I met Fr James for the first time at my wedding! He had been asked to participate in our marriage service by my husband Ranjan, who had known him as chaplain at Peradeniya University.
Before long I came to know Aunty Latika and the family well. Although we went to live overseas in the 1980s we came regularly to SriLanka, and were able to visit them at all the parishes they served in Colombo.
Towards end 2002, their youngest child, David was due to graduate in Melbourne, and Fr James and Aunty planned to be present at the occasion. They flew via Adelaide, and we were pleased to pick them up at the airport and drive them to spend three nights with us in Whyalla, in South Australia. I enjoyed repaying some of the gracious hospitality we had enjoyed in their homes around Colombo.
In December 2007, while on holiday in SriLanka we were happy to attend the 50 year celebration of Fr James’ ordained ministry, at the beautiful home in Kohuwela, built by elder daughter Prasadini & husband Ricky.
In November 2011 their younger daughter, Deveshta flew to Sydney, Australia seeking new challenges. Fr James & Aunty naturally had qualms about her adventures down under. As if divinely ordained, out of the hundreds of suburbs in the vast city of Sydney, Deveshta unknowingly selected the same suburb as Ranjan’s elder brother Rohan and wife Suvendrini to make her home. This happy circumstance has further cemented our bond with her and the Ratnanayagam family. We have enjoyed Deveshta’s wonderful hospitality, and even stayed many nights in her home.
Our holiday stays in Colombo are spent partly at my sister’s home in Jawatte, which is walking distance from the Cathedral home of Fr James. Hence we have been able to visit them very often in the past decade. Fr James’ cheerfulness, singing and eloquent prayers always were a blessing.
The loving marriage and strong family bonds he enjoyed are an example and witness in modern times, when many relationships are short lived. His life on earth is over, but the legacy, as a minister and as a man, that he has left will endure, in the hearts and minds of many.
I met Fr James for the first time at my wedding! He had been asked to participate in our marriage service by my husband Ranjan, who had known him as chaplain at Peradeniya University.
Before long I came to know Aunty Latika and the family well. Although we went to live overseas in the 1980s we came regularly to SriLanka, and were able to visit them at all the parishes they served in Colombo.
Towards end 2002, their youngest child, David was due to graduate in Melbourne, and Fr James and Aunty planned to be present at the occasion. They flew via Adelaide, and we were pleased to pick them up at the airport and drive them to spend three nights with us in Whyalla, in South Australia. I enjoyed repaying some of the gracious hospitality we had enjoyed in their homes around Colombo.
In December 2007, while on holiday in SriLanka we were happy to attend the 50 year celebration of Fr James’ ordained ministry, at the beautiful home in Kohuwela, built by elder daughter Prasadini & husband Ricky.
In November 2011 their younger daughter, Deveshta flew to Sydney, Australia seeking new challenges. Fr James & Aunty naturally had qualms about her adventures down under. As if divinely ordained, out of the hundreds of suburbs in the vast city of Sydney, Deveshta unknowingly selected the same suburb as Ranjan’s elder brother Rohan and wife Suvendrini to make her home. This happy circumstance has further cemented our bond with her and the Ratnanayagam family. We have enjoyed Deveshta’s wonderful hospitality, and even stayed many nights in her home.
Our holiday stays in Colombo are spent partly at my sister’s home in Jawatte, which is walking distance from the Cathedral home of Fr James. Hence we have been able to visit them very often in the past decade. Fr James’ cheerfulness, singing and eloquent prayers always were a blessing.
The loving marriage and strong family bonds he enjoyed are an example and witness in modern times, when many relationships are short lived. His life on earth is over, but the legacy, as a minister and as a man, that he has left will endure, in the hearts and minds of many.
