Features

The Estate Appus – a dead or dying species?

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/3

by ACB Pethiyagoda

In the past few weeks much has appeared in the newspapers about plantations: worker’s union leaders demanding wage increases for their members (with little concern for productivity); employment of estate workers’ children in estates and as domestics in town houses; and lack of employment opportunities of their choice.

These brought to mind a unique category of workers on estates – the Cook Appus of Superintendents and their Assistants. They were virtually institutions in the days of the Pukka Sahib. Some of them particularly towards the end of the era of the Plantation Raj in the mid or early 1950s were men whose fathers or perhaps even grandfathers had worked for European families.

In the estate hierarchy among the monthly paid employees, the position of Appu was somewhere close to that of the lorry driver but below a factory or field supervisor. Needless to say, the Superintendent’s Appu was superior in status to that of the Assistant Superintendent’s and so were their salaries.

These men need not have necessarily been permanent residents of the particular estate but were allocated quarters. Their wives were entitled to work on terms applicable to other women workers but most chose to sew clothes for payment or run small boutiques rather than work in the field, which both husbands and wives considered too menial for their station in life.

The man moved from one estate to another on change of employer. They carried bundles of dog-eared testimonials from previous employers stating their capabilities and reasons for leaving. Close examination of these sometimes revealed long gaps in service which were often explained away as ill health in the family. Instances were also obvious where the employee had not dared ask for a certificate from the company parted from. Or who had dared got this: “He cooked to his entire satisfaction.”

In unmarried Assistant’s or Superintendent’s bungalows, the Appu played the role of cook, butler, housekeeper, valet and, if encouraged or tolerated, a willing conveyor of the thotam pechchi (estate gossip). The Appu was boss of the second servant/s, gardener/s and tappal man, all of whom had to do his bidding.

The unmarried planter who gave his full attention to his work had no time to look into his domestic affairs unless on a rare non-working Sunday. Therefore, they depended to varying degrees on their Appu’s management of those segments of his life on the thotam which included the care of the estate furniture and his own household goods, clothes, linen etc.

It was the Appu who most often ordered groceries and foodstuff from a regular supplier or two in the nearest town with such purchases and prices being noted in a ‘pass book’ for settlement at the end of the month. Small amounts of over-expenditure, if noticed when the accounts were examined, were easily explained by the Appu’s accurate reckoning of entertainment of guests during the month. No disputes were possible; none worthwhile!

The well trained and elderly Appus were generally of Indian Tamil origin, smartly dressed in white verti and white shirt with an apron worn while at work. They were punctual, polite, alert whatever time of day or night they were summoned, and had rarely to be corrected. Hence for days on end there was little talk in the house except the formal exchange of greetings in the mornings and thank you for services rendered during the day.

These Appus could bake, steam, fry, roast meats, poultry and do fish dishes; turn out an excellent three or four course lunch or dinner and present it on a well laid table with shining cutlery and warmed crockery. However, many could not cook rice and curry to suit the local palate. For that the homegrown planter had to go to relatives or on visits to Colombo, to the Globe or Metropole in the Fort or pop into one of those fire eating places in Hospital or Chekku Street.

A model Appu was Gomesz – a Malayali Christian who in the course of his duties willingly lit the oil lamp and placed flowers in the first Buddhist shrine room in the Superintendent’s bungalow in Mayfield Estate. He had worked for two previous European families and prior to the departure of the third and the first incoming Sri Lankan unmarried Superintendent, Gomesz was asked to remain along with all the other servants on existing terms.

He agreed and so did the others. Gomesz was the epitome of a Jeeves and Man Friday rolled into one. An instance of his ingenuity – just about two weeks after the new Superintendent had assumed duties, a telephone call, on a Sunday morning when the Superintendent was away for the day, from an executive in the Colombo Agency announced that three London directors with their wives would arrive for lunch on the following Tuesday to leave after breakfast on Thursday.

The news was given to the prospective host on his return late in the evening. The first reaction was consternation; up until then as an Assistant he had not entertained directors as house guests and therefore did not have sufficient blankets and bed linen for such visitors and that many as well, to boot. Gomesz was told this.

His calm response was that he had contacted the host’s closest friend in the neighbourhood; the predicament explained; and all requirements to supplement what was at hand had already been delivered. In addition, he had discussed with the lady of that house the six meals to be served and the foodstuff ordered for collection the next morning.

Need it be mentioned that the visit went off very well, and the host even enjoyed having his bungalow overrun by Londoners?

On another occasion, among several such sudden contingencies, two men and two women had arrived on a Sunday, when the man of the house was away. The spokesperson of the four assured Gomesz they were friends of his master and requested lunch. Gomesz declined not only lunch but even entry to the bungalow.

For many months thereafter a complaint was expected but none received. Four people who thought they were smart did not realize some estate Appus were smarter!

A man who had served so well needed to be rewarded, and so he was. With a little pull here and a gentle push there a building block was obtained for Gomesz from government owned land in Nuwara Eliya in which he could settle down to his richy deserved retirement.

Recollection of these men at various levels who served so well their masters and the Agency Houses they belonged to, brings on a nostalgic feeling mixed with consternation at how situations and loyalties have changed. Sri Lankan planters when serving in foreign owned companies knew very well that profits were being sent to foreign countries. But acceptance was there; the foreigner invested and marketed and local planters helped with commitment, accountability and loyalty.

Thus both parties and hundreds of locals benefited. Binding this relationship was discipline. It was the same between house employer and employee – Superintendent and Cook Appu. The master had immense material comfort, but he worked hard- often 14 hours a day – responsible for every aspect of the estates business. The Appu knew just what he had to do, where he was slotted in. Thus the smooth running of estates and estate bungalows.

The work ethos now is shocking to many. It’s always `me’ first and then the company/department, the public, then job in hand. One major cause for this difference of how jobs were executed and institutions run, whether in the private sector or government departments and how they are managed now was the absence then of callous, interfering politicians and their jabbing often corrupt fingers into every matter!

Planters were answerable to their bosses in Colombo and plantation workers to the Assistant Superintendent or Superintendent. The hierarchy was known and strictly maintained. And so work was successfully carried out. Hiccups there certainly were, but efficiently dealt with. Now there’s invariably the interfering politicians to be considered.

(First published in The Sunday Island date not available)

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Features

New US sanctions on ICC, a fillip to worldwide political repression

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

The International Criminal Court in session. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s warning to the International Criminal Court (ICC) was stark: ‘Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC.’ It followed US central administration accusations that the court was unfairly targeting Americans on the basis of trumped-up war crimes charges.

However, a new plethora of sanctions has been clamped on the ICC by the US, which in turn has spurred accusations by sections of the world that the latter has unleashed an ‘assault’ on the international legal order.

What some of the sanctions would mean for the ICC was outlined by Rubio: ‘We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling their ability to operate against us.’

The ICC has shown consistency of purpose over the years. Despite some operational constraints it has indicted a large number of political strongmen from around the world, accused of war crimes and other governance excesses that come under its purview. Two such recent figures are: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Rather than enjoy a mere nominal presence in the world community, the ICC has proved its effectiveness by detaining and bringing to justice scores of VIP politicians and others of their ilk who have been found guilty of human rights abuses and kindred excesses that come within the terms of reference of the ICC.

Accordingly, the international justice system would be stymied considerably as a result of the ICC being dis-empowered, particularly financially. Needless to say, potential and real perpetrators of the species of crime coming under the jurisdiction of the ICC would stand to gain most from such anarchic tendencies. That is, political repression globally would be enabled to enjoy a new lease of life.

A detailing of the types of crime coming under the purview of the ICC provides an idea of what it would cost the international community if the ICC’s operations are gravely hampered. They are mainly: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.

That is, the part of the world to be worst affected would be the global South, since the latter is awash with the mentioned crimes. Needless to say, a chronically-disaffected South will sooner rather than later undermine the well being of the world dangerously. The world is already being put through these paces.

At the time of writing, ‘illegal migrants’ from the South, for example, are aggravating many a Western economy’s woes, besides creating for them acute law and order issues. The fact that these migrants’ presence goes on to become a virtual test of the migrant receiving states’ ability to forge domestic social inclusion in the face of jingoistic protests by mainly white supremacist groups is evidence of the latter. As is known, the US, to take just one example, has been up against this crisis for quite a while.

Accordingly, it will be in the best interests of the West if ‘illegal’ migrant arrivals on their shores are stemmed. If the socio-political and economic problems assailing the South are effectively managed through North-South collaborative, ‘trouble-shooting’ efforts the causes leading to ‘illegal’ migration and connected issues could be resolved at source as it were. For, it is the aggravation of the South’s material questions that lays the basis for the emergence of repressive and anti-democratic regimes in the hemisphere.

Until such time that the aforementioned issues in North-South relations are visited afresh and addressed urgently, a vibrantly functioning ICC would be needed. For, the latter would prove a deterrent to Southern political and military strongmen, highly prone to power abuse and like excesses, from coming into being in the wake of the South’s chronic material woes and the wars and conflicts that result from them.

It stands to reason then that the US would be acting in its own interests by enabling the ICC to perpetuate its mandate without hindrance. For a crop of issues that impinges negatively on internal law and order would be defused.

Meanwhile, there needs to be a meeting of minds among the rest of the West to put back in place a North-South dialogue process aimed at reducing some of the economic pressures that are weighing on the South.

Since economics usually drives politics it will be in the interests of the world community to scrutinizingly re-visit North-South issues of the past and put in place economic relief packages for Southern publics that would enable them to tide over their material hardships rather than permit the latter to aggravate into social disaffection and eventually armed militancy. It is the latter juncture that paves the way for the emergence of authoritarian rulers in the South who then go on to be a blight on their publics.

Accordingly, the Southern-based global development thinking of the past that envisaged a more equitable world economic order needs to be seen as an urgent need. That is, NAM’s international development paradigms need to be resuscitated to the extent possible.

It is unlikely that rightist governments of the West, such as the current Republican administration in the US, would find these projects feasible, but democratic states of Europe, led by perhaps the UK, are likely to think otherwise. For it would not be beneficial for the democratic world to be having on their hands repressive governments in the South who would be gravitating towards the major military and economic actors of the South, such as Iran and North Korea, who tend to be in constant power struggles with the West.

However, until such time that the mentioned, pro-people initiatives are given serious thought the ICC would need to be enabled by the international community to be in place comfortably and carry on with its mandate of bringing repressive rulers to book. Besides the ICC should pave the way for the peoples of the developing world to enjoy some substantial respite from the political repression and even terror which tend to be their lot.

Meanwhile, the wars of West Asia are relentlessly aggravating the economic hardships of people everywhere, driving the point home to enlightened sections that there is no alternative to peacemaking. A challenge is to convert the US under President Trump to this line of thinking.

Features

Clear, soft and shine-free skin

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

This week, I give you five simple, time-tested homemade remedies that help reduce the appearance of blemishes, control excess shine and leave your skin feeling softer and smoother.

The Honey and Lemon Brightening Dab:

For stubborn blemish marks, this is a classic. Mix one teaspoon of pure bee honey with three to four drops of fresh lemon juice. Apply gently, only on the affected spots, and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. While honey soothes and softens, lemon helps to brighten naturally. Use twice a week in the evening.

Besan and Rose Water Oil-Control Pack:

An ideal remedy to combat shine, especially on the T-zone. Take two teaspoons of besan (gram flour) and mix with sufficient rose water to form a smooth paste. Add a pinch of turmeric for its antiseptic goodness. Apply evenly, keep for 15 minutes and wash off. It absorbs excess oil without over-drying, leaving a beautiful matte finish.

Aloe Vera and Cucumber Ice Soother:

Blend fresh aloe vera gel with the juice of a grated cucumber and freeze the mixture in an ice tray. Each morning, wrap one cube in a soft muslin cloth and gently rub over a cleansed face for 30 seconds. It calms, tightens pores and imparts a baby-soft smoothness.

Oatmeal and Curd Gentle Polish:

Roughness and old blemish marks need gentle exfoliation. Combine one tablespoon of finely powdered oatmeal with one tablespoon of fresh curd (yoghurt). Massage very gently, in circular motions, for one minute, leave for five minutes and rinse. It removes dead cells and unveils softer, clearer skin.

Multani Mitti and Green Tea Magic Mask:

Brew some green tea and allow it to cool completely. Mix one and a half teaspoons of Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth) with the tea water to make a fine paste. Apply for 10 to 12 minutes – do not let it dry and crack completely – and wash off. It draws out impurities, fades blemishes and bestows a fresh, shine-free glow.

A Gentle Reminder:

As with any natural remedy, always do a patch test on your inner arm first. For those with oily or combination skin, avoid heavy coconut oil application and harsh scrubbing, as they tend to aggravate shine and blemishes.

Features

Compete, shine and be discovered at WCOPA 2027

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

Dream of performing on a world stage? Well, here is your unique, golden opportunity!

The World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) — the one and only official “Talent Olympics” — is the world’s premier global platform for aspiring singers, dancers, actors, models, instrumentalists, etc., to compete, shine and be discovered!

And, yes, this world stage is open to YOU, Sri Lankans living in Sri Lanka and overseas!

Held annually in glittering Las Vegas, WCOPA brings together over 70 countries, all competing for Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals, just like the traditional Olympics.

Lakisha Bernard: Will represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA 2027

Outstanding performers vie for the coveted titles of Junior and Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World, with winners and standout participants awarded over $500,000 in scholarships, cash awards and prizes to catapult their education and careers!

Sri Lanka is already making waves! At WCOPA 2026, Natharie Wickramasinghe, representing Team Sri Lanka, made the nation proud by winning a Bronze Medal in the Ethnic/Folklore Dance category!

Lakisha: Accomplished freelance Model and Fashion Design graduate

Recruitment for this prestigious competition is handled through a system of scouts and licensed National Directors — and this is where our very own Chris Rajendra, now based in Las Vegas, and National Director for Team Sri Lanka, comes into the scene.

If you are a singer, dancer, actor, model, instrumentalist — if you have talent burning inside you — contact Chris Rajendra today for registration and, who knows, you may find yourself in Las Vegas, and proudly draped in the Sri Lankan flag, at WCOPA 2027!

The contact address is: Chris Rajendra, wcopa.nationaldirector.sl@gmail.com

or chris.rajendra@gmail.com

Meanwhile, a star is born for 2027, in the form of Lakisha Bernard who is all set to represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA 2027.

Originally hailing from the sun-drenched coastal city of Colombo and now carving out her creative career in Canada, 22-year-old Lakisha is stepping into the international spotlight.

This accomplished freelance Model and Fashion Design graduate has officially been appointed as the Team Sri Lanka Promoter for Canada as she prepares to represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA in Las Vegas.

Lakisha brings a unique blend of high-fashion sensibility, captivating camera presence and expert garment design to the Team.

Having built her career, from local college shoots to high-glamour concepts, Lakisha’s inspiring journey embodies the true spirit of cultural bridge-building and creative resilience, bringing immense pride and recognition to Sri Lanka on the global stage.

WCOPA 2027 will be held at the legendary Westgate Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, from 12th to 20th July – the very same iconic arena where the late, great Elvis Presley himself performed!

Your moment is now. Your stage is Las Vegas, so hurry and contact Chris Rajendra.