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Wimal Amarasekera

Sri Lankan Civil Servant 29th Feb 1936 - 19th November 1993 Government Of Sri Lanka

Maha Thanthrige Wimalnanada Amarasekera (Wimal Amarasekera) was an eminent Civil Servant served for the Government of Sri Lanka He was born 0n 29th February 1936 in Baddegama, Galle district and had early education in Batemulla and Waduramba Central School. Later he went on a scholarship to Royal College Colombo and did the GCE A/L examination in 1954. He graduated from Peradeniya University with BA (Hons) in 1959 and later joined the Sri Lankan Civil Service. He was placed first in the country in Sri Lanka Civil Service Examination in 1960.

Wimal Amarasekera

Education Batemulla village school Waduramba central grade 5

GCE O/L 1952

Royal College 1952 after

Peradeniya BA Hons 1959

Professional Ceylon civil service 1960 first in the country Language Sinhala English  French Tamil Cadetship Anuradhapura

Ass director land development 1960-1963 Deputy port commissioner 1963-1964

Deputy director health 1964-1965

GA Monaragala 1965-1967

GA Putthalam 1967-1968 Ass sec education 1968-1969

Jaffna GA 1970-1975

Colombo GA 1975-1977

Sorbonne University Paris France 1977-1979

Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports authority 1979-1989 Director establishment 1989-1990

1993 Nov 18

Being one with Jaffna An ex-GA’s wife recalls life in Lanka’s northern capital in the 1970s By Ranji Amarasekera When my husband Wimal said he had been offered the post of Government Agent of Jaffna and asked me whether to accept it, I was unsure as to what decision we should take. That was way back in 1970. Our elder son was 2 1/2 years old. Most of the previous Government Agents lived there alone while their families lived in Colombo or elsewhere. I never believed in being separated from my family and had always enjoyed life in the outstations. I have never regretted my decision. Pottus and garlands From the time we stepped from the plane, we were welcomed with open arms. The pottus and the garlands were there in abundance. Throughout our five years in Jaffna, we never felt that we were away from home. Wimal Amarasekera When I saw the Residency though, I got a little panicky wondering as to how we were going to maintain it. The Residency apart from its own bakery, the underground tunnels, the place where the personal staff of the GA were mustered in the morning and paid in the evening, in the past had 27 acres of garden land called the Old Park. This place had its own history. Percival Ackland Dyke who had been the Government Agent of Jaffna for more than 36 years had bought the place with his own money and bequeathed it to his successors on an irrevocable deed of gift through Queen Victoria. The Old Park had some of the rarest trees. Apart from the giant Mahogany, Nedun, Ironwood, the inevitable Mango and the Tamarind, both of which brought some revenue annually for the upkeep of the garden, there were the Baobub and a tree from South America which had lovely blue flowers throughout the year, growing just outside our bedroom window. This tree was supposed to be the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka. The prisoners who were serving simple sentences were brought twice a month to the Old Park. They cleaned up the under brush and cleared the garden of the leaves that had fallen from the numerous trees. These men apparently liked this outing for I heard them laugh and joke while at work. We often provided them with tea and something to eat in the morning and also supplemented the lunch which they brought with them. Wimal and his family attending an event in Jaffna The Kachcheri was just opposite the Residency and Wimal walked to work. I too got involved with his work and whenever I could accompanied him on his visits to the field. I particularly liked to visit the youth schemes in remote areas. One such scheme which I liked was the Mirisuvil girls’ scheme. The girls did chilli cultivation as their main occupation and with the money they earned they bought sewing machines and made children's clothing etc. This was also a favourite place where I took wives of diplomats and other visiting foreign delegates. They were quite impressed with the work the girls were doing. Wimal also started a large number of small-scale industries, e.g., workshops to repair water pumps which is a must for the Jaffna farmer and also a large number of projects based on the produce of the palmyrah tree which serves the people of Jaffna as much as the coconut tree serves the people of the south. The making of jaggery, bottling of palmyrah toddy, and making of baskets and other handicrafts were some of these projects. He set up about 70 jaggery-making centres which were a boon to the people and particularly to the youth at the time. The Buddhist priest, the Hindu priest, the Bishop and the Muslim priest were all alike to us. Every week I visited the Nallur Kandasamy kovil and Nagadeepa Buddhist shrine. During the period I was in Jaffna I would have visited Nagadeepa more than thirty times. It was a must for all relatives and friends who visited Jaffna and I had to accompany them most of the time. Our younger son was born in the Jaffna hospital. He was a premature baby. The nurses very obligingly accommodated me in their rest room. There were no incubators and my son, along with 30 other premature babies, was kept in a special sterilized room on a tray of straw with a solitary electric bulb hanging overhead for warmth. Many people came to see me, some whom I had not seen before. They brought gifts like gingelly oil, baby clothes, soap and even eggs. Subsequently my husband made representations to the authorities and obtained an incubator for the use of the hospital. Our son, 27 years later, worked in the Jaffna Hospital as a post-intern. He says that he met a few who knew his father and remembered him as an officer who was loved and respected by all. Our elder son attended the Montessori class conducted by the sisters of the Jaffna Holy Family Convent. The sisters were quite fond of him. He learned to speak quite fluently in Tamil. In fact he spoke even better than Wimal who engaged a retired school master to teach him Tamil in his spare time. We made quite a lot of friends, too. Muhandiram Rasiah who represented practically all social service organizations, Mr. Ponnambalam, Mr. Joseph, the Additional GA Mr. Murugesupillai and Anton and Mangalam St. George, that dear couple who ran an open house for all their friends, were some of them. Brigadiers Sustace Rodrigo and Tissa Weeratunga, Ananda Silva who then was the Commanding Officer at Karainagar, Mitra Ariyasinghe who then was SP, all of whom Wimal met in his official capacity became our friends. During weekends or holidays when Wimal was free, we gathered a few friends and went to Thondamanaru or the Kashurina beach or visited the shifting sand dunes at Manalkadu off Point Pedro. Wimal Amarasekera with the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike when she visited Jaffna. I had the occasion to visit almost all the islands too. Iranativu, Analativu, Eluvativu and Delft. We visited the then disputed island of Kachchativu several times during the festival. It was a veritable marketplace where Sri Lankan and Indian traders came and bartered goods. Wimal told me how he located an old Dutch map in the Kachcheri showing that this island formed part of Jaffna which he sent to the authorities in Colombo. We also visited the Chundikulam sanctuary situated north-east of Elephant Pass where we watched the beautiful flamingos and the Russian ducks as they were called which used to migrate in thousands during the season. On the way we used to pluck the big dark purple and luscious madan, a kind of berry that grew in abundance. But all good times have to come to an end. The time came when we had to think of our children's education and Wimal got a transfer to Colombo as GA. I will never forget the farewells given to us. For over a month we were invited for farewell dinners and lunches and when we could not find time anymore, for breakfast too. Wimal was honoured with garlands of onions, chillies, and grapes especially at the agricultural and youth schemes. At the farewell given to us by the citizens of Jaffna, hundreds from all walks of life were present. We were taken in procession to the St. Patrick’s College grounds where the farewell function was held. The most heart-warming was the presence on the stage of the Chief Incumbent of the Sri Naga Vihara, the Hindu High Priest, the Bishop of Jaffna and the Muslim High Priest to bid farewell to a Government Agent whom they loved and respected and who lived and worked with them for about five years. Girls and boys sang farewell songs in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Farewell speeches were many, everyone wanting to say something on this occasion. That day I cried when I heard what they had to say and realized how grateful they were. I was sad and happy too. Sad because we were leaving these dear people and happy because I felt that there still were people who are grateful and who appreciated what Wimal did. May this article be a tribute to the people of Jaffna whom we loved so much.

Hiruwan (talk) 10:42, 13 March 2016 (UTC) Meeting Lalith Athulathmudali by A. Godwin de Alwis

Lalith Athulathmudali During the terror period in the mid-80s I was compelled to leave the country to save my life. However, from time to time, I came to my motherland for brief holidays. During my short visits I made it a point to meet Lalith Athulathmudali and brief him on my progress and achievements and discuss matters of common interest and the political situation in particular. While serving in the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) at the request of Athulathmudali, the then SLPA Chairman, Wimal Amarasekera appointed me in addition to my duties as the Co-ordinater of Mahapola. Having given my best service to promote and propagate the Mahapola concept, I was able to win the goodwill and confidence of Athulathmudali. In 1993, when I came to Sri Lanka, I got an appointment to meet him at his residence at Inner Flower Road at 10.30 a.m. November 21. If my memory serves me right, it was a Sunday. When I entered his residence there was a big crowd. Athulathmudali was very busy speaking to MPs, candidates, supporters, organisers and well-wishers as he was contesting the Chief Minister's post, Western Province. I patiently awaited my turn. Around 12.30 p.m. he accompanied me to his library. He enquired about my health and the performance and functions of the shipping line I worked for. My response was that it was a privilege to have been able to serve the second largest shipping line in the world with fringe benefits and substantial emoluments. But it is more or less a police state. His prompt response was, "Godwin, it is the same here." "There are death threats made over the phone. All my movements are being monitored by sleuths. Cars and motorbikes roam around my house, raising the noise from time to time. My little daughter Sarala and wife Srimani are living in fear and tension." I felt very sad to hear of the tragic state of a leader who had given his best to the Motherland as the Minister of Trade and Shipping, Minister of National Security and Deputy Minister of Defence. His final question to me was, "Are you going back or will you remain in Sri Lanka?" My answer was I will be going back. He responded "At present this is not a safe country, you may come back when the situation improves for the better and safety of life is ensured. Till then take care." I responded, "Sir, our country needs your services for many more years. Please take care of your life and your family." Within 48 hours, on April 23, 1994, around 8.30 p.m., I was shocked and horrified to hear the news of Athulathmudali's assassination at an election rally at Kirulapona. The writer is a former Assistant Secretary of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.