Features
Ray Forbes: True gentleman and unsung hero
The telephone call to say Ray had died was a shock and of course very sad. An alumnus of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) in Australia said he had been devastated, and could hardly take it as a fact.
A call to Ray two weeks previous had him say he was in splendid health. We rang each other every weekend. A niece of his and family from Australia were here over Christmas and had holidayed with him in a hotel and spent time in Anuradhapura. He had particularly good news since his grandniece from that family had been brilliant in her medical studies and was a practising doctor at age 21.
Then, a week ago he phoned to say he underwent a surgical procedure at the Anuradhapura hospital for varicose veins. He was discharged soon after the operation and he said he was managing alone, preparing his meals. Having turned vegetarian his meals were very simple but I was perturbed no neighbourly help was forthcoming. That was entirely due to Ray never bothering anyone seeking the slightest help. “I can manage everything well alone.” When I phoned him two days later and the next, he said he was in severe pain. He died in hospital on the morning of Sunday 28 January. Burial was in the Tissawewa cemetery on Monday 29th. And that is proof of the second epithet in the title of this appreciation.
Ray Forbes, in his 80s, was from a distinguished Roman Catholic Burgher family; one brother a well-known priest and many respected performers and teachers of western classical music. Ray studied at St Peter’s College, Colombo, and then read for a degree in the University of Peradeniya. He had wanted to join the priesthood but maybe his love for classical music prompted him to remain in lay life. He was selected to serve in the Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry and last was Head of the Madras Embassy. He left without waiting for retirement since he had this great desire to serve humankind and thus joined Mother Theresa’s Kalighat the Home of the Pure Heart (Nirmal Hriday) in Calcutta.
Working with the destitute
Ray never wanted to speak of himself. If the limelight ever turned on him, he would be horrified, and dodge it. How I got to know of his sacrifice to work with lepers in the home provided for a peaceful death by Mother Theresa was when I invited him to speak to senior students of the then Overseas Children’s School (OCS) in Pelawatte, now the Overseas School of Colombo. In the IB programme of studies followed at OCS, community service is a compulsory unit. Hence as Head Librarian I organised addresses by and conversations with distinguished Sri Lankans.
Ray said he never minded being spat at or clawed by destitute people awaiting death in drains and alleys of Calcutta. However, as time went on, he sorely missed hearing classical music, leave aside playing the piano. Not even a small radio was allowed. Due to the heat, helpers would often sleep on the rooftop of their quarters. He said he was assailed by Carnatic and probably Bollywood music from tea stalls on either side, all night through. This he said was the last straw which compelled his separation from much admired Mother Teresa and her charity and his returning to Sri Lanka, pensionless.
He was appointed Director of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) and that is where I got to know Ray and my admiration of him grew as I saw and experienced how he ran the Centre. He was efficient and his concern for students of the courses conducted by the Centre – foreign relations and Tamil and Sinhala language classes –remarkable. His office ran with clockwork efficiency; the BCIS library was much used; lecture schedules excellent, distinguished outsiders invited to address students and multi-faceted programmes conducted with nary a mishap. In fact his precision and detailing once got on my nerves and I threatened to scream if he once more came to our diploma class and made his announcement which we had heard at every class for a fortnight. “Remember you have an extra class on Saturday afternoon … So bring convenient sandwiches for your lunch, not rice and curry which will make you sleepy, and don’t forget a large glass bottle of drinking water.” Our class had an Air Vice Marshall, Army Major General, distinguished lawyers and sundry other professionals including a young JVP activist.
He used to cycle daily for work from Dehiwala until much later a room was given him for residing in the many roomed building behind the Conference Hall. It is certain his salary would not have been much and of course his service sans a pension.
In Anuradhapura
When Ray left his BCIS post, he moved to Anuradhapura. It was gossiped that he could not afford to live in Colombo, in spite of his love of theatre and stimulation offered his intellect. Many years after the immense service he rendered the BCIS, he was honoured by the institution and offered a monthly stipend.
His living in Anuradhapura taught those who knew him many valuable lessons of life. He never saw it as a come down; he made the most of it; never even mentioned shortcomings; showed mild annoyance (very unlike him) if offered monetary help. When asked what he needed from Colombo, he would mention aerogrammes and tea of a particular blend. He was always optimistic, extremely good natured and positive in his outlook and appreciated what he had like the quiet and serenity of his small annexe facing paddy fields and the Tissawewa. He was much into the study of comparative religion and would advise me on which Buddhist monks’ bana to listen to.
His genuine interest in people was immense. Members of his family, most settled down in Australia, were close to him and helped him. He led a very simple life being grateful for the minor benefits in his life.
He was always a giver and social worker. He shared his skill and talent with the many. He taught English to students of schools in Anuradhapura and undergraduates of the University of Rajarata; and piano-playing to those interested in western music; not charging a cent from even affluent parents.
Thus, my giving him the epithets of ‘true gentleman’ and ‘unsung hero’. He was polite and considerate of others; committed and efficient in his professional work and having the old school virtue of complete integrity. Above all he was a humane person. No hosannas sung for him; his name not on honours lists; but he led a life that could be honoured. He was happy in his very simple life and at peace with himself.
Many were the occasions when I asked him whether I could write about him. “No” was the firm answer. It is so sad that I have my wish to honour him by sharing my opinion of this excellent human being when he has died. His name and memories will live with those who knew him and admired him as an incredibly remarkable Sri Lankan.
Nanda Pethiyagoda
With reports emerging that India has attacked some ‘sites’ in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the question could be posed whether the stage has just been set for yet another costly India-Pakistan military conflict. Sensible opinion in South Asia could only hope that wise counsel would sooner rather than later come to prevail on both sides of the divide and that they would draw back from the brink of full-scale war.
The states concerned ought to know fully well the possible wide-ranging weighty consequences of another regional conflict. It should be plain to see that it would benefit none in the two theatres of confrontation, most particularly the relevant publics or the ‘Silent Majority’.
In fact, in connection with the mentioned initial military attacks, the Pakistani side has gone on record that some civilian lives have been lost. Such losses could burgeon in the event of full scale hostilities. These costs could of course be staggering and unimaginable in the event the nuclear option is resorted to by the sides, going forward.
Accordingly, the hope of the peace-loving world-wide is likely to be that India and Pakistan would give negotiations a chance and resolve their differences peacefully. It would be in the best interests of the world for the champions of peace to join their voices to that of UN chief Antonio Guterres and call on the sides to negotiate an end to their differences.
The utter helplessness and misery of the people of the Gaza ought to drive home afresh the horrors of war. Currently the news is that the Gazans are literally starving to death. Food and other essentials provided by UN agencies are reportedly being prevented by Israel from getting to the hapless people of Gaza. So dire is their situation that concerned quarters are calling on the compassionate worldwide to provide the Gazans with food, water and other essentials voluntarily. This SOS would need to be heeded forthwith.
Accordingly, it could be inferred that most formal arrangements, including those that are generally under the purview of the UN, geared to providing emergency humanitarian assistance to the needy, have, for all intents and purposes, been rendered ineffective in the Gaza. The UN cannot be faulted for this state of things; rather, Israel should be held accountable in the main for it.
The matter of accountability is central to the dramatic slide into lawlessness the world has been experiencing over the past few decades. As could be seen, International Law is no longer fully applicable in the conflict and war zones of the world because it is not being adhered to by many state and non-state aggressors. That the UN is hapless in the face of such lawlessness is plain to see.
We have of course the Middle East wherein International Law has fallen silent for quite a while. How could it be otherwise, when Israeli aggressions are being winked at by the US, for which the policy of backing Israel is almost sacrosanct?
Moreover, under President Donald Trump, it is difficult to see the US changing policy course on the Middle East. Trump made vague promises of bringing peace to the region in the run-up to his reelection but has done nothing concrete by way of peace-making. Consequently, complete lawlessness prevails in the Middle East. US policy towards Israel counts as another example of how the self- interest of US central administrations blinds them to their international obligations, in this case Middle East peace.
However, the commentator could be criticized as being biased if he holds only Israel responsible for what has befallen the Middle East. It has been the position of this columnist that Israel’s security needs should be taken cognizance of by its state and non-state adversaries in the Middle East and acted upon if the basis is to be laid for a durable Middle East peace. Inasmuch as Palestinian statehood must be guaranteed, the same should be seen as applicable to Israel. The latter too enjoys the right to live in a secure state of its own, unopposed by its neighbours.
The Ukraine of today is also sad testimony to the ill consequences of powerful, aggressor states wantonly disregarding International Law and its obligations. Nothing could justify Russia in invading Ukraine and subjecting it to a condition of Longsuffering. Clearly, Ukraine’s sovereignty has been violated and such excesses go to the heart of the current state of ‘International Disorder’. Of course the same stricture applies to the US in relation to its military misadventures in Afghanistan and Iraq, to name just two such modern examples.
There is no ducking the fact, then, that civilian publics in the mentioned theatres of war and outside, are being subjected to the worst suffering as a consequence of the big powers’ self-aggrandizement schemes and military misadventures. Longsuffering becomes the tragic lot of the people who have nothing to do with such unbridled power ambitions.
One would not be exaggerating the case if he states that civilian publics count for almost nothing in the present ‘International Disorder’. Increasingly it is becoming evident that from the viewpoint of the big powers and authoritarian governments the people are of little or no importance. Considering that self-aggrandizement is of the paramount interest for the former the public interest is coming to be seen as inconsequential.
Consequently, not much of a case could be made currently for the once almost reverentially spoken of ‘Social Contract’. For, the public interest does not count for much in the scrambles for power among the major powers who are seen at the popular level as the principal history-makers.
It is in view of the above that much is expected of India. Today the latter is a ‘Swing State’ of the first importance. Besides being a major democracy, it is one of the world’s principal economic and military powers. It possesses abundant potential to help to put things right in international politics. If there is one state in Asia that could help in restoring respect for International Law, it is India.
Considering the above, India, one believes, is obliged to bear the responsibility of keeping South Asia free of any more long-running, wasting wars that could aggravate the material hardships and socio-economic blights of the region. Thus, India would need to consider it imperative to negotiating peace with Pakistan.
Under the Global-Ise Australia Advanced Sports Development Programme, a delegation of 15 swimmers from Lyceum International School, Wattala, had the remarkable opportunity to train and experience high-performance sports development in Melbourne, Australia.
The 10-day programme was carefully curated to offer intensive training, educational exposure, and cultural experiences for the young athletes.
The swimmers underwent specialised training through Swimming Victoria’s elite programme, held at some of Melbourne’s premier aquatic facilities.
Visit to Victorian Parliament
Each day began as early as 5:00 a.m. and continued until 7:00 p.m., ensuring a rigorous and enriching schedule that mirrored the standards of international competitive swimming.
Beyond training, the programme offered a wide array of experiences to broaden the students’ horizons.
Morning training
The tour group explored iconic landmarks such as the Victorian Parliament and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and enjoyed shopping at Chadstone – The Fashion Capital. They also experienced the natural beauty of Victoria with visits to Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, and Cardinia Reservoir Park, where they observed kangaroos in their natural habitat.
An academic highlight of the tour was the group’s exclusive visits to three of Australia’s leading universities: the University of Melbourne, Monash University, and Deakin University. These visits aimed to inspire students and showcase the vast educational opportunities available in Australia.
Checking out the scene at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery
As part of the cultural immersion, Global-Ise hosted a traditional Australian BBQ at the Tim Neville Arboretum in Ferntree Gully. The students also enjoyed a variety of diverse culinary experiences each evening, further enriching their understanding of local and international food cultures.
The tour concluded with a celebratory dinner at the Spicy Wicket Restaurant, where each participant received a presentation in recognition of their involvement.
Enjoying an Aussie BBQ for lunch
The evening was made especially memorable by the presence of Pradeepa Saram, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Victoria.
Global-Ise Management—Ken Jacobs, Johann Jayasinha, and Dr Luckmika Perera (Consultant from the University of Melbourne)—did a magnificent job in planning and the execution of the advanced sports programme.
Coaches from Sri Lanka presenting a plaque to Global-Ise Management team
Ken Jacobs (centre), Johann Jayasinha, and Dr Luckmika Perera (on the right
Hi! How’s the beauty scene keeping with you?
Phew, this heat is awful but there is nothing that we can do about it.
However, there are ways and means to take care of your skin and I will do my best to help you in every way I can.
Well, this week, let’s go for a Bright, Smooth Skin.
Gram flour (also known as besan) is a traditional skincare ingredient known for its:
* Natural exfoliating properties.
* Ability to absorb excess oil.
* Gentle brightening and tan-removal effects.
* Suitability for all skin types, especially oily and acne-prone skin.
You will need 01–02 tablespoons gram flour (besan) and rose water, or raw milk, to make a paste.
You could add the following two as optional add-ins: A pinch of turmeric (for extra glow), and a few drops of lemon juice (for oily skin and pigmentation)
Add the gram flour to a small bowl and mix in the rose water (for oily/sensitive skin) or raw milk (for dry skin) slowly.
Stir well to make a smooth, spreadable paste—not too thick, not too runny.
Now apply this mixture, evenly, to your damp face and neck, and let it sit for 5–10 minutes (don’t let it dry completely if you have dry skin).
Gently massage in circular motions using wet fingers—this helps exfoliate.
Rinse off with lukewarm water, and then pat your skin dry.
Use it 02–03 times a week for best results.
Skin Benefits:
* Removes dirt, sweat, and oil without stripping natural moisture.
* Gently exfoliates dead skin cells, revealing smoother skin.
* Brightens the complexion and fades mild tanning.
* Helps clear clogged pores and reduce pimples.
* Leaves skin fresh and glowing—perfect for humid climates.
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