Candles in the wind

by M.V. Muhsin

SPORTING PERSONALITIES: There are events in life that are too horrible to remember: when even good memories bring no redemption, nor salvation; the loss so great that one lives in denial that the lives were stilled in one fell sweep. As has been the case with CV and Sheami Gooneratne, their warmth, bubbling laughter and passionate care for others and enduring goodness, the worst of tragedies can be masked by their joyous personalities.

Much can be said and written, and toasts proposed, about their illustrious public life but today my remit is to pen on this canvass vignettes, albeit fleeting, of their sporting exploits if only to bring into sharper relief what a delight they were on and off the playing fields. Let’s start with the Deduru Oya herd. In the early sixties a herd of Elephants were running wild in that area on a menacing rampage. Those in the firmament of girls’ school athletics were being challenged by their own type “herd”: the relay team of Bishop’s College who took on the invincible Ladies College Colombo relay team. The Bishop’s team was aptly given the non de plume Deduru Oya Herd. They lived up to it when they not only overcame their nemesis-Ladies College-but also smashed the Public School record.

The Herd, that also did justice to both the 4x100 and 4x200 Relays comprised speedster quadruplets: Gillian Ingleton, Valerie Lieversz, Sheami Gooneratne and twin sister Kanthi Gooneratne. Whether they were rampaging elephants or fleeing gazelles was a subject for debate in the locker rooms, but win they did in style.

Those of us who covered athletics for the press at that time were swept off our feet. We went into raptures as records tumbled. Sheami was Bishop’s Athletics Captain or senior athlete as they called this leadership position, given her excellence not only in the sprints but in Long Jump and the Hurdles.

CV’s tackle prevailed

Although the races she ran and won were for the swift, she was not as fast to escape the amorous tackle of CV, the six foot Royal ruggerite, later Company Executive and till the end a renowned Cabinet Minister. The regimentation and discipline that his father the late Major LV brought to the Gooneratne home is folk lore in Dehiwela. That’s how CV and them were made men out of boys. As a ruggerite and captain of the Royal side he was able to get through the rough and tumble of rugby, with a wonderful mix of fun and humour. His exploits as a sportsman provided a metaphor that endured throughout his leadership in the mercantile sector when he worked at Hayleys, and thereafter as a successful and loved politician.

At the CR & FC where he played both as a wing forward and as a number ‘8’. He earned the sobriquet “corner flag” because in his position as ‘Lock Forward’ he had to target and secure the corner flag among other duties. Puggy, as CV was fondly referred to, focused largely on the corner flag as this gave him the safety and luxury of not getting mixed up or messed up in the mauls! Asked about his dodging tactics he would say I rise above the fray and focus on the goal—- a truism that distinguished him as a statesman.

There was of course the mischievous side of CV. His partner-in-fun Mohan Sahayam recounts that once CV suggested to “Connor” Thomas the Ground Secretary of the CR & FC that it might be a good idea if “Connor” put the fertilizer in the well and let it come out via the sprinklers instead of spreading it laboriously on the ground by hand. That evening Thomas is said to have dumped 50 bags of fertilizer in the well!

End of club rugby

On another score, CV had to give up club rugby early in his career due to a torn cartilage in his knee. He formed the MCC - the Members of the Cartilage Club with a large membership that included Mahes Rodrigo, Malcolm Wright, Kavan Rambukwella, Lal Senaratne and Mohan Sahayam. CV, with his eloquence, was also a star attraction at the Old Royalists Annual Rugby Dinner where he proposed many a toast as Don Perignon Champagne flowed. The attendees were strictly Royal First XV ruggerites.

For years a debate raged as to on what grounds, and with what evidence, did CV manage to get his closest buddy “Doc” Maghalingam who’s only association with rugby was said to be as a spectator into this exclusive annual dinner! But CV would rise to the defence of underdogs -as he well did in Politics-by spinning the story that when Doc Magha played as “hooker” (with no reference though to a particular match) he was instructed by CV to beware of the “feet up rule”. CV’s story goes that Magha kept his feet firmly planted to the ground in the scrum and thereby conceded possession to Trinity.

During another of CV’s toasts he would recall how Old Royalist Doctor Sunil Wickremasinghe was attending to a concussed Trinity player and tested his consciousness with the question “can you recall the score”. The player muttered the right score which was 10/4 Royal. With tongue in cheek the doctor replied—-”you can get on the field but better you do not recall the rest of the match, son, “simply look ahead”—-and added “Respice Finem” -the Trinity Motto —-Look to the End!.

Champion promoter of sports

In parliament, CV did not miss an opportunity to promote sports. While in the opposition, he championed the Act to set up the Duncan White Foundation to the surprise of Prime Minister Premadasa who it was said was upset that the Bill did not originate from the Government. As a sportsman, again, CV rose beyond the fray.

Whenever CV visited Washington he did the country proud. He was the quintessential communicator. Washington culture has a tendency to discount most politicians.

They have to make their mark to be credible and effective. For CV - the politician and cabinet minister - standing tall was no stretch. He elevated the profession he was proud to call his own. And then there was always-and always-the lighter side that endeared him and Sheami to all.

There were stories galore. Here is just one: they arrived at my Bethesda home in 1999 with baggage and all. As the bags were opened there was suddenly a strong smell that swept through the air-conditioned house. It was unmistakably the smell - or some may call it aroma - of arrack! CV’s eyes lit up but he was distinctly embarrassed as he was in a Muslim home. So he questions Sheami who responds “Clement, what can I do. I put two bottles of arrack for “Burriya”, (her brother-in-law) in the bag and they have broken!” CV looks around the room and exclaimed with his puckish sense of humour “now see what you have done, even the Koranic inscriptions on the wall are shuddering!”

Infectious sense of humour

In parliament, too, his infectious sense of humour and his eloquence kept members riveted. The CV - AHM Azwer interactions are part of parliamentary lore. A report of the proceedings recounts that during the famous Air Lanka-Emirates debate, Azwer, addressing the Speaker quipped “Sir, I first greet that red handkerchief and then my friend Mr. Gooneratne”. “You have nowhere else in myself to greet?” cracked CV. No Sir, shot back Azwer:’ I have never gone the “Wilde” way that “Oscar went”. Shot back CV: “Sir, I am afraid that my friend Azwer may soon try an “Oscar Wilde” if his focus goes Wild! Later in the debate Azwer lamented that the Air Lanka deal would deprive the stewardesses of the beautiful Peacock designed sarees they wore. CV: “ Sir, Azwer has another problem when he talks about the removal of sarees as his “bulb” is not functioning now” Someone had moved Azwer’s Microphone aside at that time and Azwer complains. CV seizes the opportunity “ Sir, Azwer must call for action to make his “bulb” function.” Not to be outdone, Azwer retorts: “ even Mr. Gooneratne’s “bulb” is in the “dark”; as I see it.” Gooneratne quips back” Sir, if I switch “on” Mr. Azwer will run.” Later as he was leaving the chamber Azwer addresses the Speaker and says’ Sir, with malice towards none, it was said in fun!”

CV and Sheami had a large global network of friends. Despite the glare of the bright lights and the tinsel that he was accustomed to in high places in Sri Lanka and in the capitals of the world, they still valued the simplicity of entertaining constituents every morning in their home —-they called it the OPD; a quiet drink with Himendra and Saroja Ranaweera in their Talangama home or a visit to the hospital to see ailing constituents or often visit the homes of the bereaved and console them.

Years have passed and it is hard to imagine CV without Sheami and Sheami without CV.

True to the words of Shakespeare :

‘So they loved, as love in twain

‘Had the essence but in one;

Two distincts, divisions none;

Number there in love was slain!

Or to paraphrase Elton John :

“For it seems to me they lived their lives

Like candles in the wind:

Never fading in the sunset

When the rains set it.

Knowing their tolerant and empathetic qualities and ability to take and give a tackle one can well picture the two of them in the comfort of paradisal bliss in the seventh heaven. And as angels sing them to their rest, they are looking down at the pitiful sight of the terror stricken murderer and the Tiger Supremo, as these criminals now roast until time immemorial in the inner recesses of Dante’s inferno.

(Ten years to this day CV and Sheami Gooneratne were killed in a bombing carried out by a suicide bomber.)