Darling we aren't too old, though we pass the jubilee Gold

Love stood the test of time

by Lakmal Welabada

"There are two feathers in my cap. One is that I have been living with one woman; that's my wife for 62 years, and have owned one car; Volkswagan for 53 years," boasts Ganegodage Dulasinghe Perera well-known as G. D. Perera (GD), former Deputy Mayor of Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia who 'reigned' the area as a 'rain' of blessings from 1978 to 1982.

He barely walks. It takes time for him to move from one place to another. But he walks and looks around. I (the writer) assume that nothing could escape through his thick glasses. He still maintains the vibrant personality he once imposed when he was the Deputy Mayor. The arthritis that has affected his bottom limbs seems not a problem to GD as his soul and spirit are still vivacious, vigilant and energetic.

Alice Perera Attanayaka, his wife, clad in a Kandyan saree follows him. The two walking sticks along with them have become close pals of the duo. But the cordial smile and the warm welcome they shower upon anybody who step into their old mansion at Station Road, Dehiwala seem flowing like a million blessings.

The widely open gate still welcomed the rich, middle class or poor as it did many years ago when GD was strongly in party politics. "Darling, you didn't come to talk about my political involvements, no? All these years I talked about politics.

Today is an exclusive day for me as I am going to talk about my married life, once in a lifetime chance a man would get," he laughs looking at his wife. "Meya ekka thamai mama davas hathak honey moon giye. (She is the one who went on a honeymoon with me for seven days) My father phoned me in the rest house and asked when I am coming home. heh! heh! heh!" laughs GD. His witty sense of humour would enliven anybody.

GD was born as the second offspring to Ganegodage Paulis Perera of Galthudawe, Bandaragama. But his business ventures were centred mainly in the Wadduwa area. He owned lands and two copra kilns, an upstair building with a grocery store at Station Road, Wadduwa. Paulis was the agent for Lake House newspapers, Elephant House and Raleigh bicycles of Hunter and Company. He also held a licence for rubber dealing.

"My father was a businessman who had lots of humane qualities. And he also had a great sense of humour. I think I resemble all that," he says.

Childhood

GD first went to the Presbyterian Girls' School when he was in the Kindergarten and then entered to S.Thomas College, Mt.Lavinia and went up to the London Matriculation Form. "I was there in the college from 1928 to 1938. Those days S.Thomas had only one Sinhala period for the whole week.

So, under the guidance of Rev. Dikwelle Dhammalankara Thero, Chief Incumbent of Sri Subodharamaya, Karagampitiya my brother and I were sent to get temple education for eight years (from the age of 8 to 16 years). And that Sinhala and Buddhist education became very useful to me later in my life," he says.

GD was a junior and senior cadet and could remember how he also took part in the Guard of Honour for the Duke of Glouster (uncle of present Queen Elizabeth 11) when he came to Sri Lanka in 1933 -34... I was 13 years then and still remember my father buying me a good pair of black shoes from Pettah for Rs. 10.00," he continues.

"I was 19 years when my father handed over to me the businesses at Kuliyapitiya and Wadduwa. Aiya (elder brother) was looking after the property at Nattandiya. But one thing hurt me. My brother didn't allow me to drive the car although I had a licence. Those days we didn't argue on anything with elders.

We respected both father and elder brother equally. But I was disappointed and decided to apply for a Booking Clerk post at the Railway Department in India. Those days both countries were under the British, and we could have easily got jobs there as well," he reminisces.

Once his Aiya was married and was settled down, it was GD's turn. "I went to see a few brides, but none of it materialised. I felt nervous and scared when I saw a girl with make-up. I was so frightened as they look horrified when they put blood red lipstick," he laughs again.

Question: So what about your wife? Has she never used make-up?

GD: No, my dear, she was plain and charming, so at once I felt alright. And so, I got caught... (laughs)

It was October 11 in 1943, when GD returned from Kuliyapitiya, his father growled in rage from his room. "Hey, Miniho, didn't you remember that you had an appointment to see a bride at Padukka. GD was astonished. He had messed up the dates.

"I thought I have to go there tomorrow," he peeped into father's room. Paulis Perera was on his special commode with the assistance of his attendant. By that time, he was recovering after a stroke which made him partially paralised. But never failed to hold his command on his children.

On the following day, GD set off from home with his brother. Their mission was to find the bride's place. The duo was not ready at all for the venture, so that they didn't have even the address of the 'Kapuva' (match maker). But they had to search for her as there was no excuse to escape from their father. However, their effort bore fruits!

The damsel in the neighbouring house next to Paulis' at Wadduwa was a beauty queen. Whether Paulis' fate brought him here to buy that house or he purposely bought that plot after seeing her was unknown.

However, no sooner this courageous young man won the hearts of the elders and as a result the beauty queen became his lifetime partner.

"When the new couple was proceeding to the village, Galthude, the villagers were astonished to see the beautiful bride seated next to my father who was pitch dark in the 'wedding cart'. They had said that 'Kaputek Thambili Wallaka Wahala Wage' (crow rested on a bunch of king coconuts).

My father reminded this many times," laughs GD. Alice was born on December 17 in 1922, and had her education first at St.John's College, Panadura and later at Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo. "We were playing the fool and didn't bother to study.

I sat for the Senior School Certificate, but failed. I was very good in sports, and played even cricket at school. I was even in the Visakha net ball team. Mrs.Motwany was our principal and Mrs.Pulmood was our Botany teacher at that time," reminisces Alice.

"I was addicted to read Ethel Emdel's love stories. Sometimes I would keep awake the whole night with the book," she laughs. GD's loving sister was 11 years younger to him, and was very attached to her Aiya. GD wanted to study whether his intended bride could get along with his family.

So, after his parents and elders visited the bride, one day he took his sister to her place. Since the very inception the two sisters-in-law became best of friends.

Ideal bride

And Alice, not from 'Wonderland' but from Padukka tied the knot with this dream suitor on May 18 in 1944. "My mother-in-law was a very strict woman, but I somehow managed to get round her. But one day, when I offered a Dhobi man to sit on a chair she blaggarded me.

Those days they were given a mat to sit. But my sister-in-law came to my aid. I really miss her now. She was in her late fifties when she died," sighs Alice.

GD who was a successful businessman, authorised wholesalers of rice, flour and sugar. But once the Co-operative Wholesale Establishments (CWE) were installed in Sri Lanka GD started loosing income.

So he joined with the Sri Lanka Produce Brokers Ltd, dealers of copra, desiccated coconut and charcoal in 1960 and worked with them until 2002.

GD became an active member in party politics and held the post of Deputy Mayor of Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. The strict yet humble disciplinarian had never left room for questioning for any corruption.

"I maintained a clean name, even upto now. But for that I had to face many problems, and never failed to face them. I am so happy about myself as I think I did the utmost service to the area within my limit of authority. And sometimes I went beyond that also when serving people," he reminisces.

During the Black July chaos in 1983 GD's home was a shelter for many Tamils in the area. And still he serves. Whoever comes asking for his assistance, he is there for them.

No regrets

The happy GD-Alice couple have nothing to regret. Their two sons, Dr. Upali Jeewaka Perera is a retired Consultant gynaecologist and Damitha Vamaka Perera is an Executive at the Planation sector.

"We are extremely happy and proud of our children, and of course about our five grandsons and the granddaughter. There are so many doctors in the family now as all Upali's children are married to doctors. His wife and elder son are also doctors. Both our daughters-in-law have been more than daughters to us. We are very happy," they repeat.

"Our message to the nation is to look after your children well and bring them up to be good citizens. That is the biggest service one can render to one's country," they say.

"Also," continues GD..." example is better than precept and service before self," he concludes.

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