My beloved father symbolised unconditional love and showered rays of blessings over me which illuminated my path in life. Education and good health were his top priorities and he worked tirelessly to fulfill those needs. During his journey in life, he faced many challenges, yet he had the skill to overcome them successfully. 

His expectations of us were endless yet innocent. His empathy in life was unparalleled to any other, and this was best demonstrated when he put an end to his career to look after me and my brother; allowing our mother to continue her work. Not only for academic work, but also for co-curricular and extra-curricular work he was right behind us and spent his time in taking us to wherever we needed to go and waited most of the time till we returned, regardless of the number of hours he had to spend. However, he was highly worried when he got late even for one or two minutes and the first thing he uttered was, ‘Were you waiting for a long time putha?’ 

He was the incomparable motivation I ever had in my life and when death took this love of my life far away from me, in May 2021, it was a heavy and unbearable blow on my head, inflicting pain, which dived right into my heart

Following my PhD in a local university, was one of the significant dreams he had and when it became true, he was elated. In fact, he disliked me going abroad for higher studies only due to the tremendous sorrow he thought he would have to undergo after my departure. 

He was the incomparable motivation I ever had in my life and when death took this love of my life far away from me, in May 2021, it was a heavy and unbearable blow on my head, inflicting pain, which dived right into my heart. This pain eventually convinced me in making a vow to fulfill all his desires to the best of my ability and making him proud by becoming the woman he wanted me to be, for I know he is watching over me. However, the void, which was created with this loss of my precious love, will remain with me till I die. 

“Thaththa, my brightest love! I am privileged and honoured to be your daughter.”
Your ever-loving daughter, Navodya Rajapakse