From Jayantha Weerasinghe
Much is said about politicians and celebrities, but even more must be said in appreciation of the simple wife, mother and dear friend, Inez Sourjah. Inez was born on 6 October 1929 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, to John and Dolly Jackson-Smale. Her other siblings were Alistair, Geoffrey and Jeanne. Inez went to school at Good Shepherd Convent in Kandy and was essentially a Kandy Lamissi and very proud of it. Her soulmate was close at hand from a very young age, Robert being Alastair’s classmate at Trnity. I am told that Inez and Robert knew each other and played together from the age when Inez was 8 and Robert was 12. Robert had an early start in courting Inez and they were inseparable till the end.
Robert and Inez married on 25 June 1955. They were blessed with two beautiful boys in Rohan and Lalin, both legendary sportsman at Trinity, and above all wonderful human beings who devoted their life to their parents and did them proud. Robert, the Physician, and Inez worked and lived in many parts of Sri Lanka (Colombo, Anuradhapura, Matale, Kegalle, Kurunegalle, Ratmalana and Kalubowila), England (including Scotland) and Saudi Arabia. They travelled the world and enjoyed the best that life has to offer. Both being party animals, they had a great social life. Inez enjoyed and took immense pleasure in feeding everyone around, the ultimate socialite with exemplary culinary skills; her food was worth going a long journey for. Oh, how we will miss the wonderful dishes Inez produced. Robert always claimed he cut the onions and scraped the coconut but nobody believed him. They were a wonderful couple loved by all.
In 1999, Robert and Inez migrated to Sydney. Robert was elected patron (and Inez the first lady) of the Trinity Old Boys Association in Sydney, and he remained patron until his sad passing in 2020. We have had the good fortune to enjoy their hospitality till 2020. On every 2nd Friday of February, every year, over 50 TCK Old Boys and their wives would descend on the Sourjah household. What great times we had at the pleasure of the ultimate hostess. We cannot describe in words our grateful thanks, No doubt we will miss them dearly. It is the sad closing of this chapter in our lives.
Piyanthie and I have had the good fortune to associate with Robert and Inez for almost three decades. They were both incredible human beings, generous, kind and happy. They influenced many people with their attitude to life; never a bad word about anyone, always positive and helpful. No doubt Inez was the driving force behind the family, silently, determined, gracious and kind. Piyanthie made it a point to have a chat to Inez every single day and had a 40 minute chat with her around 12 noon on the day she passed, When asked "are you ok?" her reply was "I am fine, don’t worry about me, child!” But by 3.30pm she passed, peacefully, seated on a chair watching one of her favourite TV programs. Deep inside, her wish was to join her soulmate and hold his hand. God granted her wish with no pain and no suffering. That is a blessing indeed.
We will miss you dearly Inez, but you are together with your soulmate, and we can only cherish the memories you have given us. Your garden, full of flowers and fruit, is a picture of your life.
From Jayantha Weerasinghe
Much is said about politicians and celebrities, but even more must be said in appreciation of the simple wife, mother and dear friend, Inez Sourjah. Inez was born on 6 October 1929 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, to John and Dolly Jackson-Smale. Her other siblings were Alistair, Geoffrey and Jeanne. Inez went to school at Good Shepherd Convent in Kandy and was essentially a Kandy Lamissi and very proud of it. Her soulmate was close at hand from a very young age, Robert being Alastair’s classmate at Trnity. I am told that Inez and Robert knew each other and played together from the age when Inez was 8 and Robert was 12. Robert had an early start in courting Inez and they were inseparable till the end.
Robert and Inez married on 25 June 1955. They were blessed with two beautiful boys in Rohan and Lalin, both legendary sportsman at Trinity, and above all wonderful human beings who devoted their life to their parents and did them proud. Robert, the Physician, and Inez worked and lived in many parts of Sri Lanka (Colombo, Anuradhapura, Matale, Kegalle, Kurunegalle, Ratmalana and Kalubowila), England (including Scotland) and Saudi Arabia. They travelled the world and enjoyed the best that life has to offer. Both being party animals, they had a great social life. Inez enjoyed and took immense pleasure in feeding everyone around, the ultimate socialite with exemplary culinary skills; her food was worth going a long journey for. Oh, how we will miss the wonderful dishes Inez produced. Robert always claimed he cut the onions and scraped the coconut but nobody believed him. They were a wonderful couple loved by all.
In 1999, Robert and Inez migrated to Sydney. Robert was elected patron (and Inez the first lady) of the Trinity Old Boys Association in Sydney, and he remained patron until his sad passing in 2020. We have had the good fortune to enjoy their hospitality till 2020. On every 2nd Friday of February, every year, over 50 TCK Old Boys and their wives would descend on the Sourjah household. What great times we had at the pleasure of the ultimate hostess. We cannot describe in words our grateful thanks, No doubt we will miss them dearly. It is the sad closing of this chapter in our lives.
Piyanthie and I have had the good fortune to associate with Robert and Inez for almost three decades. They were both incredible human beings, generous, kind and happy. They influenced many people with their attitude to life; never a bad word about anyone, always positive and helpful. No doubt Inez was the driving force behind the family, silently, determined, gracious and kind. Piyanthie made it a point to have a chat to Inez every single day and had a 40 minute chat with her around 12 noon on the day she passed, When asked "are you ok?" her reply was "I am fine, don’t worry about me, child!” But by 3.30pm she passed, peacefully, seated on a chair watching one of her favourite TV programs. Deep inside, her wish was to join her soulmate and hold his hand. God granted her wish with no pain and no suffering. That is a blessing indeed.
We will miss you dearly Inez, but you are together with your soulmate, and we can only cherish the memories you have given us. Your garden, full of flowers and fruit, is a picture of your life.