Dr. Wijeyaratne maintained decorum at all times

The recent death of former Diyawadana Nilame Dr. Nissanka Wijeyaratne was an irreparable loss for all. I had a rare opportunity of meeting the late Diyawadana Nilame several times long ago and the first was in 1988 when he was the Minister of Education and Higher Education under the J.R. Jayewardene Government, while I was on the staff of Lake House (ANCL) at a ceremony, presided over by former President J. R. Jayewardene.

The late Dr. Wijeyaratne's brilliant career, began as a civil servant in 1958 in which he served as Government Agent, Jaffna and later Anuradhapura. At one of our meetings he recalled that one of his most memorable periods in life was his stint in Jaffna. Later on he played a key role to draw the blue print for Anuradhapura Sacred city plan.

In 1956 he became the Secretary to Information and Broadcasting Ministry and later as the Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in 1970. His political career began in 1977 when he contested the Dedigama electorate at the invitation of J. R. Jayewardene and on being elected held the Justice Minister's portfolio from 1981 to 1989.

After retiring from politics Dr. Wijeyaratne was appointed as Ambassador to Russia in 1990 and was also the President of the Law and Trust Society. I was aware that late Dr. Wijeyaratne, was elated when his son Neranjan was elected Diyawadana Nilame, succeeding him as the custodian of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Dalada Maligawa. It was a strange coincidence that around three weeks prior to his death my colleague Lakmal Welabada and I had a along discussion on her interview with the late Dr. Wijeyaratne's family, which was featured in the 'personality feature column' of the Sunday Observer.

- Ananda Kannangara