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Father James Ratnanayagam

June 11, 1926 - April 20, 2020

The Reverend Canon James Ratnanayagam passed away peacefully on the morning of Monday 20th April. He was almost 94 years old. He and his wife, Latika, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary the previous day. Father James, as he was popularly known, suffered a stroke towards the end of March. After spending some days in hospital, he returned home where his condition gradually declined. He enjoyed a long and happy life and was a blessing to so many. A few hours after his death, his mortal remains were cremated at the Crematorium in Kanatte, Borella, following a brief service conducted by the Bishop and the Archdeacon of Colombo. Many have expressed regret that they were unable to pay their respects and to attend his funeral owing to the current restrictions. Consequently, his family have created this memorial page to offer those who wish to do so the opportunity to pay tribute to him and to share their memories of him. Please send your memories to ratnanayagamfamily@gmail.com and they will be added to Father James' memory page. Alternatively, click on 'Memories' below and follow the given instructions to register an account that will enable you to contribute directly to this memorial page. ___

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A fond memory 2020-04-27 15:25:15 wrote:

Father James has been well loved and admired by my family including my late husband ! His memory is one we will always cherish and I would like to share one such memory in particular. It was at a Good Friday Service many years ago. There was a lot of rustling and bustling as we prepared ourselves to sit through the usual three hour service. Fr James climbed onto the pulpit and began to speak . Even today so many years later the memory brings tears to my eyes. His first words were “ The upper room was thick with treachery” There was pin drop silence in the crowded church as people listed in wrapt attention as he took us back to the first Good Friday. My family and I would make it a point to follow him around on Good Friday thereafter because we considered it a privilege to have three hours of him preaching. He blessed my children before exams and prayed for them on their birthdays. I remember him praying for me after I lost my husband - his good friend whom he would join in teasing me sometimes.!!! The prayer he prayed that morning made me realize my husband was not dead but alive with the Lord in His heavenly kingdom. We left Sri Lanka twenty years ago and one of my deepest regrets would be missing Fr James sermons. He will be impossible to replace certainly in our lives. May God bless Lathika and the children and grant him eternal rest. Malini Aluwihare Perera

A fond memory 2020-04-27 15:25:15 wrote: Father James has been well loved and admired by my family including my late husband ! His memory is one we will always cherish and I would like to share one such memory in particular. It was at a Good Friday Service many years ago. There was a lot of rustling and bustling as we prepared ourselves to sit through the usual three hour service. Fr James climbed onto the pulpit and began to speak . Even today so many years later the memory brings tears to my eyes. His first words were “ The upper room was thick with treachery” There was pin drop silence in the crowded church as people listed in wrapt attention as he took us back to the first Good Friday. My family and I would make it a point to follow him around on Good Friday thereafter because we considered it a privilege to have three hours of him preaching. He blessed my children before exams and prayed for them on their birthdays. I remember him praying for me after I lost my husband - his good friend whom he would join in teasing me sometimes.!!! The prayer he prayed that morning made me realize my husband was not dead but alive with the Lord in His heavenly kingdom. We left Sri Lanka twenty years ago and one of my deepest regrets would be missing Fr James sermons. He will be impossible to replace certainly in our lives. May God bless Lathika and the children and grant him eternal rest. Malini Aluwihare Perera

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