Appreciation

June 25, 2013, 6:48 pm

Most of us retired senior police officers were fortunate and privileged to work with R.R. whose life style many tried to emulate but with little success. He was a trinity Lion who lived a full, eventful and complete life when he reached the zenith of his career as a police officer when he was appointed Inspector General of Police though overlooked earlier when a junior overtook him–which R.R. took up with his abundant patience–his forte. In the field of sports as a ruggerite and the administrator of the sport he was incomparable par excellence. It was accepted by all ranks of the police that he was "a gentleman and an officer" and "an officer and a gentleman" which is a rare combination as all officers are not gentlemen and all gentlemen are not officers. Members of the public who had dealings with him either officially or socially reiterate that the word gentleman referred to, him should be spelt in block capitals as that quality was in his veins, sinews and marrow. After retirement in spite of other assignments, he chose to live an unobtrusive life doing charitable acts, enjoying nature and entertaining friends. He was a man of principles when he refused to stand down when the authorities asked for his resignation for the closure of Police Commission. This was one of the acts he performed for the benefit of society — the results of which are yet to come. It was R.R.’s "MAGNUMOPUS".

In his Circular No. SE/137/78 of 24.02.1978 he stated "our duty by our subordinates must be kept in mind and they should not be made to suffer in their promotions for no fault of theirs" which sums up his attitude towards the rank and file in the Police Department.

Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies in us like compassion, integrity, brotherliness, charity, kindness, etc. when we are alive. R.R. had these inborn qualities. Any ones life ends in death in diverse ways. It is the details of how one lived and how one came by his death that distinguish one man from others.

This is a reminiscence in gratitude to a great man. We should console ourselves as the little bird in me whispers that "R.R. has achieved the bliss in accordance with the tenants of his faith."

Bandula Seneviratne

Colombo 08

island.lk