CHANDRA SENARATNE – A CELEBRATION OF 90 YEARS

Chandra, Kanthi, Sharmini, and dear friends of Chandra.. . I crave your indulgence, as I am unable to be present here on this momentous occasion, due to a combination of reasons which I have conveyed to Chandra. This is indeed an occasion which I would not let pass without marking my attendance. Chandra is a dear friend with whom I have been able to associate closely over the past 30 years.

He is only two years older than I, and it would surprise Chandra to know that I remember him as a student in Royal College in Colombo, where we both attended, he a couple of forms senior to me. As you all know, a two year seniority in school brings with it a certain aura of respect, and adulation. In Chandra’s case he was if I remember right, the Tennis captain of the school, and that brought another layer of adulation. His younger brother Nihal, better known by a nickname derived from a rather fancied plant from the vegetable kingdom, who I believe is here today, was closer to us in the sense that he was only a form senior to me.

As most of you would be aware, the Senaratnes have descended from a prominent family in Sri Lanka. Chandra’s father was Dr OLF Senaratne, a prominent eye surgeon in Colombo, famed for his medical as well as sporting skills. He represented the Sinhalese Sports Club in cricket and tennis, and also was a prominent member of the island’s cricket team, then known as the Ceylon Cricket Association eleven. His mother Lorraine(later Loranee) was a distinguished social worker long associated with the Lanka Mahila Samithiya, a progressive institution that sought to provide women with a dignified position in Society through various social and economic programmes throughout the island. She acquired international fame by being Sri Lanka’s first female ambassador accredited to Rome.

Chandra’s late wife Marlene was the daughter of Charlie de Soysa, who was the only son of AJR de Soysa, the owner of the that imposing building in Thurstan Road Colombo, known as Lakshmigiri. Chandra and Marlene were both direct descendants from Charles Henry de Soysa, the famed 19th Century philanthropist of Ceylon.

Having dealt with some aspects of Chandra’s genealogical make up, I would briefly aver to a certain aspect of the wedding of Chandra and Marlene. The normal custom is for the groom to arrive at the bride’s home in a limousine . In Chandra’s case he did it one better, he arrived on an elephant !!

Let me now refer to some aspects of Chandra’s career. On leaving Royal College, the then somewhat portly Chandra, entered Cambridge University from where he obtained his Masters Degree in Arts. On returning to Colombo, he worked as a Senior Executive in two of the island’s foremost commercial establishments, the Ceylon Tobbacco Company, and Ceylon Cold Stores Ltd. He migrated to Australia almost 50 years ago and settled down to a busy social life.

Always a community minded person, Chandra was a a key organiser in the Probus Club of Baulkham Hills and the Cambridge Society of Australia. When the Ceylon Society of Australia was formed 25 years ago, Chandra was its first Social Convenor, organising the Annual Dinner of the Society in great style for many years. Chandra’s skills brought in a sense of elegance and dignity to the proceedings.

It has been my privilege as Founder President of the Society, to share the friendship of this sincere and most humble human being not only in the work of the Society, but as a friend. Ladies and gentlemen, I ask that you rise from your seats and drink a toast to the health and well being of this extraordinary person Chandra Senaratne. Ladies and Gentlemen to Chandra !

Hugh Karunanayake