Features

The Ceylon Civil Service

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

by Gamini Seneviratne

(continued)

And then, quite suddenly, I was posted to Nuwara Eliya.

Such sudden moves tended to become a part of my stay in the public service. In this case it had been due (truthfully) to ‘exigencies of service’: the headquarters DRO (Divisional Revenue Officer) had been transferred out, the Kachcheri was short of a land officer, the assistant food controller (AFC) had been interdicted – an extra hand was needed and readily available next door in Badulla.

My boss, Nissanka Wijewardena, decided to take me over himself en route to his weekly visit home. He introduced me to the people I should know – the District Judge cum Magistrate, the Police Superintendent (SP), the Secretary of the Tennis Club, a Miss Callender (?). And to the family he (and I) were staying with for the night, friends of his and relatives of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Bandaranaike.

It was a very pleasant place. Conversation at dinner though tended to be about ‘that’ or ‘this’ nice girl from Ladies or Kandy High School or Bishops or – well I don’t recall any mention of goday schools like Visakha. “’She’ wanted to ‘do law’ or something. ‘What’s the point, aney? – it’s not as if they are starving!” At Badulla, despite the protection I had, living with a family, there were some feelers about “that lovely girl who plays tennis – and her father, myee, the best Advocate in all of Uva and rich-when-you-say!”

The next morning, I moved into the Kachcheri – along with Amarawansa Bandara Elkaduwa, the new GA. We walked into a right nasty row between two MPs of the ruling party on how the assets of the Nuwara Eliya/Walapane Cooperative Union were to be divided when they split up. I came to know more about it when my friend at the Archives, Haris de Silva, threatened with the prospect of being ‘floored’ in his own room, found a room for me in the chummery where his senior, A Dewarajah lodged together with P B W Kinigama the ACCD (Assistant Commissioner of Cooperative Development).

I shall return to that scene later; right here I shall dispose of the ‘referees’ I was given. The Tennis Club was not my scene though my father had distinguished himself at that sport. (He defeated the All-Ceylon Champion, Koo de Saram, in an exhibition game a bare week after Koo had defeated Frank Sedgman also in an exhibition game. Sedgman was returning home to Oz after winning Wimbledon and may have been a bit bow-legged after weeks on the ship).

I had never played that game and the only acquaintance we had with each other was when friend Jothilingam, our college Captain, at a loss because his players were late, asked me to serve to him. My first serve spun past him and the second was a spinning slice that took his glasses off and there was Jothi pursuing my bicycle demanding that I come for practices. (That was in the 1950s – yes, long before Evonne Goolagong used them to win Wimbledon: tennis historians, please note).

The District Judge cum Magistrate was not at all like Badulla’s Mr. Swaris. On the second day on the bench with him, the court stenographer being absent, he began recording the proceedings himself in long hand. His mis-recording favoured the guilty party, the plantation manager, and when I suggested that I be excused from court duty he did not lift his head.

As for the SP, Superintendent of Police, I discovered that protocol required him to salute me, as being the next in line to the GA, there being no AGA. The OA, Thomas Ranasinghe, (incidentally a devotee of Black Arrack then at Rs. 5/- and of a quality unobtainable today except at Dankotuwa and Paiyagala) told me that within his district the GA, and in his absence the AGA, out-ranked the heads of the armed forces and the police.

Nissanka departed early that morning. I next met him at my wife’s maternal grandmother’s funeral in Malkaduwawa and discovered that his brother, Aravinda, was married to my wife’s junior first cousin. Aravinda proved to be an unusual entrepreneur – he produced pencils for school children and others entirely from raw material obtainable here. (When I moved to Industries I ‘put the question’ to the Ceylon Pencil Company, an entirely foreign-owned monopoly and, red with embarrassment, they managed to make pencils using local materials – the wood, the graphite, the gum from the cashew.) Nissanka died last year at 95+.

In its early years the Divisional Revenue Officers (DRO) were, in ‘the Kandyan Districts’ an off-shoot of the Sinhala system of Rate Mahattayas. Unlike the others who came in through a competitive examination, the Kandyan DROs were recruited by what might be said to be an interview. They were of or from around the areas they served, knew the MPs, monks, vidanes and others who, consciously or not, commanded such power as was needed for the conduct of affairs. The Kandyan DROs also took part in the election of the Diyawadana Nilame (DN) – and that, in itself conferred a marker of prestige on them. As will be seen below they did a good job on the whole.

To return to the lodging arrangements that followed, the headquarters DRO, George Abeygoonasekera, was in the process of moving out of that bungalow on Lady McCullum’s Drive and his successor, D Ramanayake, did not wish to move in there. I came to know George and his predecessor, T B M Ekanayake (self-styled ‘Te Bona Mudiyanselage’ – TBM) rather well over the next few months. George saw me not long before the general election of 1965 when I was at the Ministry of Finance handling establishment matters for the lower orders of the new Ceylon Administrative Service (CAS).

He looked quite ill, told me that he’d like to retire on medical grounds. I have related that interview in its particulars in these pages a decade or more ago. (I next met him when he was Chairman of COPE – I was head of a State Corporation at the time). His successor at Nuwara Eliya misread the gaetum between public servants and politicians, chose to challenge the MP of Walapane, the Division to which he had himself moved. He lost at every parliamentary election there and J R finally gave him the sinecure that the Land Reform Commission had by then become.

T B M ‘rose’ as is said, in the public service and ten years after we had left Nuwara Eliya he, as a Senior Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Defense and External Affairs, phoned to tell me that the Prime Minister (Mrs. Bandaranaike again) was looking for an energetic officer to set up a new Department for the Registration of Persons, would I come? I had been moved to the Ministry of Industries a bare month before and suggested he take up that task himself. Which he did and made a marvelous job of it.

Nuwara Eliya also boasted of another DRO who achieved distinction in another field: Wimalaratne Kumaragama, one of the great poets of the Colombo school. He presided over Kotmale from offices and a bungalow in Sankilikpalama. Those two structures need to be mentioned kind of in tandem, one on either side of the road facing each other. Kumaragama worked from home. The Chief Clerk brought up to him such files, letters, petitions as he thought the boss needed to see; he dealt with the rest himself in one way or another.

It was always good to see him – at the Kachcheri or the Public Servants Club or in Kotmale. As happened, my transfer out of Nuwara Eliya coincided with his death. To the next issue of ‘Peradeni Kavi’ / Poetry Peradeniya, I contributed ‘A Salute to Kumaragama’.

Nuwara Eliya was being served at the time by a colourful group of public servants, most of them there on a bachelor basis. Our chummery was always full, well, for the few days each week or fortnight each of them found work in the district. The interstices were occupied by ‘circuits’ to inspect on-going work/problems, usually close to the district boundary in one direction or another, on the way home to Kandy, Colombo or somewhere in between.

Among them were Kinigama, aforementioned, Neil Fernando (Lumpy) the Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Services (ACAS) and Leslie Herath, Assistant Superintendent of Surveys who stayed at Bernard Goonaratnayake’s. Renowned in his schooldays as a ruggerite, Bernard was a Land Officer. Lokka Dissanaike, Vet Surgeon, lived some distance away with his young family. Sonny Kiridena, Park Superintendent, and his wife offered us pleasant hours and sumptuous meals from time to time.

In due course Sonny became an advisor to ruling Sheikhs, Leslie, whose expertise was in underground surveys, became Chairman of the CEB and also head os an environmental agency based in Bangkok and Neil became head of Public Administration and a UN functionary in Nepal.

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Features

The hard challenge of clinching a political settlement in the Middle East

Published

5 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Bruised hearts: Displaced Palestinian civilians in the Gaza.(Photo by Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Despite some sections of the Trump administration persisting with the view that the possibility could not be entirely ruled out of there being a diplomatic solution to the current US-Iran hostilities in West Asia, the skeptic could not be blamed for thinking otherwise. The intensity, scale and frequency of the tit-for-tat strikes by the antagonists over the past few days against selected military targets and civilian infrastructure in particular in West Asia make the adoption of this stance excusable.

The continuing hostilities render the mentioning of the MOU signed between the warring parties in mid-June a laughable matter. While it could very well be that the foes are wishing privately for a cessation of hostilities before long, what seems to be uppermost on their minds right now is to negotiate with each other from a position of strength. This strategy compels them to incapacitate each other militarily to the extent possible, lest they have to concede too much to each other during negotiations. Hence the stepped-up hostilities.

However, even on the question of there being a negotiated political settlement in the West Asian theatre in the longer term, the skeptic could come to be seen as scoring over the optimist. Developments on the ground account for this.

At the time of writing Israel’s Netanyahu government is going ahead in fairly care-free fashion with the establishment of more Jewish settlements in the Gaza and the West Bank, and it’s all happening under the apparently complacent gaze of the US. In fact, some quarters estimate that Israel is in control of some 65% of the Gaza Strip. Ethnic cleansing, that is, is being drastically stepped-up.

Accordingly, in terms of the power relations of West Asia, the world is almost back to the status quo of the late forties of the last century when the state of Israel was established and the Palestinians were reduced to a microscopic minority in the land they came to inhabit. Therefore, even the impartial observer would be compelled to ask: ‘Will a negotiated peace be ever possible in the Middle East?’

The humanist in the observer would prefer to answer this question in the affirmative and it is indeed the ideal stance to adopt considering the staggering human and material costs of the conflict. But the way ahead to peace could be expected to be highly hazardous and arduous. Among other odds, it would also prove an uphill endeavour to win minds and hearts.

The US’ Trump administration would need to be counted out in this pursuit. This is on account of the fact that it has been far too wayward in its management of West Asian affairs in particular over the past couple of years. Given its unpredictable character it is a matter for conjecture whether it could be counted on to live up to its commitments.

Moreover, Israel could be expected to ‘go it alone’ in the Middle East regardless of whether US help is coming or otherwise. It has indicated as much in recent times and Israel could be doubted on this score only at the doubter’s peril. Because time and again Israel has demonstrated that it could steadfastly defend its interests even single-handedly in the Middle East. History bears this out.

However, a durable alliance with the US would stand Israel in good stead. On the matter of military and intelligence assistance, for example, the US’s help proved invaluable for Israel in the past and going forward this is bound to be so as well. Moreover, it is unlikely that the Trump administration would give up on Israel, considering that a strong Israel is crucial for the furtherance of the US’ strategic and economic interests in West Asia.

But whether the above factors would have a considerable bearing on the question of working out a durable solution to the West Asian tangle is an entirely different matter. Israel, as in the case of the Palestinian enclaves, is acutely security conscious and would need to satisfy itself fully that it could live in a security environment that would guarantee its complete safety, going forward.

The Middle East is badly in need of another peace effort on the lines of the Oslo Accords of the mid-nineties that brought the key actors together and helped hammer out a solution that addressed some of their notable concerns. To be sure, that process did not prove to be the ideal answer to the tangle, but it yielded some respite to the region and drove home that one-time sworn foes could indeed negotiate with a degree of success. The West Bank authority, although falling short of fulfilling some key Palestinian aspirations, is testimony that a degree of success is possible if the intent is right.

Given the current realities of West Asia, peace-making is bound to be an uphill challenge. The violence faced in recent times by the Palestinian community, in particular, has been nothing less than mind-numbing. Merciless has been the violence visited on them by the Israeli side. In such circumstances, durable peace in the region could smack of an idealist’s dream.

Nevertheless, there needs to be urgently, a meeting of minds over the divides. The US would need to be counted out as an honest broker in bringing the sides together but the rest of the West would do well to step up to the challenge.

In this exercise the onus would be on the world’s democracies to take the initiative and doggedly stay the course. An acceptable combination would be the EU and the UN. Given their credentials, the main sides in West Asia ought to find them the least controversial.

Even if the relevant institutional and political arrangements could be shored up to take a reconciliation process forward, winning hearts and minds for the peace drive would prove a grueling challenge. Over the past few years in particular tens of thousands of hearts and minds on both sides of the divide have been bruised badly in the runaway murderous violence that has come to define the Middle East.

These badly scarred personalities would need to experience healing without much delay. It is therefore a multi-faceted challenge that is at hand. Since wide-ranging expertise would be needed in the healing process, people’s participation in peace-making, ranging over the divides, would need to be made a durable reality. It will be a time for enthroning humanity and ensuring the rejection of all forms of violence and coercion.

Features

Amazing Thailand …right here in Colombo

Published

5 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

For many Sri Lankans, Thailand is the go-to holiday — beaches, temples, food, and that famous warm hospitality.

In fact, I’ve been to Amazing Thailand 24 times myself, and was honoured with the Friends of Thailand International Media Award by the Tourism Authority of Thailand for promoting Thai tourism.

The good news I have for you today is that you don’t even need a passport to get a taste of Amazing Thailand.

The Royal Thai Embassy, in Colombo, is bringing a vibrant slice of Thailand, to the city of Colombo, with Thai Festival 2026 — a cultural experience like never before.

Whether you are an avid enthusiast of Thai culture, a total novice, or simply just interested in exploring foreign cultures, Thai Festival 2026 is going to be the perfect opportunity for you to get more than just a glimpse into one of the most celebrated cultural heritages in South East Asia. And ENTRANCE IS FREE.

The festival will be held on the 1st and 2nd of August, 2026, at Siam Nivasa, 43, C.W.W. Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 7, and the East Parking Area, of the Colombo Municipal Council, from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

Both days will be full of live entertainment, and dispersed throughout with Thai cultural displays, including exhilarating traditional dance performances and breathtaking Muay Thai demonstrations.

Exploring art and craft specific to Thailand, tasting irresistible authentic Thai cuisine, and playing arcade games, are just a few more fun-filled events available for visitors at the festival premises.

An array of Thai products will also be available for purchase.

While at the festival, you will find Sri Lankan Alumni from Thai universities sharing their experiences with you and willing to answer any questions you might have, related to studying abroad in Thailand.

You can also register for the Muay Thai workshop that will be happening on the 7th and 8th of August, 2026, in Colombo.

Irresistible authentic Thai cuisine

Visitors can also stand a chance to win traditional Thai souvenirs, get exclusive photo opportunities, and, the big one — to enter the raffle draw, at the end of each day, for the grand prize of an all-inclusive round trip to Thailand.

Be sure to avail yourself of this exceptional opportunity and add a cultural spin to your weekend.

To keep up with the latest updates on Thai Festival 2026, head over to the Thai Festival official social media pages.

The Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo official webpage:

https://colombo.thaiembassy.org

Official social media:

Facebook: @RTEColombo

Instagram: @thaiembassysrilanka

Thai Festival official social media:

Facebook: Thai Festival in Colombo

Instagram: @thaifestival_colombo

TikTok: @thaifestival.incolombo

Features

Thicker, stronger hair …

Published

5 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hair fall, in this heat, can be so frustrating, and noticing a thin patch is even more worrying. The good news is … yes, with a little care and kitchen ingredients, you can nourish your scalp and support healthy regrowth.

Try these four easy home remedies … even our grandmothers trusted:

* Coconut Oil and Curry Leaves Tonic:

Warm 04 tablespoons of coconut oil, with a handful of curry leaves, till the leaves turn black. Cool, strain, and massage into scalp 02-03 times a week. Leave for 01 hour, or overnight.

Why:

Coconut oil deeply nourishes, while curry leaves help strengthen roots and add shine.

* Onion Juice for Spot Treatment:

With cotton, dab the juice of 01 small onion, directly on the thin/bald patches. Leave for 20-30 minutes, and then wash with a mild shampoo. Use twice a week.

Why:

Rich in sulfur, onion juice helps boost blood circulation to the scalp.

* Aloe Vera and Castor Oil Mask:

Mix 02 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel and 01 tablespoon castor oil and apply to the scalp, focusing on thinning areas. Leave for 45 minutes, and then rinse with cool water.

Why:

Aloe vera soothes the scalp, while castor oil coats hair to make it look thicker.

* Fenugreek and Curd Strengthening Pack:

You will need 02 tablespoons fenugreek seeds, soaked overnight, and 02 tablespoons plain curd.

Grind to a paste, apply to scalp for 30 minutes, and then wash.

Why:

Fenugreek strengthens strands and reduces breakage.

Extra Tips for Healthy Hair:

Avoid tight hairstyles that pull on the scalp.

Eat iron and protein rich foods: greens, dhal, eggs, fish.

Use lukewarm water, not hot.

Be gentle when brushing and drying.