Features

ADH Samaranayaka birth centenary Mar. 22

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/20

March 22, 2022 marks the 100th birth anniversary of our beloved Thaththi, Aluthge Dharmadasa Hemachandra Samaranayaka, fondly known as ADH or Samare to his friends. He passed away peacefully during his afternoon nap on March 30, 1996, aged 74 years.

Our father was born in Kumbuka, Horana to traditional Buddhist parents. He was the eldest in a family of seven children.

The champion athlete of St Thomas’ College and University of Ceylon

They grew up in the Mahagedara, built my grandparents in Kumbuke. Thaththi had his early education at Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya in Panadura, but later Achchi admitted him to St Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. Thaththi’s prowess as an athlete was not known until he was asked to run in the one mile event at the annual STC sports meet as the regular champion had suddenly fallen sick. Not only did Thaththi win the one mile event in his first attempt in 1939, but shattered the existing ground record in Mount Lavinia on that occasion, running bare foot! The next year in August 1940, he bettered his own record at STC in the one mile event.

Later on, for many years he helped St Thomas’ (STC) to win the coveted Tarbet and Jefferson Challenge Trophies at the public schools athletics championships. The other members of the victorious Thomian athletic team were L C Goonaratne, R D Duckworth, E D Bandaranayaka, J B R Simmons amongst others. The half mile public school record that Thaththi setup in 1941 of 2 mins 10 secs was only broken 23 years later by another Thomian S K Jayasinghe. When I was a school girl, I vividly recall answering the telephone when the Warden of STC rang up my father to inform him that his record was broken.

Many decades later when he was invited as the chief guest at the STC annual sports meet, he recalled these events with nostalgia and spoke how his hostel diet improved overnight on being discovered a prize athlete and that he was made a prefect at the next assembly. His contemporaries at STC at that time were Sam Wijesinha, Lal Goonaratne, C.N.Gunawardena and Charlie Munasinghe amongst others. Uncle Sam and Thaththi were lifelong friends and he was bestman at his wedding, when Thaththi married my mother Susila in 1947. In the appreciation that Uncle Sam wrote about my father, he mentioned “Sam was the first in our batch to get employed, get married and build his own house”.

Our Thaththi was an outstanding student of science at STC and was awarded the prestigious Wijewardene prize for science and chemistry. He proved the veracity of the adage “mens sana in corpore sano” by successfully passing the University of Ceylon entrance examination in 1941. In the University of Ceylon he represented the University of Ceylon in the half mile, one mile and the 440 yard hurdle events. At the All India inter university athletic meet held in Madras in 1943, he was the only Ceylonese athlete to win an event and that was the 440 yard hurdles .In the National Athletics Rankings of Ceylon in 1943,ADH Samaranayaka was ranked first. Later my father captained the athletics team of the University of Ceylon .The Vice Chancellor of the University at that time was the much respected and admired Sir Ivor Jennings.

The Government Examiner of Questioned Documents

Our father obtained an honours degree in chemistry and was recruited to the Questioned Documents (QD) section of the Government Analysts’ Department under the former Examiner of QD, Mr. Tom Nagendran. As Dr A R L Wijesekara (ARLW) the former government analyst and badminton champion of Ceylon recalls about my father, in the appreciation he wrote, “Samare had the distinction of being the first scientist to be recruited to the QD section of the analyst department, when QD examination was more an art than a science. The importance of his presence with his scientific background greatly contributed to revolutionizing the concepts and techniques of the handwriting experts of yesteryears and building the image of the modern examiner in QD”. He further stated that “Samare strode like a colossus in an era where giants of forensic sciences of the calibre Colvin Sirimanne, Newton Weerasinha, Noel Jayatunga, C Sathkulanadan and FC Pinto also strode”.

Dr A R L W further continued “he was a fearless witness,much respected by both judges and counsel of both sides for his scientific skills, clarity of expression and undoubted honesty and unimpeachable integrity. They were aware that Samare never deviated from speaking “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. The exposition of his evidence as an expert witness was indeed an object lesson for young forensic scientists” he concluded.

Our father received advanced training in document examination from Scotland Yard, the FBI America and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. From 1960 onwards, as the government examiner of questioned documents (GEQD), he trained document examiners for the governments of Malaysia and Singapore and trained three assistant document examiners for Sri Lanka – P H Manatunga, Thangaratnevel and Kalupahana. After retirement from the government service, he was selected as a forensic document examiner in New South Wales Australia.

As children we enjoyed travelling the length and breadth of Sri Lanka accompanying Thaththi as he drove to give evidence in courts of law throughout the country. He often showed us the basic techniques of recognizing forged documents, which was very interesting and exciting.

As Chairman of Red Cross Society

As recalled by P H Manatunga, who succeeded him as document examiner in 1977, in his appreciation “Samaranayaka was a man with tremendous energy who applied himself with dedication and devotion to any cause. He was a man of action and was known not to postpone what had to be done today for tomorrow. If his office was not swept, he would not hesitate to do it himself and set the example.

“He was greatly influenced by his wife who was a social worker of great repute, who introduced him to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society in the early 60s. The organization recognized his talents and he was soon made the honorary treasurer and in no time he was elected as the chairman. This position he held with great distinction from 1967 to 1977 by annual election. His organizational capabilities and leadership qualities blossomed in full measure as a chairman. He is best remembered for having taken the Red Cross movement to the village school, temples and churches and setting up first aid units islandwide.”

He was the first to spring into action when a disaster struck the community and would himself lead the Red Cross volunteers in providing emergency food, shelter and clothing. He resolutely upheld the fundamental principles of the Red Cross which are impartiality, neutrality and independence. He saw to it that the society steered clear of politics and passed on the society to his successors free of rift, and the fundamental principles uncompromised untarnished and intact. He represented the society at many international conferences held in many parts of the world and brought much credit and recognition to the society by his innate leadership qualities, with the finesse of a diplomat” Manatunga concluded.

There is no doubt that his pioneering efforts helped in the construction of the four storied Red Cross building in Colombo 7. I must also add that when an ambulance driver was not available, my father would personally drive the ambulance even long distances to the outstations. Such was his commitment to the sick. Sometimes the occupants of the ambulance never realized that the driver of the ambulance of was the chairman of the Red Cross Society himself!

The family man

Our father was the patriarch of the Samaranayaka clan. He was called “Loku Aiya” by some of his relations and “Colombo Mama” by others. He was always helpful to the extended family and the village folk of Kumbuka. Our home in Ascot Avenue was open to all his relations from Kumbuka. Many of his relations lived with us during their school days and my sister and I gladly shared our beds with them. He never turned away anyone who came to his gate, seeking help. He was a warm and caring person and was always transparent in his dealings. He had numerous friends and associates from all strata of society and he treated them equally, with the respect they deserved.

Thaththi was a keen environmentalist and Ascot Avenue, where he lived for nearly50 years was probably one of the greenest and cleanest lanes in Colombo at that time. This was indeed a tribute to his untiring anti – garbage and anti – litter efforts. He prided himself in his car, which was always spotless and gleaming.

As a dutiful son, he showered much attention on his mother. Visiting her on Sundays with food and sweets was often a family weekend routine. Thaththi taught us many lessons in life. Foremost among them were the values of honesty, integrity, civic sense, contentment. These were the qualities he practised and enjoyed throughout his full and fruitful life. He was indeed a man in a million.

Dearest Thaththi, may your journey through sansara continue to be rewarding and may you finally reach the supreme bliss of nirvana.

Your ever loving daughter – Anula Wijesundere nee

Samaranayaka and son

Hemanatha Samaranayaka

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Features

Maduro abduction marks dangerous aggravation of ‘world disorder’

Published

13 mins ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Venezuelan President Maduro being taken to a court in New York

The abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces on January 3rd and his coercive conveying to the US to stand trial over a number of allegations leveled against him by the Trump administration marks a dangerous degeneration of prevailing ‘world disorder’. While some cardinal principles in International Law have been blatantly violated by the US in the course of the operation the fallout for the world from the exceptionally sensational VVIP abduction could be grave.

Although controversial US military interventions the world over are not ‘news’ any longer, the abduction and hustling away of a head of government, seen as an enemy of the US, to stand trial on the latter soil amounts to a heavy-handed and arrogant rejection of the foundational principles of international law and order. It would seem, for instance, that the concept of national sovereignty is no longer applicable to the way in which the world’s foremost powers relate to the rest of the international community. Might is indeed right for the likes of the US and the Trump administration in particular is adamant in driving this point home to the world.

Chief spokesmen for the Trump administration have been at pains to point out that the abduction is not at variance with national security related provisions of the US Constitution. These provisions apparently bestow on the US President wide powers to protect US security and stability through courses of action that are seen as essential to further these ends but the fact is that International Law has been brazenly violated in the process in the Venezuelan case.

To be sure, this is not the first occasion on which a head of government has been abducted by US special forces in post-World War Two times and made to stand trial in the US, since such a development occurred in Panama in 1989, but the consequences for the world could be doubly grave as a result of such actions, considering the mounting ‘disorder’ confronting the world community.

Those sections opposed to the Maduro abduction in the US would do well to from now on seek ways of reconciling national security-related provisions in the US Constitution with the country’s wider international commitment to uphold international peace and law and order. No ambiguities could be permitted on this score.

While the arbitrary military action undertaken by the US to further its narrow interests at whatever cost calls for criticism, it would be only fair to point out that the US is not the only big power which has thus dangerously eroded the authority of International Law in recent times. Russia, for example, did just that when it violated the sovereignty of Ukraine by invading it two or more years ago on some nebulous, unconvincing grounds. Consequently, the Ukraine crisis too poses a grave threat to international peace.

It is relevant to mention in this connection that authoritarian rulers who hope to rule their countries in perpetuity as it were, usually end up, sooner rather than later, being a blight on their people. This is on account of the fact that they prove a major obstacle to the implementation of the democratic process which alone holds out the promise of the prgressive empowerment of the people, whereas authoritarian rulers prefer to rule with an iron fist with a fixation about self-empowerment.

Nevertheless, regime-change, wherever it may occur, is a matter for the public concerned. In a functional democracy, it is the people, and the people only, who ‘make or break’ governments. From this viewpoint, Russia and Venezuela are most lacking. But externally induced, militarily mediated change is a gross abnormality in the world or democracy, which deserves decrying.

By way of damage control, the US could take the initiative to ensure that the democratic process, read as the full empowerment of ordinary people, takes hold in Venezuela. In this manner the US could help in stemming some of the destructive fallout from its abduction operation. Any attempts by the US to take possession of the national wealth of Venezuela at this juncture are bound to earn for it the condemnation of democratic opinion the world over.

Likewise, the US needs to exert all its influence to ensure that the rights of ordinary Ukrainians are protected. It will need to ensure this while exploring ways of stopping further incursions into Ukrainian territory by Russia’s invading forces. It will need to do this in collaboration with the EU which is putting its best foot forward to end the Ukraine blood-letting.

Meanwhile, the repercussions that the Maduro abduction could have on the global South would need to be watched with some concern by the international community. Here too the EU could prove a positive influence since it is doubtful whether the UN would be enabled by the big powers to carry out the responsibilities that devolve on it with the required effectiveness.

What needs to be specifically watched is the ‘copycat effect’ that could manifest among those less democratically inclined Southern rulers who would be inspired by the Trump administration to take the law into their hands, so to speak, and act with callous disregard for the sovereign rights of their smaller and more vulnerable neighbours.

Democratic opinion the world over would need to think of systems of checks and balances that could contain such power abuse by Southern autocratic rulers in particular. The UN and democracy-supportive organizations, such as the EU, could prove suitable partners in these efforts.

All in all it is international lawlessness that needs managing effectively from now on. If President Trump carries out his threat to over-run other countries as well in the manner in which he ran rough-shod over Venezuela, there is unlikely to remain even a semblance of international order, considering that anarchy would be receiving a strong fillip from the US, ‘The World’s Mightiest Democracy’.

What is also of note is that identity politics in particularly the South would be unprecedentedly energized. The narrative that ‘the Great Satan’ is running amok would win considerable validity among the theocracies of the Middle East and set the stage for a resurgence of religious fanaticism and invigorated armed resistance to the US. The Trump administration needs to stop in its tracks and weigh the pros and cons of its current foreign policy initiatives.

Features

Pure Christmas magic and joy at British School

Published

15 mins ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Students of The British High School in Colombo in action at the fashion show

The British School in Colombo (BSC) hosted its Annual Christmas Carnival 2025, ‘Gingerbread Wonderland’, which was a huge success, with the students themseles in the spotlight, managing stalls and volunteering.

The event, organised by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), featured a variety of activities, including: Games and rides for all ages, Food stalls offering delicious treats, Drinks and refreshments, Trade booths showcasing local products, and Live music and entertainment.

The carnival was held at the school premises, providing a fun and festive atmosphere for students, parents, and the community to enjoy.

The halls of the BSC were filled with pure Christmas magic and joy with the students and the staff putting on a tremendous display.

Among the highlights was the dazzling fashion show with the students doing the needful, and they were very impressive.

The students themselves were eagerly looking forward to displaying their modelling technique and, I’m told, they enjoyed the moment they had to step on the ramp.

The event supported communities affected by the recent floods, with surplus proceeds going to flood-relief efforts.

Features

Glowing younger looking skin

Published

17 mins ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hi! This week I’m giving you some beauty tips so that you could look forward to enjoying 2026 with a glowing younger looking skin.

Face wash for natural beauty

* Avocado:

Take the pulp, make a paste of it and apply on your face. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it with normal water.

* Cucumber:

Just rub some cucumber slices on your face for 02-03 minutes to cleanse the oil naturally. Wash off with plain water.

* Buttermilk:

Apply all over your face and leave it to dry, then wash it with normal water (works for mixed to oily skin).

Face scrub for natural beauty

Take 01-02 strawberries, 02 pieces of kiwis or 02 cubes of watermelons. Mash any single fruit and apply on your face. Then massage or scrub it slowly for at least 3-5 minutes in circular motions. Then wash it thoroughly with normal or cold water. You can make use of different fruits during different seasons, and see what suits you best! Follow with a natural face mask.

Face Masks

* Papaya and Honey:

Take two pieces of papaya (peeled) and mash them to make a paste. Apply evenly on your face and leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it with cold water.

Papaya is just not a fruit but one of the best natural remedies for good health and glowing younger looking skin. It also helps in reducing pimples and scars. You can also add honey (optional) to the mixture which helps massage and makes your skin glow.

* Banana:

Put a few slices of banana, 01 teaspoon of honey (optional), in a bowl, and mash them nicely. Apply on your face, and massage it gently all over the face for at least 05 minutes. Then wash it off with normal water. For an instant glow on your face, this facemask is a great idea to try!

* Carrot:

Make a paste using 01 carrot (steamed) by mixing it with milk or honey and apply on your face and neck evenly. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash it with cold water. Carrots work really well for your skin as they have many vitamins and minerals, which give instant shine and younger-looking skin.