“Sir John did not think one thing and are say another. Did not believe one thing and do another. A man of integrity he was not divided against himself. He was never in conflict with his own principles. There was no inner warfare and that gave him clarity of thought that made achievement, health and happiness inevitable. Integrity meant having a certain built-in set of attitudes.” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
by Lorna Wright
(April 01, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sir John's breakfast table was famous. The nights rain, the morning walk with the guests through the gardens - the lawns, shrubs and trees alive and green gave him immense pleasure. He would remark his garden preached more of God's goodness than most men's audibly expressed opinions. The special joy he got looking across the gardens of Kandawala was if the estate was used by groups for picnics - school children -everywhere. There were no security guards.
The fish, the animals, the peafowl had been fed.
Walking towards the breakfast table "that-d-fool JR...or Dudley...Banda..."Sir John these remarks of yours get to Colombo".
"Yes men, but they know me. I say what I want. If a man's worth is judged on repeated words, woman or man handled words, then they who listen and make judgments are bloody fools".
Sir John did not think one thing and are say another. Did not believe one thing and do another. A man of integrity he was not divided against himself. He was never in conflict with his own principles. There was no inner warfare and that gave him clarity of thought that made achievement, health and happiness inevitable. Integrity meant having a certain built-in set of attitudes. Not mere honesty wrapped in, on again, off again religiosity but having a conscience and listening to it.
"Sir John they are talking of a statue for you - where will you like it placed?"
"Near those houses of mine on this road, next to the Bo-tree"
"Why there - no one will see it"
"No men, I've noticed, always a lamp is lit, people pay obeisance - People will think it's for me! Otherwise only the crows are interested in statues".
The laughter was spontaneous.
A statesman politician practicing the profession of politics with all the zeal of a successful evangelist, he was a proud and confessed nationalist. A Sri Lankan to the marrow of his bones, his lifestyle could be measured by the circle he drew to take the world in - irrespective of ethnicity, class or creed. Some people are too small to draw a circle larger than themselves, others go further and include families, still others draw the line concentrating on their own religious or social group, their own race or colour, their nation. But Sir John had an open mind humanly interested enough, compassionate enough to draw a circle large enough for all.
"God gave me my friends, the devil my relations" he said flippantly. Somewhere down the line he must have experienced unsorted, jumbled resentments and anguished love because with his Senanayake cousins, Tissa, Dickie (RG) and Upali he had a good affectionate and warm relationship.
"Dickie you campaign against plantation Indians and soon you'll want the Burghers to leave this country."
"Yes Lionel Aiya - all the men to go and leave the good looking women behind."
Very proud he was of his sister's son the international civil servant Dr. Gamini Corea. But being a very practical down to earth man, he would say "that fellow thinks he can sort out the monetary problems of the world. But his mother runs his household and I run his estate.
The everyday rascality of his buddies, lovable gentlemen -perfect gentlemen never rude or crude - immensely amused him. He had his own stories and loved recounting them. They changed in length and depth depending on the audience.
A daily walk, disciplined exercise circled Kandawala estate, he knew the exact mileage of that walk. One day he recounts at the laundryman's house a 'thovil' exorcist ceremony was on. He peeped over the edge of the watching crowd. The daughter being treated spotted him - rushed up "Aiyo marge thaththa, marge thaththa - Ph-oh my father, my father". I vanished.
Peals of laughter.
They were recounting stories, UNP yarns of yesteryear... How Esmond (Ranil's father) at one time switched his support to the SLFP but remained his dear friend. He had good home-made answer how to treat someone who had once been good and loyal to you,- "be grateful and loyal". Often quoting that after the war, at a Commonwealth meeting Sir Winston Churchill's reply to Nehru's criticism of England's continuing support of America - Removing his cigar slowly, "Mr. Nehru I am a grateful man."
The good Lady Senator was at the breakfast table. "Sir John remember the UNP pilgrimage down south?" After the pooja, when praying I asked you what you were praying for?" "Yes I remember". "I said I was praying, that what you were praying for, won't be answered". Happily married she hit back "I did better" - "Eees tha-at-so"- more laughter. Saints he always said were difficult people to live with.
SWRD made possible Sir John retirement in England. After SWRD's death, Sir John extended to his widow, the same warm friendly loyalty. They often met signing marriage registers for the children of mutual friends. He would repeat and embellish the conversation at these encounters. "Madam for goodness sake be careful where you sign, or the two of us will get up from this table married". Never vindictive he simply ignored what did not please him saying. "You must not be a politician after sixty, because then you become too forgiving". He forgave, keeping however at arms length what he could not forget.
Utterly practical he'd chop up any ominously looming problems into measurable components. The war Ratmalana Airport needed an extended air-strip in double quick time. Sir John's Ministry and the officials, said "Impossible."
"Why"
"We don't have the equipment and machinery in our unit".
"How many units in the country?"
"Five" - Summon them all to Colombo, divide up the length-The job was done with a few days to spare.
If he was alive today, he would undoubtedly resurrect the ESLC - the Essential Services Labour Corps he founded. There would be reconstruction and rehabilitation work ahead in the country skilled, semi skilled workers would be necessary. Skilled workers today are impossible to find.
An army man, Sir John exemplified working with hands and there had to be honesty in time. He'd often say to be on time was a tacit recognition of the value placed on another man's time. It also carried a cost factor it meant productivity. Time and hands to him today would deal with and absorb the 60% of youth dropping out of school. He would certainly agree with ILO Ian Cummings that vocational education is for the purpose of providing skills for the "world of work," conscripted perhaps. Living disciplined lives in barracks the hands-on competency based training with master craftsmen would be cost-effective in MAINTENANCE work of schools, hospitals, churches - institutions.
In a tribute to a man who loved his country more than himself and did attempt to bring the parties together in the Gentlemen's Coup are words he had printed on a card.
Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift
That's why it's called the present!
- Sri Lanka Guardian
by Lorna Wright
(April 01, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sir John's breakfast table was famous. The nights rain, the morning walk with the guests through the gardens - the lawns, shrubs and trees alive and green gave him immense pleasure. He would remark his garden preached more of God's goodness than most men's audibly expressed opinions. The special joy he got looking across the gardens of Kandawala was if the estate was used by groups for picnics - school children -everywhere. There were no security guards.
The fish, the animals, the peafowl had been fed.
Walking towards the breakfast table "that-d-fool JR...or Dudley...Banda..."Sir John these remarks of yours get to Colombo".
"Yes men, but they know me. I say what I want. If a man's worth is judged on repeated words, woman or man handled words, then they who listen and make judgments are bloody fools".
Sir John did not think one thing and are say another. Did not believe one thing and do another. A man of integrity he was not divided against himself. He was never in conflict with his own principles. There was no inner warfare and that gave him clarity of thought that made achievement, health and happiness inevitable. Integrity meant having a certain built-in set of attitudes. Not mere honesty wrapped in, on again, off again religiosity but having a conscience and listening to it.
"Sir John they are talking of a statue for you - where will you like it placed?"
"Near those houses of mine on this road, next to the Bo-tree"
"Why there - no one will see it"
"No men, I've noticed, always a lamp is lit, people pay obeisance - People will think it's for me! Otherwise only the crows are interested in statues".
The laughter was spontaneous.
A statesman politician practicing the profession of politics with all the zeal of a successful evangelist, he was a proud and confessed nationalist. A Sri Lankan to the marrow of his bones, his lifestyle could be measured by the circle he drew to take the world in - irrespective of ethnicity, class or creed. Some people are too small to draw a circle larger than themselves, others go further and include families, still others draw the line concentrating on their own religious or social group, their own race or colour, their nation. But Sir John had an open mind humanly interested enough, compassionate enough to draw a circle large enough for all.
"God gave me my friends, the devil my relations" he said flippantly. Somewhere down the line he must have experienced unsorted, jumbled resentments and anguished love because with his Senanayake cousins, Tissa, Dickie (RG) and Upali he had a good affectionate and warm relationship.
"Dickie you campaign against plantation Indians and soon you'll want the Burghers to leave this country."
"Yes Lionel Aiya - all the men to go and leave the good looking women behind."
Very proud he was of his sister's son the international civil servant Dr. Gamini Corea. But being a very practical down to earth man, he would say "that fellow thinks he can sort out the monetary problems of the world. But his mother runs his household and I run his estate.
The everyday rascality of his buddies, lovable gentlemen -perfect gentlemen never rude or crude - immensely amused him. He had his own stories and loved recounting them. They changed in length and depth depending on the audience.
A daily walk, disciplined exercise circled Kandawala estate, he knew the exact mileage of that walk. One day he recounts at the laundryman's house a 'thovil' exorcist ceremony was on. He peeped over the edge of the watching crowd. The daughter being treated spotted him - rushed up "Aiyo marge thaththa, marge thaththa - Ph-oh my father, my father". I vanished.
Peals of laughter.
They were recounting stories, UNP yarns of yesteryear... How Esmond (Ranil's father) at one time switched his support to the SLFP but remained his dear friend. He had good home-made answer how to treat someone who had once been good and loyal to you,- "be grateful and loyal". Often quoting that after the war, at a Commonwealth meeting Sir Winston Churchill's reply to Nehru's criticism of England's continuing support of America - Removing his cigar slowly, "Mr. Nehru I am a grateful man."
The good Lady Senator was at the breakfast table. "Sir John remember the UNP pilgrimage down south?" After the pooja, when praying I asked you what you were praying for?" "Yes I remember". "I said I was praying, that what you were praying for, won't be answered". Happily married she hit back "I did better" - "Eees tha-at-so"- more laughter. Saints he always said were difficult people to live with.
SWRD made possible Sir John retirement in England. After SWRD's death, Sir John extended to his widow, the same warm friendly loyalty. They often met signing marriage registers for the children of mutual friends. He would repeat and embellish the conversation at these encounters. "Madam for goodness sake be careful where you sign, or the two of us will get up from this table married". Never vindictive he simply ignored what did not please him saying. "You must not be a politician after sixty, because then you become too forgiving". He forgave, keeping however at arms length what he could not forget.
Utterly practical he'd chop up any ominously looming problems into measurable components. The war Ratmalana Airport needed an extended air-strip in double quick time. Sir John's Ministry and the officials, said "Impossible."
"Why"
"We don't have the equipment and machinery in our unit".
"How many units in the country?"
"Five" - Summon them all to Colombo, divide up the length-The job was done with a few days to spare.
If he was alive today, he would undoubtedly resurrect the ESLC - the Essential Services Labour Corps he founded. There would be reconstruction and rehabilitation work ahead in the country skilled, semi skilled workers would be necessary. Skilled workers today are impossible to find.
An army man, Sir John exemplified working with hands and there had to be honesty in time. He'd often say to be on time was a tacit recognition of the value placed on another man's time. It also carried a cost factor it meant productivity. Time and hands to him today would deal with and absorb the 60% of youth dropping out of school. He would certainly agree with ILO Ian Cummings that vocational education is for the purpose of providing skills for the "world of work," conscripted perhaps. Living disciplined lives in barracks the hands-on competency based training with master craftsmen would be cost-effective in MAINTENANCE work of schools, hospitals, churches - institutions.
In a tribute to a man who loved his country more than himself and did attempt to bring the parties together in the Gentlemen's Coup are words he had printed on a card.
Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift
That's why it's called the present!
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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