Dear Ratnanayagam Family:
It is sad to hear of anyone's passing, but Fr. James was loved widely, and touched hundreds of lives of students, even thousands.
I was the son of his predecessor at the Peradeniya Chaplaincy; Rev. Lakshman Wickremasinghe was the first, Rev. Shelton de Silva (my father) the second, Rev. James the third, after which I departed Sri Lanka, and was no more aware of who came after James.
Rev. Shelton was the first married chaplain. A lot of their success in Peradeniya was due to this fact, together with the fact that Mrs. de Silva was Tamil, and they were able to address social issues that stemmed from inter-communal tensions, which were few and minor at that time, but nevertheless existed.
Following on Rev. Lakshman's example in providing a robust indigenous musical tradition for the chapel, the de Silva's began to introduce what they felt was the best of the Sinhala and Tamil Christian music for chapel festivals, such as Christmas, and occasionally Easter.
When their tour of duty came to an end on the very year on which I gained entrance to Peradeniya as a student, it was a double wrench for me; I lost the possibility of living at home while I attended the University, the family moved far away, and I was certain that Fr. James could not possibly fill the position as well as I (naturally) thought my father had done! Every innovation Fr. James put forward made me indignant, and having me among his flock could have been the single largest handicap he had to deal with. (I hesitate to say that, because it may come across as impudence.)
However, Fr. James was eminently successful in the Chaplaincy. Mrs. Latika was a wonderful foil for Fr. James, and soon after they arrived, the musical talents among the students and even the faculty became more available, and for many years the indigenous musical tradition at the chaplaincy became better established each year.
Both my parents died over the last two decades, and I am aware how many questions remain for us children that remain unanswered; just as I become more interested in the history of our family, neither of them was alive. As the oldest, I abruptly became the chief repository of family traditions and wisdom--at least for our little fragment of our family--and the only members of our parents' generation now left alive have begun to forget the sorts of details that I want to know. Tragically, my siblings are only now beginning to be interested in these matters! I hope that you were able to debrief Fr. James and Mrs. Latika in sufficient detail before it was too late!
Do not be unduly concerned about the constraints on movement which prevents you from having a memorial service; even a year from now, I'm sure that you will be able to gather a nice attendance at a memorial service. To sing and to listen to stories of Fr. James will be an excellent way to celebrate your parents.
Condolences and regards,
Santhusht de Silva.
Dear Ratnanayagam Family:
It is sad to hear of anyone's passing, but Fr. James was loved widely, and touched hundreds of lives of students, even thousands.
I was the son of his predecessor at the Peradeniya Chaplaincy; Rev. Lakshman Wickremasinghe was the first, Rev. Shelton de Silva (my father) the second, Rev. James the third, after which I departed Sri Lanka, and was no more aware of who came after James.
Rev. Shelton was the first married chaplain. A lot of their success in Peradeniya was due to this fact, together with the fact that Mrs. de Silva was Tamil, and they were able to address social issues that stemmed from inter-communal tensions, which were few and minor at that time, but nevertheless existed.
Following on Rev. Lakshman's example in providing a robust indigenous musical tradition for the chapel, the de Silva's began to introduce what they felt was the best of the Sinhala and Tamil Christian music for chapel festivals, such as Christmas, and occasionally Easter.
When their tour of duty came to an end on the very year on which I gained entrance to Peradeniya as a student, it was a double wrench for me; I lost the possibility of living at home while I attended the University, the family moved far away, and I was certain that Fr. James could not possibly fill the position as well as I (naturally) thought my father had done! Every innovation Fr. James put forward made me indignant, and having me among his flock could have been the single largest handicap he had to deal with. (I hesitate to say that, because it may come across as impudence.)
However, Fr. James was eminently successful in the Chaplaincy. Mrs. Latika was a wonderful foil for Fr. James, and soon after they arrived, the musical talents among the students and even the faculty became more available, and for many years the indigenous musical tradition at the chaplaincy became better established each year.
Both my parents died over the last two decades, and I am aware how many questions remain for us children that remain unanswered; just as I become more interested in the history of our family, neither of them was alive. As the oldest, I abruptly became the chief repository of family traditions and wisdom--at least for our little fragment of our family--and the only members of our parents' generation now left alive have begun to forget the sorts of details that I want to know. Tragically, my siblings are only now beginning to be interested in these matters! I hope that you were able to debrief Fr. James and Mrs. Latika in sufficient detail before it was too late!
Do not be unduly concerned about the constraints on movement which prevents you from having a memorial service; even a year from now, I'm sure that you will be able to gather a nice attendance at a memorial service. To sing and to listen to stories of Fr. James will be an excellent way to celebrate your parents.
Condolences and regards,
Santhusht de Silva.
