A Birthday Tribute: Lakshmi Dias Bandaranaike

(Mrs. Felix Dias Bandaranaike)

“As unto the bow the cord is,
So unto the man is woman,
Though she bends him, she obeys him,
Though she draws him, yet she follows,
Useless each without the other!”
Henry Wordsworth Longfellow

As I ponder upon these words, it brings to my mind a spirited and devoted wife upon whom these words must resonate! She is the Matriarch Lakshmi Dias Bandaranaike the wife of the late Felix Dias Bandaranaike, a colossus in the history of Sri Lankan politics.

As Lakshmi is preparing to add yet another candle to her graceful ninety something years on earth that God has bestowed upon her to celebrate her purposeful life, I am reminded of her exceptional qualities as a devoted wife particularly on her birthday.

As my aunt and godmother, I have had the privilege to move closely with her and observe her for over half my life; the prowess and wisdom that she exudes to guide her own life with God’s grace is an example unto her loved ones. Her unshakeable Christian faith and values instilled by her loving parents, in particular her mother hailing from Rockhill Estate in Galle has heightened her empathy and unconditional love that she imparts to us through life’s diverse experiences she’d gained. And, likewise in the valuable contributions she’d made to society at large, in the many roles that she had to play. Her pragmatism in the approach to life and her stoicism in adversity are remarkable particularly after losing her beloved husband Felix as a relatively young wife.

Lakshmi and Felix were no strangers; playing harmless pranks whilst as students at Ladies’ College and Royal College respectively. And on one such occasion as Lakshmi hilariously recalls sending her principal, a hapless Miss Opie into a pirouette as she braced to protect her delirious brood from marauding ‘Big Match’ boys who had crashed into Ladies’ College premises! Well, it was no secret when it transpired that Felix was amongst the culprits that day! Lakshmi and Felix later met at Law College; their romance blossomed and they married in 1953.

And here she was ‘a wife with nimble fingers, Heart and hand that move together, feet that run on willing errands and far from an idle wife!’ Felix became a celebrated family man, a brilliant professional, quick witted, highly intelligent and an honourable politician, the kind that is a rare breed today. She fitted like a glove into his many roles in public and private life. And Lakshmi a Barrister herself gave up her practice to follow her husband’s vision. They travelled extensively and even to palaces of Kings and Queens and to the houses of Presidents but never lost the common touch.

In the evening of her life Lakshmi speaks of her gentle giant most lovingly and in those moments, one could capture that they were their starlight, moonlight and the firelight!

Happy Birthday and may God’s grace continue to be upon you!

Savitri de Alwis