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| Sunday, 22 June 2003 |
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Neville de Alwis of S. Thomas' : Requiescat in pace Last Sunday they laid the past Warden of S. Thomas' College, Neville de Alwis to rest in the churchyard of Christ Church, Galkissa. This Sunday, if you look back on that event, what will stand out in your thoughts is that the vast congregation in the Thomian Chapel of the Transfiguration for the funeral service at 4.00 p.m. was proof of the respect in which he was held during the fifteen years he held office at one of Sri Lanka's greatest educational institutions. I first met the Warden when I went to STC to interview him sometime during his stewardship at Mt. Lavinia. What I noticed first was the simplicity with which he talked about himself. Of course, he had to talk about himself, otherwise I would have had no story, and that was what I was there for. He told me that he was a lawyer and had served in the Attorney- General's and Legal Draftsman's departments. He also told me about his vision for S. Thomas' College. Some years later those visions were translated into concrete when he put up new buildings and, very importantly, a spanking new sports complex which is the pride of the college today. As a Thomian he was a teacher under the stewardship of that legendary Warden of S. Thomas', the Rev. R.S. de Saram. I don't remember asking him whether he ever thought he would step into de Saram's shoes. It was about that same time that I met his wife Sweenitha. She is a painter and I went to see some of her work at their home in the shadow of the Chapel of the Transfiguration. I am no art critic, but I found her work to be down-to-earth, if such a description could be pinned onto painting, and was happy to be able to give her publicity before she held a public exhibition. As I saw it, Sweenitha as a painter was the ideal foil to her husband Neville's work as head of an educational institution. What I shall never forget was how Warden de Alwis, knowing full well that I am a rabid Royalist, invited me to sit in his enclosure at the Big Match of 1990. I accepted with great pleasure; Royal won the match by four runs. Sitting nearby was a jubilant young Old Royalist, Ranil Wickremesinghe, celebrating the victory with his friends. The service for Warden de Alwis last Sunday was marked by stately Anglican ritual, with the Lord Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Rev Dulip de Chickera as the chief celebrant. The college choir with its Music Director,organist Russel Bartholomeusz was in attendance. Every year Warden de Alwis would graciously invite this writer to attend the great Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in the Chapel of the Transfiguration when the world-famous Thomian choir is heard at its best. We will miss Warden de Alwis this year...should the Lord spare us,that is! Karel Roberts Ratnaweera |
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