RABS 50 not out...

by A. C. de Silva

From small beginnings, De Soysa Estate - the 52-acre coconut estate of the De Zoysas which changed its name to Sirimal Uyana, has reached great heights and celebrated the Golden Jubilee of its existence a few days ago to the great delight of the occupants of the houses.

It was on 5th August 1955 that the Ratmalana Airport Building Society (RABS) was registered under the National Housing Act and work got started then and the first house to be occupied in the scheme was on 15th of April 1960.

To be 50 years old for a housing complex speaks volumes of the great effort put in by the pioneers to reach that eye-catching figure.

The Ratmalana Airport Building Society was first formed with some employees of the Department of Civil Aviation, however, even on the day of formation there was tremendous enthusiasm and its doors were thrown open to outsiders and an initial membership of 86 was got up and it quickly rose to the century mark.

The Founder President Mr. E. R. Godlieb migrated to Australia and there was Mr. P. E. G. Mendis who stepped in to the arduous task of taking this project forward. Mr. Mendis was offered the task of building the houses on 52 acres of coconut land.

The National Housing Department was prepared to make available to members blocks of land 25 to 30 perches in extent land from the coconut estate. Loans not exceeing Rs. 21,000 was, made available for the construction of a house inclusive of all internal amenities.

The department was to construct roads and lay electric mains along the roads. Right now, there are round 400 houses and Sam Samarasinghe, the energetic 'go-getter', who was unanimously elected uncontested as President for the second successive year at the 2007 AGM a few days ago, was a very happy man.

"I need support from all the members and the Ratmalana Airport Building Society will go from strength to strength.", he said. There are around 20,000 inhabitants in the sprawling estate.

Flowers, they say, are pleasing to the eye and it was thought that prominence should be given to names of flowers in naming the roads. Araliya Mawatha, Namal Mawatha, Rukmal Pedesa, Sepalika Pedesa, Upul Pedesa, Bowitiya Pedesa, Asoka Mawatha, Off Lumbini Mawatha, Ratmal Mawatha, Manel Pedesa, Nelum Mawatha, Sapumal Mawatha, Suriyamal Pedesa, Saman Mawatha, Iddamal Pedesa, Kekatiya Mawatha, Salmal Pedesa are some of the names that don the estate.

With a history of now over 50 years, it is well worth recalling the men who did the spade work for the welfare of the people. The Presidents at Ratmalana Airport Building Society: E. R. Godlieb (1955 to 1958), P. E. G. Mendis (1959 to 1960), D. Gonsalkorale (1961 to 1969), H. D. Samarasekera (1970), Hemasiri Perera (1971 to 1974), A. T. Abdue (1975 to 1976), C. H. Ekanayake (1977 to 1978), E. Ranasinghe (1979 to 1980), R. F. J. Abeysekera (1981 to 1982), Hemasiri Perera (1983 to 1986), R. F. J. Abeysekera (1987 to 1988), Mrs. Soma Abaydeers (1988 and 1989), Thilak Samarasekera (1990 to 1994), Mrs. Esther Gamage (1995), S. M. Wijertne (1996 to 2002), Christie Wanigasooriya (2003), Sanath Kulatunga (2004 to 2005), 'Sam' Samarasinghe (2006 onwards).

Membership register was updated after 50 years.

Facilities for the residents: There is a network of roads and the roads were tarred in 1961 under the chairmanship of Mr. P. V. Jayaratne and names came up with Sri Lankan flowers getting pride of place.

Now there is pipe-borne water, street lights, Maliban Sama Mandiraya Playground for the children, Indoor Badminton Court has a cement floor and it is hoped to have a wooden floor for this court as then it can turn out to be a money-spinner as not only the members will be able to use it, but outsiders too will come in their numbers as badminton has turned out to be a very popular sport.

The Sama Mandiraya or the club-house has no TV and this is something that will be appreciated by the members and it is bound to attract the attention of the new committee. Facilities have also been provided in the Stadium for the Table Tennis, Carrom, Chess and other indoor games as well.

The society also has made arrangements for classes in Karate and aerobic classes for ladies to be conducted.

In the near future, classes in Fabric Painting, Doll Making, Pottery Painting and Patch Work too will be held.

There is also a move to have a swimming pool, but this is a debatable issue and will cost the RABS authorities quite a lot of money.

There was a membership drive last year and much money was collected and concrete nameboards have sprung up on a number of roads. There are some more roads that need these concrete nameboards.

There was a bus service for residents of Sirimal Uyana some years back. But it has been done away with. However, it will be of some use for school children and even for office-workers if the new committee can get in touch with the Sri Lanka Transport Board and re-introduce the bus service with proper time-tables so that it will benefit the public.