Helakumara Epasinghe He taught us Physics, life and how to use common sense

• As Solomon Oritz quotes ; Education is the key to success in life , and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students”.

The name Helakumara Epasinghe remains etched in the memory of most Josephians who had the opportunity of knowing him; largely as a teacher, friend and a guiding light. No Josephian would ever permit another to speak or even whisper ill of him. Affectionately known to generations of Josephians as ‘Epa’ ; he was an icon of goodness to all those who were fortunate enough to have stepped in to the hallowed educational institution called St Joseph’s College ,Colombo ; a school which has produced men of erudition who have made and changed the destinies of our motherland.

The great ‘Guru’ of our time passed away on January 5 and his final rites were held on the following day according to his last wishes. He was eighty four years old at the time of his departure. And to those of us who had the greatest honour and privilege of knowing him or even working together with him during his days at college his name certainly will live on forever in our hearts and minds. During a career and an inalienable association with St. Joseph’s College Colombo that spanned well nigh thirty four years he was a teacher , sectional head, an invaluable friend, advisor, and above all a concerned human being. He joined the Darley Road institution way back in 1968 to teach Physics during the stewardship of that renowned scholar and educationist late Rev.Fr. (Dr). Don Peter.Having completed his preliminary education at Ananda Sastralaya , Kotte, Epa was able to graduate in Physics at Vidyodaya Pirivena (At present University of Sri Jayewardenepura). He had a teaching experience at Henegama Central College before joining St Joseph’s in 1968. He continued his teaching career at St. Joseph’s until his retirement in 2002.
We at St Joseph’s were extremely fortunate to have come under the tutelage of such teachers who imparted ‘knowledge and virtue’ to all of us. They treated teaching as a service oriented profession. In the backdrop of teachers strike actions in these present days we remember such men of sterling character with reverence, respect and gratitude. Besides Epasinghe there were teachers in the caliber of Joe Perera, Gamini Samarasinghe and M.G.I Ferdinands to name a few who were great examples of how to set about this noble profession.

Epasinghe had the remarkable ability to bring a certain infectious vivacity to the Physics subject which he taught and demonstrated with great enthusiasm and interest. Such things made us eagerly await his lesson. Invariably the Physics lesson was interspersed with exciting anecdotes that facilitated the ready assimilation of what he taught. He laid a solid foundation for all of us not only on an academic level, but on how to use common sense in life.
In his entire career as a teacher and an educationist par excellence Epa was able to serve in positions such as a sectional head and then as a senior advisor/consultant with ease. 
He was a man of great humour who could diffuse a situation with a pithy remark or a humorous turn of phrase; in fact he preferred to use these as an instrument of discipline rather than resort to corporal chastisement. The testimony was that; Yours truly once hastily returned to the classroom by whistling just after playing an ‘interval’ cricket match at the so called Beira ground. I was totally unaware of the fact that Epa had reached the classroom for the Physics period and I was assured by his humorous version “This is not the pigeon catching time”. This remark still remains fresh in my memory even after little over three decades of leaving the college; this approach was far more effective than conveying a lesson using a cane.
A man of great principles and policies he would have easily bartered his experience and qualification to any lucrative profession. He would have easily emulated his elder sibling Prof. P.W. Epasinge, a Mathematics expert, but he preferred teaching. Once he was humble enough to express to all of us in the classroom that teaching was the most rewarding profession for him. Epa had a great memory and one could not be deceived or bemused with his precision. One such instance was when a contemporary of us, who is a professor in Ireland, had met him in a suburban town in Colombo after nearly twenty years of leaving school. Epa was able to address him using his full name and had mentioned the year that he had left school!
Let me share the grief brought by his death with his offspring; Duminda, Parinda (My contemporary) and two daughters Dimuthu and Diana. His wife Pearl, a school principal, predeceased him some years back.
And finally before I conclude this sincere appreciation I am reminded of the famous words of the Iranian poet Omar Khayyam; “The moving finger writes, and having written moves on. Nor all thy piety nor all thy wit,can cancel half a line of it”
May you attain supreme bliss of Nirvana !
Supun Perera