May 11, 2013, 6:24 pm

Leelananda de Silva who hails from the South of Ceylon, has in THE SUNDAY ISLAND of 28 April 13 paintakingly written a good story to remind us of the Philanthropy of Selestina Rodrigo (popularly known as Mrs. Jeramias Dias) of Panadura, the Founder of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo.


He refers to the second edition of the late Manel Tampoe’s book which is of absorbing interest. This book portrays the personal commitment she had towards educating the young, at a time when Christian missionaries were active in establishing schools such as Ferguson’s Girls School, Ratnapura, Hillwood College Girl’s school, Kandy, and Southlands Girls school, Galle. Her desire to firmly establish the Buddhist school was evident when at one time during the formative years’ the school Board of Management had D. S. Senanayake, Sir Baron Jayatilleke and Dr. W. Arthur Silva to steer the activities, and even to find the best of tutors.


My effort today is to briefly spotlight the personal character of this admirable Lady, who used her wealth for the welfare of humanity. Whenever she heard of the demise of a poor villager who resided close to her home at Pattiya South, Panadura, she was moved to meet all the funeral expenses. She went further, by providing a converted large motor vehicle (kept in her Garage) to be need as a hearse (it had no Engine), and was drawn with the aid of sturdy ropes to the place of burial. The poor of Panadura were ever grateful to her.


On another occasion, a large coconut property close to her residence that belonged to my grandmother was to be Auctioned by the Fiscal for default of payments owed to a rich man, called the "GINI POLLI MUDALALI" Mrs. Jeramius Dias then stepped forward and was the highest bidder at the Auction to own the land. A year later, she on her own transferred the property back to my grandmother, without any payment whatsoever.


This act displays her character.


Upali K. Salgado