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| Sunday, 29 June 2003 |
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Sons and Daughters of Sri Lanka Neil Bandaranaike Today, we remember with love, gratitude and fond remembrance the rare breed of a Public Servant who performed his onerous public duties zealously and cheerfully in the cause of his motherland. It was 25 years ago on 30 June 1978, that death snatched away from our midst a much loved personality who though great in office had the humility and compassion which caused him to understand and empathise with the needs of the common man who came to his office for the redress of their burning concerns. Neil, was born at Weligama Walauwa, Matara and had his schooling at Royal College Colombo, where he excelled both in his studies and at sports in the fields of Athletics, Tennis and Boxing. Neil, topped his batch in the list of Civil Servants, which included many distinguished administrators in the final year in which the Ceylon Civil Service Exam was held. He joined the Public Service in 1953 and was at the time of his death, the Secretary, Ministry of Industries and Scientific Affairs, guiding the Industrial Policies of this nation. He contributed to the welfare of his people as Chairman of the National Milk Board, The Ceylon Steel Corporation. He was managing over 20 State Corporations as well as thousands of Private Sector Industrialists. As Director of Agricultural Development. Neil was directly responsible for formulating and implementing the Food Production Programs of this nation in the 1960s. He also functioned as Assistant Controller of Establishments, General Treasury and G. A. Moneragala. He also inaugurated the Nuclear Science Society of which he was the First Honorary member. In the foreign field, In October 1976 he assumed duties as a Consultant to ESCAP Headquarters in Thailand on the project for setting of an Asian Centre for the Transfer of Technology. He represented Sri Lanka as her delegate to F.A.O., U.N.I.D.O, E.S.C.A.P. and A.D.B. He died at the untimely age of 49 years at Matara, the place of his birth, which received his final farewell as he was heading to Hambantota on official duty. He left behind a young widow and a son and a daughter. Neil, represented the Diocesan Council and took an active part in church matters. It was the truly said of him "the Hallmark of true greatness is a quiet humility". Office never corrupted his gentle, loving and caring ways. May his soul rest in peace. C.D. ---- K.J. Felix Fernando It was one year i.e. 3rd July, 2002, since the passing away of my beloved uncle and mentor, a former Municipal Commissioner. Uncle Felix to many of us was a collosus during his life time, but passed away as an unsung hero. I could still remember nostalgically, how he encouraged me to join the Sri Lanka Navy way back in 1956. Then, I did not know the difference between the stem or the stern of a ship but uncle Felix encouraged me a great deal to join as he knew that we Negombians have a life at sea and he who dares the waves wins. His publication, titled 'Catholicism in Negombo' is a treatise that traces the advent of Christian religion in 1505 by the Portuguese into Negombo. Negombo is still the cradle of Catholicism in Sri Lanka which is dubbed as 'Little Rome'. Negombo, to its credit, has produced the largest number of Priests and Religious to date and is still growing. Uncle Felix was a pioneer in doing away with the 'tithe' system which required the poor fishermen to contribute 10 per cent of their daily earnings for the maintenance of the Grand Street Church, Negombo. This is being done now directly by the Archbishop. I could vividly remember the comment made by another member of the community praising the Pandal erected opposite the Grand Street Church for their feast day to which a poor fisherman standing next to him retorted 'You are praising the magnificent Pandal without looking at the Brilliant Church we have put up behind it with our bare hands.' Uncle Felix, you were not only a guiding light to your Children and GrandChildren but also to several of your nephews and nieces and I consider it to be a privilege to be one of them. May your road to Paradise be strewn with flowers like Paradise Road, Negombo, where you lived on the day of the funeral. May the turf rest lightly over you till Thy Kingdom Come. Commander , A.R. Cyril Fernando, SLN (rtd). |
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