A banker with a heart of gold

The sudden death of Arumugam Rasanayagam  after a short illness on November 8, 2020 sent shock waves among all the people who knew him and his family.

It is with a deep sense of sorrow that I write this appreciation of a person who was very close to me for the last four decades, the bankers, pensioners especially to northern Bank of
Ceylon pensioners.

He joined Bank of Ceylon in the year 1960 as a Junior Clerk after completing his school career at Kopay Christina College.  He excelled in badminton during his school days.  His first assignment was at York Street Branch and thereafter he served the institution loyally and dedicated for 39 long years in several branches. He had climbed up the position of Sub Manager by the time of his retirement.   He retired from Bank’s service in October 1999.

With the assistance of the senior officers in the north,   Rasanayagam  did his best to organize the Bank of Ceylon Pensioners’ Association- Jaffna District in the year 2007.  He was unanimously elected as the secretary and continued to hold this post till the time of his death. During his term of service he did yeoman service.  I had the pleasure of serving as its Treasurer for eight   years and as president for two
consecutive years.

He never failed to visit the sick, extend a helping hand to anyone who sought his help and in particular never failed to show his gratitude to his friends and colleagues who appreciated him and the services he rendered. He was a staunch Hindu and was in the committee of management of two temples in his village i.e Neervely Arasakesari Pillaiyar Temple and Neervely Kandasamy Temple. 

 With the financial assistance received from abroad, he assisted several less affluent students,  university  students in Neervely and also participated in very  many social  activities . 

Rasanayagam was greatly supported by his wife Yogaledchumy, sons Thayaparan, Paraparan and daughter Dayananthy.  Though he is no more he will live in the hearts and minds of all the  people who knew him. 
May his soul attain Moksha.
K.Ulaganathan