A Tribute to Jaliya

Jaliya the Giant Hearted.

Appreciating the deeds of a past life is generally an exercise that rouses much emotion and sadness within the writer. In this case it will be much more than sadness as I am sure to choke on grief, many times over, before I end describing my own experiences with the life of Jaliya Jayasuriya.
He was such a gentle, likeable person, who was taken away from our midst at such a vibrant time of his life, in such a devastating manner, along with his two equally adorable sons, Sankha and Hashan, leaving behind his wife to grapple with the loss of her entire family. The magnitude of this triple tragedy was deeply felt by the large crowd that attended a requiem mass at St. Thomas’ Church Kotte, two weeks after the tsunami wrecked havoc on this family.
Jaliya and I were acquainted through the old boys’ association of St. Anthony’s College Kandy. Though we studied in the same era at college, we were a few years apart and never knew each other at the time. It was only as members of the OBA Colombo Branch that we first met. Initially, it was at rare special occasions of the college or the OBA, when Jaliya attended. Our friendship really blossomed after Jaliya was forced in to the executive committee of the association. It was around 1997, Jaliya was working at Singer Sri Lanka where many old Antonians were holding high positions, and I had set my sights on co-opting at least one of them to serve on the ex-co. I first contacted Jaliya’s best friend to date, Murali Prakash, and having agreed that Jaliya would be the ideal person I set about approaching him. Jaliya was however forewarned by his good friend and dodged my calls artfully. On the eve of our AGM I had still to succeed in contacting him and obtaining his consent. In a desperate last attempt I spoke to Murali and discovered Jaliya would be attending a party that evening at another Singer-Antonian’s residence, and that happened to be my batch mate Premalal De Silva. With the assistance of Murali and Premalal, I managed at last to get Jaliya to the phone that evening. His reaction on hearing my voice was “how did you know I was here”, and when it dawned on him that his colleagues had collaborated, he playfully vowed vengeance on them. To my invitation to join the ex-co, he very humbly made all the possible excuses and recommended many others he thought more suitable, before he was finally convinced that it was time to lend his talents to his Alma Mater.
His first major assignment for the OBA was when he was appointed as Co-Chairman of the ‘SACKOBA BALL-2000’ dinner dance committee in 1999. This was the first time the Antonians were able to witness the exceptional organizing abilities of Jaliya Jayasuriya and his commitment to the responsibilities undertaken. The dance committee meetings in that year turned out to be more frequent and well attended thanks to the high-spirited fellowship that followed each meeting, for which Jaliya was largely responsible. The end result was a highly successful dinner-dance at the Colombo Hilton in the year 2000.

Jaliya soon became a very popular and influential figure at all old Antonian functions in Kandy and Colombo with his very humble and modest style of fitting in to any situation. Having served on many committees and sub committees over the years, his greatest ever contribution to his alma mater came early last year, when he almost single handedly carried out all the ground arrangements for a highly successful gala event on 12th March at the college grounds to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the college. The following weekend was yet another feather in Jaliya’s cap, when he successfully co-ordinated the live television coverage of the limited over cricket match between Trinity College and St. Anthony’s College, as part of the sesquicentennial celebrations. His last assignment for the OBA was as recent as August last year, when as part of the anniversary celebrations we hosted the annual “Quadrangular Cricket Tournament” between the old boys of St. Anthony’s, St. Benedicts, St. Josephs and St. Peters Colleges, at Katugastota. Jaliya, with a penchant for organizing this sort of activity took charge once again and ensured a successful weekend with the introduction of many other sports and activities to ensure fuller participation of all visiting old boys and even their wives.

In all these activities it was clearly demonstrated that Jaliya simply had the knack of a great organizer and drew on the vast experiences he had with Singer in arranging the Sharja Cup tournaments. His experience in the field of Marketing also enabled him to raise substantial funds to defer the costs involved in organizing such events. St. Anthony’s College Kandy and the Old Boys Association have lost one of their greatest benefactors by the untimely departure of this loyal and dedicated old boy.

I am certain that when the college celebrates its next fifty, hundred or even hundred and fifty years, Jaliya Jayasuriya’s name will take prominence as a major contributor to the successful150th Anniversary celebrations.

Jaliya was always the perfect gentleman. He was equally comfortable mixing in high society as well as with the common man. As a host, he was magnanimous with a large heart and together with his adorable wife, Henrieta, set great standards for their two sons, who were equally simple and very well mannered young boys. I hold very fond memories of a visit to the Jayasuriya home, early last year, where a few of us met to discuss plans for the 150th Anniversary of St. Anthony’s College. After a serious and very productive meeting, Jaliya was adamant no one left without savouring their hospitality, and after a few drinks at his well stocked bar we were treated to a lovely, homely dinner with his family. A bottle of cognac was next, accompanied by a large box of chocolates. I was seated next to Jaliya, and after the box of chocolates had gone round the table on its second journey, with not many takers, it somehow stayed put between the two of us. We were soon dipping in to the second layer of the box whilst sipping cognac and exchanging facts and yarns. Minutes passed and on the beckoning of Jaliya, Henrietta produced a brand new box of chocolates, and regardless of the medical advice we got from around the table, we boxed on through the top layer of the new presentation until Henrieta with a tender warning to Jaliya that he was overdoing it, took the box away. We often spoke of that episode and vowed to repeat it soon, but never did.

We had our differences in opinion on college matters, very rarely, and even openly argued our convictions at meetings. But never did any of those differences get in the way of our mutual respect for each other or deprive us of enjoying a few rounds of rum-and-coke together. Jaliya will be sadly missed at all our OBA get-togethers for a long time to come.

LUX DE COELO Dear friend, may the turf lie gently over you and your lovable sons, and may the light from heaven guide, protect and strengthen your loving wife through her unbearable grief.

Nishanta Seneviratne

Past President, OBA (Colombo Branch), St. Anthony’s College, Kandy.
 

Antonian Awards For Excellence.

A GLORIOUS 150 YEARS