P. S. Sumanatilleke

The sad news of the sudden but peaceful passing away of Mr. P. S. Sumanatilleke of Siripura Housing Complex, Talawatugoda, on the same day he was admitted to Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital, came like a bolt from the blue after a very brief illness at the age of 70.

He was a Chartered Engineer & Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, born in Maldeniya, Nuwara Eliya to P. P. Sumanatilleke, Proctor SC & Notary Public, former Member of Parliament for Nuwara Eliya and Weligamage Beatrice de Silva. He was the eldest of a family of eight members — brothers and sisters four each. He married Indra on 27th March, 1968 and led a very happy wedded life and with whom he had a daughter and son, namely Menik and Saliya respectively.

He had his secondary education at Dharmaraja College, Kandy, where he passed his senior school certificate examination in 1951 obtaining one distinction and three credits. He loved his school and contributed his services to it in the successive capacities of senior scout troop leader, Operator of the College Sound Projector Assistant Scout Master, Founder Editor of "Paramanu Lokaya" (a science periodical in the Sinhala medium), College Senior Prefect & Hostel Senior Prefect, Temporary Assistant Teacher and Scout Master in-Charge. At the annual prize giving of 1953 he received the class prize - Form IV, the open competitive prize for physics and the open competitive prize for applied mathematics.

He had the privilege of passing his tertiary studies in engineering, at Kingston Technical College, U.K. (now Kingston University). On completing his academic course of study, he obtained the Higher National diploma in electrical engineering, award by the Ministry of Education, U.K. and in addition on the successful completion of a separate examination, obtained the Diploma in Electrical Engineering, awarded jointly by the Institute of Electrical Engineers, U.K. and the Ministry of Education, U.K.

On completing his graduate practical training at G.E.C. Osram Limited (U.K.), he was employed as development engineer at Veuner Electronics Limited, New Malden, Surrey, U.K. He excelled in Ballroom and Latin American dancing, for which he won many a medal. He was also an ardent amateur radio enthusiast.

He returned to Sri Lanka in 1964, and served as Electrical Engineer — Senior Executive grade, at Walker & Greig Limited. He obtained full membership of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (U.K.) and membership of the Institution of Engineers (Sri Lanka), within the next two years.

In 1968, he was commissioned as the Senior Electrical Engineer, State Fertilizer Manufacturing Corporation, While working in the said capacity, he was seconded to Sweden on a UNIDO/ASEA scholarship for in—plant training in ASEA factories.

In 1974 he accepted the appointment of lecturer in electrical technology at the Sgea Anu Polytechnic, Singapore. He also served as part time lecturer in industrial electronics at the National University of Singapore during the tenure of the said appointment.

On returning to Sri Lanka in 1980, he was appointed Principal Research Engineer at the National Engineering Research and Development Centre, Ekala, Ja-Ela.

Later, he joined a private firm as Engineering Consultant. Thereafter, he commenced work in the capacity of freelance Engineering Consultant, the vocation that he practiced right up to his death.

He also had the opportunity of serving both the B.M.I.C.H. and the Open University of Sri Lanka, in the capacity of consultant.

On 31st May, 1982 he permanently settled down at Siripura Housing Complex, Talawatugoda. He was a non-smoker, teetotaller and subsequently a vegetarian. He was able to cultivate complete adhesion to the prescriptions of the "Pancha Shilaya" by the latter half of his life. He consistently practiced the virtues of "Metta, Muditha, Karuna & Upekka". All of this along with his habitual and generous practice of "Dana" both towards the clergy and to the layman alike, enabled him to enter upon the noble right-fold path during this life itself.

He was an early bird at any occasion where his attendance was concerned. It is rather difficult to believe that he is no longer with us and the news of his irreparable loss came as a rude shock to the members of his family and others. He was a person who helped his relatives and friends and whatever work he undertook he did it with high sense of responsibility and integrity.

In 1985, he was an active member of the Siripura Welfare Society and at one time a vice president of the said society. Late nineteen eighties he formed the Siripura Funeral Aid and Mutual Benefit Society where he was the founder president.

It is a pity that I miss him very badly when I remember how he wished me "good morning" and the usual brief friendly "chat" we had on many a morning while meeting each other on our way to fetch the "newspaper, breakfast, etc." from the nearby boutique and also how he attended to the frequent repairs and started the engine with difficulty, of his favourite old car "Morris Marina" especially when he wanted to go to office daily. But later just a couple of weeks ahead of his death, he had no alternative but to abandon it totally as the engine gave no improvement at all.

The "pansakula" ceremony was performed by both Rev. Kitalagama Janayalankara Thero, chief priest of Kalalgoda Buddhist Centrea and Rev. Attudawe Wimalatissa Thero, chief priest of Sirinanda Jothikasawaya temple, Talawatugoda.

A large gathering of mourners from many walks of life who paid their last respects both at his residence and at the funeral was an indication of the love and regard they had for him.

My deepest sympathies go to his beloved wife, Mrs. Indra Sumanatillake, loving daughter Menik, and son Saliya.

May he achieve his escape from "Sansara" in his very next birth itself.