Shivarani Chandra Jayawardena, Nee Wijesiriwardena lovingly called Shiva was well known among us for her sincerity and concern, with sympathy overflowing towards everybody. She was modest and upright with a sense of dignity and responsibility hovering around her giving pride of place to everything in her native place. We have lost a sincere, genuine personality from our midst.
This is to remember with fond memories our friendship running beyond six decades. I don’t know from where to begin because we were together, there is so much to state about her.
She was born to a very respectable, well renowned family in the South during the Imperial regime. Father being an honest government employee had earned a name as a dominant personality in the profession. Her mother needs mention as being an outstanding student at St. Thomas’s Girls’ High School, Matara, well known for displaying a character of a queen in a historic drama (Panduwasdev) staged at Broadway Theatre Hall, Matara.
I recall seeing both of them in their sunset years – a great couple. Shiva too received her education there, so did I. Being from the same native place and from the same school, we were much closer. Then after a short spell of time, we met as students of the first University, a historic landmark, not at all easy then for the average and the ordinary to embark.
Here, we met at the Sangamitta Hall, forming a closely knit group of friends drawn from different parts of Sri Lanka. Here we developed a friendship which continued to blossom over this long period.
To be brief we enjoyed our stay at Peradeniya. Shiva and our leading friend Padmini did a special four-year course in Geography and Economics. After our university career, we were well engaged in teaching profession, doing fine in several prestigious schools in Matara.
One thing that needs mention is the famous Cricketer, Sanath Jayasuriya, was a faithful pupil of hers when teaching at St. Servatius, Matara.
Then came our period of matrimony. Since Shiva and I were from the same native place, a healthy feeling of togetherness prevailed which mostly guided our activities. I have a pleasant recollection of the day when Prof. Sarathchandra’s Maname was staged at the Rahula College Auditorium in Matara for the first time. It was yet another lovely day for Shiva and me. It was a great thing for both of us to be distributing programs for the audience there. We hardly missed any show of this calibre.
When looking back, the two of us went from Matara to attend Chandra E’s wedding at Kalutara. I wonder whether they can remember both of us attending the weddings of Chandra Seneviratne at Savoy and Hemalatha’s at Girl Guide Headquarters in Colombo on the same day when new technology in transport was non-existent.
Then she wanted me to join her in her shopping spree to Colombo and on our way back we were entertained by great Kumanayake, her brother-in-law at Moratuwa – A deep-rooted memory.
Then we had our marriages the same year. Her’s three months before mine. Among others our group was there to enjoy.
Shortly after marriage, I moved to Dehiwala and whenever going to Matara I was back at her residence receiving her warmth and hospitality. She used to visit me at Dehiwala annually when she went for A/L paper marking.
Now to her family – The lucky young guy, Chulananda Jayawardena to take her hand for life’s journey was an intellect of rare calibre from an educated family – a Surveyor of repute, shining in his profession. Shiva was well read and very knowledgeable. Together they did their best to educated the children well.
She had a very happy family life attending to the needs of her children and taking care of her sister Irangani’s children too seeing to their welfare like her own. She was a devoted wife and an affectionate mother to her children all doing well in life.
Renuka, the eldest daughter, sweet girl of intellect is married to an engineer. Three sons, Bandupriya and Hemal too are efficient engineers domiciled in Australia and Canada and Vajira is a talented versatile graduate who has made his mark with superior performance in his field. They are a family of engineers.
Memory recalls that her noble heart made her help her relatives to come up in their lives. I know a few of her relatives who received her sympathetic goodwill and help to come up in life.
Space does not permit me to go into detail. In view of the deep fragrance of the days gone by, this is a tribute to a noble hearted lady for a beautiful life well spent.
May she attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana!
Rupa Banduwardena,
Melbourne, Australia
