19 September 2020 12:00 am Views - 467
Godwin Jayasuriya, known to his close friend as “GODI”, was person who was always concerned about honesty and integrity. He had very good principles which he tried to adhere to the very letter. And when he observed others not adhering to them it would certainly annoy him. But he was a man with a large heart and was compassionate towards those who were not financially successful. I recall one instance when he gifted a fridge to a domestic and several electrical items even though he could have disposed them at a sale, prior to his departure to the United Kingdom.
Godwin joined the fifth standard at Richmond College in 1945. I came to know him closely, much later when he was in the eighth standard. He was one of the friends in a group comprising Nimal Bandaranayaka, Niel Dias, Ranjan Rajawasan, Ranjith De Silva ( RL) and Walter Gurusinghe.
I believe Godwin sat for his University entrance in 1956, but he failed to gain entrance. He then decided to join the Survey Department. This enabled him to see the country at the expense of the Government
Godwin was a very emotional person and was some times very impulsive. We need our emotions to warn us, protect us, motivate us, and send messages about us to others. Perhaps they are messengers, bringing you insight and teaching you resilience. Godwin was just that .
Godwin participated in athletics and cricket and played for the College house called WINCHESTER. I also remember him taking part in the school marathon. He was a member of the school debating team along with my brother Elmo and PJH Gunasekera.
I believe Godwin sat for his University entrance in 1956, but he failed to gain entrance. He then decided to join the Survey Department. This enabled him to see the country at the expense of the Government.
I remember Godwin had a wide circle of friends even as a bachelor and was boarded at the residence of Mrs Jayawardana at Thimbirigasyaya. Whist he was at Kalutara he had a wide circle of friends. It is here that he had met Hareetha and I had the privilege of being the bestman at their wedding.
If my memory serves me well it was in 1976 that he left to Zambia. Both Hareetha and he were gainfully employed. H was also a lecturer at Technical College
In 1990 he returned with the family. He had built a house at Nugegoda. In 1993 Godwin and Hareetha migrated to The United Kingdom for good. It was a wise move considering the situation here and also when considering the education of their children. But Godwin’s Heart was here and he used to come often and work; covering up his expenses. But he was a very warm hearted person and even surveyed a property of mine at ATHURIGIRIYA free of charge even though I offered to pay. He had purchased an apartment at Colombo 5 and it was there we had our 50-60 CLUB inaugural meeting. It was 1995. It was then that THE OLD RICHMONDITES was organised and it comprised all old boys’ clubs to felicitate Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was appointed as Prime Minister.
Godwin was an active member of the 60 Club. He was there with the guitar and my late brother Chandra would insist that Godwin should attend as he could provide the music. In 2016 he celebrated his 80th birthday which was oganised by his wife Hareetha and sons Niranjan,Arjuna and and Priyanath.
He visited Sri Lanka several times with his son Arjuna. And later he felt that he required a medical check up and said he had some issues to resolve. He left and afterwards we only spoke over the phone, It is sad to lose him as a very sincere friend. OUR prayers are there for his soul and his family at this hour of grief.