Dear Auntie Latika and cousins,
I would like to express my sympathy on behalf of the Kanagasabai family. My late mother, Leila Selvaratnam Kanagasabai, was Father James’ first cousin. She had many tales of the close interactions among the cousins who all lived very close to each other in Jaffna, and played together on a daily basis. She often told the story of the day when the Richards family returned to Jaffna after being interned in Malaya (as it was then known) during WW2. I think your dad would have been a very young man at the time, and if I remember rightly it was during this experience in the camp that he was called to the ministry.
He officiated at many of the milestone events in our family. I remember him preaching at my dear mother’s funeral. He also officiated at my wedding to Mahinda and at my late brother Lucky’s wedding to Damayanthi. We lost Lucky in January, as you may have heard.
I remember Uncle James as a big man in every sense: his distinctive stature, booming voice and commanding diction, and above all his capacious and generous heart. He simply radiated loving kindness to all. Rest In Peace.
Affectionate regards to all the family,
Rini (Suvendrini) Perera
Dear Auntie Latika and cousins,
I would like to express my sympathy on behalf of the Kanagasabai family. My late mother, Leila Selvaratnam Kanagasabai, was Father James’ first cousin. She had many tales of the close interactions among the cousins who all lived very close to each other in Jaffna, and played together on a daily basis. She often told the story of the day when the Richards family returned to Jaffna after being interned in Malaya (as it was then known) during WW2. I think your dad would have been a very young man at the time, and if I remember rightly it was during this experience in the camp that he was called to the ministry.
He officiated at many of the milestone events in our family. I remember him preaching at my dear mother’s funeral. He also officiated at my wedding to Mahinda and at my late brother Lucky’s wedding to Damayanthi. We lost Lucky in January, as you may have heard.
I remember Uncle James as a big man in every sense: his distinctive stature, booming voice and commanding diction, and above all his capacious and generous heart. He simply radiated loving kindness to all. Rest In Peace.
Affectionate regards to all the family,
Rini (Suvendrini) Perera
