90th Birth Anniversary Remembrance which falls on OCTOBER 11th 2023

A Tribute

It is a privilege to have known you for many, many years, 39 to be precise, and to have been married to you at one time long years ago. We shared much love, respect and camaraderie in those years gone by I always thought of you as a Bodhisatva, a, true follower of Buddhist teachings and practicing them as closely as you could, yet you would voluntarily accompany me to Church for Mass. Our shared love for all animals made you vegetarian and me predominantly so.

Your generosity to the homeless and destitute always made you invite them to live in the rooms of your private office for as long as they needed to. You offered lifts to complete strangers on the road especially at night if they had much baggage. All this was so unlike anyone I knew or know and I was struck by your extreme compassion, fellow feeling and selflessness.

Your architecture and artistry were bywords. The golden roof of the Dalada Maligawa and the replica of the famous BUDDHAGAYA are among your masterpieces. The luxury homes and hotels you designed were works of art. You transformed the roof and several sections of my ancestral home which was over 200 yrs old.

You designed stage sets and took part in plays years ago. You were a student at Cambridge University at the time that your father Mr. Gunasena de Soyza was the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in London. Your talents as a jazz and mood music pianist were amazing and not known to many. You played the piano at our home In Ragama. Our numerous trips around the Island with your family members were unforgettable. l always remember with great sentimentality and nostalgia you calling me ” Keli Poddi ” and not by my name. We were always very special to each other and now that you are no more, I pay homage to you for treating me so exceptionally well especially when we were married.

Your sense of humour was irrepressible and impish. You were self- effacing, humble. generous to a fault, totally without malice, rancour, violence, swearing and mood swings. I make you sound a paragon of virtue, yes I did mention earlier that I always thought of you as a Bodhisatva, that thought will remain. It is not easy to write about you and not be emotional. Your strong character did not allow anyone to influence you against others.

Thankyou beloved Geevaka for the joys, the love, laughter and golden memories. May your journey in Sansara be brief, and yet peaceful and tranquil like you always were. You are much loved, adored, worshipped and missed for the man you were.

Finally a beautiful line in someone else’s words that echo my sentiments:

” THE HEART HAS ITS REASONS, THAT THE HEAD KNOWS NOTHING OF “.

Rajkumari Amarasekera