He was a man for all seasons

Upali breathed his last, precisely 11 days after celebrating his 91st birthday.  Instead of celebrating his last birthday lavishly he opted to offer alms at the temple he used to frequent and also to a group of well deserving women in an old folks home.

Upali was a gregarious animal with a host of friends.  He had his primary education at St.Thomas’ and St. Peter’s Colombo and his secondary education at St. Mary’s Kegalle, where he captained the College Cricket Eleven. He later joined St. Joesph’s Colombo where he excelled in his studies to earn the plaudits of the then Rector in Charge and the tutorial staff, being one of the six to gain University status.  His youthful vigour and endurance exhibited his prowess in cycling long distances, jogging with abundance of energy and of course pursuing his abiding interest in boxing.

He was no doubt a fitness addict and the crowning moment and magnum opus of his life was when he was appointed Boxing Captain of the Peradeniya University.

After his graduation he had a brief stint as a teacher in a Maha Vidyalaya before taking up a position as a Labour Officer where he worked with inimitable dedication. At the Employment Exchange where he worked he set an example to his subordinate officials on punctuality and simplicity.  He was unostentatious to the very core and did not kow-tow to political pressure.  Nepotism was not in his vocabulary.  When he was working as Assistant Commissioner at the Kalutara Labour Office, he travelled to work by train and never hesitated to break journey to pay obeisance at the Kalutara Bodhi.  Such was his religious zeal. Following his success at the prestigious Sri Lanka Administrative Service Examination, he was elevated to the position of Deputy Commissioner of Labour. 

Perhaps in acknowledgment of his efficiency he was seconded to serve the then Air Ceylon as a Director. After that temporary posting, Upali returned to the Labour Department.  He was deservedly awarded a scholarship to the United Kingdom.  In recognition of Mr. Clean image, this indefatigable officer was handpicked to conduct Labour Disciplinary dispute inquiries.  He made no bones of the fact that he had conducted well over 300 inquiries prior to and after his retirement. In the wake of his retirement, Upali joined his redoubtable coterie of friends to play a game of cards, especially Rummy, as a part of his relaxation.  To back his profound skill in Poetry, he contributed lavishly to the Lakbima News, Daily News and some other journals.  His outstanding poetic diction earned him a poet laureate tag.  However, he reserved his in-exhaustible wit to amuse the Sunday Island Funny Caption readers.  Together my late brother and I have adorned the Sunday Funny Caption pages with our contributions winning many a prize.

Upali left behind  his wife Chintha and 4 children whose first names all begin with N with his eldest son Nalaka having pre-deceased him.

Upa Ayyah, I miss our daily chats very much.  You have left me as the sole surviving sibling in the Abeywardena family line –up.  Budhu Saranai! 
Goodbye, Sweet Prince
Bandula Abeyewardene