FAMOUS SONS OF FAMOUS FATHERS

by ECB Wijeyesinghe

Those who have studied the laws governing heredity, whether it be in human beings or animals, are sometimes amazed at how the qualities of sires are reproduced in their progeny.In Europe there was a thing called the Hapsburg Lip which was the distinguishing mark of a distinguished family. In Sri Lanka we still have the Obeyesekere nose, the Hulugalle head and the de Soysa eyes. By means of these features, people bearing these well-known names can be identified without much difficulty.

All these thoughts are the result of a kind friend’s generous and appreciative comment of what I said last Sunday (Oct. 22, 1978) about D. S. Senanayake and Dudley and of Mr. Justice E. W. Jayewardene and our President. There are, of course, hundreds of other sons who have trod worthily in the footsteps of their fathers and maintained the traditions of their ancestors.

It is not only in politics or the learned professions that this is happening all the time, but in business; in art and even in journalism, an Amurath an Amurath succeeds. Listening to Bunty de Zoysa’s droll narrative of the peccadilloes of the previous regime, one cannot help thinking all the time of Francis de Zoysa, the King’s Counsel with the gravel voice. The son, like the father, has learned the art in such nice proportions that a dainty dish is presented almost daily to radio listeners before they retire.

VAST FIELDS

The subject of famous fathers and sons is not one that can be exhausted at one sitting. In politics, apart from the Senanayakes and the Jayewardenes, there is enough material in the Ponnambalam family, led by Ramanathan and Arunachalam, and their progenitors like Sir Muttu Coomaraswamy, to fill a whole library.

Dr. S. C. Paul, one of the great Ceylonese medical men of this century, left two eminent surgeons to follow his trail. Sir Nicholas Attygalle and Dr. V. Gabriel also had sons worthy of their scalpels. In business circles, however, the father-son success team is much more in evidence. In Lake House we saw the path charted out by D. R. Wijewardene being followed faithfully by his son, Ranjit.

Armand de Souza, the intrepid Editor of the now defunct “Morning Leader”, was one of the most powerful writers of his generation. His son, Tori de Souza, edited “The Times of Ceylon” with equal aplomb. Jacob de Mel, the Moratuwa patriarch, left his son, Sir Henry de Mel, and numerous grandson: to continue the flourishing business he had set up.

One of the earliest giants of the business world was H. J. Peiris who joined his father H. Andiris Peiris, in 1850. Incidentally, H. J. Peiris. whose 130th birth anniversary falls on November 8 (1978), provided the inspiration for his two sons, H. Watson Peiris and J. L. D. Peiris. to lay the foundation for the Peiris Foundation, now so efficiently controlled by JLD’s son, H. Chitrupa Peiris. The Foundation, which sponsored “The Sound of Music”, also provides the backbone for many religious and social institutions.

DONOVAN

One name that is not likely to be forgotten when the history of these times come to be written is that of the genial Donovan Andree, who started life as a Junior Reporter on “The Times of Ceylon” and wound up his amazing career as Ceylon’s leading impresario. The millions he made on the show business and as a turf accountant were distributed freely. There was no friend or relation who did not benefit by the profits he made on his multifarious enterprises. Andree’s son, Malcolm, who succeeded him, was proud of his father’s achievements.

Going outside Colombo to Chilaw, the centre of the coconut industry, close to the historic Munnesvaram temple, one is reminded of another famous father-son combination. C. E. Corea was one of the political pundits of the last generation and his mastery of the English language was the envy of even the Colonial masters. His speeches, as recorded in Hansard, are masterpieces of literature as well as of profound thought. A worthy successor to his father was his eldest son, Shirley Corea, one of the most popular and witty Speakers of the House of Representatives.

There are many facets of life in what the French call the ‘pere et fill’ relationship plays an important role. In short, the names of the Gunasekeras – D. B., C. H. and E. I. – are too well remembered and underlined by the prowess of their children. The de Sarams are another family that have excelled in ball games whether it is cricket, tennis or golf.

The elegant left-hand batsman, Fred de Saram, one of the founders of the prestigious legal firm of D. L. and F. de Saram, has in addition produced a trio of trumps in the field of sport, of whom F. C. de Saram (Derek) is outstanding. There are also D. W. L. Lieversz, J. R. Wilson, A. M. Fuard and B. R. Heyn who have made their contributions to the next generation in splendid style.

The name of Wilson reminds me of S. J. C. Kadirgamar, the indefatigable solicitor. Besides making lawyers conscious of their rights and privileges he spent a good deal of his time helping the YMCA to reach new heights. The Kadirgamar tradition has been maintained by his eldest son who bears the same initials but with two more letters, K. C. added to his name. (Ed. There was also Lakshman) Sam the younger’s mother was a Mather and belonged to a family that has made Manipay famous.

ON THE STAGE

In the performing arts it is difficult to forget that Seebert Dias was the father of Chitrasena and that it was Lucian de Zoysa who begat Richard who is constantly threatening to eclipse his father’s fame as an actor and producer. Having embarked on this father-and-son business I feel like the man who got hold of the tiger’s tail and is unable to let it go.

But famous names come rushing to the mind and must be mentioned even if fuller treatment must be reserved for another occasion. They are those of Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, Sir Tikiri Banda Panabokke, Sir James Peiris, Sir Claude Corea, Gate Mudaliyar A. E. Rajepakse, Dr. P. S. Brito, Sir Marcus Fernando and his brother C. M, Sir Ernest de Silva, C. J. Mathew, P. Saravanamuttu, Sir Cuda Ratwatte, E. J. Samarawickreme, N. M. M. Abdul Cader, C. L. Wickremasinghe, James van Langenberg, Professor C. Suntharalingam and his brothers, Herman Loos, Dr. W. G. Rockwood, A. B. Gomes, Mr. Justice Wendt, R. L. Pereira, A. Y. Daniel and a host of others.

One cannot, however omit the latest recipient of the Presidential Award for Art whose easel will be difficult to replace. Gate Mudaliyar A. C. G. S. Amarasekera appears to have funnelled all his talents into his son, Douglas, the painter, astronomer, musician. scholar and mathematician whose only relaxation consists of writing provocative letters to the Press.

Excerpted from The Good Among The Best, first published in 1978)