot water - cutting school and
playing volleyball with the village boys. When he came
home late, uncle would thrash him until he howled in pain.
His brother was quite a contrast - very docile and never
offending anybody. I felt sorry he would leave when he
became a monk. I remember the ordination ceremony
when with shaven head, he joined the Order. He left us to
join the Vajiraramaya in Bambalapitiya where he was
entrusted to the care of Palane Sri Vajiranyana thera, a
grand uncle.
39
Grandfather’s brother
Another faint recollection of early days is the memory of
seeing in the rear of grandmother's house, in a room, a
very old gentleman with long white hair and a flowing
white beard. He was reclining on an easy chair. He was
being fed by the man who looked after him. He was C P
muththa, my grand father's youngest brother who had
worked with Daya Hewavitharana and Anagarika
Dharmapala and others in the forefront of the Buddhist
cultural revival. He had had a hand in designing the
Buddhist flag, someone said in later years. At the time I
saw him he was very old and recognized no one.
Harvesting season - Akurassa
During the harvesting season, grandmother visited
Akurassa just to keep an eye on things. Jamis drove us
miles and miles by buggy and no wonder I fell asleep on
the way. We stayed the night in the Vidanaarachchis
house. It is the best house in the village. We slept in a four
poster bed on a fine mat of multi-coloured reeds,
beautifully woven in an intricate design of birds and
flowers and leaves.
40 41
39
Grandfather’s brother
Another faint recollection of early days is the memory of
seeing in the rear of grandmother's house, in a room, a
very old gentleman with long white hair and a flowing
white beard. He was reclining on an easy chair. He was
being fed by the man who looked after him. He was C P
muththa, my grand father's youngest brother who had
worked with Daya Hewavitharana and Anagarika
Dharmapala and others in the forefront of the Buddhist
cultural revival. He had had a hand in designing the
Buddhist flag, someone said in later years. At the time I
saw him he was very old and recognized no one.
Harvesting season - Akurassa
During the harvesting season, grandmother visited
Akurassa just to keep an eye on things. Jamis drove us
miles and miles by buggy and no wonder I fell asleep on
the way. We stayed the night in the Vidanaarachchis
house. It is the best house in the village. We slept in a four
poster bed on a fine mat of multi-coloured reeds,
beautifully woven in an intricate design of birds and
flowers and leaves.
42 43
40
Jamis had started a romantic affair with grandmother's
cook. He used to visit her at night when all were asleep.
The kitchen window was as far as he could get - but at
least he could speak to her. Grandmother who got a wind
of this romance got white sand spread outside the
window, hoping to do some clever detective work, but
Jamis was too shrewed. He swept away all the tell-tale
footprints and grandmother was left once again without
sufficient proof of their rendezvous. However, not long
afterwards, with grandmother's blessings, Jamis and Hinni
Hami settled down in their home in Akuressa. It was Jamis
who looked after the paddy fields.
Dondra
In these early years, I remember accompanying
grandmother to the Dondra fair. It was like a village fair of
today, not very much bigger, but it was an important
annual event, especially because it coincided with the
festivities of the Dewundara Devalaya. Of all the things
that caught my fancy were multi-coloured glass bangles
that glinted so beautifully in the sunlight. Grandmother
brought me a few of these scintillating bangles - not as
many as I would have liked to have. To compensate that
41
she brought Kalu Dodol - my favourite sweet meet and the
best sweet meat we can boast. It was twisted in to
sheathes made of dried Aricunut leaves.
When Jamis left Silva became the seethawasa buggy
driver. He drove us to school and uncle to office. Uncle U
P, a lawyer was a handsome young man. I remember some
teachers remarking that he was very good looking and
wondering whether he was still a bachelor! But I was not
as fond of him as I was of Indian uncle. He was Indian
uncle of Indian fairytales.
Uncle S P
By this time, Nalini too had joined us. Pretty Nalini had no
mother and we were extra kind to her. She wasn't at St.
Thomas' for long. She meant much to uncle S P and St.
Thomas' wasn't good enough for her. She must go to
Visakha Vidyalaya. She must be another Indira Gandhi? As
his expectations were fairly high, she left us. Uncle was a
popular parent at the Visakha hostel. "Everyone rallied
around to speak to him and I rarely got a chance to do so"
Nalini said. He was like a film star, I used to think.
42 43
41
she brought Kalu Dodol - my favourite sweet meet and the
best sweet meat we can boast. It was twisted in to
sheathes made of dried Aricunut leaves.
When Jamis left Silva became the seethawasa buggy
driver. He drove us to school and uncle to office. Uncle U
P, a lawyer was a handsome young man. I remember some
teachers remarking that he was very good looking and
wondering whether he was still a bachelor! But I was not
as fond of him as I was of Indian uncle. He was Indian
uncle of Indian fairytales.
Uncle S P
By this time, Nalini too had joined us. Pretty Nalini had no
mother and we were extra kind to her. She wasn't at St.
Thomas' for long. She meant much to uncle S P and St.
Thomas' wasn't good enough for her. She must go to
Visakha Vidyalaya. She must be another Indira Gandhi? As
his expectations were fairly high, she left us. Uncle was a
popular parent at the Visakha hostel. "Everyone rallied
around to speak to him and I rarely got a chance to do so"
Nalini said. He was like a film star, I used to think.
44 4542
As he was a successful executive at Basanquet & Skrine, he
was able to take a special interest in his mother and
family. When he paid a visit to Matara, he was able to
bring gifts for everyone. Although uncle Arthur was the
eldest in the family, it was uncle S P who was called upon
to steer the family ship in events of emergency. I can not
remember my grandfather. He was probably no more by
the time I came in to this world and so it was always
grandmother who ruled the roost at normal times. I must
say uncle S P was a very duty conscious son and brother
but misfortune had befallen him when he lost his beloved
Jesse. Aunty was a kind and beautiful lady. It wasn't easy
to get over a death like that of hers or for a matter of fact,
death of any kind. So we must understand why he wasn't
interested in marrying aunty Jesse's sisters but it would
have done him a world of good, because he seemed so
lonely in later years. Although uncle was caring and
concerned about his kith and kin, he was not extra
lenient. He knew when to be strict and that is all the more
reason why everyone looked up to him. When there was
cause for anxiety in our family, when we were children, it
was uncle whom mother sent for. His very presence gave
her courage to face any situation. 43
In later years, my brother who had joined the army as a
Second Lieutenant and was under training in Diyathalawa
had met with an accident. He had incurred a spinal injury.
Father and uncle had visited him. In his usual disciplinary
tone, he shouted at brother "pannina kehelmala pannina
hatiyata panninne nathowa mokkadda me karagaththe".
The whole ward had burst in to fits of laughter. Brother
who was in pain had forgotten about his pain and joined
in. Immediately after the first onslaught, uncle had toned
down and spoken like the good uncle that he was.
Ghost Writer
Seethawasa, Wakgama, Matara was normally a quiet
household, but there were periods of feverish activity.
Uncle contested and won a village council election. It was
in the Tihagoda Godagama area but names seem to get
mixed up and become elusive to me after all these years.
Later it was thought he would contest the Matara seat in
the state council, but fate had decreed otherwise and my
kind aunt was widowed early in life. To think anyone could
die of appendicitis is quite unusual today. But it did
happen and the three little sons grew up without a father -
44 45
43
In later years, my brother who had joined the army as a
Second Lieutenant and was under training in Diyathalawa
had met with an accident. He had incurred a spinal injury.
Father and uncle had visited him. In his usual disciplinary
tone, he shouted at brother "pannina kehelmala pannina
hatiyata panninne nathowa mokkadda me karagaththe".
The whole ward had burst in to fits of laughter. Brother
who was in pain had forgotten about his pain and joined
in. Immediately after the first onslaught, uncle had toned
down and spoken like the good uncle that he was.
Ghost Writer
Seethawasa, Wakgama, Matara was normally a quiet
household, but there were periods of feverish activity.
Uncle contested and won a village council election. It was
in the Tihagoda Godagama area but names seem to get
mixed up and become elusive to me after all these years.
Later it was thought he would contest the Matara seat in
the state council, but fate had decreed otherwise and my
kind aunt was widowed early in life. To think anyone could
die of appendicitis is quite unusual today. But it did
happen and the three little sons grew up without a father -
46 4744
their mother and grandmother guiding their destinies. I
was deeply moved by uncle's death. I wrote one of my first
poems which was published in the school magazine. "This
girl could never have written this", some of the Pundits at
the other side of the school wall, St. Thomas' Boy's school
said. But I was 13+ and did write it. But my own teachers
did not doubt me.
To the Sky:
O sky
Now when I look upon thy star bespangled face
I think of joys and sorrows that do quick proceed
Thou art not always starlit
Black, darkened clouds trespass thy way
So is it with life
Joy never lasts, sorrow is always on her path
So do we midst joys and sorrows live
But must go when we are called
Along the path which we have traced
When I look back on my poem later, I myself wondered
whether it was my uncle's death which inspired me or
45
whether it was my dead uncle who inspired me to write it.
Strange things do happen in life and we cannot account for
them.
Aunty Roselyn
My uncle's sons, who attended our school at the
beginning, later shifted to the boy's school and Ananda
College, Colombo. Rahula College, Matara was also
becoming popular and my youngest cousin, George
attended that school. My grandmother was deeply shaken
by the loss of her son and so was my bereaved aunt. It
must have given them some solace in later years when my
aunt's brother, Harry Dias Abeygunawardena, making
Seethawasa his headquarters contested and won the
Matara seat in the State Council. But that was on a
Communist ticket. However I was not there to experience
the tremendous amount of activity that must have been in
operation. I had passed my Cambridge Senior examination
and shifted to St. John's College, Panadura for my London
Matriculation.
46 47
45
whether it was my dead uncle who inspired me to write it.
Strange things do happen in life and we cannot account for
them.
Aunty Roselyn
My uncle's sons, who attended our school at the
beginning, later shifted to the boy's school and Ananda
College, Colombo. Rahula College, Matara was also
becoming popular and my youngest cousin, George
attended that school. My grandmother was deeply shaken
by the loss of her son and so was my bereaved aunt. It
must have given them some solace in later years when my
aunt's brother, Harry Dias Abeygunawardena, making
Seethawasa his headquarters contested and won the
Matara seat in the State Council. But that was on a
Communist ticket. However I was not there to experience
the tremendous amount of activity that must have been in
operation. I had passed my Cambridge Senior examination
and shifted to St. John's College, Panadura for my London
Matriculation.
48 49
46
Sekkuwa
In the years before uncle died, and even afterwards, the
household was a hub of activity at various times. When
the harvest was brought in, long "magal" mats were rolled
out in the spacious backyard and the grain was dried well
before it was stored in a huge wooden box which occupied
half the kitchen. Once in two or three months, coconuts
were brought and heaped in great mounds in the
backyard. Many men were employed to husk the
coconuts. They were split in two and placed faced upwards
to dry in the warm sunshine. The 'palamada' which were
formed inside some of the coconut was good eating and
were sold to women who carried them away in large
baskets.
After the coconut kernels were removed from their shells
and dried for many weeks in the open yard, they were fed
in ti a stone grinder - a sekkuwa - to produce coconut oil. A
bull was tied to one end of the long pole attached to the
giant grinder. The bull was driven round andround by a
boy employed to keep the sekkuwa turning. Once the oil
was collected, the refuse was sold as fodder for cart bulls.
The sekkuwas have disappeared completely from homes
47
these days but in those days, young masters of the house
had much fun sitting beside the sekku drivers, helping it to
go round and round. Gone are these leisurely days and
nowhere does anyone see a sekkuwa in coconut growing
areas of the south. The introduction of machinery in
factories has ousted this ancient mode completely. If at all
it serves the purpose of being an ornamental feature in
some fashionable urban garden or tourist hotel. The oil
extracted through the sekkuwa was not used for domestic
purposes. For this purpose, oil was made differently.
Scraped coconut was boiled in a large bronze vessel,
squeezed by hand and pounded in a wooden mortar by
two women who took turns in dealin the alternative shots.
The thudding sound of the pester and mortar, the creaking
of the sekkuwa, the slow grinding of kurakkan on the small
stone grinder were familiar sounds in the rear sections of
old homes in the south in bygone days. Nevertheless, the
ladies of the household who took great pride in their black
long hair used neither of these varieties of oil. They used
the "ran thambili" - kind coconut scented with roasted dil
seed and dried savandara roots.
48 4947
these days but in those days, young masters of the house
had much fun sitting beside the sekku drivers, helping it to
go round and round. Gone are these leisurely days and
nowhere does anyone see a sekkuwa in coconut growing
areas of the south. The introduction of machinery in
factories has ousted this ancient mode completely. If at all
it serves the purpose of being an ornamental feature in
some fashionable urban garden or tourist hotel. The oil
extracted through the sekkuwa was not used for domestic
purposes. For this purpose, oil was made differently.
Scraped coconut was boiled in a large bronze vessel,
squeezed by hand and pounded in a wooden mortar by
two women who took turns in dealin the alternative shots.
The thudding sound of the pester and mortar, the creaking
of the sekkuwa, the slow grinding of kurakkan on the small
stone grinder were familiar sounds in the rear sections of
old homes in the south in bygone days. Nevertheless, the
ladies of the household who took great pride in their black
long hair used neither of these varieties of oil. They used
the "ran thambili" - kind coconut scented with roasted dil
seed and dried savandara roots.
50 51
48
Matara breadfruit season
At certain times of the year and quite often, cart loads of
breadfruit fruit from various parts of the village were sold
by the cart load. The fruits that were part broken were cut
up and boiled to be distributed among workers - both men
and women. Balaya cut up and curried accompanied the
boiled breadfruit. Sometimes, scraped coconut was an
addition. This was enjoyed heartily by one and all. Today,
people will shy away from such heaty combinations. But
in those days they ate it and there were no unpleasant
after effects. In fact I have heard it said that even poorer,
ill-nourished women became robust and round during the
breadfruit season. Breadfruit was also dried and store
away for a rainy day, at least to supplement the big eaters
among the workers. The breadfruit cut up was par boiled
in hot water and cut again in to thin strips. These were
spread on coarse mats and dried in the hot sun. The
cutting up was a slow process which required many hands.
It had to be completed as quickly as possible. I too found it
to be an interesting past-time. Squatting on the floor and
cutting up the soft breadfruit with a sharp knife held firmly
between the big toe and the second. Many women helped
49
in the operation. At the long back verandah, were full of
hands at work.
Temple visits
Sometimes we went to a temple at Divigalahena and on
Poya nights we walked to the Pamburana temple to listen
to the Bana preachings. Walking back in the moonlight
was pleasant and even the hooting of the night owl, earlier
considered to be eerie and foreboding had become a
soothing night song.
When I look back on the earlier period of my life, I find I
have a certain empathy for the buggy cart. I knew people
conduct Hakeri races but I don't know why they don't
popularise races of buggy carts.
As in a dream, I remember the girls who used to go to
school by buggy - Johanah in her buggy cart, the Welage
watta sisters in theirs, Chandra Wanigasekara and her long
legged brother in their shinny new buggy, the Perera's in
their large buggy and aunty Derby's cart in which she was
always chaperoned by one of her parents and so many
others, especially so when I saw the school buggy cart on
50 51
49
in the operation. At the long back verandah, were full of
hands at work.
Temple visits
Sometimes we went to a temple at Divigalahena and on
Poya nights we walked to the Pamburana temple to listen
to the Bana preachings. Walking back in the moonlight
was pleasant and even the hooting of the night owl, earlier
considered to be eerie and foreboding had become a
soothing night song.
When I look back on the earlier period of my life, I find I
have a certain empathy for the buggy cart. I knew people
conduct Hakeri races but I don't know why they don't
popularise races of buggy carts.
As in a dream, I remember the girls who used to go to
school by buggy - Johanah in her buggy cart, the Welage
watta sisters in theirs, Chandra Wanigasekara and her long
legged brother in their shinny new buggy, the Perera's in
their large buggy and aunty Derby's cart in which she was
always chaperoned by one of her parents and so many
others, especially so when I saw the school buggy cart on
52 53
50
the day the old girls visited St. Thomas' Matara. How I wish
I could get in and ride that cart once more. But before I
could voice my opinion, a more energetic young person,
Esther, had already jumped in and was being driven
around the school quadrangle.
Walgama
Walgama Matara was a sleepy hamlet by Galle road and
there was little to disturb its peace in the days gone by. On
a long weekend sometimes, grandmother brought us from
the hostel. When school closed for the long holidays, it
was grandmother who took us to our parental homes.
People rarely travelled by bus. Long distance travel was
always by train. That would mean you were living close to
a station - which couldn't always be. However, we set off
early in the morning to get to Kamburugamuwa station.
Jamis got the buggy ready with candles lit inside the two
lamps to the right and left of his driving seat and we sat in
the rear and made the slow, sleepy ride to the station. To
begin with, all round us was darkness and the candle light
cast eerie patterns on the road. We had started so early,
that when we finally got to the station at daybreak, we
had a long wait until the train came. We had set off too
51
early, but that was my grandmothers' way of doing things.
No one would question her because everyone knew she
would never miss a train.
Grandmother was a welcome visitor in the homes of her
children in Kalutara, Horana and Pannipitiya. Our first stop
was at Mirishena estate, Kalutara, where grandmother's
prosperous daughter lived. After a few happy days with
cousins - Ena, Nerissa, Edmond and Wopedewa, we
resumed our journey to Horana.
52 53
51
early, but that was my grandmothers' way of doing things.
No one would question her because everyone knew she
would never miss a train.
Grandmother was a welcome visitor in the homes of her
children in Kalutara, Horana and Pannipitiya. Our first stop
was at Mirishena estate, Kalutara, where grandmother's
prosperous daughter lived. After a few happy days with
cousins - Ena, Nerissa, Edmond and Wopedewa, we
resumed our journey to Horana.
54 55
52
CHAPTER 3
"We are what the winds and waters have made us"
Sorana Horana
This was where we spent a very happy childhood.
Grandmother too liked staying with her youngest
daughter. So my cousins Jeswyn and Nalini also found
themselves spending a considerable part of their holiday
with us. Sometimes our little cousins, Indra and Chandra
joined us. Uncle J P and aunty Susila came to stay with us
no sooner schools closed. By then uncle had returned from
India. He was principal of Gamini College, Bentota. He
always preferred working in rural areas. He did not want
the big schools in the town. Uncle was principal of
Hunumulla Central and Gamini College both. Little Usha
who studies in uncle's schools and the Blue Mountain
(Nilgri) school in Utih to begin with finally joined the
Madras Medical College. She brought a great deal of
happiness in to their lives. Later, when they settled down
in Woodland Avenue, Usha and her children were devoted
to the grandparents.
53
Having many visitors was always a welcome proposition
because we had a large bungalow, many servants to help
and plenty of good food too. Sorana was a rubber estate,
one of a large group of estates belonging to George Stuart
and Company. Sorana was ideal for a holiday. In the
spacious bungalow and on the estate with its hills and
valleys, lakes and ponds and streams, we spent many
happy years.
Before school closed, mother was ready for us. She had
made quantities of sweets - Milk toffee, puhul dosi, Kalu
Dodol and sometimes Bibikkan and Muscat too. I being the
eldest was entrusted with the keys of the safe. Sweets
were given at appropriate times by mother. But M R
impatiently removed the hinges of the safe and took
whatever he wanted, while I who was the custodian of the
safe had my fill. The younger folk who were clueless about
these pranks were content with whatever mother gave.
However, the present day child would not be interested in
eating these sweets. He would definitely prefer short eats
and cakes. We had a dairy which supplied milk and curd. In
our large back garden grew many fruits - plantains,
papaws, mangoes, pineapples, passion fruit and dodan.
54 55
53
Having many visitors was always a welcome proposition
because we had a large bungalow, many servants to help
and plenty of good food too. Sorana was a rubber estate,
one of a large group of estates belonging to George Stuart
and Company. Sorana was ideal for a holiday. In the
spacious bungalow and on the estate with its hills and
valleys, lakes and ponds and streams, we spent many
happy years.
Before school closed, mother was ready for us. She had
made quantities of sweets - Milk toffee, puhul dosi, Kalu
Dodol and sometimes Bibikkan and Muscat too. I being the
eldest was entrusted with the keys of the safe. Sweets
were given at appropriate times by mother. But M R
impatiently removed the hinges of the safe and took
whatever he wanted, while I who was the custodian of the
safe had my fill. The younger folk who were clueless about
these pranks were content with whatever mother gave.
However, the present day child would not be interested in
eating these sweets. He would definitely prefer short eats
and cakes. We had a dairy which supplied milk and curd. In
our large back garden grew many fruits - plantains,
papaws, mangoes, pineapples, passion fruit and dodan.
56 57
54
The bungalow at Sorana had a right wing and a left. The
boys had the smaller right wing to themselves while the
girls had accommodation on the right side which extended
to the kitchen and servants' quarters. In the rooms
adjoining the kitchen, all the domestic activity involving
the female population took place. Beside the normal
household chores, there was the pounding of paddy and
the grinding of kurakkan.
In Kaluthara and Horana, it never rains but pours. Prior to
the introduction of electricity and water service, we had
great fun running from sprout to sprout in the rain pouring
down in torrents. We were not supposed to do it but we
did it very gayliy. No coughs and colds, no fever - we were
immune to all that.
Normally we bathed in a lovely pond near the fields. It was
a secluded spot and the water was within our reach. With
all the fresh air and sunshine and cool, clear water, we
grew up, the seven of us. MR an JR now borders at St.
John's College, Panadura and us at St. Thomas', Matara.
But these were holidays and we were free to wander, free
55
to roam as we wishes, provided we kept to safe areas and
Guneris accommpanied us. Next to the girls' large
bedroom was a smaller room with a built in table and
wooden seats used originally for what I do not know. It
became our favourite resort for reading, cooking and all
kinds of kindred activity. The entrance to this was through
the side garden but we always got in through our bedroom
window which had our names and nick names carved on it.
This was specifically our domain. I don't remember the
older generation having anything to do with it except
when we invited them to taste out cooking. Meals were
heavily subsidised by the main kitchen but this was our
own - not only girls own but boys own too (there were
popular magazines by these names).
In the front garden, bordering the wide green lawn were
many huge trees with bright green foliage and vivid orange
flowers; the young buds of which we use to spurt a
colourless liquid to annoy one another. White temple
flower trees which grew near the front garden wall not
only provided flowers but gave us comfortable seats
among their gnarl branches. On the further side near the
house were guava trees we climbed to eat the ripened
56 57
55
to roam as we wishes, provided we kept to safe areas and
Guneris accommpanied us. Next to the girls' large
bedroom was a smaller room with a built in table and
wooden seats used originally for what I do not know. It
became our favourite resort for reading, cooking and all
kinds of kindred activity. The entrance to this was through
the side garden but we always got in through our bedroom
window which had our names and nick names carved on it.
This was specifically our domain. I don't remember the
older generation having anything to do with it except
when we invited them to taste out cooking. Meals were
heavily subsidised by the main kitchen but this was our
own - not only girls own but boys own too (there were
popular magazines by these names).
In the front garden, bordering the wide green lawn were
many huge trees with bright green foliage and vivid orange
flowers; the young buds of which we use to spurt a
colourless liquid to annoy one another. White temple
flower trees which grew near the front garden wall not
only provided flowers but gave us comfortable seats
among their gnarl branches. On the further side near the
house were guava trees we climbed to eat the ripened
58 59
56
fruits which grew there. Situated a short distance from the
bungalow was the main factory, a four story building in
which crepe rubber was made. Sometimes, when we had
visitors, father conducted them on a guided tour of the
premises and we too trailed behind them. Otherwise we
had very little to do with the factory or the office. In the
evening when the work was over, we ran races and also
played cricket on the factory lawn, which was very
spacious. Father joined us sometimes when we played
cricket. Further end of the factory was the stores, where
rice and food stuff was doled out to the labourers and
rubber tappers. The older Tamil women wore saree minus
blouses but the younger ones wore blouses to match their
colourful long skirts. Close by was the bakery where a
friendly man with a black moustache which turned
upwards at either end made excellent bread and cakes on
request.
The Lakes
Beyond our back garden were two lakes - one small and
the other large constructed for the purpose of storing
water for pumping to the factory. Around the bigger lake
were bamboo groves on the embankments and slopes. On
57
this bund - between the lake and fields below, we spent
many an evening listening to records play on our portable
gramophone "my blue heaven, the donkey's serenade, the
whistler and his dog, the woodpecker's song, oh wonderful
child, somewhere over the rainbow, will there be any
cowboys up in heaven". Bing Crosby, Gene Audrey, Frank
Sinatra were popular singers. Gene Audrey singing "Darling
how can you forget so soon?" was more a plaintative wail
than a song. We had Sinhala records soon "Sara Surathi
Ramya, Wandanawe Yamu, Gauthama Siri Pada Wandimi
Samanala kande, and Rukmni Devi's Siri buddhagaya, dadi
kala matha and a host of others."Vile malak pipila
kadimay" had become a popular hit. Jeswyn and Jinadasa
used to dance to this tune (and Jinadasa is no more).
Sometimes J R enlivened these proceedings by playing the
mouth organ. It was he who like a one man band
accompanied us when we went for walks or climbed hills.
There was a favourite of ours - Narathana kanda, which
fired our imagination. Na (iron wood) and rubber trees
grew on top too and as we clamoured up the slopes,
climbing over boulders and rocks, both Guneris and rubber
tappers told us stories of cattle theives and robbers who
used the rock caves for their nefarious activities. Where
58 5957
this bund - between the lake and fields below, we spent
many an evening listening to records play on our portable
gramophone "my blue heaven, the donkey's serenade, the
whistler and his dog, the woodpecker's song, oh wonderful
child, somewhere over the rainbow, will there be any
cowboys up in heaven". Bing Crosby, Gene Audrey, Frank
Sinatra were popular singers. Gene Audrey singing "Darling
how can you forget so soon?" was more a plaintative wail
than a song. We had Sinhala records soon "Sara Surathi
Ramya, Wandanawe Yamu, Gauthama Siri Pada Wandimi
Samanala kande, and Rukmni Devi's Siri buddhagaya, dadi
kala matha and a host of others."Vile malak pipila
kadimay" had become a popular hit. Jeswyn and Jinadasa
used to dance to this tune (and Jinadasa is no more).
Sometimes J R enlivened these proceedings by playing the
mouth organ. It was he who like a one man band
accompanied us when we went for walks or climbed hills.
There was a favourite of ours - Narathana kanda, which
fired our imagination. Na (iron wood) and rubber trees
grew on top too and as we clamoured up the slopes,
climbing over boulders and rocks, both Guneris and rubber
tappers told us stories of cattle theives and robbers who
used the rock caves for their nefarious activities. Where
60 61
58
the iron wood (Na) grew, there was a large slab of stone
well maintained by the sun and rain. We sat on it when we
had a picnic or watched the bright red sun going down
leaving a big beautiful red, orange and gold sky. But we
never dared to stay too long because night would soon be
upon us. Down we clambered as fast as we could, until we
felt safe in the paddy fields below the lakes.
During the day sometimes my brothers, with Guneris's
help made raft like bats with banana trunks, straddled
together with spikes driven in to them. They rode from
one end of the lake to the other from Fort Fredrick to Fort
St. George (we were steeped in the history of the British
empire and hardly had regard for our own). Brothers knew
how to swim but we didn't never dared to enter the water
- even to pluck the white Olu which grew there.
Vesak
On Vesak days we decorated the front verandah and
garden with coloured lanterns, flags and festoons of
garlands made with strips of brightly coloured paper.
There were a few Japanese lanterns and other decorations
pulled out from where they had been carefully stored after
59
the previous year's Vesak celebrations. After Vesak
celebrations, the servants usually scraped the candle wax
which had fallen on to the cement floor and recycled them
in to candles with the help of a papaw stem. After one
Vesak, we thought of doing it ourselves. Lily had the
papaw stem while I poured the re-heated candle wax, not
only in to the papaw stem but also on Lily's hand. She
screamed in pain. I had heard that salt was the best
remedy for burns so I dashed in to the kitchen and brought
the salt water which I poured on to Lily's hand, which was
extremely red and blistered. Lily screamed louder and
louder so I rubbed the salt in to the affected areas. Larger
blisters came up and I got really frightened. It was a great
relief that mother had come and was scolding me. Lily was
taken to the hospital at the boundary and received prompt
attention. Although the burn injury healed quickly, pinkish
white marks remained for many years. We fortunately saw
the last of them a few months before Lily's wedding.
Father takes us on tours
Sometimes father took us on trips to such memorable
places. We started by going South, visiting friends and
family in theTangalle/ Kataragama areas. Driving cross-
60 61
59
the previous year's Vesak celebrations. After Vesak
celebrations, the servants usually scraped the candle wax
which had fallen on to the cement floor and recycled them
in to candles with the help of a papaw stem. After one
Vesak, we thought of doing it ourselves. Lily had the
papaw stem while I poured the re-heated candle wax, not
only in to the papaw stem but also on Lily's hand. She
screamed in pain. I had heard that salt was the best
remedy for burns so I dashed in to the kitchen and brought
the salt water which I poured on to Lily's hand, which was
extremely red and blistered. Lily screamed louder and
louder so I rubbed the salt in to the affected areas. Larger
blisters came up and I got really frightened. It was a great
relief that mother had come and was scolding me. Lily was
taken to the hospital at the boundary and received prompt
attention. Although the burn injury healed quickly, pinkish
white marks remained for many years. We fortunately saw
the last of them a few months before Lily's wedding.
Father takes us on tours
Sometimes father took us on trips to such memorable
places. We started by going South, visiting friends and
family in theTangalle/ Kataragama areas. Driving cross-
62 63
60
country we were in the hills - Banadarawela, Nuwara Eliya,
Kandy, Matale, over to Mahiyangana. Soon we were in the
historic Polonnaruwa/ Anuradhapura regions. Having
worshipped at places of religious interest, we were once
more in the North West coast driving homewards. Even
after children got married and numbers increased, we
rarely missed this annual trip.
Sinhala New Year
Who was more welcome than the Koha who ushered in
the New Year. We loved to hear his voice and tried to
imitate him and thought the world of him, little realising
that he was an unattractive bird, somewhat like a small
crow. When he heralded the New Year, it was time for
everyone to get ready.New clothes were bought and
dresses sewn. Presents (a general gift that would benefit
everybody) like games was bought and hidden out of sight
until 14th April). Meanwhile, the house itself was full of
the aroma of different kinds of sweets - Mung
Kawum,kokis and finally, kawum (oil cakes) were carefully
stored in new earthenwear vessels. Making kalu dodol was
a laborious process, but if made, it was the favourite of the
season. All this we watched, sitting by the fireside.
61
Sometimes, many hands were at work and there was a
great deal of excitement. Twirling the ekel to correctly to
get the "kondey" of the kawum needed skill and couldn't
be mastered by the likes of us.
On New Year morning the table was laid with milk rice, oil
cakes, kokis, ripe plantains and a host of other sweets. A
brightly polished brass lamp stood on the table as it did
every year, shedding a warm glow. It gave a cheery aura of
peace and plenty as it brightened our tabel every April.
Father, mother and seven of us in brand new clothes, sat
round the table and partook of the first meal at the
auspicious time. The servants lit crackers. Later they too
sat at the same table and had their meal and even the
cows in the dairy were given their share of kiribath. Father
gave us money which we were supposed to keep until the
following year but I must admit we spent it on our first
visit to the hostel tuck shop.
On New Year's day, the lunch was also a grand one. We
ate sitting on a mat, at the centre of which was all the rice
and curries. Our plates had plantain leaves on them. This
must have been a Hindu custom my father observed but
62 6361
Sometimes, many hands were at work and there was a
great deal of excitement. Twirling the ekel to correctly to
get the "kondey" of the kawum needed skill and couldn't
be mastered by the likes of us.
On New Year morning the table was laid with milk rice, oil
cakes, kokis, ripe plantains and a host of other sweets. A
brightly polished brass lamp stood on the table as it did
every year, shedding a warm glow. It gave a cheery aura of
peace and plenty as it brightened our tabel every April.
Father, mother and seven of us in brand new clothes, sat
round the table and partook of the first meal at the
auspicious time. The servants lit crackers. Later they too
sat at the same table and had their meal and even the
cows in the dairy were given their share of kiribath. Father
gave us money which we were supposed to keep until the
following year but I must admit we spent it on our first
visit to the hostel tuck shop.
On New Year's day, the lunch was also a grand one. We
ate sitting on a mat, at the centre of which was all the rice
and curries. Our plates had plantain leaves on them. This
must have been a Hindu custom my father observed but
64 65
62
we never hear of it today, nor do we continue to do so in
our own homes.
Another special feature of the New Year was the swing.
We spent many an hour swinging and swinging,
sometimes alone and sometimes in twos. "How do you like
to go up in a swing, up in the air so blue...". We sang
"Onchili gee" too. We played gamed with cadjunuts. Each
one of us was given a quota from the cadju bank which
mother operated. We played "wala kaju" and "namawala"
lucky if the marble is rolled from a considerable distance
from the nine holes rolled into the centre hole and we
gathered all the cadjus in all nine holes, but even if you got
one hole you got the contents of that hole.
"Panchi" was another popular game. There was a special
board marked out for the purpose of playing panchi while
at the head near the board game. We others had when it
came to our turn, to drop the seashells "kawadi" and
count the numer that fell the face upwards. Like in the
game of Ludo, these numbers were entered on the board
by means of pawns of different colours or shapes in order
to get the final win, Panchi, like Ludo, was a team game
63
enjoyed by family and friends. It's a pity that these games
are no more. The computer loving chiled of the present
day knows nothing of these games we children played.
Temples
On bright moonlit nights on Poya days, we walked to the
big temple beyond the town. The trip to the Rajamaha
vihara we liked, but I must admit that it was the moonlight
walk we enjoyed above everything else. On other days, we
paid a visit to the avasa - the smaller temple nearby. It was
across the fields. We could hear the chanting of pirith in
the evenings, and when the temple bell was rung, it
reverberated in the cool twilight air, adding to the peace
and serenity that prevailed. The poem "village song"
echoes the beauty of the quiet evening.
"Come now oh come, the temple bell is ringing
The west is all aglow with golden fire"
It was mother who instilled into us the earliest essence of
religious wisdom. Our parents and the priests in the
temple and our relatives who were priests were the pillars
that helped us to prop up out Buddhist faith. In school we
64 65
63
enjoyed by family and friends. It's a pity that these games
are no more. The computer loving chiled of the present
day knows nothing of these games we children played.
Temples
On bright moonlit nights on Poya days, we walked to the
big temple beyond the town. The trip to the Rajamaha
vihara we liked, but I must admit that it was the moonlight
walk we enjoyed above everything else. On other days, we
paid a visit to the avasa - the smaller temple nearby. It was
across the fields. We could hear the chanting of pirith in
the evenings, and when the temple bell was rung, it
reverberated in the cool twilight air, adding to the peace
and serenity that prevailed. The poem "village song"
echoes the beauty of the quiet evening.
"Come now oh come, the temple bell is ringing
The west is all aglow with golden fire"
It was mother who instilled into us the earliest essence of
religious wisdom. Our parents and the priests in the
temple and our relatives who were priests were the pillars
that helped us to prop up out Buddhist faith. In school we
66 6764
didn't learn Buddhism. Christianity and scripture were
compulsory. This did not worry us. We took it all in stride.
In fact, though a non- Christian, I often won the scripture
prize. One day my principal, Sister Huldah who was fond of
me said that I was a better Christian than Christians. I was
deeply elated. In later years my uncles and cousins
ridiculed me for having such a gullible follower of the
Christian faith. Even my Indian uncle condemned my
"decadent Christian ideas" as he called them. He, like all
other Indians was deeply immersed in the Independence
struggle in India. I thought then that it hardly matters what
name you give your faith. It is the guiding principals that
must be instilled in to the individuals so that they are
assimilated and we become good human beings.
Table-Tennis
One New Year day, father gave us a new present. It was a
Table Tennis set. He couldn't have thought of anything
better. We were in later years, most of us champs at table
tennis. When the war broke out and Australian soldiers
were posted at so called vantage points and one was our
favourite hill, Narathana Kande , they palled up with my
brothers and came over to play table tennis. My brothers,
65
who were Boy Scouts had fun at night, signalling to them
with torches. It was the Norse code they used for
exchanging messages. Later, after the Australians had left,
Punjabi soldiers were posted at various places in our
neighbourhood and in Sorana too. I remember some of
them teasing my sister. "Chota chokere, chota chokere
nami nami?" (little girl, little girl, what's your name?) but
she was shy and never answered their questions. With her
curly hair flying, she would make a beeline to mother and
hide. She was a teeny weeny little one with a fine head of
curly hair.
A little learning is not always a dangerous thing, because
our servant who had been sent to Colombo to see our
brothers in school had been waiting on the roadside for a
possible chance to get back. "Kia batha hai" Punjabi
soldiers in a truck asked him. "Horana ganta hai" had
replied and they had given him a lift to Horana. He was
ever so proud about his ability to converse with the
soldiers in what he thought was Punjabi language.
66 6765
who were Boy Scouts had fun at night, signalling to them
with torches. It was the Norse code they used for
exchanging messages. Later, after the Australians had left,
Punjabi soldiers were posted at various places in our
neighbourhood and in Sorana too. I remember some of
them teasing my sister. "Chota chokere, chota chokere
nami nami?" (little girl, little girl, what's your name?) but
she was shy and never answered their questions. With her
curly hair flying, she would make a beeline to mother and
hide. She was a teeny weeny little one with a fine head of
curly hair.
A little learning is not always a dangerous thing, because
our servant who had been sent to Colombo to see our
brothers in school had been waiting on the roadside for a
possible chance to get back. "Kia batha hai" Punjabi
soldiers in a truck asked him. "Horana ganta hai" had
replied and they had given him a lift to Horana. He was
ever so proud about his ability to converse with the
soldiers in what he thought was Punjabi language.
68 69
66
CHAPTER 4
Growing Pains
Brothers MR and JR were already borders at Ananda
College, Colombo when I joined the London Matriculation
Form at St. John's college. One of the two hostels for girls
was close to the school laboratory, while Ameshurst where
Miss Beth, the school principal of the Girl's school presided
was some distance away beyond the Girls Home Science
section and Tennis Court. Miss May Young was matron of
St. Patricks. Her younger sister Cissie Young also lived
there. St. Patricks was our hostel.
The principal's bungalow where Mr. And Mrs. Cyril Jansz Jr
and their pretty daughter Rosemary lived along with her
two brothers was on a terrace below. Beyond this spacious
bungalow and bordering the Kuruppamulla road was the
boys' hostel. These college buildings were on a large
property owned by the Jansz family. Sometimes children
of other family members like the talkative Peter Janz
joined the school. Jennifer Jansz, Mrs. Jansz's good looking
sister and Dorothy Koch, Glencora Keyt, a relative of
67
George Keyt, the painter, were besides many other
Burgher students and teachers whom I remember. If a boy
made a foolish mistake in class, another would shout "Hey,
where you come from?" and ridicule him.
Of course, we Sinhala students were a majority and this
was a co-educational institution where there was a certain
spirit of friendship - for which I think the genial Mr. Jansz
was responsible. Mr. And Mrs. Jansz were a handsome
couple and we seemed to feel that we were part of a large
extended family. Some of our teachers - Cissie Young, a
famous beauty in her day was out Botany teacher. Miss
Olive Blacker and Peglotte had spent the better part of
their teaching lives in the Panadura schools of which
College was a mixed institution while the Boys School was
for boys and the Girls School exclusively for girls. Then we
had the Maddkumbura Primary to which I have heard very
distinguished persons refer to as the place where they
began their schooling.
I was proud to belong to this vast institution and was
quickly immersed in the various activities of the school and
hostel. Our studies were directed by many qualified senior
68 69
67
George Keyt, the painter, were besides many other
Burgher students and teachers whom I remember. If a boy
made a foolish mistake in class, another would shout "Hey,
where you come from?" and ridicule him.
Of course, we Sinhala students were a majority and this
was a co-educational institution where there was a certain
spirit of friendship - for which I think the genial Mr. Jansz
was responsible. Mr. And Mrs. Jansz were a handsome
couple and we seemed to feel that we were part of a large
extended family. Some of our teachers - Cissie Young, a
famous beauty in her day was out Botany teacher. Miss
Olive Blacker and Peglotte had spent the better part of
their teaching lives in the Panadura schools of which
College was a mixed institution while the Boys School was
for boys and the Girls School exclusively for girls. Then we
had the Maddkumbura Primary to which I have heard very
distinguished persons refer to as the place where they
began their schooling.
I was proud to belong to this vast institution and was
quickly immersed in the various activities of the school and
hostel. Our studies were directed by many qualified senior
70 7168
teachers. Mr. Jansz himself did some of the Senior Science
subjects. He was son of the founder principal Cyril Jansz
who was confined to a wheelchair at the time I entered
the college. We were fortunate in having very good
teachers like Mr. Roberts who was a Cambridge graduate
and many other London graduates like Mr. Dias, an
excellent Mathematics teacher. Mr. Wickramaratne, Mr.
H.A.V Soysa, Mrs. Samarasekara and many other qualified
staff who made it possible for St. John's College to be one
of the premier educational institutions of the time.
The annual cricket match
(Johnian - Cambrian) was the most important item on the
school agenda. For weeks the schools were full of
enthusiasm. Whether the match was played in Panadura
or in Moratuwa, our excitement rose to a fever pitch. We
girls as well as the boys sang and cheered ourselves hoarse
from the Grand Stands while more energetic Old Boys and
young sang and danced baila. They had their own bands
too with drums and other instruments. At the match end,
whether we won or lost hardly mattered because a good
time was had by all.
70 71
69
We also played an annual all girl cricket match on
Founders Day. It was in no way equal to the cricket fever
of the Big match. Another popular event was the cross
country race in which boys of college and schools took
part. Apart from the Johnians Day celebrations, Boy Scouts
and Girl Guides activities and Campfires - there were the
Tennis matches and Swimming Meets activity going on.
The school had a farm of the Hirana road where students
experimented in Agriculture and dairy farming.
Apart from names I have mentioned there, there are a
host of boys and girls, brothers and sisters who are not
easy to forget. The Diases, Goonewardenas, Fernandos,
Senanayakes, Kothalawalas, Senevirathnas and
Samaranayakas. Pramawathie Dias, Malathie and Nita
Cumaranathunge - who died early in life, I do remember
with sadness, the mischievous boys who were always in
trouble are remembered as are the clever ones who rose
to outstanding positions later in life. Very much a part of
the college, Krishna the peon cum gardener and Enga who
sold Kadala and Wadey near the boundary fence. During
the lunch intervals we sometimes walked down to the
72 73
70
college gate to buy Elephant House ice palams which were
becoming popular.
I think I liked this school very much. So much so that in the
school magazine I wrote "will you remember me" to my
classroom (with apologies to R. L Spittel)
"Will you remember me when I am gone
When other students this my place do own
Will you remember me?"
At the end of my school career, quite contrary to my
wishes, I found myself entering the Teachers' Training
College. I never wanted to be a teacher.
The World War
War had reached us. Japanese bombs had fallen in
Colombo, which was virtually evacuated. Some schools
had opened in hill stations. Others had closed down.
People abandoned their city mansions and sought the
relative safety of their relatives in rural areas. Shops closed
and while in Colombo, we took our chance to buy articles
72 73
71
now sold for a mere son. I brought two sarees - one a
mauve and the other a cream net with a silver ivy design
on its border, which was later dyed into a sea green. It was
beautiful. We had plenty of money having corrected Std V
exam papers for the first time in our lives. This was at the
government Training College. We were on Thurstan Road
near the University and Royal College. We had finished our
first year at GTC.
Rationing of food became the order of the day. My brother
who came home from the hostel had joked "rotti and lunu
miris for dinner and lunu mirris and rotti for breakfast".
We in rural Horana weren't badly hit but in Colombo we
had to give up our college premises, GTC and hostel and
leave for home. Next year we began under war time
conditions. The girls were put up at Fountain House on
Dean's Road, Maradana. Lectures were at St. Joseph's
College. Soon St. Joseph's too was commandeered by the
army. Driven from pillar to post, we found ourselves
quartered in four fairly large houses at Havelock Road in
Pamankada. Once again, the men students had to find
their own accommodation. Lectures were in a school
somewhere near the Wellawatta canal - the present
74 75
72
Lumbini Vidyalaya. When the year ended, we found
ourselves fully fledged trained teacgers, ready to go in to
the world as professionals.
Becoming a doctor? Maybe someday
My Chinese friend was wily with excitement. "Just think of
it Leeda, we are trained teachers" she said. I got up as
from a long sleep. I wasn't unduly elated because teaching
wasn't the career I would have liked to choose. My dream
was to become a Doctor. It was my father's wish too.
At one time my horizons seemed to be brightening. Doctor
and Mrs. Amirthalingam had joined St. Thomas' Boy's
School and Girl's School, Matara with Sister Ada Mary's
acquiescence. I had made a start in Botany and other
Science subjects at the Boy's School but unfortunately for
me, my mother and my lawyer uncle, who should have
known better, opposed it. Had my youngest uncle been in
Ceylon, he would have promoted the idea, but he was in
far away India, but I who had no luck was thrown in to the
teaching career.
73
Englishman
At GTC , Mr. Bleakley, was our Vice Principal and lecturer
in Mathematics. He was a kind, elderly gentleman and I
suppose I was a good pupil and one of the youngest too.
He found me doing my problems with apparent ease while
the others were still struggling with them and remarked "
And this is the fool (referring to me) who was asked to go
to the University but opted to come to the Training
College".
I should have done better because I was quite good in
Mathematics and university education would open up new
vistas, new avenues for the likes of me - he must have
thought. Little did he know that Medicine was what I
yearned to do and my heart was never in the Teacher's
Training College.
Elders, all except father had decided that sons should do
Medicine and not daughters. Moreover, I was the eldest
girl in the family and should not devote so many years to
studies. My father had his Doctor - Dr. Blaze's backing and
would have encouraged me, but it was finally decreed that
my brother was to be a doctor. He was in the Pre-Medical
74 75
73
Englishman
At GTC , Mr. Bleakley, was our Vice Principal and lecturer
in Mathematics. He was a kind, elderly gentleman and I
suppose I was a good pupil and one of the youngest too.
He found me doing my problems with apparent ease while
the others were still struggling with them and remarked "
And this is the fool (referring to me) who was asked to go
to the University but opted to come to the Training
College".
I should have done better because I was quite good in
Mathematics and university education would open up new
vistas, new avenues for the likes of me - he must have
thought. Little did he know that Medicine was what I
yearned to do and my heart was never in the Teacher's
Training College.
Elders, all except father had decided that sons should do
Medicine and not daughters. Moreover, I was the eldest
girl in the family and should not devote so many years to
studies. My father had his Doctor - Dr. Blaze's backing and
would have encouraged me, but it was finally decreed that
my brother was to be a doctor. He was in the Pre-Medical
76 77
74
class at Ananda College when the war broke out. To my
father's great disappointment he joined the army as a 2nd
Lieutenant without so much as asking for my parents'
permission. And there ended my father's dream too
because he never encouraged anyone else in the family to
take to Medicine. Even my younger brother became a
lawyer, not a doctor. But my dream was still a dream. I
kept on dreaming this dream till after I got married and
had my first baby. I was so involved in her world that I
forgot all that I had not achieved. To study Medicine, to
become a doctor receded in to the background and I was
fully involved in my baby's world. I forgot all I had not
achieved. My heart and soul were in this child. This was
my greatest achievement.
Little did I realize what this attachment was going to cost
me. Our lives and destinies are pre-ordained, little can we
do to override this Karmic destiny. Our present is but a
cog in a wheel of long sansaric destiny and that is why we
are where we are today. We all have our dreams, but
there comes a time when our dreams fade into the
background as we face reality.
75
Marriage
Marriage meant shifting to Galle. I had already been a
teacher at Sacred Hearth Convent, Galle and resuming
duties here and shifting to Mountain Hall Galle came in
stride. This was a large estate with a big bungalow and
dairy. The Senaratnes who lived in Mountain Hall were a
friendly group of relatives of my husband. "It was our good
fortune that brought you to us" said my sister-in-law who
received me with open arms. I was very welcome among
her three sons and step children.
I was determined to make a success of my marriage even
though others thought differently. My husband had been a
teacher at Royal College. Having done a two year training
course at GTC and got a degree too, D.S. Wijewardena
became principal of Siddhartha College, Balapitiya. We
were entitled to a spacious bungalow in Ambalangoda.
While at Mountain Hall, Jonathan Senaratne had
suggested "Ask for a house at the Fort, Galle. This is no
place for you". But we didn't. A Grade I Principals post
became available at Kalutara and with courage, my
husband took over. While working at Gnanodaya College,
76 77
75
Marriage
Marriage meant shifting to Galle. I had already been a
teacher at Sacred Hearth Convent, Galle and resuming
duties here and shifting to Mountain Hall Galle came in
stride. This was a large estate with a big bungalow and
dairy. The Senaratnes who lived in Mountain Hall were a
friendly group of relatives of my husband. "It was our good
fortune that brought you to us" said my sister-in-law who
received me with open arms. I was very welcome among
her three sons and step children.
I was determined to make a success of my marriage even
though others thought differently. My husband had been a
teacher at Royal College. Having done a two year training
course at GTC and got a degree too, D.S. Wijewardena
became principal of Siddhartha College, Balapitiya. We
were entitled to a spacious bungalow in Ambalangoda.
While at Mountain Hall, Jonathan Senaratne had
suggested "Ask for a house at the Fort, Galle. This is no
place for you". But we didn't. A Grade I Principals post
became available at Kalutara and with courage, my
husband took over. While working at Gnanodaya College,
78 79
76
Kalutara, we lived at Duwa Pansala Road. Available to us
was a spacious bungalow with a big garden in which grew
several kinds of fruit trees. We had Walgampayas and
several other good families to associate with but we also
had also had Ananda Godage for unwanted publicity.
Mrs. Don Carolis Abraham, my mother's elder sister, a rich
land owner was back again in our lives. Life went by like a
song with old friends and new until we finally brought a
property at Hena Road, Mt. Lavinia and shifted there.
Good fortune which always seemed to guide out footsteps
now seemed to fore sake us. Tragedy after tragedy came
our way. Unbearable. To top it all was Shreen's suicide.
How could we face all this with courage and confidence?
Asoka was a bright student at Royal and we had so much
hope in him and his inevitable success. He started
associating riff raff in the neighborhood and slowly got
dragged down by them. It was to our utter dismay that he
got involved in a car accident which impeded his
momentum at a crucial age. Despite these challenges he's
made a good come back in life. He married Damayanthi, a
77
caring and sincere daughter-in-law and set up a vehicle
repair workshop after working in Oman for many years.
Our good angel Chandrika came to our rescue. She
became a Chartered Accountant and restored the family's
dignity and good name. She has her own printing company
in Kelaniya as well as other estates and enterprises. She
married in to a good family of relatives and rose to a
position in which she is held in high esteem.
78 79
77
caring and sincere daughter-in-law and set up a vehicle
repair workshop after working in Oman for many years.
Our good angel Chandrika came to our rescue. She
became a Chartered Accountant and restored the family's
dignity and good name. She has her own printing company
in Kelaniya as well as other estates and enterprises. She
married in to a good family of relatives and rose to a
position in which she is held in high esteem.
80 81
78
CHAPTER 5
Coming Home
Hena Road
The Hena Road garden was full of flowers. Bonnet flower
trees grew by the front garden wall during the season.
There were three lots with large pink bunches of flowers.
Mid-way on a structure constructed of coconut husks,
several placed together, grew the Kadupul - a rare variety
resembling whitish pink lotuses. Four or five flowers grew
at a time and people who saw them from the roadside
flocked to admire them. They blossomed at night and the
early hours of the morning. These flowers did not bloom
always but at rare intervals. Along the garden wall on the
right hand side, a few bougainvilleas and the painter's
brush with an abundance of mauvish, purplish flowers
covered the garage roof. On either side of the portico
grew two trees - one a pine tree and the other a beautiful
tree with dainty, small branches which everyone admired.
Over the gate was a creeper with sprays of Mauvish
flowers. On the temple flower tree hung float earthen-
ware pots in which grew various kinds of flowers and
ornamental plants.
79
On Sundays the little ones, Niloo, Menaka and Anushka
were with us doing Mathematics with Seeya and extra
English with Achchi. I remember how naughty little
Menaka used to climb on the bonnet of grandpa's car in
order to look at the kittens next door, basking in the sun
among the painter’s brush that grew on the roof. "Get off
my car Menaka!" Seeya would shout and Menaka would
slide down with a mischievous laugh.
Vivian
At the turn to Hena road, I had witnessed a memorable
scene. The school bus had dropped me at the Hena road
halt, when I saw men dancing on the roadside. They were
both young and old Marxist colleagues. Just then a car
drew up and a lady got off. I recognised her. She was
Vivian Goonawardena, a senior party colleague of the
Marxists. Lifting her saree by one end, she joined the
dancing men, who now started clapping and dancing. They
continued merrily. Turning in to Hena road, where they
continued for a while. The car drew up once more, and
madam, who stopped dancing, got in. It would take her to
Lalith Athulathmudali Vidyalaya, the venue of the day's
meeting.
80 81
79
On Sundays the little ones, Niloo, Menaka and Anushka
were with us doing Mathematics with Seeya and extra
English with Achchi. I remember how naughty little
Menaka used to climb on the bonnet of grandpa's car in
order to look at the kittens next door, basking in the sun
among the painter’s brush that grew on the roof. "Get off
my car Menaka!" Seeya would shout and Menaka would
slide down with a mischievous laugh.
Vivian
At the turn to Hena road, I had witnessed a memorable
scene. The school bus had dropped me at the Hena road
halt, when I saw men dancing on the roadside. They were
both young and old Marxist colleagues. Just then a car
drew up and a lady got off. I recognised her. She was
Vivian Goonawardena, a senior party colleague of the
Marxists. Lifting her saree by one end, she joined the
dancing men, who now started clapping and dancing. They
continued merrily. Turning in to Hena road, where they
continued for a while. The car drew up once more, and
madam, who stopped dancing, got in. It would take her to
Lalith Athulathmudali Vidyalaya, the venue of the day's
meeting.
82 83
80
Moving home
Convinced by an 'idiot' who lived down Hena road. Asoka
has decided to finally shift us from Hena road. "Oh they
are becoming old and you should look after them or come
and live with them" he said. But we were very comfortable
with a home, a cook, a car and a driver who did our
marketing and other odd jobs. Although in my heart of
hearts "how long can we carry on like this" seemed to be
there.
I was not sorry to leave as most of my friends or almost all
had passed away. They were good friends. Mostly
Premadasas, Jayasinghes, Dharmasenas - and we were the
only ones left. We had so many other friends too - the
squirrels and the birds.
When Asoka undertook the responsibility of shifting us
from our home, Chandrika and Tissa were happy about us
coming to their home. These were days when I could walk
about, watering plants and making myself useful in several
minor ways. I was quite happy in my new home in Caldera
81
gardens, Dutugamunu street. Our children and grand
children were good and kind to us.
Vignettes
Niloo - Nilu biloo of a bygone era
From Kiri Kung to little girl... 'Titta titta' she called her
father Tissa - used to give achchi little gifts and a lot of
love. Did a degree at Clark University followed up with a
MSc at Leeds University, UK and I hope it will be a PhD in
years to come. "How is it that you are so good at
Mathematics and English" the Dean of Clark University had
asked her. "My grandfather taught me Mathematics and
my grandmother taught me English" she had proudly
proclaimed. We were proud of her.
Tissa - my good son-in-law
Chandrika and children were away in London or USA. I was
very ill. Only Padmini was left behind. When Tissa was
informed, he got down an ambulance in which he took me
to Asiri. I was sick on the way too. Having got to the
hospital I told Tissa - we will need a lot of money just now.
82 83
81
gardens, Dutugamunu street. Our children and grand
children were good and kind to us.
Vignettes
Niloo - Nilu biloo of a bygone era
From Kiri Kung to little girl... 'Titta titta' she called her
father Tissa - used to give achchi little gifts and a lot of
love. Did a degree at Clark University followed up with a
MSc at Leeds University, UK and I hope it will be a PhD in
years to come. "How is it that you are so good at
Mathematics and English" the Dean of Clark University had
asked her. "My grandfather taught me Mathematics and
my grandmother taught me English" she had proudly
proclaimed. We were proud of her.
Tissa - my good son-in-law
Chandrika and children were away in London or USA. I was
very ill. Only Padmini was left behind. When Tissa was
informed, he got down an ambulance in which he took me
to Asiri. I was sick on the way too. Having got to the
hospital I told Tissa - we will need a lot of money just now.
84 85
82
How do we set about it? “TAAS” he said. I regained my
confidence.
Next morning, Anura was there and as Anura's aunt I
received the best of kindness - but now, Tissa keeps his
distance, maybe to avoid the old who may cause trouble
once again. I'm so full of aches and pains I don't know
what I should be doing. Arthritis to add to everything else.
I would like to see Nilu getting her Phd. How long? 2
years? 3 years? But at this rate, can I do it?
It would be good to put a peaceful end to my life? But can
I do it and bring shame on my children and grandchildren?
No, never. Can't I sleep and sleep forever - go on sleeping
forever?
Anita, Neram and Delicia were my welcome visitors. They
came often. I heard that Anita died and now I hear that
Delicia has got some serious complication - liver I'm told
(not Anura's line of business and he has put her on to
another doctor). May the blessings of the triple gem be
with her. May the devas protect her (My eyes are weak.
Really, I have only one eye. Dr. Charitha Fonseka said I had
a non- functioning optic nerve- as good as gone).
83
Letter to the Londoners
O Ye Londoners!
How are ye faring? Is the winter cold or is it still a long
way away or are you happy to have just a few snow flakes
only? I can not say how wayward winter can be. I
remember something I have heard "If winter comes, can
Spring be far behind?".
I can remember watching Les Miserables (Victor Hugo)
many winters ago. What a marvellous play that was! I still
have faint recollections of that book I read long years ago,
or maybe a film I saw in days gone by.
I remember the glitter and glamour of days spent,
shopping at Harrods with its four or five entrances. There
was so much to see and so much to buy (if you had
money). It was summer and choc-a-bloc with gay
shoppers. Arundathie had to set up body guards for me
and even for Sena (fearing we would get lost in the
crowd). I remember seeing Westminster Abbey where all
great Englishmen hope to have at least a niche reserved
for themselves. But I would like to remember what I saw
from Westminster bridge...
84 85
83
Letter to the Londoners
O Ye Londoners!
How are ye faring? Is the winter cold or is it still a long
way away or are you happy to have just a few snow flakes
only? I can not say how wayward winter can be. I
remember something I have heard "If winter comes, can
Spring be far behind?".
I can remember watching Les Miserables (Victor Hugo)
many winters ago. What a marvellous play that was! I still
have faint recollections of that book I read long years ago,
or maybe a film I saw in days gone by.
I remember the glitter and glamour of days spent,
shopping at Harrods with its four or five entrances. There
was so much to see and so much to buy (if you had
money). It was summer and choc-a-bloc with gay
shoppers. Arundathie had to set up body guards for me
and even for Sena (fearing we would get lost in the
crowd). I remember seeing Westminster Abbey where all
great Englishmen hope to have at least a niche reserved
for themselves. But I would like to remember what I saw
from Westminster bridge...
86 87
84
“Earth hath not anything to show more fair,
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by a sight so
touching in its majesty,
Ships, towers, domes, temples and theatres lie
All open to the fields and the sky, all bright and glittering in
the smokeless air,
Dear god, the very houses seem asleep. “ (Wordsworth)
Congratulations Nilu Bilu! You are at BBC! What a
prestigious place! We are proud of my sweet Nilu. Like all
doctors of medicine going or aspiring to higher climbs, we
are proud of you my Menaka Medico. Sweet Menaka
Medico and Michael, these are times when life flows by
like a song and everything is really bright, happy and gay.
You have left Punchi eka here for us at least to glimpse of
while she shuttles to and from the Faculty of Law and India
and Macau. She just returned from an Indian debate or
what I do not know. We are o.k. over here. I of course am
full of aches and pains. A & P as his Lordship, Tissa, Lord of
the manor calls them. I suppose all I can do is (as Jesvyn
Seeya says) "grin and bear"... what else?
85
Chapter 6
There is a little garden outside my room where I had
planted Bougainville flowers a long time ago. I don't think
those plants are there anymore. I can see them no more.
Every morning I can hear little birds and squirrels play in
my garden.
Come, Come Awake, the sun is rising
Your feet across the dews a path has made
Within the hedge the little birds twitter
The squirrel gambols in the sunlit glade
Come now O come, the temple bells are ringing
The sky is all aglow with golden fire
Wafted across the field is pirith chanting
The evening star comes up the eastern sky
Flying home to roost, no bird songs break the silence
Flying high in rank and file they quickly fade
A gentle silence, a gathering calm,
A peace over all pervades.
86 87
85
Chapter 6
There is a little garden outside my room where I had
planted Bougainville flowers a long time ago. I don't think
those plants are there anymore. I can see them no more.
Every morning I can hear little birds and squirrels play in
my garden.
Come, Come Awake, the sun is rising
Your feet across the dews a path has made
Within the hedge the little birds twitter
The squirrel gambols in the sunlit glade
Come now O come, the temple bells are ringing
The sky is all aglow with golden fire
Wafted across the field is pirith chanting
The evening star comes up the eastern sky
Flying home to roost, no bird songs break the silence
Flying high in rank and file they quickly fade
A gentle silence, a gathering calm,
A peace over all pervades.
88 89
86
Time moves slowly and days merge in to a hazy mass
called the past. Sometimes I lose track of night and day. It
doesn't really matter anymore. With my loss of vision and
care routines, it makes little difference to my life. Time has
become intuitive rather than something to be read off a
clock.
I just want to let go... The past trails like a veil of memories
behind me…a reverie...
88 89
86
Time moves slowly and days merge in to a hazy mass
called the past. Sometimes I lose track of night and day. It
doesn't really matter anymore. With my loss of vision and
care routines, it makes little difference to my life. Time has
become intuitive rather than something to be read off a
clock.
I just want to let go... The past trails like a veil of memories
behind me…a reverie...
Thank You Amma and Thaththa…...
Amma, you and thaththa by the lives you led showed us in no uncertain
way how a good Buddhist, a good human being should live their lives .We
were so fortunate to be born to good parents like the two of you. The only
way we can thank you is by promising to continue living the principled good
lives the two of you led and encourage our families to uphold these values
too.
90 91
Start of an Independent Life
My Mother & Father
My School Days - St. Thomas Matara
With Friends @ Galle ConventDSW @ Kalutara Moment of Glory
90 91
Start of an Independent Life
My Mother & Father
My School Days - St. Thomas Matara
With Friends @ Galle ConventDSW @ Kalutara Moment of Glory
92 93
Happy Times - Good Old Days
@ Sorana Estate Horana
River Baths
Pirith @ Ramagiri Panadura
@ Ramagiri Panadura
@ Ramagiri Panadura
Kataragama Trip Aug 54
Happy Times - More Recent Times
@ Hena Road Mt. Lavinia
Celebrating the 60th Wedding Annivasary
Family Picnic @ Bolgoda Lake
92 93
Happy Times - More Recent Times
@ Hena Road Mt. Lavinia
Celebrating the 60th Wedding Annivasary
Family Picnic @ Bolgoda Lake
94
Some of The People I Love
Aunty EvyMR & My Family
Chandra’s Wedding
Aunty Derbie
Nellie’s Wedding
Mother In her Young DaysWith lily & Son