At a time when most of us are battling the vicissitudes of life, quite suddenly, we meet a multifaceted human being!   
There was such a person, but actually he is no more for he left us on May 5, 2018. A not so brief illness preceded his death. But, he spent with us a fruitful 77 years. However, one can still ‘meet’ him if one reads ‘Jeevithaye Pathikadak’, his autobiography written in Sinhala. The book highlights events in his childhood, school and career; it was posthumously published in May.  

The material in this book is so classified as to reflect various stages of growth and development of the author – seemingly, a result of much deliberation! For instance, he begins the autobiography with his infancy soon after an introduction. Next he describes his experiences during his school days followed by the period in university. Even though he gains employment as a teacher in a remote school, his next chapter is devoted to describe how he evolves in the Sri Lanka administrative service.  
Jeevithaye Pathikadak (A facet of life)-the moving tale written by Mahinda Dharmasiri Bandusena, a retired Secretary of a Sri Lankan Prime Minister- brings to mind ‘From log cabin to White House’ and Abraham Lincoln because of certain strands which seem to run parallel in the two tales.  

The account of past events, incidents, etc associated with Bandusena’s life constitutes his life story. He mentions in the introduction his great expectation to impress the reader with the idiom “try one’s damnedest”. The saying “try, try, try again until you succeed” has been proved right in his case. Consciously or involuntarily the author expresses that readers have to emulate this quality of the author so as to reach their desired goals. Even an underprivileged child can reach expected goals and he believes that if the child strives hard to tap whatever resources available he can achieve because no right thinking person attempts to block those avenues deliberately.   

Of course, mere effort alone may sometimes be insufficient. It should be accompanied by kind and noble, honest and humble, thoughts; and matching behaviour! Such a courageous person as that can eventually reach one’s goal in life. The author recounts this plain and simple truth as the power behind his desire to commit to writing his autobiography. [Is this not sufficient evidence of the valuable lessons he learnt at the Daham Pasala (Sunday school run by Buddhist temples). He was taught of the Eight-Fold Path]   
The author describes vividly how a helpless village lad from a hither to unknown remote hamlet in Western Province conquers all obstacles, climbs every mountain and rides the crest of a wave of success. In due course, hard work and dedication helped him reach the top of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. Here is a man who set an example as an illustrious officer; a man whose qualities are worth emulating.   

"We can read about the training he received when he was selected as a member of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (1965-1966). Subsequently he performed various functions at the Development Division of the Ministry of Industries (1966-1968)"

An erstwhile colleague of Bandusena describes him as a “friendly associate”; and, he also stresses that the “Indelible mark he left will remain evergreen”.  
The clinical supervision of parents, the pastoral care of Buddhist monks of the village temple, and the respectful attention of family members, may have contributed to Bandusena’s success; reassuring him that all who were near and dear supported him every step of the way.   
The reader of this book can be privy to some intriguing insights usually available only to top class civil servants; members of the administrative service, and members of the senior management at secretariates of ministries.  

We can read about the training he received when he was selected as a member of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (1965-1966). Subsequently he performed various functions at the Development Division of the Ministry of Industries (1966-1968). In his early years in public administration he also performed duties as the assistant commissioner at the Elections Department (1968-1970). He served as assistant director at the Cultural Affairs Ministry (1970-1973) and as Chief Administrative Officer at Sugar Corporation (1973-1976). He was attached to the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration as a lecturer (1978-1980), Deputy Director/Combined Services (1980-1985), Senior Assistant secretary at Education Ministry (1985-1989), and additional secretary to the Defence Ministry (1989-1997). He made himself useful as Secretary of Ministry Of Industries (1997-1999), Secretary of Public Administration and Plantations Ministry (1999-2000), the first-ever Sri Lankan ambassador to Israel (2000-2003) and as Secretary to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (2005-2010). The narrative takes us through the various aspects of public service rendered wholeheartedly by this gentleman for the betterment of his country and people. [The scholarship to the University of Cambridge (1977) can be regarded as a reward Bandusena earned for excellent work.]   

Young men and women, who wish to become future administrators attached to various departments, corporate bodies and ministries under the state are required to undergo a course of training in management science and a few more allied subjects. True, institutions responsible for the task of providing courses such as those referred to here will have the necessary facilities including library books and qualified lecturers. Yet, such literature may not include books like Bandusena’s autobiography. ‘Jeevithaye Pathikadak’ will provide trainees with source material for a serious study and help those cadets to reflect on some rare instructional material! In due course, they may learn the techniques used by Bandusena.  Admittedly, he seems to have enjoyed his stay in Israel and the association with the Prime Minister, immensely. Yet, he was a man of few needs and was easily satisfied and quite content with his lot. Let us emulate the good qualities of this most becoming, experienced administrative officer who was a thorough gentleman. I would recommend Mahinda Dharmasiri Bandusena’s Jeevithaye Pathikadak as a vade-mecum to all budding administrators.  
(Jeevithaye Pathikadak is available at leading book shops)