Chandrananda de Silva

A Leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say; we did it ourselves- Lao Tzu

Chandrananda de Silva was an exemplary public servant who rendered yeomen service to this country. A year has passing away, a great human being and an outstanding administrator.

When Chandrananda de Silva performed his duties, we did not know that it was his work. People thought it was their success - when he delivered the people’s sovereignty through the 1978 Constitution. He was a leader fitting into Lao Tzu’s definition.

Chandrananda de Silva administered Sri Lanka’s elections for 14 years, from 1982 to 1995. He earned respect for his role as a distinguished administrator. I venture to further modify this view. He was a scholar-bureaucrat, if looked in terms of Chinese administration principles.

It is China that invented modern civil administration. It started in the Han Empire of China in the third century BC. They based their administration on meritocracy. They expected the role of a scholar- bureaucrat from an administrator and invented a proper examination and promotion system.

When we speak of Sri Lankan administrators who were scholar-bureaucrats, a large number of great personalities come to mind. Among them, Chandrananda de Silva is in the forefront.

Civil administration of this country can be divided into two sections.

One is the Ceylon Civil Service formed by the British and the other is the Sri Lanka Administrative Service founded in the 1970s under the Republic of Sri Lanka. Chandrananda de Silva excelled in the second era. The service he rendered for seven years as Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and 14 years as Elections Commissioner, testifies this statement.

When he served as Elections Commissioner, he planted the seeds of an electoral system introduced by the 1978 Constitution. The first presidential referendum in 1982 and the first Provincial Council election in 1987 were remarkable administrative achievements. He held several types of elections impartially, while educating the people to handle the relatively complex election system and winning public trust for the new system.

Chandrananda handled his constitutional powers effectively in the presence of a strong President with stature and shrewdness, whose great powers were claimed to extend as far as “converting a man into a woman”. The Opposition at that time was scattered and weak, posing a problem to him. He was bold enough to hold elections regularly in the disturbing time between 1987 and 1989 during which time, democratic rule in Sri Lanka had been challenged.

At that time, people did not speak of his uniqueness or brilliance. But we know today that he was instrumental in many good things that happened, and that he played a huge role behind the screen. That is why I state that he was a leader in the sense of Lao Tzu.

His maturity in administration may have been as a result of his education in Sri Lankan universities and schools. In his capacity as Elections Commissioner, he never tried to please politicians. It can be a result of Economics and Politics he learnt at Peradeniya which gave him the polish and grit to understand what is not said and not seen still matter in politics. He kept his integrity and showed maturity in the presence of experienced leaders such as J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa and Chandrika Kumaratunga. He managed situations different to his predecessors. The administrators who hailed from the Ceylon Civil Service did not care about politicians. But Chandrananda de Silva admitted the importance of the role of politicians in governance. But he allowed himself to be dwarfed by politicians. He taught politicians that the administrator has an independent role of coordination. It was this conviction of vision, that made it possible for him to serve a long stint of seven years as Secretary of Defence and Commissioner of Elections for 14 years.

He was shaped by a philosophical conviction that strengthened his bold leadership. I believe that Chandrananda inherited these characteristics from his childhood and student years at Rahula College, Matara, where he studied since 1946.

He paid his gratitude to his alma mater by founding the Colombo branch of the Past Students’ Association of Rahula College together with his colleagues. He led the Colombo branch of the Past Students’ Association of Rahula College for a long time since 1984. During his time leading the Old oys’ Association, many promotional and development activities were initiated.

Chandrananda was a gem to Sri Lanka. He was also a diamond to Rahula College. Memories of him are cherished by many who knew him. His great personality is looked with utmost respect.

As William Shakespeare said ‘Farewell is Fair Cruelty’. Yet, there is no escape from this eternal truth. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.

Shiral Lakthilaka

Sithy Riwa Sinhawangsa Latiff

Hajiani Sithy Riwa Sinhawangsa Latiff was born to a royal clan or a royal family of ‘lions’ as the name signifies. The Sinhawangsa Latiff’s are descendants of the fourth generation in Ceylon of the Royalty of the Malay Kingdom, up to the middle 17th century till the Dutch conquered the kingdom and exiled the princes and their consorts with their families to Serendib or Ceylon.

Wangsa was the name used by family and friends. She married her cousin a scion of the same clan Haji Latiff. They were a wonderful couple loved and respected by all who knew them. He predeceased her in 1989 in October and the royal ‘Lioness’ continued alone managing everything beautifully and gracefully.

She was a royal lady, by birth and breeding. She exuded purity from the depth of her beautiful soul and was a shining example of Islamic faith.

Hajiani Sithy Riwa Sinhawangsa was indeed a rare human being and it was no wonder - the record crowd at her funeral on Friday, February 12 a couple of hours before Jumma bore ample testimony to this fact. Her children and their families along with their offspring carry the royal genes and will never let any wrong situation go uncorrected, as they have been handed down these traditions.

Her eldest son a senior officer of the Sri Lanka police, a senior DIG is a - respected and fine gentleman of the highest calibre.

This ‘lion’ of this royal clan, an unsung hero, fought for the release of the country of his birth from terrorists with bravado seldom seen during the war.

He also stood strongly against an entire wrong system in 2012/2013 and was applauded by the honest citizenry. He will always live upto his family name.

May she rest in Jennathul Firdhouse and may her children carry on the traditions for the betterment of society.

Mrs. M.I.M Marikkar
Kandy.