Franklyn Amarasinghe– an appreciation

Frankie, to many friends and to me was a very sincere friend, knowledgeable, and very compassionate, gentleman who adorned the post of Director General of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon. As the reading in the Holy Bible says, (MATHEW CH:7 verse 24) he built his religious values with a contrite heart along with his family “like a house built on a Rock” and stood up to all the challenges in life inculcating in his two daughters, Michelle and Sharon with those Christlike values with true faith in Jesus Christ.

I first came to know Frankie when he was in the Law College hostel along with many school friends of mine whilst he was attending Law College. I used to visit my friends, Vasu, Illeyaperuma, Niel Dias, Tudor Jayasuriya and Senarath Mendis, and several others. But I came to know him very closely when I was stationed at Alawwa Police station in 1969, when Frankie was practising as a lawyer in the District Courts. Many of his family members were lawyers including an Uncle Jerry Perera, who used to frequent the club and played cricket. As a young lawyer he stood tall in his profession as a very courteous and humble lawyer who never exploited situations.

It was when he was the deputy to S. R. De Silva, Director General of the Employers Federation, I met him again at his office at Sulaiman Terrace. I was privileged to provide security to the organisation through my company. “… I was new to the trade and managing a private company but he guided me in management skills especially in drafting Contracts with my clients and drawing up “Standard Operational Procedures.”

His leadership qualities are that he once said, “Nihal “Do not create rules that are impossible to live by; ensure that the rules you set for yourself are possible, within your control, and that following them makes you feel good.”

His achievements in the field of Employer & Employee relationship has no doubt created a standard where the Trade Unions, too, recognised his deep sense of compassion, mixed with knowledge and created a high standard of trust and confidence when there were wage increases and disagreements. It is with his experience that he groomed reliable successors, to him when he readily accepted a position with the “ILO” (International Labour Organization.) He readily imparted his knowledge and experience at many International venues and even published very valuable books which are of great acceptance at Labour Courts and labour disputes.

He fought his terminal illness very bravely and to his credit, ensured that both his daughters were on their feet since his wife’s terminal illness. The children and extended family stood by him till his last. I did visit him on a few occasions, but later he requested me not to visit him, saying, “NIHAL, I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT I LOOKED LIKE AND PLEASE REFRAIN FROM SEEING ME “NOW”. I did comply but continued to pray for him offering masses at All Saints Church and at The Holy Rosary Church every week and continued to speak to him until he declined.

“Gratitude and confidence are directly related. The More you are grateful for what you have, the more there is to be grateful for.”

Frankie, you will always be in my prayers, I know “NOW” you are with the LORD. Your” faith remained unwavering through all of life’s challenges and that hope was the burning light which guided all your life “

“ETERNAL LIFE GRANT UN- TO HIM OH! LORD”

NIHAL DE ALWIS