Every morning I wake up with the thought of visiting my parents who live in the same vicinity.
That thought itself gave me a feeling of satisfaction and fulfilling a bounden duty which I carried out without failing in any circumstance until the last 6th of November.
It was that fateful day my beloved father fell ill and was admitted to hospital.
Though he fell sick he was totally conscious about things happening around him and his memory power was at high level as usual.
He spent one week at the hospital fully conscious and was aware of everything until his last breath on the 13th November.
My beloved father M.D. Weerasinghe was born on 30thJune,1925 in Pilyandala.
A cute, intelligent boy, he obtained double promotion from grade one to grade 3 as he wrote one complete sentence each word of which started with the letter ‘K’ (Sinhala ka) when he was asked to write on the blackboard by the School Inspector who visited his school.
The sentence was kaputa Keju Keellak Keweya in Sinhala. He had displayed his talents and intelligence throughout his school days.After completing his education both in English and Sinhala media my father joined the government service when he turned 18.
My father associated with many civil servants as his superiors and contemporaries and gained a wide knowledge with regard to his office duties and other matters in life.
He used to advise us on various matters with regard to our employments and also on other affairs.
We had utmost trust in himand depended on him to guide us in the correct way and solve all our problems effectively.
All of us, six daughters and the only son adored and loved him whole heartedly and still suffer the huge void createdby his demise.
He saw the bright side of challenges that we face in life and we too were encouraged to follow him.
He used to organize ‘Alms to clergy’on all his past birthdays. He closely associated with many Buddhist priests who had been his contemporaries and also who learnt English language from him. He used to teach English at a night school free of charge held at a temple in Piliyandala.
He was very particular about cleanliness. On our birth days Thaththa used to compose Kavi which he gave us. Those were our valuable gifts received for the birth day.
He was really happy when he was able to complete the book of Idioms in English and publish it. We organized a book launching ceremony on that occasion.
My beloved father, you left us three months ago but you live in my heart forever.
As your ever affectionate daughter (that’s how you called me) I remember you whenever I engage in meritorious acts and invoke blessings on your journey in samsara until you be blessed with supreme bliss of Nibbana.
Beloved Daughter
Sunethra Shanthinie Weerasinghe, Piliyandala .
Dr. J.G. Wijetunga: Memories of a great doctor
I was very sad and shocked to read about my friend Dr. J.G. Wijetunga’s death. Although we were both from Royal College and the Colombo Medical Faculty we did not known each other then, since he was senior to me.
I first met him when we were senior house officers at the Wolverhampton and Midland Counties Eye Infirmary in the UK, in 1981-82.
I have great memories of those one to one and a half years. He lived at the bachelors’ accommodation in the hospital itself, and I lived in the married quarters outside.
During the on call nights and on-call weekends, I compulsorily stayed at the hospital accommodation.
On these nights he would cook lamb curry and I would take pol rotti from home and have great dinners together.
On off Sundays we regularly went to the Edgbaston Cricket grounds and watched John Player League 40 over games.
I remember, he telling me that he loved to watch a Test Match at the MCG and the Ascot Queen Cup. I hope he did so.
On off Saturdays we regularly attended Clinical meetings in the Midland Neurocentre in Birmingham.
J.G. was a family friend. He would spend the whole day watching the live telecast of Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s wedding, while enjoying the special lunch prepared by my wife at our home.
After about one and a half years he moved to Great Yarmouth and I moved to Glasgow.
I met him a few times in Sri Lanka at his Francis Road residence after we came back to Sri Lanka.
He attended my daughter’s wedding in 2002 too. Good bye my friend.
May you attain Nibbana.
- r. J.M. Shahabdeen
Eye Surgeon, Kandy.