It is with profound grief that I write an appreciation of my much loved cousin M. C. de S. A. Wijayanayake (Mike) to all relatives and friends. I must confess that I have still not been able to accept that he passed away. He was many years my senior and I used to hero-worship as he was an unique personality. With the passage of time we became close friends and he moved closely with my family so much so that even my grand children loved him very much. Little children took to him in a matter of minutes.

Mike was the youngest son of the late C. de S. A. and Grace Wijayanayake of 312, Thimbirigasyaya Road, Colombo 5. The then Colombo Headquarters of the Wijayanayake clan, was the residence of C. de S. A. Wijayanayake. His family had nine brothers and sisters. I remember well, as a little boy, how relatives used to storm the house during school holidays and how the gracious couple and their siblings used to entertain them with great joy. Those were the days when life was easy going and fun was the most sought after need.

Mike on completion of his secondary education joined the Signals Corp of the Royal Army as a Commissioned Officer in it for some years. Just as he left the Army, he was grabbed by a cousin, whose husband an entrepreneur by all standards ventured into the acquisition of a tea plantation in the Nuwara Eliya district where the need was to have a competent well rounded person in charge.

Mike was not the imperious type and his general demeanour was magnetic and not disdainful. Mr. Alban Wijesekera, the veteran manager was about to retire and he put Mike through the paces ably supported by a well known visiting agent of the time, a Britisher by the name of Irvine Stewart. The duo took to Mike instantly as he was a role model for plantation management tactful and dependable since that was the sinke qua non for industrial peace, a must for the new owner of the plantation. Mike was so popular with the Indian labour that they worshipped him whenever they reached him, or observe him drive past. He was known as "Sami Dorai" and in addition to his agricultural pursuits he also acted as their guide, philosopher and mentor. The sick would by pass the medical officer of the estate and reach him for treatment and a plain aspirin was known to settle all ailments.

The tea plantation was in a village known as Elamulla bordering Nuwara Eliya. All the Buddhist temples around had his support and patronage and his identity and magnanimity knew no boundaries. No temple ceremony was complete without him. I vividly recall that many attempts were made by the then powerful political parties to draw him, but he did not succumb to such pressures and thereby to the last day had enormous love and goodwill from the village.

I recall with nostalgia my near tryst with destiny way back in the sixties and hence must record with immense gratitude the most comforting role he played for my quick recovery after a near fatal illness, which afflicted me. No sooner I was cleared and ordered complete bed rest. Mike was there to take me to his estate, since medical advice was rest in the cooler climes.

Mike was a bachelor and in his hey day he had an open house and hundreds would have enjoyed his lavish hospitality in salubrious climes. He was a dependable friend to the needy and the number that benefited are too numerous to count. Despite the righteous life he led as a true and genuine Buddhist his past Karma also surfaced in his last years and he bore this misfortune with great fortitude and equanimity, the vicissitudes of life.

I have no doubt that he will be sadly missed by his surviving brother Roland and sister Mary and the many relatives, more particularly his devoted niece nephew Surangani Elmo and the two little girls Surangika and Surendrika. He was indeed fortunate to have them around showering all the love and affection that made him happy, comfortable and contented, something that many parents do not get from their children in this day and age.

May my much loved cousin in his journey through sansara never encounter any pain of mind or body and finally attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.
Susantha F. Wijayanayake