The Chan I knew

Life is like a journey by train. Who you meet during your lifetime is a part of this journey. They get onboard at some point in your life and get off when the time comes; never to be seen again, leaving behind only memories. 
I met Chan Liyanage in the late nineties. Even when I met him, he had 15 plus years of experience as a brewer at Ceylon Brewery in Nuwara Eliya. Having joined the brewery straight out of university he was later instrumental in setting up the Lion Brewery plant in Biyagama. In the many chats I had with him, he told me that upon graduation he had gone straight from Peradeniya to Nuwara Eliya with his bag of personal belongings, to take up appointment at the brewery. It was later that when filling up a company banking mandate that I learnt his name was Chandraratne and Chan was its abbreviation.
When I joined, my job required me to travel to the Nuwara Eliya brewery often. By that time, Chan had moved to Colombo to set up the Lion Brewery’s facility in Biyagama. On almost every visit, his former colleagues in the old brewery would inquire after the wellbeing of Chan. In fact, most folks in the Nuwara Eliya town too wanted me to convey their regards to him. He had been a much respected personality in the Nuwara Eliya circles and his absence was felt by many. I realised then that he had kept an indelible mark during his time in Nuwara Eliya.
At the time I joined the Brewery, Chan was in UK undergoing familiarization in different Carlsberg breweries to learn how they operate and to bring back the learnings to the spanking new brewery at Biyagama. Chan had been responsible for the construction of the Lion Brewery plant which transformed Nuwara Eliya’s “Art of Brewing” to Biyagama’s modern “State of the Art Brewing”. I had heard about him, but not really worked with him until both of us sat through hours of sessions building zero based budgets and cost structures on a ‘clean sheet’on the operations of the new brewery in one excel file. This was somewhere in 1999. In 2001, the Nuwara Eliya Plant was closed down and the equipment auctioned off. Chan was not involved in its closure, but on the last day of the auction he drove up to Nuwara Eliya to be with me when the keys to the premises were handed over to the representatives of the Ministry of Health. The occasion brought nostalgic memories for him. 
Chan’s leadership qualities were unique. He was a man of few words and I had never heard him giving lengthy explainations. If he disapproved something his silence meant it all. Even amongst his supply chain colleagues his presence was felt when he was in the vicinity; even though he didn’t speak, but was minding his own work.
During meetings when discussions got hot with different varied viewpoints presented, I never heard Chan raise his voice or lose his temper. He would wait till the heat wore off and give his viewpoint calmly. If that wait was long, he would go out for a smoke and return to say his piece; that too using a few words. I also travelled with him overseas many a time on his visits to procure plant & equipment, and for other programmes. On the procurement visits I watched how he handled the overzealous sales personnel giving the different options of their equipment; obviously, keen to sell them all. Chan would go out of the room, mull over the options over a smoke, comeback and discuss with me his preferred choices.
All those choices were always what was best for the company. At Carlsberg he had many friends who waited to discuss and compare notes on how various material & different equipment behave in churning out the different brews. The entire discussion pivoted around beer and their varied characteristics. I observed that at Company events and parties, he would walk around and through his presence, without a single word spoken, would influence the occasional overenthusiastic staff to appropriately conduct oneself and fall in line as relevant to the occasion. It was amazing as I never ever heard him speak any harsh words or raise his voice to anyone.
I am very fortunate to have known him as a senior, a colleague and a friend. He was a gentleman and a great example for a harmless human being. He was a colossus in brewing and shied away from receiving accolades and praise. At the end of it all what we are all left with are memories. 
He has off boarded the train never to meet again!
Ranil Goonetilleke