A tribute to ‘Sam’

Professor S. W. R. De A Samarasingha joined the university of Peradeniya along with me in 1962 as an undergraduate. I first met him on the first day while walking along old Galaha road while going for lectures. Both of us were not allocated halls of residence in our first term as the medical faculty has just been established and the authorities gave preference to medical students. Fortunately for me my father had a cousin of his Stanley Perera working as the technical officer on the campus. Sam’s father was the PHI of the campus. Both of them had their official quarters close to old Galaha road. That is how we met. While walking we had chats  mostly on the political situation in the country. The JVP was just taking root at that time and but it did not affect the student community much.

Having passed the General Arts Qualifying exam, Sam opted for a special  degree in economics and I geography. Thereafter I met him in the WUS canteen where students flocked to have refreshments or lunch. Once or twice a week I met him at the Arts theatre when he came to watch Docs (documentary) or at the Amphitheater (Wala) as spectators of dramas by Professor  Sarachchandra and others.

I sought his help to get my first article to the Ceylon Daily News ‘ Forgotten value of Documentary films in Sri Lanka’ . I was the Secretary of the Film Society of the University. He got a second  class upper in the final examination and became a lecturer. Then he travelled to the UK to do his PhD and returned to Sri Lanka. Later he was offered a professorial assignment in Tulane University in the USA and remained there till his death. Sam, Vidyamali his wife whom I do not know much had two sons who are also scholars.

When I made my first documentary film’ “Battaramulla the village I was born” the first person to whom I send it was Sam living in the US. He was not happy with the way I presented it. What he said was that I was trying to glorify the past and running down the present. He said that a country can never go back and emulate the past if it is to progress   which is a sine – qua – non. Sam studied at Dharmaraja College, Kandy. Another batch mate of ours, the well known film director, Dr. Dharmasena Pathiraja was also from the same school

Once in a way he had a video chat with me and my wife too listened to him. The discussions were mostly on politics. I never won any arguments as he was very accurate with figures. My wife teased me that I will never win an argument with Sam.

I requested him to give an idea for my second documentary which he gladly accepted and named ‘Sri Lanka under siege’. This was a time while Sam was being diagnosed with cancer.

Despite his deteriorating health, he obliged. He wrote an extensive script for the film. I will somehow do the film in honour of Sam.

I met him last at our batch mate Gayathri Goonatillake’s residence at Karadiyana at a  farewell given to  Chitra Karunaratna, who was migrating to England as her husband, and only son had passed away. She will live with her daughter. He said that he will come to my place at Battaramulla for a meal. It never happened as Sam was not well.

May ‘Sam’ attain the ultimate bliss Nibbana!

Upali Cooray

egalawan288@gmail.com