A calm, generous, unique,philanthropist with humane virtues

Kirinelis Samararatne Mudalali died at the age of 87-years on Friday, September 8 after been treated for a few days in the ICU of Durdans hospital. He was cremated at the Galkissa cemetery on Monday (Sept. 11) amid a large gathering of mourners.

Like many successful businessmen in the country, Samararatne Mudalali too hailed from the South coming from Hakmana to Colombo to pursue his business career. He aspired to the building industry, coming to the city with a carpenter’s saw and a few rupees and began working at a building site. It didn’t take him long to grasp this work and venture out on his own as a building contractor.

He registered his ‘Samararatne Builders,” a small company which, with an able ‘liyana mahattaya’ and his own office, began to quickly grow. He was fortunate to win bids for tenders to construct initially small buildings and later he was awarded many contracts to build several People’s Bank and Air Force buildings in Colombo and outstations. He supervised and encouraged his aides to genuinely work hard and honestly.

He was fortunate to have a few ongoing worksites at any given moment which he overlooked effectively earning tidy profits. He employed these to build his own home at Gangadara Mawatha, Mt. Lavinia sans ostetation and luxury fittings.

He never forgot the Buddhist temple in his native Hakmana on which he spent lavishly on maintenance and improvements. He also developed the Attidiya temple spending millions including space for a Montessori. He also financially helped the famous Mallikarama temple in Ratmalana on many occasions.

At his funeral, the Nayaka theras of the three temples remembered his deeds. Other than his own home, he owned a large business complex including banks and shops in his native Hakmana which he disposed a few years ago.

While building upstair houses for his all five children, Saman, Asoka, Suranga, Chintha and Indika, he equally helped his own and his wife’s nephews and also helped build homes for his employees like the liyana mahattaya, plumber, electrician, painter etc providing them accommodation at his home and finding jobs for them.

His sons, Asoka and Suranga, were taught and guided to commence their own building companies while Saman was assisted to commence a hardware business in a spacious building at Attidiya. This company had backhoes, forklift trucks and lorries transporting building materials.

He sent his youngest son, Indika to Melbourne to obtain a diploma in textile technology in order to start a garments factory. But this wish did not come true as when Indika returned there was little scope in the garments industry. However, Indika has lived in Brisbane for over two decades and established himself in a different field.

Samararatne Mudalali was a role model to all, abstained from all forms of alcohol and was a complete teetotaller with sober habits but he was ever willing to offer liquor to visitors socially. He led a virtuous life as a staunch Buddhist and took part in many Buddhist activities in temples particularly in the later years after he retired. It needs mention that during his time as a builder there are numerous instances when he helped many clients to find building locations and in the construction or their buildings.

This writer has known him for over five decades as a neighbour but came to know him closely when his youngest son Indika married my daughter in year 2000. Although he had age-related illnesses like diabetes, blood pressure, dementia etc. he was well looked after in his later years by his only daughter Chintha and son in law Chaminda who lived near him.

Samararatne Mudalali left his sorrowing wife, Somalaltha Liyanage , children, spouses and eight grandchildren. May he attain Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane email sthenabadu @hotmail.com tel 0061444533242