Dayananda A. W. Senanayake, fondly addressed by his colleagues as “Sena” or “Daya”, was an amiable person who without hesitation committed himself to assisting others in any need. His vast knowledge of many elaborate and diverse subjects and also in simple mundane matters was readily available without an iota of reservation to anyone seeking such necessity.
He was a magnanimous philanthropist with boundless enthusiasm in helping society in keeping with his belief in helping humanity bereft of a desire for publicity. But to the discerning eye, he was a beacon in serving charity and an example for others to follow. Unfortunately, his health that was gradually impeding his activities, ultimately took the inevitable toll of life to lay down this gentleman par excellence forever, thereby casting a pall of irreparable sadness in our hearts.
His early years were spent in Singapore, and he entered College in Lower 3rd. His life at that learning institute, which Sena often referred to as “The School by The Sea”– S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, bestrode the literary sector like a colossus. He had the unique talent to be selected into the English Debating team and as well as to the Sinhala debating team during the same era thus displaying his undisputed knowledge not only in his vernacular but also in the English medium as he was a well-known connoisseur of languages and college history.
He was the most natural choice to be appointed as the Co-Editor of the College Magazine and brought the quality at its zenith to the magazine that any Thomian would have been immensely proud of. His literary skills are collector’s items today. He was also the Editor of the Thomian Souvenir at the Royal Thomian Cricket big match in his era as a Tent Committee member/School Prefect.
His wide plethora of subtle humour, whilst maintaining decorum and dignity, was harnessed to a maximum in a different theme as the limericks and caricatures accompanied by various anecdotes to dwell upon into the players’ secrecies in lighter vein. It was a different challenge and brought out in full manifest his versatility to adapt to many scenarios. A less known fact is that he initiated the Sinhala magazine called “Aruna” at school. He collaborated closely with Warden Davidson in updating the history of the College.
He represented Stone House and was a School prefect in 1969 and 1970 at a time when there were only 15 of them. He was indeed a perfectionist even when it came to attire. One would look up to him to adjust the tie knot and ensure that the proper symmetry was established when it came to the full white suit that had to be worn by the few prefects at School functions.
Not a button was out of place with Sena – the perfectionist around. The two Head Prefects, P. L. D. Kariyawasam and D. R. Weerasinghe during the era when Dayananda was a school Prefect tapped his potential and the limited 15 of us as fellow school prefects enjoyed the much loved camaraderie that prevailed with him around. Never was there a dull moment in the traditional Prefects room or in our external exploits with Sena around.
We were his peers, only in years. In many aspects, he was miles ahead of us. A case in point. While we were still in College Form, Sena invested in stocks and equities; not dabbling in stocks and shares but real serious investing. He mastered the laws and regulations on equities to the point he could question the management of the investee firms. He cherished his unwavering financial integrity.
His mature outlook would brush on us. And yet, there was always, the natural child in him, ready to burst out given the slightest nudge. His sense of humour and love of learning were contagious. After he left College, he took private lessons to study Latin. Who could forget the lunchtime ‘how to swim’ classes he arranged with the College swimming coach for himself and a few of his fellow prefects who never mastered swimming, with a whole bunch of bemused students gaping at us from the adjoining “new” Science Block.
What distinguished Sena was his loyalty, loyalty to his family, his Alma Mater and his friends. He donated many prizes at the college annual prize-giving, honouring his parents, friends and teachers. His personal efforts in resuscitating the age old Belfry to its pristine glory and redoing the bell itself and also the gong at his own expense remains a silent donation to his Alma Mater from one of her worthy sons. Moreover, it showed another aspect of Sena — his pursuit of perfection. He made multiple trips to visit the craftsman, getting him to re-do the product over and over again, until it met Sena’s definition of perfection.
His flair and skills in organising was legendary. Nothing was too small or too big to put his skills to work. Be it organising an all island tour in two jeeps and attachment to carry the luggage which included tents, utensils, provisions during the school holidays to arranging lunches at Buhari’s during the Royal Thomian. At the height of C.T. Fernando’s music popularity, he brought C.T. to College to perform at the Annual Sinhala Literary Day celebrations.
Despite his ‘fatherly’ attitude and guidance, he enjoyed much laughter when many an anecdote was related in his presence and never took umbrage when his colleagues dragged him into the nucleus of such anecdotes. His laughter with the entire body shaking and vibrating still remains in the minds and visions of his many friends and colleagues not forgetting the fantastic rapport he maintained with the Tutorial Staff as well as with the minor staff. Sena was a stickler for punctuality, which line one would cross at the risk of incurring his wrath.
He continued his life as a single person and devoted his life to his parents whom he adored and was a lovable and committed brother to his sisters and their extended families.
In the past few decades, he came under the loving care of his surviving sister Swarna, as his older sister had predeceased him, his brother-in-law Rienzie – who virtually grew up as a brother to Sena and extremely loyal nephews Chandika and Sanil and their wives Amanda and Indeewari and Sena’s grandnephews Cetaka, Ciran and Randhir, who simply adored their seeya mama (Grand Uncle). Daya’s insights and love to them were much valued and treasured. They indeed benefitted from his mature guidance and advice of which he had a vast general knowledge until the time of his demise.
Sena was well known to quote from Shakespeare, Martin Luther King, Bernard Shaw et al. He was quite emotional whenever he spoke to us of the inscription on a large rock stone dedicating the big club grounds. His handwriting was unique and many had used that ability of his to write invitations for functions thus appreciating his versatility in talent.
Dear Sena, words fail us to even begin to describe the deep sense of loss we feel. We turn to Robert Burns to capture the essence and spirit of who you were and what you meant to us.
An honest man here lies at rest
As e’er God with his image blest
The friend of man,
the friend of truth
The friend of age,
and guide of youth
Few hearts like his,
with virtue warmed
Few heads with knowledge
so informed
If there’s another world,
he lives in bliss
If there is none,
he made the best of this
Farewell Dear Sena you will be
greatly missed.
Your batch of School Prefects
at STC 1969/1970
