He was an exemplary dual citizen of high standing

16 October 2021 01:23 am Views - 1391

Sunil returned to Sri Lanka after retirement and chose to live in the grand Wijeratne Walawwa in Emitiyagoda, Godakawela

 

Sunil Wijeratne passed away last October leaving many in deep sorrow and sadness, following a nasty fall in Kandy. He died in Zurich Switzerland, where he worked for many decades, as an administrator in the computer department of a leading financial house and raised a family there having obtained dual citizenship; Sri Lankan and Swiss. He left two sons, Norman and Ranil; both educated to be professionals of standing, to serve Switzerland, their adopted country. 

Sunil returned to Sri Lanka after retirement and chose to live in the grand Wijeratne Walawwa in Emitiyagoda, Godakawela as he loved and respected the ancestral property. The elegant house was built in 1870’s by his grandparents. Sunil also built a grand town house in Rajagiriya and employed a group of village workers to maintain both properties in top condition. He trained  them and paid them salaries far above the going rates and looked after their welfare including improved housing for them. 

Sunil lived in style, maintaining and upholding good ancestral values, and honouring them; he never abused the status inherited. He supported the village school and the temple, both built by the ancestors in 1880s, spending his retirement funds generously. Sunil Ananda Wijeratne was indeed an exemplary dual citizen of high standing not prone to abuse and corruption of any kind but upholding high family value and living in style. Sunil has left a memory of goodness, generosity and a rich lifestyle, which is hard to find now-a-days. The memories he has left in the minds and hearts of many associated will live on forever.
(Prof. Bernard Wijenanda Dissanayake)