Another footprint on Benedictine sands

Memoir of Elmo Wickremasinghe :

by Elmo Leonard

Past Benedictine cricketer, athlete, marketeer, packaging ace, and inventor, Elmo Wickremasinghe 60, in dying, proved his true indomitable self, more than during his abundantly fruitful lifetime.

For, faced with a terminal disease, since 2003, he told no one of it, not even his adoring former classmates. And, when breath ebbed, it came in accord with nature, as the leaf, which when work is done, alters into vivid colour and in autumn falls.

And, it is at such times, when man is primed to take wing, that his spirituality uncovers itself. A likeness is in the Catholic culture which Elmo espoused, being that of the `Saint of our own day,' Theresa in French and St. Therese to the English speaking World. St Therese is admired universally for her indomitable inner strength, in putting up with another type of terminal disease.

The life and achievements of Elmo Wickremasinghe is abundant, yet, remains hidden, stemming from his self-effacing nature. And, the noblest quality of man is the eschew of praise, sages have said. Thus, following Elmo's recent death, his lesser classmates have got together, to learn more about his life and accomplishments, and try to imprint something from deep inside, on fading paper.

Elmo was born to Eva, and Earnest Wickremesinghe, a top Ceylon Government Railway brass. Elmo came to school from St Mary's Road, Mattakuliya, drawn by an ox cart, his friend from the kindergarten, Nagasiri Perera recounted.

From age (under) eleven, Elmo excelled as an athlete, cricketer, and rugby player. The golden age of St Benedict's College, now 142 years in existence, was in the 1960s and Elmo played cricket for the great Benedictine First XI teams of 1965 and 1966.

As a fast opening bowler, he partnered Nimal Gunatunge, who bowled the best outswinger in school cricket, in living memory, some say. Elmo, of medium height, made use of his superb physique, to break the teeth of wicketkeeper Sunil Fernando.

Elmo, batting at number six, scored a memorable 65 not out against St Sebastian's Moratuwa. He also represented Tamil Union.

Elmo was the only Benedictine of his time to win both the 100 and 200 yard sprint events. When rugby was introduced to the school in 1963, Elmo's physique and sprinting ability found himself a place in the team.

In school, Elmo counts two sets of colleagues. The first, the stream he came up in, and included: Vijaya Kumaratunga, Rev. Fr. Felician, the former Rector of St Peter's, College, Wing Commander Nimal Gunatunga, Nimal Samarakkody, Nalaka Fernando, journalist Nimal Fernando, Athula Senaratne, late Maurice Chandraratne, Paris Perera, late journalist Anton Nonis, among many other who hold the college flag high.

The second, set was the class of 1965, the cosmopolitan English stream, where he was equally at ease: Srikanth Achariya, Denzil Dole, Filzroy Vanderstaarten Roger Quyn, Jawfer Peer, Ercon Godlieb, Trevor Anandappa, Clement Christy-David, Harris Badudeen, Prakash and Mohan Fernandopulle, Sherwin Dias, Dr Colman Perumal, Malcolm Herft, Brian Tissera, Desmond Ferreira, Reinzie Pullenayagem and the late, Mohamed Aakiff and Royce Steinwall.

Wing Commander Nimal Gunatunge underscored what others said that Elmo was never known to have spoken ill of another. His wife, Manel accented my assertion that if something negative about someone ever surfaced, Elmo detached himself from the issue.

After school, Elmo studied at the Aquinas University. His first job was at Lake House Bookshop, helped by his uncle, Clarence Fernando, the Daily News editor. Elmo, also had stints at Shaw Wallace and Hedges under Tita Nathalaldsz, thus, cutting his teeth in marketing.

He is known to have moved over to K G Industries, as a product development officer with emphasis on corrugated cartons. Then, to Packwell Lanka Ltd, Ratmalana as a production manager. In 1983, Elmo moved over to JF&I Printers, as an assistant marketing manager, which firm had a humble beginning.

Today, JF&I Printers, Thalangama, is one of the most diversified printing and packaging corporates in the South Asia region and winner of many prizes in printing and packaging. And it was Elmo's efforts which raised JF&I to a rupees two billion turnover company. Elmo is also the JF&I's first outsider to become a director of this family business, director Neomal Fernando said. And, JF&I considered Elmo an expert in packaging.

Elmo was a member of the governing body of Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging (SLIP) having being an assistant treasurer and was on its council of members. He was a go-getter and livewire of SLIP, the current vice president of World Packaging Organisation (WPO) Sri Lankan Dharmatilake Ratnayake said. Elmo was an assistant treasurer of SLIP for 10 years and a member of its council of management, until he fell ill.

He was a very active member in all endeavours of the organisation, especially in assisting SLIP hold exhibitions, Ratnayake said.

Elmo was a founder member of the Aeronautical Engineering Club (AEC). Among his hobbies he counted innovations on remote controlled motor cars, go-carts, helicopters, planes, and he once warned, that the LTTE had acquired a remote controlled plane, capable of hitting the metropolises. Perhaps, no one has yet taken serious note of it.

Elmo's innovations were used at the SAARC games held in Colombo, for remote controlled devises to bring back the javelins, shot putt and discs, to the competitors. It being the first and only time that even at the Olympic Games, men have been replaced by gadgets to retrieve field event utilities.

At Elmo's funeral, St Benedict's College prefects provided a guard of honour, in recognition of his untiring efforts as an active member of the OBU to improve the school, which his son Achala attended.

Elmo was also a member of the OBU dance committee, an event which generates the most funds towards the school. He was responsible for printing the book, Benedictine Memoirs.

Manel, his wife, thirteen years younger and a Buddhist wants to say that she followed her religion without let or hindrance. Manel says that when her hair grows silver with wisdom and age, she will have the comfort of basking in the memory of the most wonderful man she ever knew.

Elmo is also succeeded by his daughter Lidiya, who said that her father was her science teacher.

Limerick

Past Benedictine Elmo Wickremasinghe,

Cricketer, athlete, marketeer and inventor;

Walked with the great

And stooped to the brat;

And in dying proved himself nobler.