A LEGEND IN PRIVATE SECURITY – FELIX PERUMAL

Felix , who was an excellent cricketer in the Police Department, having joined the force in 1955 along with many other sportsmen like Vedamuttu, G.D Weerasinghe, John Jayasinghe, D. N. Siriwardena (rtd DIG,still alive), H.Y.de Silva, Mervyn Serpanchy, S.L.Silva, Rodney Aluwihare, T.C.Joseph, Asoka Jayawardana, P. Ramanathan and A.R.M.Thahir .

He left this world a few days ago after a brief illness. His beloved wife, Chitra, too, passed away many years ago also after a brief illness. He greatly felt her absence. They were a jolly couple , who enjoyed the Mess Nights and Police Dances and never missed them.

He initiated the floating of a Private Security Services company called ” Vigilant Security Pvt. Ltd. in the early seventies utilizing his Police experience and competing with some veterans in the trade at the time like the late Sydney de Zoysa and Newton Dassanayake.

Other retired policemen like ASP Jeerasinghe and ASP John Pillai, also entered this industry. Felix being much younger than these seniors got off to a flying start as he was Police Officer with a great capacity for interaction and public relations. His experience in investigations helped his company to take great strides.

A committed personality who had great enthusiasm for whatever he did, ensured his participation at the initial stages of setting up the Industrial Security Federation (ISF) led by Late Mr Edward Gunawardena ( Rtd Senior DIG) who was its inaugural President. ISF was a federation of security service companies. This meeting was held at Mr. Gunawardena’s office in Lake House where he was a Director at that time.

Felix never showed any desire for office in the ISF but was always enthusiastic and concerned about developing private security servces in this country. He was very kind to his employees but ensured discipline and good management of his company. All members of the ISF and many security company Directors have great respect for his management skills.

He encouraged his only son, Mario, to further his studies and guided him in managing the Security Company he founded. Mario was encouraged by his father to deviate from the set ways of managing a security company by combining manpower with technology (CCTV, security locks, alarms etc.) to get the best results.

Felix, together with his children and grandchildren celebrated his 88th birthday on July 27 in great style. I’m glad I kept in close touch with him on the phone and had long chats and good laughs about our time the police. Unfortunately he could not attend the last few AGM’s of the ISF due to his poor health, and inability to walk.

My sympathies to his family.

NIHAL DE ALWIS (FISF)