I remember the day I first met his parents on the College Prize Day, when they invited me home. I remember the load of prize books he received that day, the weight of which we shared in turns on our way home. From that day I recollect how I was received into his household as one of their own. One can imagine what a great relief that was to me who had only recently lost my own father, and had left my mother and sisters over a hundred miles away. I am sure my mother left me to my own affairs, with the confidence engendered in her by witnessing the love and care he and his family bestowed on me.

I remember how I went to his home for the school holidays, how we sat on a tree stump and he helped me in my Sanskrit grammar in which he was a master and I a mere novice. With time, my love for him has grown into adoration and though torn apart by a quarter of a century, of time, my life on earth is chained to his.

I recollect our days of studentship, how after school we sped from one library to another when one was closed. After a hasty lunch which we often shared, we would speed to the Public Library, the Museum Library or the Vajirarama Library if the- other two happened to be closed that day.

When we applied for residential accommodation at the Peradeniya University, we both were selected to share Room No. 1. of Marrs Hall - Later, after passing out and when he was a teacher at Ananda and a Sub Warden of the hostel, I remember how I invariably spent the evenings with him, discussing my own experiences as the Sanskrit teacher at St. Joseph's College. I wonder how Rev. Fr. Peter Pillai selected us both for lectureships in Pali and Sanskrit at Aquinas after our school hours.

Later when he was appointed to the staff of the Kelaniya University, I was only too glad to follow him there, through his own inspiration which prompted me to move to Dalugama, and there undertake to follow the M.A. course under Prof. Shanti Bhikshu Shastri, one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I remember I once wrote to my friend that with him around I could do the work of two people because he was ever ready to shoulder part of my work, whether it be domestic, academic or official, because we could discuss anything and everything between us, and always he did offer valuable counsel, from his own innate wisdom, if not from personal experience.

I can recollect how we spoke to each other everyday on the phone, the last time only a few hours before his mortal life came to an end, while engaged in some official meeting at the University. One can imagine what I felt when I heard the sad news, less than two hours after we spoke to each other.

But as he guided me in life, so he shall continue to guide me in death.

To his family, Rohini and the two sons Pradeep and Aditya, I express my gratitude for their recognition and estimation of our long time friendship, and the care they take in fostering close links between our families.