I first came to know Mrs. Mallika de Mel when I was invited by her husband Mr. Ronnie de Mel, the then Minister of Finance and Planning, to join his staff in 1978.

As his private secretary, Mallika had a challenging role to play - and a very active one. The Minister was an unusually busy man and the day-to-day work at the finance ministry left him little time for attending to other matters. As a politician, looking after the affairs of his constituency was part and parcel of his official duties. This is where Mallika stepped in to help whenever he did not have the time to attend to any matter himself, and this was often.

Mallika did not possess the intellectual brilliance of her husband but had political skills, necessary for communicating with constituents and helping to solve their problems. Her boundless energy was a driving force in getting things done. It was the way she set about her work with people that made her such a popular figure in Devinuwara.

Mallika was an extremely kind-hearted, sympathetic and friendly person, ever willing to assist a person in need. When I used to go the Minister’s residence first thing in the morning to discuss the day’s work, there would always be a large crowd of people waiting to meet her, to ask her help in a myriad of matters. However difficult anyone was, she never lost her cool and dealt with problems with empathy and understanding.

She came from a wealthy family. However she neither flaunted her wealth nor her position. Instead, she was able to relate to every person, whatever their socioeconomic status. However exasperating an individual was, she never showed impatience, but dealt with them firmly but gently. This characteristic endeared her to the common people as was demonstrated when she was a decisive winner of her husband’s seat in Devinuwara, when he had given up constituency politics.

Mallika was always a tower of strength to her husband both when he was in office and when he was out of it. She took every thing in her stride and her occasional ill-health with fortitude. She was the epitome of a devoted wife and mother and loyal friend and will be mourned by all those who had the good fortune of knowing her. I will always treasure her memory.

Nalin Mendis

Colombo 06