I was both fascinated and deeply moved by the spontaneous tributes to Prof.

Ashley Halpe that glowed from the pages of your Midweek Review of December 09.

They revealed so much about the man that the general public would not have known.  

As a complete outsider, with no university background at all, I wanted to raise a cheer!   He emerges as a truly civilized being; courageous and of utter integrity, the like of whom is in very short supply today! 

No wonder that so many illustrious former students justly pay him homage.   

May I add my two cents worth? The only time I met Prof. Halpe was many years ago when our son, Ranjan, asked him to sign as a witness at his wedding.   

We were a little surprised that Ranjan, an Engineering Graduate of Peradeniya, had chosen the Professor of English for this role, but we made no comment. However, I sent off an e-mail to Ranjan who resides abroad and I’d like to quote his reply: "I’m glad that Prof. Halpe has received these well-deserved accolades."  

 We used to go to their home on campus for Music Society meetings which were normally organised by Bridget, his wife. Prof. Halpe was one who had the knack of mixing with all types of persons.  

His gifts of head and heart, coupled with his basic human qualities, were what endeared him to us students.                                                                                     

Anne Abayasekara.