Tribute: Archdeacon Lokendra Abhayaratne

9 September 2023 04:10 am Views - 341

Although I did not belong to Lokki’s Theological School of Thought, I always admired him. When my wife had cancer and was staying with her mother in Colombo I was at Pilimatalawa and had not moved from Kurunagala to Colombo.

The sad reality of death has sadly removed from our midst my friend Lokki. 

As far as I know, Lokki as I always called him belonged to the Evangelical School of Thought as far as his theology was concerned. 
Why do I say this? 
When the Church of Ceylon was asked to draft a new Constitution, Lokki was one of the five clergy persons elected by the Diocese of Colombo to participate in this task. 
One Saturday morning with Bishop Kenneth and Bishop Andrew we met.
That morning’s task was to look at the Sacraments. Lokki said as a person who takes the Word of God seriously there are only two Sacraments. Baptism and the Blessed Eucharist. 
After having spent the whole morning he said that he was prepared to compromise and said that confirmation, marriage, ordination and unction could be called Sacraments. 
When Bishop Kenneth retired there were three candidates who wanted to succeed him. Joseph Sarvananthan lost in the first round. We continued to vote. At a certain point, Bishop Kenneth intervened and asked Dhilo to withdraw and Dhilo had said that he had to consult the two clergy, who proposed and seconded him. 
Augustine Phillips and Lokendra Abhayaratne and both of them had said that Dhilo should not withdraw. Obviously Lokki wanted a person who belonged to the Evangelical School of Thought. 
Whenever Lokki had to participate in the Diocesan Council he always said “According to the reading of the Bible this morning” I am told that both Lokki and Mohini not only read the Bible but studied the Bible. 
Although I did not belong to Lokki’s Theological School of Thought, I always admired him. When my wife had cancer and was staying with her mother in Colombo I was at Pilimatalawa and had not moved from Kurunagala to Colombo. 
When I came to Colombo for the weekends my wife always told me that Lokki used to visit her and say a prayer.
After my wife died Lokki and Mohini used to invite me and Lionel for meals. 
So, I knew that Lokki had a personal touch. 
Mohini and the children and the families will always be certain of my concerns, love and prayers. 
Therefore I say May Lokki’s soul rest in peace and rise in glory. 
Amen.
-Sydney Knight