MY 8 DECADES OF LIFE

CHAPTER 1

MY ROOTS

I have completed eight decades of life in this world I have met different characters of people, I start looking back my past eight decades of life with a review of my roots which could be traced back to 19nth Century. My grandchildren come under 6th generation during 21st Century. Some names are not available as no records were kept in the past. up to 1948 the generation that lived during British rule. The dress, culture and outlook has changed drastically over the six generations. There is a big change in the respect given by present generation to their parents and grandparents. They forget the fact the gene of their ancestors is in them. Some carry the talent, intelligence. habits, features and some carry the disease.

Many Jaffna Tamils have their roots from South India, probably from Thirunelveli district. Thirunelveli district is located not too far from Jaffna peninsula. Initially the Tamils from Thirunelveli district migrated on business to the islands in Jaffna Peninsula. I do not have proper records to trace the roots of my ancestors. Inquiries from elderly people who are known to my grandparents revealed that my great grandfather was from Karainagar one time called Karaitheevu one of the seven islands in Jaffna peninsula called Sapatha Theevukal( சப்த தீவுகள் ). It should be noted that long time back Chola kingdom had influence in Jaffna Peninsula. The Chola army Captains such Veermanica Devan, Thondaman oversaw north and southern part of the peninsula. The peninsula was divided into Vadamaractchi., Thenmaratachi and Valigamam East and West . Maravar refers to Chola warriors as such the division name were derived as they onetime ruled those areas.

Karainagar once called Karaitheevu is an island which is located 15km from Jaffna, Sri Lanka. It is surrounded by Indian Ocean and Jaffna Lagoon. The area of Karainagar is approximately 22Sq Km with 10Km from North to South and 2.2Km from East to West. Before 1923, it was called Karainagar Island. After the construction of the 3 km link road connecting Karainagar Island with Jaffna mainland, the name changed from Karaitheevu to “Karainagar”. There are many popular businessmen from Karainagar. They have explored the opportunity for their business into many parts of Sri Lanka. There is a saying in Tamil “ There is no place where the crow never flies, and there is no place where Karainagar businessman has a shop”. My great grandfather was a Tobacco broker.

My father’s name was Ponnampalam. His name refers to god Shiva. He was an officer in the government clerical Service. He was six-foot-tall and well-built person. He was the eldest in the family. Rasiah was his brother who like his father was a Tobacco broker. My father had two sisters younger to him. The youngest sister was called Rasammah and the other sister elder to her was Visalatchi. My father and Rasammah were fare and had similar features. Visalatchi and Rasiah looked alike. Both sisters of my father went to Malaysia with their husbands. It was the time when Jaffna Tamils went Malaysia and Singapore which was under the British rule. The travel between Ceylon then and these countries were by ship across the Bay of Bengal. It is a week’s journey from Malaysia by ship.

My father started his life in Vannarponai, a suburb of Jaffna. Chetty community had influence in that area as they did pawn brokering business. They built temples and schools. They came from Chettinadu. My father’s father was called Sinnathamby and his father was called Kanther. My father in his beautiful handwriting always signs as K.S Ponnampalam. Kanther and Sinnathamby were Tobacco brokers from the Vellala caste. My grandfather Sinnathamby like most of the Jaffna parents during the British period. My grandfather wanted his son, my father, to get an English education so that he can get a job in government service. That was the thinking of the Jaffna people during the British period from 1815 to 1948. English was the official language of the island. There was no Singhala only or Tamil only. Tamil and Sinhalese were the second languages It was quick to get a job in the government if you are good at English. Now the story is different after eight decades of my life

My father had his education in Jaffna Hindu College and was good at sports. During British period after passing senior Matriculation which was referred to the final year of 10th class, which ends at tenth Board (tenth grade), and the qualification consequently received by passing the national board exams or the state board exams, commonly called "matriculation exams".

India still uses terms such as Matriculation Exams and Intermediate Exams taken from the days of British rule although in England itself these terms were replaced by 'O' or Ordinary Level Examinations) and 'A' or Advanced Level Examinations tenth standard he got a job in the Tea control department as a clerk and worked in Talawakelle and then was transferred to Colombo Kachcheri. Before getting transferred to Colombo he worked in Anuradhapura Kachcheri. He loved acting in drama. His friend Sornalingam was a popular dramatist in 40’s and was given the title Kalaiarasu Sornalingam. My father acted in a drama titled “Manohara”. He was the hero in the drama.

World War II

As of 2007, the world population had reached 6.5 billion and is expanding. In the year I was born, the population of Sri Lanka was 18 Million. I am one among the huge masses of human beings, like a drop of water in an ocean, who form the population of the world. Some humans become important persons in the world history as per their good or bad actions and people are eager to read about their biographies. They have earned a name by serving the country or the community or became celebrities. Even the biography of a serial killer, most wanted terrorist in the world, politician or a billionaire is sold as bestseller. But I do not fall into any of these categories but just an ordinary simple person who wanted to write about my life in this world just because my child, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the roots, relations and friends will read about me and continue to write about their life in logical sequence. After many hundred years, if this practice continues it is interesting to read. Say in the year 3000 about the authentic record of the ancestors and how the human lifestyle was 1000 years after. I would say I was born during World War II but was not affected like a European other than shortage of food.

I have no convincing proof of my previous birth. My visit to Vaideeswara Kovil near Chidambaram gave me an opportunity to see an astrologer who could scanned through the olas and predicted my past birth, the present and next birth. This prediction is termed Nadi Astrology, which means that one should go in search to find out from the astrologer to know about his previous, present and next birth. The Nadi astrologer went through his collection of olas to verify about who I was in the previous birth. The truth of the prediction is left to the client to verify. The Karmic theory in Hinduism states that Karma literally means "deed" or "act" and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction that governs all life. Karma is not fate, for man acts with free will creating his own destiny. According to the Vedas, if we sow goodness, we will reap goodness, if we sow evil, we will reap evil. A person will come to know this concept only through experience in life. Karma refers to the totality of our actions and their concomitant reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determines our future. The conquest of karma lies in intelligent action and dispassionate response. Based on the Karma we perform status of our next birth is determined so is the belief in Hinduism. I do not know whether I was a Hindu or Catholic or Buddhist or Muslim in the previous birth. I do not know about my profession in the earlier birth. I have no idea as to what sex I was. But to be born as a human rather than an animal or plant in this world I would have achieved good karma in the past birth. This is what I heard from my parents when I grew up and ask them about my last birth. They were great believers of Hinduism as such highly orthodox people.

The month of September 1939 was important month for the world. Sept 1st, 1939, Germany invaded Poland 3rd September 1939 the day World War II started. Germany ignores the ultimatum given by Britain and France, and Europe is plunged into war II. Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declare war on Nazi Germany for its aggression on Poland. Britain never liked Germany to become a supreme country. A British Expeditionary Force begins to leave for France. The Germans arrived on September 9, 1939 and began a regime of persecution. On September 10th Canada declared war on Germany. A sequence of events took place in this month.

That was the time of British rule and was supreme the peak time of the second world war. There was a saying that “Sun never set in the British Empire” as Britain had control on many countries through its divide and rule diplomacy. It was the time Sri Lanka was bombed by the Japanese and people lived in fear of Japanese invasion of Sri Lanka. Japan is called the land of the rising sun and ruled by monarchy like the British. Their flag carries the symbol of the sun The people are intelligent and hardworking and is now leading in technology and in automobile industry. They survive against high population growth, tidal waves called Tsunami and earthquakes

It was the time there was shortage of food and those who had money enjoyed. Eggs could be bought for one cent and people boiled and ate cassava and food made from wheat flour. It was the period that there was no place for communal hatred between the majority and minority communities. Many Indians came to Sri Lanka and made a fortune through various businesses. Chattiest, a business caste came from south India and did pawnbroking businesses. Even Afghans came to Colombo and did business by giving loans at high-interest rates. It was a time that English was the main language and those who were good in that language were respected and got jobs. During this period, I was born on the 25th day in the month of September 1939 in the suburban area called Wellawatte in the capital city of Colombo. My birth star was Aviddam (அவிட்ட நட்சத்திரம்) and the Lagna was Kanni (கன்னி லக்னம். மகரராசி) i. A Libran by birth. My mother suffered in delivering me as a ten pounds baby. She fell sick and was treated by using leeches to remove a bad blood clots in her. When I grew she showed me the scar on her forehead,

(These are my photos when I was about 6 years)

These three photos were taken when I was young. The photo at the extreme right was taken at Arasady house in the backyard well. I am standing in the right. My Father’s brother’s eldest son Vaidyanathan was standing in the left. My Rasammah Mamie's second daughter Devi is standing in the middle. The picture was taken near the well at 181 Arasady road ancestral house in Jaffna. The photo om the left was taken with my sister in Colombo. The photo in the middle was taken when I was riding tricycle at Colombo.)

My big made tall majestic looking father Ponnampalam, the other name for god Siva, a clerical servant who was an old boy of Jaffna Hindu College. My mother was a small made mother Rukmani a housewife, were overjoyed to have a boy as their fourth child after they lost their beautiful third child, a boy named Jeyendran after getting whooping cough, a highly contagious disease at the age of four months. The eldest child for them was a looking girl and named her Mangaleswary followed by a boy of fair colour and they named him Kamalendran. My maternal grandfather is a Vishnu worshipper as such he gave the name to my mother as Rukmani one of the two wives of Krishnan.

Although my father was working in the Tea control department, he, his parents and grandparents Sinnathamby and Kanther were born in Jaffna peninsula. My father always proudly signed as K S Ponnampalam using his G nib. He had a beautiful handwriting and insisted that his children too should have beautiful handwriting like him. He insisted that I use double-lined special book to learn writing.

My great grandfather Kanthar was a tobacco broker and my grandfather Sinnathamby too was a businessman. Long-time ago a Tobacco broker travels to various places on business and the commission they get from the buyer and seller was high. He loved palmyra toddy and fresh fish. I could remember my father often mentioning that he was fair in colour and looked tall and handsome like his mother Seedavan. His sister Rasammah too was looking woman. His father Sinnathamby fell in love with Seedvan’s beauty when they were at Karainagar the largest island once called Karaitheevu and eloped with her. Since cars were not freely available bullock carts were used for eloping. Karaitheevu is no longer an island as it was linked by a causeway and people started calling it Karainagar. Karainagar people are good businessmen and my father was from Kalaboomi an area near the jetty. Sinnathamby used his bullock cart to get away from her parents. Later the relations negotiated and married them officially as both belonged to same caste. This was possible as my great grandfather and great grandmother belonged to high Vellala caste and Sinnathamby was rich. He lived in Vannarponai.

I came into this world as a fourth generation. As no proper records were kept in the past, I could not trace the fifth and sixth generation before me, but I assume that they were born as Tamils in Jaffna peninsula who had South Indian connection. I am not too sure whether they were born in the one of the Major Islands in Jaffna peninsulas and had any connection with Thirunelveli area in South India. It was the time many Tamils came from Thirunelvely area in Tamil Nadu in search of better prospects and as warriors and settled in the North. Muslims came to Meesalai area and settled in Usan to do business. Later they moved to Nallur and again chased away from Nallur when the temple was built to “Chonaka There” in Vannarponai.

My mother’s father Karalasingham too married twice. In the past, it was the normal practice in Jaffna that when the wife dies, the husband marries the sister of the wife so that the assets do not leave the family and there was no necessity to check the caste. Karalasingham was a hot-tempered man with a big mustacho. He looks was terrific. His grandchildren, except me, feared at his look and voice. My mother Rukmani was his first favorite daughter and her mother Vadivaatchi died when my mother was less than one-year-old. My maternal grandfather loved my mother because my mother married him with a house near Arasady Junction Nallur as dowry. Her parents were rich and the normal practice is that government servants were given large sum of money as dowry. My maternal grandfather got a promotion in the Ceylon Government Railway service acronym as CGR, as a Forman Plate Layer. Although the name refers to plate layer, he never laid the plates for the Railway line but was an Assistant Engineer supervising and maintaining the Rail routes. Many laborers’ worked under him. My mother was proudly called him ‘Dakku Dorai” which means that he sits on a chair on a Dock pushed by labourer’s on the railway track. He was a strict disciplinarian and during the British rule because of the hire and fire policy adopted by the rulers it was possible order his staff. I understand that Mr Karalsingham had connection with Chetty community who were great businessmen in Jaffna and Vaishnavite. That was reason that my maternal father was Vishnu worshipper.

As per my birth certificate the address of the location where I was born on the 25th September 1939, at 5.30 am at # 11, Collingwood Place, a townhouse in Wellawatta (Colombo 6) located, closer to the Market and 100 yards west towards the beach from Galle road. It is not a big house but the one that could be afforded by a middle-class family. My parents were happy when they cast my horoscope through a good astrologer. As per the chart I was born in Avittam (அவிட்டம்) star and Kanni Lagna, Venus, Sun, Mercury are in Lagna and Jupiter in the seventh house and Mars and Moon in the 5th house. Ragu (the snake) is the second house. Which means I speak in a manner that hurts other The planet Mercury called Puthan in Tamil is the planet that influences education was in Lagna and very well placed and Jupiter at its peak in the seventh house as such the married life will be pleasant. The mars is located with the moon in the fifth house. My father said that I was born with three yoga’s.

When I was born in that house, I was a ten pounds’ baby. A midwife delivered the baby. Because I was chubby ten lbs baby my mother fell sick during delivery. She had a narrow escape from death. The responsibility to look after me fell on my fourteen-year-old only sister who was twelve years old at that time.

As a baby my initial life was in Colombo. Nowadays, it is safer to say that you were born in Colombo and not in Jaffna. People who worked in Colombo were well respected by the Jaffna families. They were given the nickname “Colombo Veedar” (Colombo House People). My maternal grandfather Karalasingham worked in Singhalese areas in southern part of Sri Lanka in towns such as Kalutara, Galle Ratnapura and Matara. My mother’s mother was Mr Karalsingam’s first wife. When my mother was two years old her mother died. My maternal grandfather married his first wife’s younger sister, as it was the culture among Jaffna families. My grandfather’s second wife was an excellent cook and an expert in preparing delicious singhalese dishes. Even the Tamil, my mother spoke, was not pure Tamil as Singhalese words infiltrated into it. When grandfather was a Forman Plate Layer (FPL) in the Ceylon Railways British rule. At Matara, the family adopted a fair girl Maggie Nona and they changed her name to Mariammah. She was brought up along with their children and as she grew, she looked after the Kitchen department. She also looked after them at old age.

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CHAPTER 2 

Early Childhood

The Governor Sir Andrew Caldecott (1937-1944), placed Sri Lanka under a war footing, organized civil defense, food rationing, building camps, evacuation of school children from Colombo and many other things he considered necessary to protect the civilian population in the event of Japanese attacking Sri Lanka. When the danger seemed imminent, Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the island. The South-East Asia Command (SEAC) with Lord Louis Mountbatten as the Supreme Commander, had his office shifted from New Delhi in India to Kandy in Sri Lanka.

Knowing the strategic position of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean and the importance of the natural harbor in Trincomalee, the Japanese, in their thirst for territorial aggrandizement, were keen in invading the island. At daybreak on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1942, a reconnaissance aircraft took off from Koggala in the South, and spotted a Japanese squadron, about 400 miles south-east of the island making its headway possibly for an attack. At once, Colombo was informed to take prompt and appropriate action to drive the enemy away and avert possible disaster. It is said that this same squadron was responsible for bombing the Pearl Harbor, sinking of the battleships 'Prince of Wales' and 'the Repulse' on Dec. 10, 1941, which gave the Japanese naval and air supremacy in the Pacific.

The first air raid on Colombo took place on Easter Sunday (April 5, 1942) at 7.30 a.m., when Japanese aircraft flew in close formation over Colombo and dropped bombs at different places. The air battle lasted for nearly half an hour. The Allied forces, warned of the danger, were able to shoot down some of the enemy aircraft which fell on land and sea.

Among those shot down, one fell near St. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, one closer to the Bellanwila paddy fields, one near Pita Kotte, one on the race-course, one near Horana and one on the Galle Face Green. One bomb fell off the target and damaged the Mulleriyawa Mental Hospital killing some inmates. It appears that the pilot had mistaken the buildings to be Echelon barracks sheltering the Allied troops. One fell near the Maradana railway station partly damaging it. There were many deaths and more casualties and most of them were civilians. To prevent bombs falling on hospitals, it was decided to have a large red cross painted on the roofs for the guidance of the pilots.

On April 14, the same Japanese squadron bombed Trincomalee, destroying one of the fuel tanks at the Chinanvadi installations. The fighter pilot of one of the aircraft, in keeping with the Japanese Code of Chivalry (bushido), dived into the fuel tank, bursting it into flames which lasted for nearly a week. Even years after the war, this wreckage could be seen inside the tank as a relic of war.

When the Japanese bombed Colombo, almost all boutiques in the town, especially in the Pettah area, were closed and there was not a single hotel to have a cup of tea. The owners had fled for safety leaving the city. In view of this situation, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, the newly appointed Civil Défense Commissioner, took prompt action, using his authority, and vested those closed boutiques and hotels on people who agreed to open them for business. They took over possession, in the arbitrary way, and some of them remain maintaining their ownership of the buildings. No judicature could revoke the decision taken by the Commissioner to vest the buildings on the previous owners.

It is said that Admiral Layton took the initiative not to allow a repetition of the Singapore debacle when about 60,000 British troops were captured by the Japanese as prisoners-of-war. However, he was bothered about the lack of preparation to meet enemy attack and said "except for the big guns on the Galle Face, the defence of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) was practically non-existent". Remembering his experiences in Malaya, Layton arranged to send European women and children out of the island. This panicky measure brought a rebuke from Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of England, who observed that he had sent Layton to Sri Lanka to take charge and not to panic and cause consternation.

I was born in the morning at 5.50 am on 25th September 1939 at 11 Collingwood place a small house near the Wellawatta market. After many years, due to my inquisitiveness, I had the chance to see the house when I was studying at Colombo University. My mother fell sick on the 11nth day after my birth and was seriously ill. My sister who was 12 years old looked after me. She cuddles and sleeps with me. I cried for my mother. Father was working in Tea Control Department as a Clark. The family moved to Vanderwal Place Dehiwala in 1940. Our family got friendly with Mr Rathinam’s family. Mr Rathinam was working with my father in the Tea Control Department. Mr Rathinam’s wife started liking me because she lost her two sons at young age. Our family started calling her Rathinam Mummy. I am not aware of her true name. She became a family friend for a long period of time.

During 1942 Easter Sunday, Colombo was bombed by the Japanese. That was the time Ponnampalam and his family was traveling to Jaffna. Our new residence was at Arasady house, not too far from Nallur temple, which was given as dowry to my mother Rukmani. My grandfather Karalsingham was a Vishnu devotee as such named my mother Rukmini. In 1943 when I was 4 years old, a ceremony was held to teach me first letter in Tamil at Parameswara College. This college was subsequently turned into University of Jaffna in the year 1974. The College was built by Sir Ponnampalam Ramanathan. It was of the leading colleges in Jaffna. It is now the location of the Jaffna University. It was one of the largest Hindu college in Jaffna. I had my Kindergarten education at Holy Family Convent Jaffna. I travelled to school by Kandiah Amman's bullock cart with my sister Mangaleswary and her friend Rajesh Vallipuram. Kandiah Amman lived near Kadarmadam. He at times permitted me to drive the cart. There was a man by the name Illayavan who had a horse chariot. He lived in Wyman Road. His Horse chariot was the vehicle to transport my aunt’s family from Railway station to our house. My mother’s sister’s husband Sathasivam was government servant in Local Government service as such he worked in many Town councils such as Vavuniya, Mannar, Hambantota, Mullaitivu., Dehiwala, Puttalam as secretary of the Municipal and Town Councils

My sister was called by her pet name called “Mani”. I hated to go to school. I used to tear my sister's uniform when she refused me to have my own way. Mother superior. the principal was an Irish nun, use to threaten me by showing the scissor that hung in her dress. I feared their funny dress.

Thambipillai was our servant boy in Jaffna and Puttalam. His brother Eliyathamby, from Illavalai worked as watchman in KKS harbour. Our servant boy Thambipillai brought lunch from home. During lunch I ate the fried fish that was on my plate and ate the sister’s share. In grade I had the opportunity to acted in the character of Jack in the drama “Jack the Giant-killer” My parents enjoyed my acting.

At grade 2, I was admitted to Jaffna Hindu College Tamil School. From younger days, I liked arithmetic and scored high marks in the class. I knew the multiplication table up to 16 in my fingertips. In that Tamil school, they served fresh bun and Coconut sambol for lunch. I helped them to prepare sambol. One day my sister got angry because I scored 98 out of 100 marks in arithmetic. She tied me to a mango tree and was about to beat me with a cane. My father who loved me shouted at my sister and said” leave my son. I don’t want my son to be beaten. He has a good horoscope. As per his horoscope he will study well”. My sister could not go against my father. When I was in Grade Five, I was competing with my cousin Mohan who was elder to me. His parents came from Malaysia, bought a house near Kallati Amman temple which was closer to Jaffna Hindu College. My Rasammah aunty had six children. I could remember their names as Rani, Mohan, Indran, Devi, Appu and Shanthi. All the girls were pretty looking. My father’s brother Rasiah too lived with his family near my aunty’s house. His wife constantly fights with Mr Rasiah. One day he brought fresh mullet from the market and gave it his wife to be cooked. She had a fight with him because he came home drunk and threw the fish w it in the garden. After fifteen minutes she went and picked it up and cooked it. Even though Mr Rasiah and his wife fought , they had many children. I could remember only few names. Such as Seetha, Kamala, Ranji .

(This photo was taken when my father worked in Talawakkele upcountry)

Japanese dropped bombs on Colombo at 7 a.m. on 5th April 1942 on Easter Sunday. 9th April, 2002 marks the 60th anniversary of the Japanese air raid on Trincomalee during the Second World War. When Colombo was bombed by Japanese warplanes, military authorities knew that their next target would be Trincomalee which was a naval and military base. Japan entered World War II in 1941 as an ally of Nazi Germany and Trincomalee was subjected to an air attack on 9th April, 1942.

The Easter Sunday Raid (or Battle of Ceylon) was an air attack by carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), on Easter Sunday, 5 April 1942, during the South-East Asian theatre of World War II. This attack was part of the Indian Ocean Raid, and was followed a few days later by a similar attack on Trincomalee. The targets were British warships, harbour installations, and air bases; the object was to disrupt the war effort of British Commonwealth nations and force the British Eastern Fleet to leave Asian waters.

I was two years and six months. I did not feel the chaos caused in Colombo city by the bombing. Japanese bombed China Bay

People who lived in Trincomalee at that time did not worry much as most of them found employment under the British Admiralty and War Department. People from other districts came to Trincomalee and settled down here after securing jobs. In fall everybody had some sort of income with a ready market available for vegetables, fruits, fish and other such local products.

Around 6.30 a.m. on that fateful day Japanese warplanes flying over Trincomalee bombed several important places such as the Naval Dockyard, For Frederick Air Force Base and the oil fuel depot, the latter two located at China Bay.

The air attack caused severe loss to people, the air force base and naval dockyard where civilian workers were at work.

Being an eyewitness to the air attack on employee at the Chinna Bay air force base working under an Indian firm erecting huge hangers for the Royal Air Force (now deceased) described the incident.

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CHAPTER 3

Life in Nallur 1944-1948 Aug

My ancestral house is located at 181 Arasady Road. It was the junction where four road meet. In the past there was a Papal tree at the junction as such the road got that name. Subsequently people were scared that under that old tree a statue of buddha may appear as such activity was happening by the army in places where papal trees were found in Jaffna peninsula. So as to prevent that from happening they cut down the decaying tree and in that place a statue of Bharathi was placed. Arasady junction became Bharathiar junction is my ancestral house at 181 Arasady Road.

My initial education in Jaffna at the age of five was at Holy Family convent Jaffna, because my sister too studied in that school. The school was run by Irish nun. It is the sister college of St Patricks College. I was overseen in the school by my sister. The aim was for her to have a control on his mischievous brother. I was very active. I was selected to act in the school drama Jack and Jill as Jack. My parents were there to enjoy my acting. Our servant boy Thambipillai brought the lunch to me and my sister. I have to say few words about Thambipillai. His brother was working in KKS port and on my father’s request he arranged his brother to work as servant in our house. He was my companion. He was from Illavalai. He had the habit of smoking cigar. I stole my mother’s cigar and gave it to Thambipillai and in turn he gave my favorite fried fish. My mother had the habit of smoking cigar and that habit started with her because of her dental problem. Thambipillai was good in narrating stories created by him. When I refuse to eat my mother instructed Thambipillai to narrate stories so that I will enjoy the meal. He had great imaginative power.

My sister’s lunchtime was after me as such I ate my fish fry and took a share of my sister’s one. She knew that I liked fish fry, as such because she loved me, she did not complain to my mother. We traveled to school in Kandiah Amman's cart. There were few cars and not many could go to the school by car. The convent was about two miles away from Arasady house. I normally sat in front seat in the cart enjoying a chat with Kandiah Amman. He allowed me to hold the ropes and direct the bulls. My sister and her friend Rajesh acca who lived in Kandarmadam were the two other passengers in the cart. They wore white uniform with a red tie. My sister was fair like my father, but my brother Kamalendran was much fairer and he was called as Kamalan by the family. He had the habit of sucking the thumb until he was twelve years old. I stopped sucking the thumb at the age of six because my friends and relations started ridiculing me calling me “Baby”

Nallur was one time the capital city of the Jaffna Kingdom, under king Sangiliyan II. சங்கிலி குமாரன், 1619) was the self-proclaimed last king of the Jaffna kingdom and was a usurper who came to throne with a palace massacre of the royal princess and the regent Arasa-Kesari in 1617. His regency was rejected by the Portuguese colonials in Colombo, Sri Lanka. His reign was secured with military forces from the Thanjavur Nayaks and Karaiyar captains. He was defeated by the Portuguese in 1619 and was taken to Goa and hanged. There are many temples in Nallur. To serve the temple carpenters, cooks, people who carry palanquin, barbers, tailors, garland makers, priests etc were brought from South India. They were settled in specific areas and the roads were named based on caste.

Our Nallur house was built by Karalasingham, my mother’s father who worked as a Railway foreman under British rule. He was a hot-tempered person and a strict disciplinarian. My mother’s stepmother was a good cook and prepares Singhalese dishes such as vangkadi sambol (வங்கடி சம்பல்). He used the Portuguese words that infiltrated into Sinhalese such as Alpenetta ( Pin), alugōsuvā (executione) almāriya (Wardeobe) annāsi (Paineappale) bāldiya ( Bucket)

She called potatoes as ala and maldive fish as umbalakadda. My maternal grandfather served in Singhalese areas down south such as Kalutara, Matara, as such my mother could peak Singhalese well. When my grandfather was working in Matara, a predominantly a Singhalese area, they adopted a fair Sinhalese girl by the name Maggy. She was later called Mariammah by our family. She became one of our family members and looked after my grandparents when they fell sick at old age.

My mother Rukmani and her stepsister Palamani (who was called by us Mummy), treated Mariammah as their own sister. She cared for them after their delivery.

I have to say few words about our Arasady house in Nallur. The house was given as dowry to my mother. It was a lucky house, as the structure was well placed compared to the adjoining house and the top of the roof was few feet higher than the roof of the next-door house. The neighbour’s in the north of the house were low caste people. When it rains heavily, the low-lying area gets flooded. There were fruit trees such as varieties of mango trees, jack tree, Umbrella tree, Nelli and few coconut trees, Naval. Initially the toilet was located away from the house. It was a bucket system a scavenger comes daily in the morning and clears the toilet in bucket.

Devi, a low caste woman comes daily and did odd jobs such as pounding rice. Kandan another low caste man did the chopping of firewood and cleaning of the well. Annamalai was our washer man Vinnasi was the barber. Vinnasi narrated interesting stories while doing the haircut. During school holidays my mother made it a point to send me with my brother to the Ayurvedic doctor Velauthapillai to get pills to clean my intestine. We called him Pariyari(பரியாரி). He gave a special herbal oil for my brother to be applied on his head to cure asthma. As per the Jaffna customs the barber and Washer man and Paraiyan who beats the drum at the funeral house are called Kudimagan (குடிமகன்). They had certain duties to do. During wedding or funeral house, the two banana trees in fixed at the entrance to the house are shared by the washer man and barber.

A few words about my mother’s cooking is required in my story. She was an excellent cook and she used coconut milk in all curries. Her time is spent in the kitchen with the servant in preparing food for the family. Once in a way she prepared singhalese dishes. Her best curry I enjoyed was goat curry prepared in coconut milk with fat in it. My father loves food and goes to Periya Kadai in Jaffna town and buys fresh fish as no mixer was available at that time I did the pounding for preparing dosai. I loved Maldive fish sambol. I prepared it myself. Rice and curries were prepared in clay pots and were very tasty and healthy. Firewood and dry coconut leaves were used for fire. Dosai prepared in dry coconut leaves for the fire was very tasty

There was a lane on west side of the house from the main junction. That lane was leading to Thirunelveli Sivan temple. The road was encroached by a low caste businessman called Palani My father always had problems with him. Our house faced Wyman road and in addition the Point Pedro road was leading to the Nallur Temple from the Jaffna Town. Jaffna Town was about one mile from our house and the famous Nallur temple was about quarter of a mile from the Junction. We could witness the festival from the junction. The Point Pedro road got divided at the junction and the second part of the road was to Kandramadam and Thattar There Junction along Jaffna- Kankesanthurai road called KKS road.

A canal links two tanks. During rainy season, water flows in the canal and we enjoyed sending lamps in clay pots during Kaarthigai Deepam. At times we fished in the water, but father gave strict orders not to play in that dirty water. I wrote a short story based on this setup.

At the junction there was a tea shop owned by a person by the name Sangarapillai. As he was a high caste man from Nainatheevu. He treated the customers according to their caste. He daily did pooja to the vairavar temple next to a well-located across the shop. Only high caste people were permitted to draw water from the well. Sangarapillai boiled rice once a month and offered Pooja to the Vairavar. I was assisting him as he gave me vadai and sweet rice after the pooja. He prepared good vadai and chickpeas. A fisherman brings a box of fish daily in a cycle. He was called Ratha Kannan, as his eye looked red. My mother buys from him and another fisherwoman. One day Ratha Kannan threw unknowingly a Valampuri Shankh (conge) an expensive conch, from the box he carried Fish. People believed that a person who owns a Valampuri shanghu will soon become rich. Whatever benefits we receive from the temple the exact benefit we are able to receive by worshiping valampuri shanghu in our own residence. Further, valampuri Shankh provides a drastic growth in health and wealth of the worshiper without any reduction. It leads to a peaceful and prosperous relationship with the family.

It enlightens the person who has it with the knowledge and sharpens his memory. Hence, it brings unity and harmony among the family members and leads them in a unique direction.

Sangarapillai picked up that Valampuri shank and started doing puja for it. More customers came to his shop and very soon he became rich as result bought a house. That house was called Elephant house as there were two statues of elephants on the pillars at the entrance to the house. After some time, he was infected with TB and died. The shop was removed by the municipality as it was constructed illegally by Sangarapillai.

My father's sister Rasammah’s family arrived from Malaysia by ship. My uncle Manickam brought a parker 51 pen and gave it to my sister. We received many gifts. My father was the happiest person as after many years only he met his sister, Rasammah who was fair and tall. My aunty had six children, three girls and three boys’ eldest girl Ranee was pretty and studied at Hindu Ladies College. Many Jaffna Hindu college boys were after her. My brother was the guardian as he was senior prefect at Jaffna Hindu College. Although my cousin Mohan who came from Malaysia was one year elder to me. I competed with him in Mathematics. My sister expected me to score more marks than him in the class. One day my sister tied me to a mango tree and threatened me with a cane for scoring one mark less than 100. My father got angry at her, took away the cane from her and Said “Mani (her pet name) that is enough. Do not touch my son. I know he will do well in his studies. His horoscope says so”. From that day onwards she never beat me for studies. She knew I had the support of my father. My mother was not interested in studies but spent time in managing the house and looking after the kitchen. She was a very good cook and I enjoyed her Mutton curry prepared in coconut milk. On a Deepavali day, my father got drunk with his friends and came home. When my mother questioned him, he did not like her questioning him in front of his friends. He lost his temper and threw the pot of rice and curry to the garden. Thank god that happened after I had the meal. That was enough for my mother. She did not speak to him for a week. Later my father realized his mistake and apologized to my mother.

Our servant boy Thambipillai stole mother’s cigar and smoked in the sly. He narrated interesting stories while I have my meals. In return, I stole the cigar from my mother and gave it to him to smoke. My mother was very much attached to his only sister Paalamani. She called her baba. We called her mummy. She had four children Kapilamaathu, Krishnadas, Kulamaathu and Vanitha. Krishnadas qualified as doctor. Unfortunately, he died at young age because he got used drinking alcohol. My mother sister’s family arrived from Vavuniya. Her husband Sathasivam was the secretary in the Vavuniya town council. I played with her son Krishnadas. I called him Kitty and they called me Cheepiannah and I called my eldest cousin sister Amubuchi Acca and the aunty Mummy. Mummy's husband, Mr Sathasivam was from Analaitheevu an island out of the seven islands near Jaffna peninsula. He was a religious man and was very friendly with my father. Both of them go to the Nallur temple together. He died at the age of 104. He knew when he was going to die People say that people from Analaitheevu genetically have long life My Sithappah had a beautiful handwriting like my father and writes good English. I had the chance to go with him to Analaitheevu island in a boat. During a Nallur temple festival I got lost in the crowd. That happened I when I was living pallaly Road. I lost the grip my father. When my grandfather heard the news he came running from Pallaly Road. The Policemen kept me at the barrier and handed over me to my father.     

I never missed the Nallur festival. Our school vacation falls during festival time. The charged one Rupee for doing puja. Even after many decades they charged only one rupee.

There was an incident between a priest and a lady who lived in Wyman road. She was a pretty smart lady. She walked stylishly. A nallur temple priest became friendly with that lady. She was given priority by him in doing puja over other devotees. After the pooja he gives a rose to her. This was observed few devotees. They complained about it to the Manager. He observed it happening from a hiding. After confirming the complaint, he terminated the services of the priest. after that incident people called her the Rose lady. She was related to Spenser Rajaratnam who lived in Wyman road.

During car festival we gave free lunch for everyone who came to our house after the festival. We enjoyed buying different varieties of kadalai prepared by Indian women. There were several bangle and sari shops during the festival. I enjoyed the fresh spinach and vegetable curries with curd, pickle, vadkam and special pappataam

There were kavadis of different forms during water cutting ceremony. They normally stop at our junction and dance with Kavadi. Many devotional songs by Sundaraambal and Ramani mammal were played at the top sound. There was thriving business to look after the bicycles and slippers. Some people known people keep their bicycles in our house. During festival time a police barrier exists at the junction and no vehicles could go beyond that barrier towards that temple.

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CHAPTER 4

Life in Puttalam 1948 – 1955

(This photo was taken at a studio in Chila when I was 12 years old.)

(This photo was taken in Malaysia’s my father’s elder sister. She had no children. The photo on the right was taken at Seremban Malaysia with my father’s second sister Rasammah)

The history of this dry zone dates to the arrival of Prince Vijaya, who was chased away by his father from Orissa state along with his seven hundred friends. They left the kingdom in boat and landed in a coastal village called Tamanaha (Kuduraimalai)in the north of Puttalam. This happened according Mahavamsa nearly 2500 years ago, He was the founder of the Singhala race started so says the Mahavamsa. After Vijaya deserted his first wife Kuveni and his two children, he married a Tamil princess from Madurai and found Tamil partners for his friends.

The name "Puttalam" may be a modification of the Tamil word Uppuththalam. of which Uppu means salt, and Thalam means salt production zone, thus evolved into the name Puttalam. This area has been predominantly a Muslim town. The Muslim population came from Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu to do business. They speak Tamil

Situated at the center of the Coconut Triangle, Puttalam is the second largest coconut producing area of the country, while also being the center of salt production. The Kaffir community in this area was brought to the island by the Portuguese as soldiers and they were guarding the fortress in Kalpitiya. They came from East African villages. The Kaffir slaves settled here, and their descendants speak Portuguese Creole. They could speak Tamil and English and settled in Sirambiadi village, four miles on Puttalam Anuradhapura road. They could sing good baila songs

I studied with a Kaffir friend Gabriel who had a curly hair. He was tall and strong boy. He protected me from a Muslim boy by the name Bazaar, who dominated other boys in the school. In return I helped Gabriel him arithmetic. He could sing baila songs and play guitar well. In the latter years his father was a peon in the Kachcheri and is known to my father I wrote a English short story titled Gabriel was based on him.

Situated 82 miles north of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, Puttalam is a very populous town. There is a lagoon on its west is a peninsula of 25 miles’ length leading to Kaplpitiya. Puttalam was one time functioned as the harbor. Produce from Kady was brought on Kurunegala Puttalam road a distance of 55 miles Famous for salt and fishing, Puttalam is the home to one of Sri Lanka’s largest lagoons, also called Puttalam lagoon. At the time my father was transferred from Jaffna Kachcheri to Puttalam Kachcheri, as Office Assistant designated OA. A major part of the town was covered with thorny trees. My father was given two-bedroom government quarters in Poles Road, a walking distance from the town. Opposite our house, we had a family of a Muslim friend by the name of Cassim. A lawyer. His wife was from Jaffna and Cassim was from Kattaikaadu. We called his wife Cassim aunty and she gave speeches on the Radio Ceylon. Her sister was a Maths teacher and she taught me mathematics. They are close relations with former senator Asseez from the Jaffna Muslim area. Senator Asseez was a one-time principal of Colombo Zahira college. His sister was instrumental for me to take interest in proving riders in Geometry and doing problems in Algebra. The house had a Veranda in front and back with a kitchen. The backyard was filled with thorny trees. At night foxes visit us. In the front garden, there was a big Portia Tree called Poovarasu in Tamil. That tree was my playing spot. I placed some planks on the branches and sit on them to read the books. If I see my father returning after work, I get down and go into the house. There was a nest of the crow in that tree. One day I tried to steal a crow’s eggs and was attacked in the head by the bird. Apart from salt and fishing, the main income for the Puttalam people is from agriculture and trading. Those who did business came from Keelakarai in south India and were mainly TRP holders. Subsequently, they went back to India. Many rich Muslims called Maraikar had coconut estates along Puttalam Colombo road and Puttalam Anuradhapura road They had houses like places ESM Mudalali house was like a palace opposite old Zahira college There is a legendary story that the haunted house was once owned by a poor man who became wealthy when he discovered treasure in the forest. He was murdered by his wife’s brother, The poor man allowed his wife to sleep with ghosts and obtained three pots of gold coins buried in the forest Some say it was the wealth of the queen Kuveni first wife of Vijayan The wealthy man’s son was born with a tail. He was nicknamed Tail Maraikar He had a large Plymouth car and was not married as ladies refused to marry him because he had a tail. I was not sure whether this story was true as it was narrated to me by my friend Rashid

There were two boy’s schools in Puttalam for boys in Puttalam. One was Zahira college and the other St Andrews College located in the town I was admitted to St Andrews College, At St Andrews College we had a teacher by the name Gabriel. He resided in a village three miles from Puttalam on Colombo road. He traveled by an old bicycle. He caned the students for not doing the homework and students did not like him. He gave lots of homework. He taught us English. A Kerala graduate teacher Mr. Paul master taught us Arithmetic. His jokes were interesting. He had a typical Indian English accent and the boys ridiculed him. His funny way of pronouncing circumference of circle, even now I could remember and ridiculing his pronunciation. For students who could not do arithmetic problem he said “Are you trying to pluck mangoes by magic from the tree”. Every time he was busy doing problems in a notebook. Now I could remember him doing problems on Integration as the integration symbol he used was something fun for me at that time. He behaved like an absent-minded professor and chewed tobacco and beetle. Our headmaster was a piano player and he taught us how to sing hymns. I could remember the school arranging a trip to Tabbowa, a farmland, ten miles on Anuradhapura road. Tabbowa is an ancient irrigation system in the Mee Oya basin. The reservoir was restored between 1913-1925 and then again in 1969. The Tank covers an area of 461 hectares (4.6 sq. kilometers) at full capacity. There is not much evidence on its construction in its past. However, it is believed to be built by King Kawantissa. Tabbowa tank is infected with crocodiles and the damn is 10 meters’ height. We planted paddy saplings in the muddy water, singing traditional farming songs. Students were given tea and food after work.

My mother ordered me to buy fish from the market. Haniffa. a short man who was a fishmonger was a friend of my father as he was popular Volleyball player. He helped me buying good fish from the sea that arrive by bus from Chilaw. My father trusted him so much that after the wedding reception of my sister he accompanied the couple in the car to Anuradhapura railway station to take the night mail train to Jaffna.

As soon as I took the fish home, my mother will quickly clean it with the help of the servant Thambipillai and fry it for me for lunch. I had a friend by the name Issadeen who was doing business in a corner shop selling books and Tamil Magazines. Every month the pocket money I received from my gather was spent in buying books such as Kalkandu, Ambulimama, Gil Gil. I also bought Kalki, Kalaimagal and Ananda Vikadan for the money that was given by my father. He also gave money to buy special cigar from a Master’s shop who also sold gingelly oil. Cigar shop master was a bachelor. Many Tamil government servants from Puttalam were his clients. Our family members competed to read Kalki’s novel Sivagamiyin Sabatham. I was the first person to read the story as I straightaway took the book Kalki to the Toilet to read the famous historical novel, finish reading it, and return it to others to read. My brother had the habit to tear the pages of the novel and binding it as a book.

I had many Muslim friends. We go out with catapults in search of birds. One day I aimed a pigeon and killed it in one shot. My mother came to know about it, as our servant Thambipillai sneaked the incident to my mother. She was upset and warned me and said that I will be punished for my action by god. She was right. I broke my left-hand wrist which practicing circus on a drum. My father was very angry and later he took me to village headman near Sirambiadi about four miles from home. He was a specialist in treating fracture using Ayurvedic treatment. For days I could not sleep because of pain. There were no pain killers at that time.

To encourage in my studies, my sister presented me with an expensive Mouth Organ. It was her gift because I scored 100 marks in arithmetic and came first in the class. I boasted about the gift I received from my sister to my friends. My mother gave strict instructions not to take the mouth organ out from home. I flouted her order and when I went with my friends to do fishing in a Tank, I quietly took the mouth organ to play music. That was the end. When I returned home, I found that my sister’s gift was missing. This incident I could not forget in my life. I suspected a Muslim friend named Bazaar. There was no proof to accuse him. When I did odd jobs for my mother, father and sister I received pocket money. I used that money to see Tamil cinema at Crescent Theater which was located about a hundred yards from my home. The manager Ratnasingham was known to my family. At times he allowed me to watch the film from first class. There was another cinema Theater by the name Asoka Cinema. English films were screened in that cinema.

(This picture was taken at Social Volleyball club ON the first row my father seated in the extreme left and his fried Mr Ibrahim is seated in the extreme right. The GA for Puttalam was the chief guest)

My father was a Volleyball coach for Social Volleyball club. His friend Ibrahim was member and a player of the club. The club was located very close to the Post office. My father played bridge with a group prominent people of Puttalam at Proctor Sangarapillai’s house. Social Volleyball club came runner-up at the all Ceylon Volleyball tournament.

Since I was interested in sports, I established a Volleyball court opposite the Asoka cinema and gave the name “Wembley” Volleyball club. Much Muslim youth joined as members. My friend Rasheed was the captain and I was the advisor. We called captain Rasheed. He was a Tamil teacher. As I was a tall boy, I was a good volleyball player and a good spiker. Our competitor was the Social volleyball club. Many Muslim youths knew me well and called my father “Ponnampalam aiyah”. He was a volleyball referee. At the start, I was picking the ball at the Social Volleyball club. Gradually I got interested in volleyball. In the evenings I spent the time playing volleyball. I arranged matches with surrounding villages such as Pulichankulam, Kalpitiya, and Uddapuwa. I became popular because I was a good spiker and server. Some of my Muslim friends got help from me in arithmetic

We were friendly with a catholic singhalese family. The lady was an adopted daughter of a Tamil Gate Mudaliyar who was retired Forest ranger. She had three sons and a daughter. During weekends we had trips to their coconut estate located in Puttalam Kurunegala road about five miles from home. I called the lady’s husband Fonseka by the name “Thatha”. He was jovial man. He sang baila songs. We played cricket with his children. His eldest son Patrick Fonseka qualified as a Lawyer. Mamma prepared delicious food and cake for the Christmas. My brother Kamalendran after he obtained a BA degree from Peradeniya University started teaching at St Mary’s college Chilaw. Our family went for his convocation at Peradeniya University. At that time my father was not living hence Mr Ibrahim my father’s friend represented my father for the event. I called my brother “Anna” which means elder brother. He was my mother’s favorite. At young age he sucked his thumb holding my mother’s saree until he was 14 years. I too sucked my thumb until I was ten years. My brother had his education at Jaffna Hindu College and was senior prefect. He entered Peradeniya

University from that College and did BA degree. He became a teacher. I called my sister Mangaleswary, Acca which means elder sister. She studied at Holy Family Convent Jaffna. He later became an English teacher at a Convent School in Anuradhapura and later transferred to a convent school in Puttalam. She got married to a government servant Nadarajah who later became an officer in Ceylon Administrative Service and served in Jaffna Kachcheri as Asst Food controller. He was from Meesalai. He had two younger brothers and three younger sisters. His youngest brother Gunsingarajah was one year elder than me. He was a draughtsman in Survey Department. He is a good-natured man. He was my roommate when I was t Colombo University. He had

a son Duwarakan who was very closer to the LTTE leader. Duwarakan died in a battle. I heard that LTTE leader Prabhakaran named his daughter Duwaraka. Gunsingarajah’s wife died in Vellore hospital and he married the second time

Mr Francis a textile businessman from Negombo speaks Tamil and had many clients in Puttalam. He comes in a van from Colombo and sells clothes. My mother and sister buys from him as they could not travel to Colombo to do shopping. They kept an account with him. From Puttalam there was only one bus to Colombo in the morning at 8 am it was called Daily News Bus. Vijaya bus company ran buses from Negombo to Anuradhapura via Puttalam. They conflicted with a Muslim called Sangili Ismail. He owned two cars and was a thug for bad people. He was the driver who brought us from Anuradhapura station to Puttalam when my father was transferred to Puttalam Kachcheri from Jaffna Kachcheri. He had a chain in his waist as such was called Sangili Ismail. He was murdered at the old post office junction by the Vijay Bus company

My brother Kamalendran loved cricket and supported England team. I supported West Indies team. At times we fought about the team that will win. My father took us to Colombo to watch the cricket match between Ceylon and West Indies. I saw the famous cricketer Kanhai batting. My father was interested in listening to cricket commentary in an old Air Mac radio and at the same time read his Hindu paper. He will ask me to read the editorial and write a precis. My father had good handwriting and he insisted that I should G nib when I use ink. My father was a great smoker of cigar and tobacco in a pipe. He drank alcohol. He played bridge games with a group. He loves eating fish and meat.

For the weekend I go with my father to the Kachcheri and spend the time. His Muslim friend Ibrahim liked me. I wrote my first article in Tamil to Veerakesari about our trip to Kathirgamam. My first short story as about beggar woman based on true story. Everyone appreciated it. Myself and my friend Muthu Krishnan, the son of policeman, published a handwritten four-page paper called Maanavan (The Student). I met Muthukrishnan after many years in Dubai when he was working as a Manager in a Bank. We both spoke about our literary work at our young age, Our Tamil teacher was Mr Anthony Pillai and he encouraged us in running the handwritten appear

The bride on his right is Parameswary. I am standing behind my mother. My father’s brother Rasiah is standing between Anni and my brother-in-law. The best man Mahadevan is standing left side of my brother. My mother is holding my sister’s daughter Dushyanthy. Dushyanthy was born at Marawilla hospital Machayanthy and Duhindan were born at Chilaw hospital and Mahindan at Durden’s private hospital Colombo My brother-in-law is holding my sister; s second daughter Machayanthy. My sisters two sons Duhindan and Mahindan were not born during my brother’s wedding time When I was at Puttalam I had a pet dog by the name Tōjō. I gave that name to that dog because Tōjō Hideki, in 1884, Tokyo, Japan, died on 1948 in Tokyo. He was a soldier and statesman who was prime minister of Japan (1941–44) during most of World War II and who was subsequently tried and executed for war crimes. During my life in Puttalam, I set up the Wembley volleyball club in the competition with the social Volleyball club. I edited a handwritten magazine titled “The Student” with the help of Police constable Kaalimuthu’s son, Muthu Krishnan we circulated it among fords for two cars

My next-door family was Pullenayagam I played the game of Post Office with them I taught Maths for them I also constructed a Rail route in the backyard I established a Telephone connection with our back door neighbor Fonseka children Patrick. Venancius and Anton We played cricket in the school grounds Their mother was good cook. Once I got bitten by their dog. There were many varieties of Illanthai fruits (similar to Olives) in their house which was owned by a forest ranger. There was a bug floods in the year 1960 Kalaoya tank breached. Our house was flooded, and water got into the kitchen. There was canal that ran in front of our house The Muslim boys caught catfish in that canal

There were two cinemas in Puttalam one was The Crescent and the other cinema was Asoka. I saw the film Parasakthi the film in which Sivaji Ganeshan acted first time, at Crescent. I would have seen that film four times as I liked the dialogue written M Karunanithy former CM of Tamil Nadu. The manager was a Tamil called Ratnasingam, He was family friend of us.

I had friends by the name Rasheed, Isamuddin, Bazaar, and Mushin.

My sister and brother-in-law forced me to sit for SSC exam when I was in 9th Standard. I took four subjects namely Arithmetic, Tamil, English and Art. I obtained distinction in Arithmetic, credits in English and Tamil and a Pass in Art for higher education I left for Jaffna to get admitted in a good private school.

It was May 16th 1955 the night my father passed away at Puttalam hospital He had cardiac arrest On the day my father died at the age of 56 I left for Jaffna in the morning by bus to Anuradhapura and then by train to Jaffna I reached Jaffna at 5 pm I stayed at storekeeper Subramaniam uncle’s house at Annsnathiram lane arranged by my father. To get admission at St Johns college was a difficult as affluent people’s children and Christina were only got admission. There were other good schools such as St Patrick’s, Central college, Jaffna Hindu College. My father wanted uncle Subramanian to admit me to St Johns College It was task for uncle Subramaniam. He knew many teachers. With much difficulty uncle Subramaniam got admission at St Johns College. He was nominated by my father as my guardian. That night at 9 pm we receive the news that my father expired Myself my aunty and Sinniah left for Puttalam in a hired car reached the next day morning. My father’s funeral took place next day evening and was cremated at chenakudirupu Cemetery It was chain of deaths after my cousin Ukkuna committed suicide for ill-treatment by his parents at Anuradhapura. Followed by his death his mother died hos mother at our house in Puttalam and it was followed by my father’s death and later my grandfather died. It all stopped with the birth of my sister’s daughter Dushyanthy

During the period 1955 to 1959 I traveled from Puttalam to Jaffna 166 miles. It was long journey It took three hours by bus from Puttalam to Anuradhapura old town and again half an hour by cart to Railway station The Train to Jaffna comes from Colombo at 12 noon and reaches Jaffna at six pm There were no express train at that time was.

J T Arulanantham was the principal of St Johns College and P T Mathai was Vice-Principal My math’s teacher was Somasundaram. He was called Please Somasundaram as he allays said please for everything

Pucbalingam from Valvettiturai was my Physics teacher Mr Francis was my Chemistry teacher I did not like chemistry My favorite subjects were math and Physics. I liked History Tamil and English at the School leaving Certificate(SSC) I obtained credits in 5 subjects and a distinction in Maths I opted to do Engineering I cycled to school at Chundukuli from Annsathiram lane and had food I restaurants I played Volleyball for School team

My brother in law who was working in Colombo was transferred to Puttalam Kachcheri before my father died, after my father’s death he continued to live with my sister and mu mother and myself at the government quarters a Poles road Puttalam The front door family was Proctor Cassim a good man His wife Jazeema gave speeches in Radio Ceylon Her sister was math teacher. She taught me geometry They were Jaffna Muslims but Cassim was from Kattikadu village near Magalaeliya. ‘’My brother in law had an attack of amoebiasis. I took him by bus for treatment at a Ayur Vedic Singhalese doctor at Mangalaeliya

My brother Kamalendran completed his BA degree and got a teacher’s appointment at St Mary’s boys college Chilaw My sister was teaching in convent at Anuradapura and later was transferred to St Anne’s catholic girls school near our house at Poles road. I had a dog by the name Tōjō. Tōjō was a Japanese General during world war II and held the position of the Prime Mister He was executed for war crimes in the year 1948. Our servant Thambipillai came with us to Puttalam from Jaffna

CHAPTER 5

School Days at St John's 1955 -1960

My father was keen on my higher education. He used to say to his friends that my horoscope was very powerful, and I should do well in studies, especially mathematics. When I was studying at St Andrews College Puttalam Jaffna, Anthonipillai master encouraged me to write Tamil articles. I published handwritten five-page Tamil paper and sold it for one cent for circulation. A boy by the name Muthukrishnan assisted me. My parents took me with my brother and sister to Kataragama by bus to Chilaw and then by Train to Colombo and Matara. We took bus to Tissmaharagama. It was long journey starting at 6.0 clock from Puttalam and by the time we reached Tissamharagama it was late in the evening. Kataragama was about 12 miles from Tissamaharagama and there was no bus service in 1950 from Tissamaharagama to Kataragama. Tamils walked for many days in groups from Jaffna and they called in Patha yatra We must travel bullock cart through thick jungle. It took nearly four hours. We enjoyed on the way the bananas and hot milk hoppers cooked by the villagers. The pilgrims shouted Aro Hara to chase away the Elephants from attacking. The forest on both sides of the village was part of Yala sanctuary. I walked first four miles and later was tired and rested in the cart. That adventurous trip was something new to me. On our return to Puttalam I wrote an article to Veerakesari Tamil paper. When my article was published was very proud. That encouraged me to write short stories. The first short story I wrote was about titled Beggar Woman. It was a true story of an old woman who was fond of dogs. She was called madwoman of dogs, because she loitered in the street with dogs and begged for food. She shared the food with the dogs which she treated as her pets. People said that she was once a rich woman but was arrogant. It was the curse of the people that made her mad. She was seen near the Jaffna clock tower and Vembadi girls’ school.

Since I was doing well in grade nine, my sister and brother in law forced me to sit for the SSC examination. I sat for only subjects namely Arithmetic, Tamil, English and Art. The principal said that I have one more year to appear for the examination, but my sister was keen that I should sit for some subjects. I got a distinction in arithmetic, a credit in Tamil and Art and but passed in English.

My father was a smoker and drinker as such he had a heart attack.

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CHAPTER 6

As a Teacher at St Marys’ College 1959-1960

I passed my Loudon Advanced level in Physics, Pure and Applied Maths and Chemistry when I was at St Johns College Jaffna. I also passed Ceylon Advanced level examination in those subjects. St Mary’s College Chilaw was run by De La Salle catholic brothers. The college today provides education to over 2500 students from grade 6 to grade 13 and it is regarded as one of the leading catholic boys' schools in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is located on the Chilaw-Puttalam road. My brother was teaching at St Mary’s college Chilaw and he told me that looking for a Physics teacher for Advanced level students as the teacher who was taking Physics was gone on study leave. The principal offered me to work as relief teacher. It was my first experience as a teacher in a college. When I took Maths for grade 10 students some of them ridiculed me as Panamkottai (Palmyra Seed). I swallowed their comments. Since I was a good Volleyball player the students started liking me. There was a Malayalee teacher by the name Krishnadas. He was very friendly with my brother. He spoke Tamil well. He taught for the 10nth and 12th Grades. There were four College houses namely De Costa House, Camillus House. Robert House, De Lasala House

A student by the name Dayanithi was very bright student in Math. He solved the problems in a very short time. This student got four As at the Ceylon Advanced level Exam. He was offered to do Engineering, but he selected mathematics. He did his special degree in Maths and obtained a first-class degree in the final examination. He was appointed as Asst lecturer in Mathematics at Colombo University

My brother Kamalendran organized a Tamil seminar where many Tamil literary people took part. I showed keen interest in that literary event. For the weekends I go to Puttalam where my sister’s family and mother lived. Since I had many friends in Puttalam, I enjoyed the weekend in Puttalam. The money I saved as a temporary teacher was useful when I started my university education in Colombo.

While teaching at Chilaw I met three students from the Tamil fishermen village of Udappu. Udappu (உடப்பு(is a traditional Tamil fishing village situated 65 miles and two hours north of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The people of Udappu are Hindu Karawa of South Indian origin, whose culture and lifestyle are altogether different from other people engaged in deep-sea fishing living along the coast of Chilaw District. The history says that when Muslims invaded south India people from Rameshwaram moved to Sri Lank a and walked along the western coast in search of a vi;;age where In the month of August 18-day festival that commences with the flag hoisting and ends with fire walking in front of the Udappu's central Draupadi Amman Temple. The estimated population of the village is 15,000 people. Along with other castes like, Ambalavanar and Aasary(goldsmith) there are also Chetty’s. Their culture and lifestyle are notably different from other people engaged in fishing along the coast of Chilaw. There were many Tamil writers and many of them are good at drama and Villupaatu. I made friends with Naganathan and Sahanmugnathan, both of them were teachers. When I became the superintendent of Telecom traffic, I expedited action in providing telephone service to Uddappu sub-post office. They village excelled in Volleyball There were villages in the vicinity such as Model, Pulichankulam. Battle Oya river meets the Indian ocean in Udaipur. Good drinking water is available few meters from the seashore. A coral reef under the seashore does the filtering of salty water to seawater

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CHAPTER 7

The University Life 1960-1964

I was very much disappointed when I missed to get a seat to do Engineering. In the past after the theory and Practical examinations students have to face an Interview. Now the admission to the University for Science does not include practice tests. There were three professors at the interview Board. All students feared Professor of Physics A W Mailvaganam. He never smiles while interviewing at the interview board. All most all students were dressed in white suite. The interview was held at Colombo University. When my turn came, I entered the room without fear. Six months teaching at St Mary’s College in Chilaw made me overcome fear in facing interview. The first question that was fired at me was “Why do you want to be an Engineer?” The next question came from A W Mailvaganam. “How will you measure the thickness of a thin paper if you are given a ruler. I knew it was tricky question. I thought for a while. I can only measure it if the thickness is appreciable. Immediately an idea struck my mind. I replied “Sir I will fold the paper many times to get a an appreciable thickness, and measure it using the ruler. I will divide the measured thickness by the number of times I folded the paper”.

Professor of Physics smiled. “It looks as if you have a practical liking to Physics.” I knew my chance to do Engineering was lost by my answer.

When the interview results came I got admission to do Physical science. The subjects for the first year General Science Qualifying was Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Physics, Chemistry I was determined to do Physics. In the first year Exam I got an A’s in Physics and Maths and B in Chemistry. I never liked Chemistry because of the chemical equations to remember. I scored good marks in Physics at the GSQ. I was again called for an interview to do special Physics course. Eight students appeared for the interview. I was selected to do Physics special degree a four-year course. In the second year of the special degree course I have to sit for the Pure Mathematics paper with the general degree students. Since I liked Mathematics I did very well in that subsidiary subject. I studied subjects such as Nuclear Physics, Solid-state Physics. Theoretical Physics, Physical optics. Fundamental particles in addition to the degree level Physics.

I captained the Colombo University Volleyball team. That gave me an opportunity to go to Cuttack, India for the Inter-University Volleyball tournament. I captained the Sri Lankan University team. That was my first visit to India. The team traveled by Train from Fort station to Thalai Mannar by train. We took the ferry across the Gulf of Mannar to Dahnuskodi. From Danuskodi we took meter gauge train to Madras. It was a long enjoyable journey. The train started its journey at 3 pm from Dhanuskodi and reached Madras (now Chennai) the next day morning at 8.00 am. The train crossed the famous Pamban Bridge that connected the mainland with Dhanuskodi Rameswaram Island. This bridge was opened on 24 February 1914, it was India's first sea bridge. One time it and was the longest sea bridge in India. The bridge spans a 2 km-strait. On December 23 1964 Cyclone, an estimated 7.6 m (25 ft) storm surge struck the town of Dhanuskodi on the south-eastern edge of the island submerging the town. The surged overturned the Pamban-Dhanuskodi passenger train killing all 150 passengers on board

I was the editor of the Hindu journal “The young Hindu” published by Hindu University students. I acted in a drama titled “Mathamtram”. I frequently went to Peradeniya University for the Inter-University volleyball matches.

I was staying at Paambankadai in Colombo 6. I was sharing room with my brother-in-law’s brother Gunasingarajah, He worked as a draftsman in the survey department. My brother-in-law’s good friend Subramaniam was kind enough to give a room for both os us to share. He was an accountant in the government service. I had bi-cycle to travel to the University. I and my friend Sivarajah went to the University together.

Sivarajah later became a Chartered Accountant.

I had many Tamil friends while I was studying in the University. It is worth mentioning their names. The names of my friends with whom I became friendly Rajaratnam was very good friend of mine. He was from Varani. He lost his mother at a younger day. Rajaratnam who was later my roommate at 36 School Avenue at Colombo 6. He bought a Fiat car. At the latter part of his service he obtained job in the Revenue Department in Oman. Rajaratnam bought a house next to my house at Ramakrishna Avenue. My father-in-law negotiated the deal for him. Ganenthiran was from Pandatharippu. He had a Vespa scooter and later I bought it from him. Kailasapathy from Iddaikaadu was a good bridge player. He was good in Maths. He passed the IEE exam from UK. He had a love affair with girl from Iddaikadu. I helped in getting registered to his girlfriend at Nawalapitiya. She qualified as a Dentist. Ramanathapillai was a good astrologer. Natkunam, Jeysingh, Nadarajahpillai, Sundaralingam a dramatist, Sivanathan, Dharmalingam, Ganeshalingam. Sundaralingam was from Sangiliyan Thopu Nallur. He was a good football player. I was a friend of his from St Johns College. Many of them joined the government service and as Teachers. Sivanathan’s was from Kalvaiyal. His elder brother Murugaiyan was poet who worked in the department of translation. He wrote my wedding invitation in a poetry form. It was something different. Tharmalingam was from Velanai. He started as a Physics teacher at Alexandra College Colombo 7. Ponnampalampillai got married to a Businessman’s daughter with a big dowry. He joined the Department of Inland Revenue as Assistant Assessor. Ganenthiran was a business-minded person. I bought his Vespa Scooter. In that scooter I travelled frequently to Puttalam. Later I bought a Honda 3.5 Motorcycle from Ganenthiran.

I continued to have contacts with them even after coming out of the University. In the year 1963, there were eleven students who passed in 1st Class at the BSc final examination. My friend came first in that batch. Rajaratnam got into the Inland Revenue Department as Asst Assessors. Kailasapathy, Ganenthiran, Nadarajapillai, Ponnampalampillai all obtained job as Asst Assessors in the Inland Revenue Department. I was the only one out of my friends who got a job in the Telecommunication Department. My roommate and friend Rajaratnam later got married to the timber merchant; s friend;s eldest daughter Meenalosani (Meena) with a good dowry. Unfortunately, they did not have any children. Meena died of breast cancer.

During my University time Elagupillai from Puthur was one-year junior to me. He obtained a 1st Class in the general degree. With the help of Professor Mailwaganam he obtained a Scholarship to do PhD. He did his doctorate in nuclear Physics at Toronto University. He worked in Zambia and later came back to Canada and settled down. At the latter part of his life he got involved in Politics. He contested for the position of Regional councilor for Markham but was not successful. He was blessed with two sons. He moved to Ooty in South India, built a house and living in that town.

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CHAPTER 8

Lecturer at the Colombo University 1964-1966

The carrier as Assistant Lecturer in Physics at the Colombo University was challenging. I took tutorials for GSQ students and practicals for first-year BSc students. I was also the examiner for the London AL physics practical examination. I corrected the Ceylon AL Physics papers. From the money I earned for correcting AL Physics papers. I brought a gold chain. Those were new experiences for me. When I was working as Assistant lecturer I was a part-time lecturer in physics at Aquinas University college Borella Fr Peter Pillai was the Director I gave private tuitions n Physics to many students Colombo 7 and Colombo 3 and earned about 1000 Rupees during the period 1964 to1966. My monthly income was about 4000 Rupees. I bought Vespa scooter and traveled to Puttlam Later I sold to a bought 1.5 Honda Moto bike after using it for an year I got Driver’s license and bought an Austin A30 traveled with my friends to Nawalapitiya and Jaffna and I was keen on getting into the CAS. Sitting for Ceylon Administrative Service examination called briefly as CAS was considered as a challenge in government service carrier. I applied to sit for that examination. Meanwhile I was selected as Technical Officer in the Ceylon Coconut Board. The salary and benefits were good, but the job was not challenging. To mention the lecturers who rook classes in Physics e at the Colombo University were, Prof AW Mailvaganam, Dr Kanangara, Dr Appapillai, Dr PCB Fernando, Dr Muthukumaruna, Baliga, and Mr Nadarajah, Valentine Joseph talk lecturers in Maths and Dr Siriwardane for chemistry.

Since the job in the university was only temporary. I applied for various jobs. One of the jobs I applied was to Flight Lieutenant in the Airforce. I went for a severe physical test at Diyatalawa and a Final interview at the Defense ministry. I could not get the job. I wanted to apply to the Police service. Since I was wearing spectacles, I was not eligible to apply. I went for an interview to the Tea Research Institute at Talawakelle. I was not successful in the interview. I applied for an Executive post in the Ceylon Coconut Board. The chairman of the board was a student of Prof Mailwaganam and did special degree. I was selected for the post. The salary and benefits for the position was higher than the basic salary of Rs340.00 per month for PSC appointment. In addition to this basic salary they pay Cost of Living allowance (COL). The Ceylon Coconut Board paid me a Basic salary of Rs 440.00 per month. The COL too was paid. The benefit was three travels by Train by 1st Class. Monthly I earned in Total Rs 850.00 per month. I earned about Rs 1200 per month by giving tuitions and lecturing part-time at Aquinas University College. The condition from my mother was that I should send monthly Rs 500 to her to save it for my wedding. I paid Rs 300 for the Chummery. I had enough money in my hand to be spend. I bought a secondhand Austin A30 car. It has the same type of engine as Morris Minor.

I served nine months in Ceylon Coconut Board as Staff Assistant. I had the opportunity to travel on official business to the Desiccated Coconut factories in the Western province. After visiting the factories, I instructed the driver of my official car to take me to the Blue Lagoon restaurant in Negombo. They served very good food. Over a glass of Beehive Ceylon Brandy, I enjoyed the meal. When I was working in Ceylon Coconut Board, I applied for the CAS examination and to a job in Post and Telecom Department. I was selected as Probationary Asst Supdt of Telecommunication Traffic in the post and Telecom department by the PSC At the interview I was on Probation for three years. I must pass departmental exams and Grade 8 Singhalese to be confirmed. A Singhalese by the name RVL Wijeywardane, who did Maths special degree, too got appointed. We both were in equal seniority they asked me whether I know Singhalese. At that time, I passed Lower Singhalese as a subject for SSC. As my life in Puttalam helped me to learn Singhalese, I replied yes. That was an added qualification for getting the job. The first three years was probationary period. During the period I worked with a British Colombo Plan advisor by the Name Mr Farmer. He was pleasant man. We traveled almost many parts of Ceylon. He served in the department for two years as advisor.

While working in the Post and Telecommunications department. I sat for the CAS examination. Five papers in Physics, an Essay and Gen Knowledge questions were to be answered. I scored the highest marks for the essay which I wrote in Tamil.

Since I scored marks at the CAS exam, I was called up for two interviews, one to serve in Ceylon and the other in the Overseas Civil service. I was called up for the CAS in interview by the Public Service Commission. I scored good marks in the CAS test. At the interview PMG AL Perera was in the PSC interview aboard r. Since I knew Singhalese well that was an added qualification. My performance was good. A week after the interview, PMG called me to his office and advise me that there is good chance for me to get selected in the CAS, but he should be prepared to work with politicians. Moreover, since I had science background, he wanted me to continue in the present job as Asst Supdt of Telecom Traffic as there is good chance for me to go on scholarship abroad. I listened to his advice and continued in the Post and Telecom Department in Colombo and declined the CAS job that was offered. Maximum would have ended up as Government Agent batting with Politicians. I would have faced problems with LTTE, The advantage was that I was not transferred out of Colombo and was involved in Network planning work for the country. I worked with foreign team and gave my contribution in the development of Indo Ceylon Microwave link and the Greater Colombo Area and Outer Colombo Area Network development (CADS and OCADS). I did the Subscriber forecast for the entire Sri Lanka which was used by ITU experts for planning work.

Seniority in the service is the main criteria in getting promotion. A seniority list is maintained by the department. Union of The Post and Telecom Officers (UPTO) was a powerful union. This union got separated into two unions due to policy difference. Wilfred Perera was one of the outstanding presidents of UPTO. This union consisted of Post Masters and Telephone operators. Normally Postmasters through seniority become Asst Postmaster General (Traffic) and even Postmaster General and Director of Telecommunication. (PMG &DT). Subsequently after I left the department Telecommunications was separated from the Postal service. The Postal Department consisted of Superintendents, Asst Superintendents, Postmasters, Probationers who were mainly graduates, Traffic Assistants Male and Female Telephone operators, Telegraph operators, Telegraph messengers, Postman, etc. The Asst Postmaster General Traffic under whom I served were Mr Nakalingam Mr Arumugam, Mr Guruge, and Mr Daya Karunaratne. During my time the PMG’s were A.L Perera. ARM Jeyawardane and Vernon Abeyasekera. Vernon who was GA Jaffna before he became PMG was liked by the Jaffna people as he was good drama and music. He knew five languages. He was director Radio Ceylon for three years. When SLFP government came to power he could not work with Kumarasuriyar, an arrogant man. Vernon retired and migrated to Australia. He died in that country. He was in communication with me before he died

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CHAPTER 9

Employment in Government service 1966-1979

One time the Jaffna parents wanted their children to join the government service. The main reason is the security of the job and added benefits. Before joining the government service, I was a part-time lecturer at the University of Colombo and a part-time visiting lecturer at Aquinas University College. That was the time Sirimavo Bandaranayke was the Prime Minister. Her daughter Chandrika was a student of mine in Physics. I took Physics Practical’s and lectures. I also took lectures for the Students who appeared for foreign Engineering Exam.

Rev Fr Pete Alcantara Pillai who established the Aquinas University College was the Rector.

Peter Alcantara Pillai was born in Wennappuwa on 19th October 1904 to Jacob Pillai a schoolmaster, and Anna Pillai. They originally hailed from Kayts, an islet of the Jaffna peninsula. Four sons of Jacob and Anna Pillai were ordained, priests. At the age of nine, he started school at St Benedict’s College Colombo 13. In 1918 at the age of 14, he passed the Cambridge Junior with eight distinctions thereby ranking first in the island and

In 1920 at the age of 16 he passed the Cambridge Senior with distinctions in all subjects.

This was the highest number of distinctions obtained by any student in the British Empire. He proceeded to Ceylon University College and graduated with BSc First Class Honours. At the age of 20, he passed his B Sc Hon with a double 1st in Mathematics. In 1925 he gained admission to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge where he graduated at the age of 23 in 1927 with a B.A. (Cantab) majoring in an MA and MSc. (London) from University College London.

At the age of 24 and then the Rome Dominican University where he obtained his PhD in Philosophy and Theology.

He was a Tamil. He had a vision for the college. I also a visiting lecturer at Colombo Tamil Sangam and Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya. At Aquinas my favourite student was Indrakumar. He passed out as a Doctor. He was writer involved in Dram`s and Tamil cinema. He acted in the Tamil film Vaadai Kaatru (வாடைக் காற்று). He also got the Sakithiya Academy for the science book (மண்ணில் இருந்து விண்ணுக்கு) he wrote in Tamil. He married dancer and migrated to English. Unfortunately, he died in the year 2004. He had an unhappy married life.

I earned much money through private tuition. I gave private Tuitions for VIP`s children. To name them Esmond Wickeremasinghe’s second son (Present PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s father was Esmond Wickremasinghe), AO Weerasinghe`s daughter who later became permanent secretary to the ministry of labour and then Ministry of Post and Telecom, former local government minister Thiruchelvam’s son. VIPs contacts was helpful and necessary to get things done in government. My Brother Kamalendran attempted several times to get a job as Labour Officer. It was A.O Weerasinghe who helped my brother to get the post of labour officer because I taught Mr A O’s daughter A-Level physics in which she was weak. She obtained necessary marks to enter Colombo medical faculty,

As a gratitude for the help I did for his daughter to enter medical college he helped my brother to get appointed as Labour Officer, the job he tried to get several times. He later did law in addition to his B.A degree. He was fluent in all three languages. At a later stage he was appointed as Asst Commissioner of Labour (Prosecution). My brother could speak all three languages well He worked as LO in Puttalam. Chilaw, Kurunegala and in Labour HQ in Colombo. He had a son Pon Kovan and Daughter Cothai. His wife Parmeswary whom I call Anni too is a second-class graduate. She took Sanskrit as a subject for her degree, she was Karainagar and entered Peradeniya university from Vembadi high school in Jaffna. She became a teacher and taught in Fathima school in Puttalam and Hindu ladies college Jaffna her father was Grocery Businessman from Panadura. He started as a salesman at Murugesu stories and then started his own business. He was the dealer for Luxpray milk powder His two sons did not do well in business and so was his grandson Pon Kovan

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CHAPTER 10

Life in United Kingdom 1969-1970

(This photo was taken at Katunayake International Airport when I was to leave for London on British Plan scholarship.) 

My mother is holding my brother’s son Pon Kovan. My brother-in-law is carrying my sister’s last son Mahindan. Dushyanthy and Machayanthy are standing between my brother in law and sister. My brother Kamalendran is standing behind me. Behind y sister on the left side my uncle Kanagasingam is standing. On his right side my father’s brother Rasiah is standing. My sisters first son Duhindan is standing between Machayanthy and Pon Kovan).

Under the Colombo Plan Scholar One Year training was given to me at the British Post office, London. That was my first visit to UK. The flight from Colombo by British Airways touched Teheran before reaching London. I saw for first-time snow in Teheran, the day I traveled was the day DMK leader passed away for the first my friends Jeysaingh, Satkunam and Thillainathan were there to receive me at the Airport. I remembered me going to the Colombo harbor to send Thillainathan by ship to London. During that time Suez Canal was closed. as such the ship took 24 days to go around Cape of Good Hope and reach Southampton port. I started living with them at 43 Chepstow Road London in Nottinghill Gate area. This area is predominantly occupied by Afro Caribbean. The riots caused tension between the Metropolitan Police and the British African-Caribbean community, which claimed that the police had not taken their reports of racial attacks seriously. The end of the Second World War had seen a marked increase in African-Caribbean migrants to Britain. By the 1950s, white working-class "Teddy Boys" were beginning to display hostility towards black families in the area,

My arrival in London was in the month of October. Within 2 months I experienced the life in snowing weather. There were many Pakistani and Arab shops in Bays water near the house I lived. I enjoyed the Biriyani sold by the Muslim shops.

My friend Jeyasinghe was interested in horse racing. He worked as a medical physicist in the Charring Cross hospital. He frequently visits the Betting shops. He introduced me to horse racing. I won good money by betting on horses. Occasionally bet on horse by the name Tamil. Just because of the name I bet one pound on it for win. It ran at 100 to 1 odd. Surprisingly I won the bet and got 100 sterling pounds. We all got together and enjoyed the victory by buying Hallal goat meat and Beer, Jeyasingh was a good cook. Another day I bet on 4 horses as Jackpot. Unfortunately, one horse out of the four cane third but other three came first. I won 150 pounds through that betting. I never knew about the horses. I was aware of good Jockeys such as Willie Carson, Lester Piggott, Pat Eddery. Some of these names are popular among the people who became addicts to horse racing. Even a laborer who cannot read English know to read the name of these jockeys. I did not get an opportunity to go to Ascot racing which was for high-class community.

I opened a Bank account with National West Minister Bank in Bays water square. The monthly payment for me from the British Council under the scholarship went to that account. I was paid about hundred pounds monthly and for the traveling I did. Monthly it came to 125 pounds. That was more than enough to pay my rent and for food.

My main training was at Bridgewater square BPO trading school. As a part of the training I underwent Training at Liverpool, Bournemouth, Potters Bar, and Northern Telecom Branch office at Turnpike Lane. Mr. Farmer who cane to Ceylon to P&T Department a Consultant was the Deputy Manager at Bournemouth. He treated me and Wijewardane as one of his family members. We both were given special attention by his staff. During weekends I traveled to London by Train. In the 12th century the region around the mouth of the River Bourne developed and the town was named Bournemouth.

I had training at Leeds Bournemouth and London. At Leeds the officer who looked after me took me to a restaurant where Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, the national food of York country was served. Leeds is a city in the United Kingdom, located in the county of West Yorkshire in Northern England, approximately 170 miles north of central London. Leeds has one of the most diverse economies of all the UK's main employment centers and has seen the fastest rate of private-sector jobs growth of any UK city. It also has the highest ratio of private to public sector jobs of all the UK's Core Cities, with 77% of its workforce working in the private sector.

Sir Len Hutton the MCC captain was Yorkshire cricket Player He set a record in 1938 for the highest individual innings in a Test match in only his sixth Test appearance, scoring 364 runs against Australia, a milestone that stood for nearly 20 years (and remains an England Test record). In 1952, he became the first professional cricketer of the 20th Century to captain England in Tests; under his captaincy England won the Ashes the following year for the first time in 19 years.

My training took place at Bridge water square located closer to Barbican tube station near St Pauls church Every student was asked to give 15 minutes on any subject other than the queen I spoke on Astrology and all students liked that topic During training I learned about Call valuation for staffing manual board.

My worst experience in the UK winter was when I was instructed to go to Potters Bar manual telephone exchange It was freezing cold. I walked through the snow and finally managed to find the place. The supervisor, when she saw my condition, she gave me coffee and asked me to rest for some time.

This is the photo taken when I was residing in Waldemar Place at Wimbledon, England .

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CHAPTER 11

Getting Married - 1970

(This photo was taken on the day of my marriage registration at No3 Ramakrishna Av, Colombo 6

My mother Rukmani is standing on the right of my wife Rajini.)

There were several proposals for my marriage. The main issue was the horoscope matching. My mother’s brother Kanagasingam was working as chief clerk in the Irrigation department. He was my roommate at 53 Moors Road Wellawatta. At that time, I was in the final year at the University. We lived in a room at Moors road Wellawatte. My uncle had a friend called Thavarajah who was marriage broker. The proposal came through the broker. After I returned from UK my uncle came to my room at 36 School avenue at Wellawatta with my future father-in-law Inspector of Police Mr Rajakualsingham and Sharjah the marriage broker. At that time Mr Rajakualsingham was working as a Police Inspector in Wellawatte. His father Mr Chelliah was a Police sergeant during British rule. He lived in Kilner lane Vannarponnai He was a tall big made man. He showed his daughter Rajini’s photo in a blue saree. According to my assessment she was pretty and tall. Mr Rajakualsingham spoke high of his daughter Rajini by saying that she can play piano accordion and did diploma in home science at Holy family convent Bambalapitiya. She was eldest child in the family, the other two are brothers Rajkumar and Raviraj. Rajkumar later became Swami Sahmuganantha of Ramakrishna mission. Raviraj dud his degree in Telecom Engineering at Essex University and later did Phd in Telematics .Mr. Rajakualsingham told my uncle that he has a house in Ramakrishna Avenue Wellawatte and in Urelu indicating that he will give both houses to his daughter and Rs10,000 in cash as dowry. All this was because I was UK trained and a staff officer in Post and Telecom department, They would have definitely inquired about my profile in Wellwatta as many people knew me as good Physics teacher who taught for AL students at Colombo Tamil Sangam, Bambalpitiya Convent and in some private institutions in addition to my staff officers job in government department . The Inspector Rajakulasingam sister Selvadevi was a telegraph operator at Jaffna. She advised them not to reject the marriage

(The group photo of my families of my sister, brother on the day of my

Marriage registration in the year 1970 at Colombo 6)

 

In the picture L to R Aunty Rathinam, My sister, My BIL, Myself My wife My Mother, My SIL, My brother.

I made independent inquiries about indirectly the two houses will be given as dowry.

Rajakualsingham family. His father Chelliah was a retired Police sergeant during British time and married thrice. His first two wives died, and they were Hindus. He mother was from Archivally. Chelliah fell in love with a Christian teacher from Vembadi school and married her. My brother first did not like the marriage because the girl’s grandfather was a Christian. My uncle convinced him and told him that she belongs to good Vellalar caste from Atchuvely and the girl’s mother’s brother was a deputy director of irrigation. Moreover, girls mother’s father was a Malayan pensioner with much wealth and built a large house in Urelu.

My wife Rajini studied at several schools because her father was working as Police inspector in Singhalese areas such as Moratuwa, Wattala, Wellampitiya Panadura, Kuliyapitiya, Kurunegala. Wennapuwa Trincomalee, Wellwatta. She studied Singhalese and could speak that language. Finally, she studied at Uduvil girls High school ad was bordered in that school. Rajini’s father was tall and big made whereas her mother Selvapaakiam born in Ipoh Malaysia was small made and was the only daughter of the Malayan pensioner Muthuthamby. My mother in law had many brothers, the eldest Rathinam was the deputy director of irrigation. One of her brother Arasarathinam went to UK by ship and graduated out as Civil Engineer from Birmingham University. We called him Arasu mama Aarau was good tennis player and loves cricket. He was a handsome man. His wife Vasantha, a graduate was the niece of my friend Saravanamuthu. I arranged their marriage, she is from Meesalai and knew my brother in laws family who too was from Meesalai.

Muthuthamby had a large house in Urelu That house and land that had mango jack and Tamarind trees with a high-quality water well. It was given as dowry to me Myself and my wife never lived in that house. We spent one night in that house It was given free of rent to her uncle and after her elderly uncle His wife stole the furniture and many brass items that were locked up in the front room My Mother in law had a brother by the name Sothiratnam who we called Mani mama. who worked in the Survey Department, He married a lady from Singapore? Mani mama had two daughters Anh and Danush of the same age of my daughter. The youngest brother if my Mother in law. Thurairatnam was working as Technical officer in private company. He was very friendly with me He worked in Dhahran for two years. He married Sundari from Chavakachcheri. I arranged that marriage through my friend Ganachndran who was a magistrate and later became GA Mullaitivu. He was murdered by LTTE as he was an informer for the army. He was friendly with Kumarasuriyar. I discouraged that friendship as I know that he was using my friend to contest Killinochi electorate. Kumarasuriyar contested the elections and polled only about 4000 votes and lost to Annadasangari. During 1983 communal riots he was not in power and was beaten by rioters. That was the end of his story, No Tamil speaks good of him. He was also part of the plot to destroy the Jaffna Library

My mother-in-law’s another brother whom we called Umbi mama was a good mechanic. He worked at the Railway department. He was interdicted by than GM Rampala for coming late to work. My Father in law appeared and won the case for him. My mother in law’s another brother whom we called him Kunam mama. He did not do well in life. He was helped by his brothers. He was a good-hearted man Mr Sivarajah an asst account was a short man like his sister and had many daughters. He later moved to UK, He built a house behind our house in Urelu. His eldest daughter Yasuhara is a quiet lady and lives in Scarborough Canada with her husband and only daughter

As per my brother’s wish my marriage took place at Nallur Sivan temple located two hundred meters from my Nallur home. The bridegroom’s house was 181 Arasady road Nallur. It was a normal wedding. I was working at that time as Asst Supdt of Telecom Traffic. Many postal department staff from Jaffna and friends from Colombo came for the wedding.

My honeymoon was at a government bungalow for week in Nuwereliya. We visited Hagalla gardens, Seetaeliya. There are many Asoka trees in that area. The legend is that Hanuman burned that area and the light from Nuwereliya as such the town got that name. Eliya in singhalese means light We went in my Volkswagen car which I imported from UK. On return journey from the honeymoon, we had lunch at Belihul Oya rest house. I showed my wife the river Beluhul Oya over which a temporary bridge was constructed to film “The bridge over River Kuwai”

We visited my brother’s house in Kurunegala and as well as at Puttalam. He was a labour officer. He had two children. The first is a boy Pon Kovan and the second a girl Cothai. Cothai was born 17 days before my daughter was born on 18th July 1971 That was the peak of the JVP rebellion Kovan was a three year boy when I got married Cothai later graduated out and was in good job and Kovan did not complete his degree in India and did some transport business and was not successful My brother complained to me about his performic later he was called back to Colombo and was working in a private sector

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CHAPTER 12

Birth of my daughter & India scholarship-1971

The first unsuccessful armed revolt conducted by the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) with communist ideology against the Government of Ceylon under Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. The leader was Rehana Wijayaweera who studied at Lumumba University Moscow. Rohana Wijeweera, was a Sri Lankan Marxist politician, revolutionary and the founding leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. Wijeweera led the party in two unsuccessful insurrections in Sri Lanka, in 1971 and 1987 to 1989

The revolt began on April 5, 1971 and lasted till June 1971. The insurgents were able to capture and hold several towns and rural areas for several weeks until they were recaptured by the armed forces One of the human rights violation case was that one Beauty queen of Kataragama by the name Premawathy. He was made to walk naked in the village and shot and killed by the army Indian Punjabi forces were brought down to win the revolvers. Many Human rights violations were committed in a Buddhist country. Youngers from JVP were shot and their bodies floated in Kelani river. Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranayke was the Prime minister during JVP revolt. She was the wife of SWRD Bandaranaike who was the second Prime minister of Sri Lanka lost the elections due many incidents. She lost her civic rights but at the parliament Mr Amirthalingam, the opposition leader. supported her

My daughter was born at 10. 15a.m on 18th July 1971 at St Michel’s nursing home Bambalpitiya. Dr Samaranayake was the doctor who delivered the baby. It was a normal delivery.

Myself and my wife agreed to name my daughter Kiruthiha as she was born in Karthigai star. She was chubby child. It was a normal delivered. Samaranayake delivered the baby. She was the first grandchild for my wife’s parents as such they were very happy. She grew up at No3 Ramakrishna Avenue Wellawatta. She attended the nursery school at Moors Road Wellwatta. A rickshaw man too her to school and brought her back home. My Brother-in-law Rajkumar was responsible for first calling her by pet name KITCHO. This name became popular among my Relations and friends. Even after she grew up, she was called by this name. She sucks her thumb holding cotton wool in the other hand. There was servant girl by the name Reeta. She was doing all the cooking. She was recruited by a known Postmaster from Badulla. Our pet dog a pure breed Dhorban Ridgeback named Togo plays with her and very protective of her. The residents down the lane feared Togo. He was poisoned by someone and died.

The pet name Kitcho was given to my daughter by my brother in law Rajkumar who became Swami Shanmuganamtha. Kitcho attended the religious classes at Ramakrishna mission. Swami Virupakshananda taught her the first letter reading on a Vijayadashami day. She could reside Aathisoodi (ஆத்திசூடி) at the age of two. She went to the mission with my brother-in-law. Myself and my wife took to the Ramakrishna mission park to enjoy a swing. She attended an elocution training in English. One day she fell from the swing in the house and dislocated her right hand. Her good friend was Geetha, the next-door neighbor station master Ganesh Uncle’s only daughter. They went to the nursery school together. Myself and my wife planned to send her to Holy Family convent, Bambalapitiya for further studies. Being an Old of student she thought that they will give her admission. Unfortunately, they expected donation to the school, as such they refused to admit her. I mentioned to the Madame superior that I took Physics classes for Advanced level students in that school, but that did not matter for them.

I was a good teacher for AL students. I took classes in Physics for Ceylon and London AL students at Colombo Tamil Sangam located at Wellwatta. I was a part-time Physics lecturer at Aquinas University College at Borella. Fr Peter Pillai was the director. I gave private tuitions for children VIP’s such as Desmond Wickremasinghe, owner of Lakehouse, AO Weerasinghe Civil Servant, Thiruchelvam, the Local government minister. I earned more than Rs1500 per month in addition to my salary from the government service. I wrote a MCQ book for Physics in Tamil for AL students. My brother-in-law Rajkumar helped me to translate the questions to Tamil.

My interesting long trip by my Volkswagen EN 5670 was from Colombo to Jaffna via Chilaw, Puttalam., Anuradhapura, Vavuniya 400 km. The road was not good. It took nearly nine hours to reach Jaffna Our Servant Sivalingam accompanied me in that journey Once I traveled by A30 car. I also traveled on official business to Eastern and Uva province

We visited my sisters house at Arasady Nallur for the annual Nallur festival. Kicho enjoyed playing with her cousins. We also visited Puttalam when my brother was the labor officer in that town. I introduced my wife to my Muslim friends. My very close friend served dinner for us. Wife and I went to N’Eliya with our daughter. My wife’s uncle Sothiratnam and family joined us.

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CHAPTER 13

My Public Service& JVP insurrection 

Before joining the public service, I worked as a Asst Physics lecturer at Colombo University for one year. It was a temporary appointment. I applied for several jobs. When I applied for the post of flight lieutenant in Air force, I underwent physical and mental testing at their training center at Diya Alawa. I was not selected. I was selected as technical Staff officer in Ceylon Coconut Board. Although the salary and benefits were good, I did not like the post. I was called for an interview by the Public Service Commission (PSC). Since I knew English, Tamil and Singhalese I was selected for the post of Asst Supdt of Telecom. The posting was in Post & Telecom department in Colombo. It was on probation for three years. During the probationary period I must pass Sinhalese, Administrative Regulations (AR) and Financial Regulations (FR). I was trained in various Postal and Telcom departments because post and Telecom were amalgamated. The main condition was that I should pass Singhala proficiency exam within the probationary period. Since I knew Singhalese, and already passed lower singhalese, it was not difficult for me. Within the probationary period I was trained in several Post offices investigations. I was to pass Departmental exam in Traffic code and learned Morse code. A Colombo plan expert by the name Farmer from British Post office was helpful in training me.

Before joining the Post and Telecom department I applied for Ceylon Administrative Service Examination. The five papers in Physics, an Essay in Tamil and General knowledge were the subjects. I scored high marks in Essay and good marks in other subjects. As I applied for Ceylon administrative service and foreign service, I was called up for an interview for both. At the interview board PMG was a interview board members. A week after the interview he called me and advised me that the present job I am having in the department is better than CAS job as that was transferable job and must meet the requirements of politicians. Moreover, I will get an opportunity to go on a scholarship to UK. After listening to him, I declined the job offer as CAS officer from PSC and continued to work in P&T department.

My boss was one Mr K Nakalingam, who was friendly man. The PMG was AL Perera, a civil servant whose father was Postmaster. There were two Tamils, Nalliah and Arumugam as Superintendents Telecom of traffic

I was sent to British Post Office for 14 months training in 1969 under the British Plan Scholarship. That was my first visit to UK. I took the British Airways flight to London through Tehran, Iran. That was the first time I saw Snow at Teheran Airport. It was the time Shah was the ruler of Iran. Since I had my University batch mates in UK, I did not feel lonely. I stayed with them at 43 Chepstow Road. Noting hill gate, in London. I had the opportunity to get trained in Leeds, Potters bar, Bournemouth, a coastal holiday resort.

I was exempted from Parts 1 & 2 of Institute of Electrical Engineers UK I sat for exam part 3 and qualified as an Engineer. Later I did CIM and CIMA part 1 &2

When I was Supdt of Telecom Traffic it faced problems with Trade union. UPTO hello- girls went on strike over on introducing a hooter system if a Trunk call booking was not answered with 15 seconds Prior Ministry approval was obtained by me. Later Minister Kumarsuariyar called me and questioned me as to why I introduced hooter system I told him about the public complaints in the delay in answering call bookings I showed hos approval before introducing the system and he never said a word.

In another case Telephone supervisor by the name Mrs Sasanadasa was fined thrice for giving free calls. During JVP rebellion she implicated me by a false complaint that I helped JVP to tap calls. In his complaint that I was a supporter of JVP. Imagine a Tamil officer supporting JVP. One Ian Wickremanayake called me up to investigate. I took the list of cases against the complainant. Ian made inquiry about Mrs Vethavanam Asst Supervisor and she confirmed my integrity. after going through the cases against the complainant he did not question me. After I returned to office, I made a complaint to the Perm secretary about the false complaint made against me. Mrs. Sasanadasa was interdicted for two years. Later she came back through political influence

When I was working as secretary planning board, I did subscriber forecast for ten years for Colombo Area development scheme acronym CADS. That document was used by a Japanese ITU expert Akusi. I was involved in network capacity planning for CADS and OCADS and Indo Ceylon Microwave link projects

I also trained Postmasters and Traffic Assistants in Traffic work.

When I appeared for the interview for the post of Supdt Telcom Traffic I came first at the interview. but PMG appointed according to seniority as the Union insisted on it When I joined the department in 1966 Mr Perampalam was APMG traffic followed by Mr K Nakalingam as APMG (Traffic)and then Mr Arumuugam, and later Mr Guruge. None of them had any Telcom background. I was given a Colombo Plan scholarship on Ship to Shore communication. It was one-month training in India. I was trained Madras, Calcutta, Bombay and Cochin The entire journey was by Train I traveled by first class. Hotel accommodation was free. I did not take my wife with me as she has delivered my daughter. Madras (now Chennai) to Calcutta was by Howrah Express It was about 36 Hours journey through Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and to West Bengal. It was the period after Bangladesh war in 1971. Calcutta is dirty city. They eat sweets for the breakfast it took more than one hour to cross the Howrah bridge and reach the hotel. Like in Kerala state literacy rate in West Bengal was high. The people supported communism. Jyoti Basu was a popular politician Howrah Bridge is a bridge with a suspended span over the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. Commissioned in 1943, The bridge was originally named the New Howrah Bridge, because it replaced a pontoon bridge at the same location linking the two cities of Howrah and Kolkata(Calcutta). On 14 June 1965 it was renamed Rabindra Setu after the great Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, who was the first Indian and Asian Nobel laureate. It is still popularly known as the Howrah Bridge. The bridge is one of four on the Hooghly River and is a famous symbol of Kolkata and West Bengal.

The next stop was Bombay later it was named Mumbai. It is the Bollywood area of India. It is a business city. Matunga area was mainly occupied by Tamils. There was saree market I bought a saree for my wife.

From Bombay I went by Train though Arokonam to Cochin in Kerala. Kerala is beautiful state like Sri Lanka. The Chera dynasty (was one of the principal lineages in the early history of the present-day states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in southern India. Together with the Cholas of Uraiyur and the Pandya’s of Madurai, the early Cheras were known as one of the three major powers (mooventar) of ancient Thamilagam

The people of the Chera country owed their importance to exchange of spices, especially black pepper, with Middle Eastern and Graeco-Roman merchants he etymology of "Chera" is still a matter of considerable speculation among historians. One approach proposes that the word is derived from Cheral, a corruption of Charal meaning "declivity of a mountain" in Tamil, suggesting a connection with the mountainous geography of Kerala. Vasco da Gama a Portuguese traveler landed in, in Kappadu near Kozhikode (Calicut), in Malabar Coast (present-day Kerala state of India), on 20 May 1498.

It was one time called Sera Nadu. The symbol of the kingdom is and popular king Seran Chengutuvan had an annual festival for Kannagi. His brother Ilonggo adigal a Jain wrote Silapthiakaram. King Gajabau from Sri Lanka was friendly with Seran sengutuvan, He was taken up by the festival for Kannagi. He returned to Sri Lanka with statue of Kannagi through math gal port and introduced Kannagi worship by the name Pathini worship in north, east and south of Sri Lanka. The statue of Kannagi is taken in the Kandy perehera procession. The Kerala food was excellent I had hoppers. Prawn curry. That was the time the famous award-winning film Semen was released. The kernel women were beautiful. Caste system prevail. There are Hindus, Muslim and Christian communities. Many Muslims worked in middle East. I visited a Jew Colony in Cochin Jews (also known as Malabar Jews, are the oldest group of Jews in India, with roots that are claimed to date back to the time of King Solomon. The Cochin Jews settled in the Kingdom of Cochin in South India, Following their expulsion from Iberia in 1492 by the Alhambra Decree, a few families of Sephardi Jews eventually made their way to Cochin in the 16th century. They became known as Paradesi Jews (or Foreign Jews).

From Cochin I returned to Madras and was trained there for another week. Took a flight from Madras and returned to Sri Lanka

When I returned to Colombo within six months, I introduced to ship to shore HF communication in Colombo

While in service I was called up for election duties I was PRO at Pothuhera and ARO (Asst Returning Officer) communication for Killinochi electorate I assisted in vote counting.

I was responsible for providing telephone service to Sub Post offices in Rural areas. That gave me an opportunity to travel to rural areas in Sri Lanka Two assistants always travelled with me were G S Perera, A C Siriwardane, A P Gunatilake, Batuwangala, and Selladurai. I had an assistant by the name Varatharajah. He fell in love with Telephonist but died at young age in an operation

One of the Night Telephone operator tried to urinate through an open window. He slipped and from third floor and died He was political appointee.

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CHAPTER 14 

Oman Life - 1979-1980

When I was interviewed by Chief accountant Mr Scott of Omantel, he never any questions in Telecommunication. Only questions were related to International Telecommunication accounting. I was asked questions on Out payment and in payment on International calls and a also bout Gold franc currency used for settling accounts with countries. Cable wireless from Britain had a share of investment in Omantel as such there were Britishers in the company. They were provided with bungalow and more benefits than Indians or Sri Lankan employees. many of them were not qualified Engineers. Before I went for the interview I prepared myself by going through ITU accounting manual. That helped me to get selected as Traffic Controller. With a monthly salary of Omni Riyal 340. Exchange rate during1979 was one Omni Riyal was equivalent to 45.50 Sri Lankan rupees. This works out to about SLR 16,000 per month which was about 10 times the salary I was drawing in P&T Department Sri Lanka. That salary helped to settle the loans I obtained to renovate my house at No3 Ramakrishna Av.

Free housing, Transport to the office and back, once a year free Air Ticket for me and my family, and one month of vacation were the benefits given.

I was also offered a job in Telecom sector at Botswana and Ndola Zambia. Comparatively Oman job was better with higher salary and benefits and moreover Oman to Sri Lanka was only4 hours flight. Many Indians mainly Keralites worked in that country. One Khimji Ramdas from Gujarat financially helped the Sultan Qaboos’s father. As gratitude he was given Oman citizenship and had lucrative business in Muscat and Ruwi. Muscat was the capital of Oman. The ruler Sultan Qaboos’s palace was with a beautiful Rose garden and is at Muscat. He was crazy over owning different model cars and in western music. He was trained Sandhurst UK as much his advisers were Britishers. Many British companies sic as Quorum Contractors, Taylor Wood grown were doing business. Oman’s Road structure was at developing stage.

Initially I went to Oman alone and after one month I obtained Visa for my wife and daughter. We were provided a one-bedroom accommodation at Azaiba a seashore village not too far from the Seeb International Airport.

Cable and Wireless was in partnership with Oman government. My boss was Mr Scott a chartered accountant. He had no knowledge of Telecommunications. His deputy was Balden. There were Keralites Zanzibaris and Sri Lankans who worked in the Accounts Department. I looked after the settlement of accounts with countries to which international calls were connected. The currency used was Gold Franc

While in Oman we made friendship with Mr Rajadurai family. There were other friends such as Nagul, Bala, Banda etc We made few trips to rural areas such as Bahar and Nizwa. We met frequently at Rajadurai’s house

Rajadurai oversaw the Transport company engineering section. The owner was a Yemini prince

Another friend I met was Naguleswaran. He was working for shell company

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates Than in countries like Qatar. The Oman Sultanate is a country in Southwest Asia. It is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The Arabian Sea was located to the south and east and was thus subject to a period of Portuguese and British occupation, due to its trade-off between the West and the East. The country was once associated with the Indus Valley and East Africa, where people call it the Dhofari, Baluchi and Zanzibari

1970 The Sultanate of Oman renamed Oman when Sultan Qaboos took office. Sultan was trained in England defense, his advisers many British officers. Oman's telecom service was provided by Omantel . the company's name 70 on the administration by Cable and Wireless (Cable & Wireless), a British share.

I was one of the recruits in Sri Lanka with experience in telecom traffic accounting to serve at Omantel in 1979.

When I told my people that I was going to get the privilege of Oman, I said, "What are you crazy about? What are you going to do to the desert without water?" There is no water for bathing.” If I explain my money problem to them, they are going to borrow it for nothing. I was in the morning, not knowing that everyone was building a new house, and I was in the process of renovating the house that my wife's race was proud of me. A little cash in hand. Eventually I found myself in the bank. It was also Manager's habit of borrowing some money. The loan can be built for 50,000 rupees. This is how Oman got a salary of 400 OR a month.

In 1977, it was a big paycheck, equivalent to about 17,000 SLR per month y family is more than that, a two-bedroom house with beach, furniture and beach. I saw the account. You can save at least 250 riyals per month after food expenses. You can settle the debt in a few months anyway. First, I climbed the plane, deciding that it was the dessert that no one was going to lend me a tongue about. I planned to call my wife and daughter in a month's time if they took the place.

The first day before I flew to Oman,

"What do I and the child need to get to Oman?" We have been married for six years. That is the first time I will leave my family.

“He gives Omankaran a rented house, home goods, transport company and car company. Thirty days a year with Lee and his family to go to town with a plane ticket. What problem do you have? ”I said.

“No Arabs are like that. If women find them, they will go to sleep. That's it.

It reminded me of her continuing to read the Arabic folk tale Alima Rani, which she continued in Virakesari. Oh no I thought it would have worked in her mind.

“Don't think anything. There will be no Tamil families. I go and decide and send the visa and ticket to the water and the child. Let's see from a while. "

I left the Bandaranaike International Airport on a flight to Oman at 9 am on a morning flight in April 1979. On the other side of my seat was an English-speaking man who knew that he was Omani from the hat and clothes he was wearing. The first time I got a job at Omantel, I introduced myself by saying I was going to Oman and my name was Indran

He introduced himself by saying that it was Mohammed to do so. In conversation with him, he said that his housemaid was a Sinhala girl named Menike

"What Mister Does Now Become Time in Muscat Oman"

"There is a difference of thirty minutes to an hour. The time is now 7.30am."

“How long is the flight?

“We will go there in the daytime, about four hours into Oman

"Is this your first trip to Colombo?"

“No, I've been to Colombo twice before. I saw Gorgeous girls smiling when they go to Kandy. Monika’s brother Zoysa took care of me in Colombo. He runs a labour agency is sending personnel to Dubai” he said

Before I left for Oman, I read about Oman. It was revealed that the Sultan was a rule and a merciful country

About 3000 km from Colombo to Oman Seeb Airport. The flight took off from the Arabian Sea through Thiruvananthapuram and crossed the Arabian Sea to Oman in four hours and took about 45 minutes. Looking at the scenic view of Kerala through the window, I knew that the clouds were only the sea

Then the flight attendant brought a meal and I drank a glass of whiskey.

"Do you drink nothing?" I asked for the do

"I'm not drinking alcohol and doing orange juice."

"Can I get alcohol in Oman"?

" Only in Saudi Arabia, there is restriction but not in Oman. They will issue permits to buy alcohol based on the salary a person gets "

"Are there other communities "?

“Not mine. . Sri Lanka Pakistanis. Indians like Bangladesh and the Philippines. Many nationalities work in Oman”

Is there no Hindu temple in Oman? Asked him

“Why not? Khimji Ramdas, a Gujarati Hindu, has been doing business in Oman for a hundred years. So close to the Sultan is the Shiva temple, which is in Muscat, and paid the interest of the present Sultan's father. Khimji Ram Das. So Khimji has value in Oman and the temple he built.”

“Oman has other cities than Muscat:

"Enjoy. The city of Salalah, near the Yemeni border, is a city of natural resources. The climate of that city in Sri Lanka. It rains frequently: the race is from here.

"Oasis other than that city"?

"Al-Buraimi is an oasis in northern Oman on the border between Oman and the United Arab Emirates."

“In Oman; Which is the next great Capricorn to Muscat?

“Nizwa is the largest city in the Aad Takhlia region of Oman and was once the capital of Oman. Nizwa is about 140 km from Muscat.

Nizwa is an important meeting point in the foothills of the Western Hazar Mountains. Today, Nizwa is a prosperous place with plenty of agricultural, historical and recreational features. Nizwa is a center for growing dates and there is a market for the area

"Hajar Mountain is a mountain in Oman"?

The Hajar Mountain Series, which begins in the Musandam peninsula in the north, is about 440 km (270 mi) east to Ras al-Hut, 50 km (31 mi) wide, with sudden flooding from the mountain to the flooding cars.

"I have questioned whether Oman is a country with a fair share"

"Some of Oman's natural resources are petroleum, natural gas, copper, asbestos, limestone, chromium and gypsum. Oman is the 70th largest country in the world."

When we peered through the window, we saw a small island

” Mr. How does it look like?

“It is the island of Masirah. Sixty kilometres off the coast of Oman, about 100 km south of Ordah, is the site of the Oman Air Force on the Attic, 600 km from Muscat.

We'll get to the Seeb International Airport in one hour.

Before descending, I peered through Blaine's window. The only sand dunes are the desert. Some of the structures were visible here and there. Oh man, I don't know in English. Come on, Oh Man, you have come to Oman.”

One-page mountain series was visible. Trees can be numbered. All the trees that appeared were emeralds. I was looking for camels. They were missing must be resting in a shelter. When landing at the Oman Seeb international airport it was daylight. I was surprised to see that no one uses umbrella to protect themselves from the sun. I had to search for the cloud crowd in the sky. How many months have it rained? The temperature was 40 degrees centigrade. Well I decided to put up with the sudden temperature change? I tolerated it because my housing loan must be paid off.

Omantel Assistant Admin Manager was there to receive me at the Airport. He took me to a hotel in Ruvi. Few days I stayed at the hotel until my house was ready for occupation. Until my family, arrived a paid Kerala cook, prepared meals for me.

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My wife Rajini and daughter arrived within a month. Before they arrived, I kept in the refrigerator full of Cadburys chocolates, delicious apples and grapes and, and grocery items. I also rented a black-white TV for entertainment No color TV was available. Only for three hours they shoed English program. Everything was to please my daughter and wife. Soon my wife became friendly with, Kerala and a Tamil family lived near the house where we were. It gave her a sense of relief

Omantel staff who stayed in that housing complex played Volleyball. When they saw me as a good player they made be the captain Once a week we got together and played a game of Tombola There was only one grocery stores two meters away. They sold video and audio cassettes along with grocery items with fish and meat No pork was sold in Oman as it is prohibited in Islam

I managed to get admission to the Indian school in Ruvi. She travelled by Omantel bus along with the children of other staff She took part in a sports meet. She studies for one year until we moved to Abu Dhabi Etisalat;

We had few friends such as Rajadurai family, Naguleswaran. Bala and Uthayan. Sivarajah who was nicked name Banda. He was known to me from Colombo. He worked as driver at Quorum Contractors There was a Tamil doctor who made friends with my family. On Fridays we go to Azaiba fish market bought Crabs. Seer and Jack dish and prawn. My friends cleaned up the fish and we cooked and ate over few glasses of beer. That was our together in my house and Rajadurai’s house. Rajah was chief Mechanical engineer at Desert lines. This transport company was located a, mile from my house. She had two daughters and one son. It was love marriage as both studied at Chavakachcheri

Later they moved to Ontario Canada. Nagul too moved to Scarborough There was Kasi Navaratnam family who was station manager Oman lived in Ruvi. He was busy man as he was the station ager for Air Ceylon. He had son and daughter. Later he moved to Abu Dhabi and our family became close friends. Then I moved to Dubai he too got transferred to Dubai International airport as Station Manager We used to meet with other Tamil families

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CHAPTER 15

Life in Emirates 1979-1991

When my friend Fernando Pulle rang me and asked me whether I am interested in a job in Emirtel as a Planning Officer in grade 3. At the time senior staff levels starts from grade A, B, C and D and the junior staff level starts from level 6, 5, 4 and 3. Quarters and annual flight back home was provided to the staff at levels 3 and above. The salary offered was better than the job I was holding in Oman. I was not happy with finance Manager Mr Scott had no knowledge of Telecom. He was a Charted account. I replied my friend Fernando Pulle that I will accept the job if they offer if it meets my salary requirement and benefits better than my job as Traffic controller in Oman.

In the Post and Telcom department I was holding the position of a senior staff as Supdt of Telecom Traffic. The next promotion was to Asst Postmaster General (Traffic) When Kumarasuriyar was the minister of Post and Telecom he never helped the Tamil. He was appointed as minister through back door. Even he preaches socialism when he goes to his office in fourth floor, he instructed his bodyguard not to allow anyone to get into the lift. He was targeted by LTTE after the burning of Jaffna library He was supporting SLFP which introduced Singhala only act and the standardization policy by which Tamils were badly affected, When I applied for no pay leave the minister Kumarasuriyar refused to approve. For my luck there was a change government and Mr Shelton Jeyasinghe MP from Wattala became the minister. He was a friend od of my father in law. Through my father in law I obtained mister’s approval for one-year no-pay leave. I was the first officer from the department to get one-year no-pay leave. I have to sign a contract saying that I will return after one year failing which I will pay 20,000 Rupees. That was how went to Oman. After one year I must return to my original job. It was a blessing in disguise to resolve my financial crisis.

After completing one year no pay leave again luck played on me. My brother was Labour officer at Puttalam and he helped a Catholic priest in resolving staff-related issue in the church. The priest became fondly with y brother Kamalendran. The priest was known to the minister Shelton Jeysinghe, hence through that priest I managed get one more year extension of No pay leave. That helped me to move to UAE. After exhausting my wo year no pay leave, I applied for third year. PMG declined to approve I did not go back although they issued me with a vacation of post notice. The political situation in Sri Lanka was getting worse as such I decided not to go back to Sri Lanka. I was asked to pay back 40,000 rupees for breaching the contract. I paid in three instalments. I rook the correct decision as it gave me an opportunity to migrate to Canada

In the year 1980 Abu Dhabi was the expensive city in the world. The main roads are Electra road, Passport Road and Airport Road. The city is in an island which was a desert few years back. Discovery of oil in Abu Dhabi turned the entire standard of living in Abu Dhabi. The demography of UAE showed that there was more expatriate population than local Arabs who were called Bedouin. Out of the expatriate population Indians Pakistanis, Iranians and Bangladeshis were in large number. There were large number of housemaids from Sr lank, Philippines and India. Only small number of Sri Lankan Tamil were there. The station nanager for Air Lanka was Kasi Navaratnam. I knew him from Oman. We became close friends. To get driver license in Abu Dhabi was difficult. In can be converted Sri Lankan driver license to Omani driver license without driving test. It was possible that at that time the IGP was a Sri Lankan singhalese who was a friend of Sultan Qaboos. Oman driver license was not recognized in Abu Dhabi but was accepted in Dubai because Dubai government has good relationship with Oman as there was an area that belongs to Oman within Dubai emirates

I used Taxi for travel to office and marketing. Taxis were manned by Pathans , Pakistanis and Indian's. The travel between Dubai and distance of 125 km was by Taxi driven mostly by Pathans who stops the taxi midway during prayer time It was an hour and half hour journey The Abu Dhabi -Dubai border was at Jabil Ali the free trade zone of Dubai emirates

The main market was called the Souq. There was a Gold market controlled by the Indians. The Meena Bazaar is for traditional textiles, jewelry and handicrafts, this is the place to come to. Located in the Bur Dubai area, the market transports you to the past with colourful shops and views of the Dubai Creek. You can also find furniture, ceramics and spices. If you get hungry, sample some of the traditional snacks sold here for just a few Dirhams. The market is particularly atmospheric at night. was the Sari market in Fahad area. Fresh fish could be bought. Arabs love Hormour fish. Fishermen from Tamil Nadu worked for Arabs Thursday was half-day work and Friday off. On Ramadhan there was strict rule that you can’t drink even water in the public. Strict Islamic law was adopted. No pork was available in stories. The Britishers lived a high-level life and Spinnys was the supermarket where they shipped. They hardly missed with the Asians. Many unqualified Britishers held high positions because of their colour. There were few British construction company such as Taylor widow. Laden etc. Laden construction company was owned by a Saudi later during nineties his son Osama Bin laden become world known terrorist who as responsible for the 9/11 Trade Centre attack in New York. One UAE citizen was involved in the attack. Others were Saud’s

I managed to get admission to my daughter in the main school. My daughter did not like the school, but I had no other alternative,

We had only two Tamil families in Abu Dhabi

Again luck played in my life part; I was transferred to Dubai on grade A as Controller Traffic to take over from Mr Cook an Englishman ... There was big jump in my salary and better facilities. I moved to Dubai with my family and settled in an apartment near Al Ghurair shopping center. My boss was Asst manager operations Mt Allan Dempster. He was good man. He was married to a Filipino woman. He was good on Telegraph section.

My car was washed by a Keralite. A hardworking youth. He saved money and started a Juice shop. Within 5 years he started a Kerala restaurant. Chilly Chicken, Naan. Kebab, Paratha were favourite food dishes

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven states that has grown from a quiet backwater to one of the Middle East's most important economic centres. There were seven trucial states namely Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Um al Quwain and Rasel Khaimah. Abu Dhabi was the oil-rich state and has an oasis by the name Alain. The ruler of Abu Dhabi is the president and the Ruler of Dubai became the prime minister. Dubai was mainly commercial state bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south and west, as well as sharing maritime borders with Qatar to the west and Iran to the north. In 2013, the UAE's population was 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million are Emirati citizens and 7.8 million are expatriates.

Human occupation of the present UAE has been traced back to the emergence of anatomically modern humans from Africa some 125,000 BCE Burial sites dating back to the Neolithic Age and the Bronze Age include the oldest known such inland site

Though traditionally conservative, the UAE is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf, with other cultures and beliefs generally tolerated. Politically it remains authoritarian, however.

When I was working in Dubai as Controller Traffic operation, I had minor staff by the Name Sajahan He was from Lebbai Kudi Kadu near Ariyaloor Tamil Nadu. He was an intelligent boy and did lots of Forecasting work along with me using LOTUS 123. At that time there was no Microsoft Excel, or Word I used word Perfect for typing letter Email came very late.

That was the time Dubai system was switching from Stronger switching system to Stored Program Control (SPC) system. Pulse cod emulsion was introduced for local network. Packet switching too was introduced I was involved in reorganizing the Dubai local telephone network and enhancing the capacity of changes

When I was promoted from grade A to B as Asst manager operations for Dubai I was the only a Lank to gold that position in grade B. During 1983 my wife underwent a major surgery in Colombo as such she went to Colombo to get it done by Dr Nanayakara. She and my daughter got trapped in the Black July communal riots in 1983 They had a narrow escape and stayed as refugee in Saraswathy hall and later at uncle Guhasothy’s house at Bambalapitiya. They came back to Dubai 3 weeks after the riots

A local Arab by the name Ahmad Abdullah Jumma Bin Byatt is an Emirati was firmly established in the UAE’s business environment, holding directorial positions in several prominent Dubai organizations.

He is currently Chairman of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (duo); Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding; Director-General of Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority, and a member of the Board of Trustees for Dubai School of Government (DSG). Ahmad Bin Byatt was my assistant when I was Asst manager operations. He was an influential man. He studied in US and during training in UK fell in love with English woman and married her. His father was poet and relation of the ruler of Dubai. He wanted me get housemaid to from Si Lanka to look after his children I arranged Verni as housemaid to his house. He was happy and become a good friend of mine. We both started a school business by the name Rapid Results Institute. We coached students for Laon Aland OL exam and Cost and Management Accountancy We had about 40 students. I took Physics and Statistics classes I arranged to teachers from Sri lank to oversee the institute.

Wadi Hatta lies to the south-east of Dubai's main territory and is about 134 km east of City of Dubai. On the E44 road, Before reaching Hatta between Madam and Hatta there is an area that belongs to Oman There is road from E44 leading to Raman towns Normally no immigration checking is done It is located relatively high in the Hajar Mountain range which continues from Oman It borders Oman to the east and the south, the Ajmani exclave of Masfout to the west, and Ras al-Khaimah to the north.

The old village of Hatta includes two prominent military towers from the 1880's, Fort from 1896and the Juma mosque, which was built in 1780 and is the oldest building in Hatta. The traditional water supply was through the falaj system, which also has been restored.

Since it is in the mountains, traditionally it was the summer habitation of Dubai-based families escaping the heat and humidity of the coast. Omani’s move to Salalah during summer as the weather is better there, that area is called Dhofar. The Dhofar Governorate is the largest of the eleven Governorates in the Sultanate of Oman in terms of area. It lies in Southern Oman, on the eastern border with Yemen's Al Mahrah Governorate. It is a rather mountainous area that covers 99,300 km2 and has a population of 249,729 as of the 2010 census. The largest city, as well as capital of the Governorate, is Salalah.

Since the early 1980s, Hatta has been a popular destination for adventuring expatriates and local families. Waadi means valley Ahamad had Date farm and his ancestors are from Wadi Hatta. One day he took me there in his jeep. I was received by an old man. Hamad told me that he was more than one hundred years old. They gave me Camel milk to drink with tasty fresh dates from the frame. There was beautiful stream that flowed through his farm. I felt like having a bath in that stream. The old man served us goat meat, vegetables. Rotti and Humus I enjoyed the meal and his Arab hospitality

Ahamad became AMO when I got promoted as MCO Abu Dhabi. After I left Etisalat and joined Inmarsat Ahamad was transferred to Abu Dhabi as MCO. He did not like the job. Later he became CEO and then Chairman of Duo Telecoms

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CHAPTER 16

Life in United Kingdom 1991-1996

United Kingdom was not new to me as I was there for more than a year in 1969 on Colombo Plan scholarship. At that time, I travelled to Bournemouth Leeds, and worked in London I lived 53 Chepstow Road Nottinghill gate, then at Waldemar place at Wimbledon. I travelled by British Rail and underground and double-decker. Experienced the severe winter. It was at that time I sat for my part III of my IEE exam and completed,

The job I got in Inmarsat was through an Engineer named Yogeeswaran who was trained by me in Sri Lanka. He graduated out from Katubedda Technical college and was an old boy of Jaffna Hindu college

Inmarsat was founded in 1979 and is a maritime satellite company. Headquarters is at Old Street, London at the time I joined Inmarsat the number of staff was about 1200. The benefits were good. Health insurance was covered by the company I was handling Aeronautical Traffic through Satellite. There were four Satellite that came under the control of Inmarsat. At the time I was working Inmarsat owned four satellites They were ARO (E)., ARO (W). PR IR I was the representative for Inmarsat in ITU in the Traffic study group on Inmarsat traffic-related issues Hence I had the chance to visit Switzerland twice to attend the ITU study group at Today Inmarsat owns and operates 13 satellites in geostationary orbit 35,786km (22,236 miles) above the Earth.

Geneve. Initially I lived in an apartment at Wellyn garden city and traveled by British rail and then by underground to Old street, the start the office was at Euston square and alter shifted to Old street. When my office was at Euston square. I normally walk to Tottenham court road and visit Foyles and Oxford street.

Welwyn is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England. The parish also includes the villages of Digswell and Oaklands. It is sometimes called Old Welwyn to distinguish it from the much newer settlement of Welwyn Garden City, about a mile to the south, though some residents dislike the suggestion of inferiority or irrelevance that tends to be implied by the moniker "Old" and prefer Welwyn Village. When saying where they live, locals will often be asked, 'Welwyn or Welwyn Garden City?', as the latter's title is often shortened to simply Welwyn. To avoid confusion, there were plans to change Welwyn’s name to ‘Welwyn Minster’ in 1990 but this met with local resistance and the idea was abandoned. The name is derived from Old English welig meaning "willow", referring to the trees that nestle on the banks of the River Mimram as it flows through the village. Welwyn has hosted human activity since the Palaeolithic with stone tools from that era having been found alongside the river and further inland across the area.[5]Settlement across the area seems to have become established during the Bronze Age according to various recovered artifacts and crop marks left by round barrows and burial mounds from that period

Lying hidden beneath the A1(M) motorway just off the Walwyn by-pass, Walwyn Roman Baths are the fascinating 3rd century remains of the bathing complex that once formed part of the Ticket Mead Roman villa.

The villa has not been fully excavated; however, it is believed to have been occupied for 150 years during which time it was a self-sufficient farm that included a main residence, bathhouse, outbuildings and minor dwellings.

Whilst bathing was a social pastime in Roman Britain, with many people visiting the local bathhouse to wash, gossip and complete business transactions, private baths were still coveted by the elite.

They may have been smaller than public baths, however in a society where power and hierarchy was everything, private baths allowed their owners to bathe with only those they deemed to be suitable. My bungalow at 49 Marley Hill road on B 192 was located at a beautiful environment with a big garden in the back yard and front yard. There was space for about ten cars could be parked in front. My wife was fully involved in doing flower garden and I had greenhouse and vegetable plot. We frequently had family get-togethers. My daughter had a Room on top floor There were two bedrooms, a dining room, a sitting hall and a large kitchen There was room for an expansion A double garage was available in the back yard.

About half a mile from my house there was a sub-post office and grocery stores. On the way to Knebworth there was good Chinese takeout well patronized by all communities The train coming from London stops at Walwyn Garden city and then went and at Knebworth and son on My GP was at Walwyn village by the side of a stream There was an old village by the name Codicote (not the Petticoat the undergarment of woman) two miles from Walwyn Village . The Broads are narrow. We normally travel to My wife’s brother Ravi’s; house at Harlow through Hertford on B1000 road and then on A 414. Our Grocery shopping was done at big grocery store TESCO near A1 (M). Hatfield University was few miles south of Walwyn

I bought a green color car BMW 318. My daughter had a Blue ford car. After graduating out from Essex University in Systems engineering she managed to get a temporary job in Inmarsat.

She saved money and did her MSc in Astro Physics from Queen Mary’s College London. She migrated to Canada during 1994 We bought a beautiful bungalow in Walwyn village the house was at 49 Marley hill Walwyn, a beautiful village. We traveled to Harlow though B1000 road to my brother in law Ravi’s house. The daughter Sindhu was born in Harlow. And the son Aathavan at Colchester. Colchester was the first Roman-founded city in Britain, and Colchester lays claim to be regarded as Britain's oldest recorded town. It was for a time the capital of Roman Britain,

Situated on the River Colne, Colchester is 80 km northeast of London and is connected to the capital by the A12 road. It is seen as a popular town for commuters, and is less than 30 miles (48 km) from London Stansted Airport

I had a house at 11 Broom field Crescent in Wivenhoe near Essex University, The university was located at a walking distance from home through fields] , When my daughter was doing a degree at Essex University she was staying in that house with his Uncle’s family It was three-bedroom house Whenever we go on holidays from Dubai to UK we stayed in that house. Two Malaysian Tamil students too stayed in that house. At that time my wife’s brother Ravi was doing his post-graduate degree in Telematics.

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CHAPTER 17

Emigration to Canada 1996 - 1997

There is a proverb in Tamil which says “For the cow in this side of the river the other side looks full of pastures “. This applies to a greater extent in my case. After graduating out of the University with an honors graduate in Physics and Mathematics. I started my carrier as a Telecommunication Engineer in Sri Lanka. I had the opportunity to undergo special training in Telecommunication Management at the British Telecoms and returned to the homeland and introduced new services and applications.

The political situation and discriminatory attitude in Sri Lanka forced to me accept an appointment in the Middle East, which gave me a chance to study and gain knowledge in new technologies such as Wireless communication, Packet switching, Electronic Mail, Stored Program-control Switching system (SPC) in Telecommunication areas. I had no option but to learn using computer applications such as Word Perfect, Lotus 123, and base 3 in 1980s. That helped me to effectively do my job. The interaction with the different cultures helped me to learn about their attitudes towards the rapidly changing Telecommunication market sector. Management of multicultural staff in the organization was a challenge for technical personnel like me. Different Management techniques were adopted to according to cultural differences. The common habits among Arabs were barging into a conversation without using " the word excuse me". They expect the expatriate staff to treat them with top priority. Again, the political situation in the middle east forced me to accept an appointment with the International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT) in United Kingdom.

It is again a different hands-on working environment in a multicultural organization. There is no one to supervise you. There is no peon like in Sri Lanka to ring the bell and ask him to bring tea or take the papers from one tray to another the tray. Here the office culture is different. Back in my country I have to "Sir" my superiors. In this office environment there is no peon to call. You must prepare your own tea or coffee. You must personally take the work done by you and sit and discuss with your boss or use e-mail to correspond. There is no minuting such as " Examine report", "Please explain". No pushing of papers up and down. You are given a list of objectives for the year and you must achieve them. The year ending assessment is based how much you have performed. UK style of living taught me etiquette and protocols. Words like” Please”, “Thank You” “I am sorry” crept into my way of life. These words are never heard in day to day life in Sri Lanka. Even if you try to use it people will start staring at you. The discipline of queuing is a common scene in UK. My lifestyle and English accent changed. After five years of happy quiet living in a village in Hertfordshire county in, England again a major change came into my life. When I sit and think back about my past progress in life, I am surprised to see how my fate was pushing me and my family from the equatorial region with average climate to Middle Eastern region of very hot climate and to the cold northern arctic region. My body was experiencing high-temperature fluctuations.

Family circumstances opted me to migrate to Canada, throwing away a lucrative job in UK. Before taking a decision for migration to Canada, I paid a visit to the country as a tourist. When you are a tourist, friends and relations welcome you with open hands. They invite you for meals and paint a good picture about the country. The story is different when you are back in the country as a permanent resident. During visit as a Tourist I was introduced to the concept of numbers. Yes, we should know the building number, buzzer number and the apartment number if you wish to visit your friend in multi-story building. If you press the wrong buzzer number, you had it!!

I applied for emigration to Canada under the professional status. After the normal medical and other procedures, I was granted visa to be landed immigrant. Even after obtaining the visa I was hesitating as was worried as to whether I was making the correct decision. The office politics and the work conditions in the organization where I worked accelerated my decision to move to Canada.

4 years ago I and my wife landed in Toronto in a very cold month of February. After going through the procedures at immigration they stamped our passports as Landed immigrants and welcome us to Canada. I already had a few warnings about the multicultural lifestyle and the job opportunities in Canada. They also warned me that Canadian organizations insist on Canadian experience and qualifications to recruit people. The resume or the biodata is prepared in a different style to that in Sri Lanka or UK. In North America, the resume should not contain details such as date of Birth, Passport number, nationality, religion, or marital status. They focus on skills and work experience. They look for acronyms in the resume that fits with the job description. The Resume should have a brief statement of your objectives in the employment you are seeking, followed by your Profile ion few For example if you are applying for a Network management job, they look for terms such as TCP/IP, ATM, ISDN, LAN, WAN, etc. If you are applying for a Software Engineer position in developing applications for Database systems, they look for buzzing words such as Oracle, Access, DBMS, SQL, API, etc. If you are applying for a Programmers position they look for Buzzing words such as VB, C, C++, Java, Linex, etc. These Acronyms do not mean anything to a person from the human resources department or to a head hunter. They serve as forwarding agents of the specifications stipulated by the Recruitment Manager. Not many Recruit Manager is aware of all the acronyms or their use in the job. The HR and headhunters have a glossary and check whether the terms are appearing in the resume. The recruiting agency does the same thing. A recruiter who recruits staff for a Telecom organization such as Lucent or AT &T needs to know anything about Telecom. The important factor is he should know how to blabber. I took it as a challenge to overcome the warnings given by friends in the UK. Even some friends said “Kale does not expect the same standard ethics as you had the UK”. I said to them “Let me face it.”. But I never knew that it will be so bad. At least in the Arab world, they give you a long greeting when they see you for the first time and serve with coffee with spices until you shake your cup to stop them from serving. It was absent in Canadian Culture. Hai! was the greeting culture, like Hello in England or Aslam Alaikum in the Middle East or Aibowan or Vannakam in Sri Lanka.

When we arrived in Canada, we stayed in the first floor of apartment building near my Son -in-laws parents. My daughter wanted us to be close to her in-laws so that they can guide us as they came to Canada from Nigeria few years before us. The apartment was not too far from Science Centre. The area was not good as a many robberies took place in that area. Drug addicted youth are involved thefts. My household items came from London and all transportation charges paid by Inmarsat. They also paid six months’ salary as I opted to go for the voluntary retirement scheme Inmarsat offered. That offer came inappropriate time. My director asked me as to why I am retiring. I told him that I am migrating to Canada because my only daughter is already there in Canada I stayed in Inmarsat until month before the visa expired.

I gave my house at Marley Hill to a real estate company for sale. I sold it for 160,000 sterling pounds. Now in 2019 I understand the house is worth 800,000 sterling pounds. I sold my BMW car as well. It was again another new life in Canada., I decided not to go back to Sri Lanka. And my final destination in Canada. With drastic political changes that was taking place after I left Sri Lanka, it was a good decision by me and my wife. Excellent free health service is available in Ontario Canada and about 300,000 Sri lank Tamils live in Ontario. About 50% of them lived in Scarborough and Markham. I made many friends as some of them were already known to me in Sri Lanka and Dubai. My niece Dushyanthy and her family stayed close to our house in Mississauga Many of my relations live in UK We sold the house at Ramakrishna avenue and Mother in law joined us, but Father in law refused and stayed back in Colombo in that house and later moved to home care. we visited Colombo once in a way

After we moved to Canada my daughter’s wedding took place in the Scarborough Rouge hill area. There was a crowd of about 400 invites, the entire expenses were met by me.

Within a month after arrival in and settled in an apartment in the first floor in Grenoble Drive Scarborough, there was park close by and myself and we go for walk-in that park I lost a few may item and my daughter’s camera. The robber came through the window. When we were at Grenoble drive we did a=the shipping at Flemington Mall We stayed only for six months. When my daughter got job in ComDev in Cambridge where a lay by the name Susi became friendly with her. We too moved Cambridge from Scarborough, we bought house at Hawthorne road Cambridge near Grand River. It was a large house with a big garden in front and Back. We had two dogs Invar and Omega. Omega was a mixed breed and black in colour. Invar was a gold colour pure bread Labrador. Omega feared water but Invar was brave and loved to swim in water. Unfortunately, =Invar was killed by car. Later my son in law gave Omega to a farmer free.

My grandson Vishwamithran (Viswaa) was born in Hamilton hospital. His first Birthday was celebrated in that house. He was cute little baby. His sister Maitreyi was born in Mississauga two years after Vishwaa was born. She too was a cute chubby baby. When I had a detached house at Keynes Crescent near tenth line my daughter had two Josue closer to our house, subsequently her family sold the house and we decided to move as one family to 3927 Beacham Street near Lisgar and ninth line There are schools close by and my two grandchildren studied in the primary, secondary and High school in that area

My first experience within two weeks of arrival was with one of the leading Banks in Canada. Even though I am a landed immigrant, they made things to open an account. To deposit 20, 000 dollars in fixed deposit I must sign a document. The reason they want to make sure that the money I am depositing is not a money earned through drug deal. I told them, “Look I have declared this money when I applied for immigration status and also at the customs at the time of arrival. What else you require? They are not satisfied with my explanation. “This is our procedure”, so came the reply. I do not have the freedom to deposit my hard-earned money. I am also treated as a drug trafficker. This never happened to me in the middle east or in United Kingdom. They received the money with open hands.

After the first humiliation, I had another bitter experience with the health ministry in getting my health card.” They asked for proof of the address of residence. I told them “I am temporarily living with my daughter until I find suitable accommodation near my workplace. They insisted on a document where my name and address are shown. I explained to them that when I arrived, the immigration officials at the airport never explained to me about your third document. Quick came the reply, “we have changed the procedures. We are the health ministry we have nothing to do with the immigration department”. The lack of coordination between two important ministries did not surprise me as I already had my first experience with the Bank. later I came to know that you will not be in a position to rent a flat in your name unless you are employed and show them you have a regular income. This means you have to depend on someone or sacrifice your principles and ethics and adopt an underhand method. The procedures and the social forces a genuine law ethical-minded person to change his morale and attitude. Otherwise nothing you will have to suffer.

My household items from UK arrived after two weeks of my arrival in Toronto. The next incident I experienced really made me to lose my balance. Yes, my apartment was burgled within two weeks of my arrival. It never happened to me in my lifetime either in the so-called underdeveloped third world country, or in the Arab world or in United Kingdom. Canadian society thought that it is high time we have tune the new arrival to our frequency. So they did it. To add to the blow, the next day, I received a call from the efficient Canadian bank. The voice at the other end said “Sir, you have overdrawn your account by 10,000 dollars”. I knew where they have made the mistake. I did not want to explain to the banking professionals. I only replied “I am sorry you have double debited my account in error. Please check and come back to me as soon as possible.” After one hour they called me and said “Sir we are sorry we have made a mistake “. This type of incident never happened to my 30 years of banking experience in different countries. I have to give a piece of my mind to them.

Thirty years of driving experience in different countries and the holding of driving licenses from those countries have no value in Canada. You have started from the beginning like a graduate starting his studies again from the first standard. Even if you have a UK driver's license and drive in the congested, narrow streets of London, still you must pass the exam here. But there is an exception for those who have a Japanese license. You can directly convert them to Canadian driver’s licenses. The respect for the queen is only in the coin, but the respect for the money of the former second world war enemy has more weight.

The saga with the bank did not end with the thousand-dollar question. Now it is a problem with the interact card. For each time when you use the interact card bank charges you a fee. Each time when you withdraw your money from the ATM, the bank charges you, probably for the wear and tear of the machine, usage of electricity, and to pay wages to the machine. If you deposit 500 dollars account in the bank, and if you do not operate the account for some time you will see the money gradually reducing. They charge you to keep your money in the bank, although they use the money to get more income by giving it as a loan at a high-interest rate. This is how they trick you to fill the pockets of a top executive, shareholders, and even the politicians. In turn, the politicians keep them happy by not protecting the poor people. Charging for the interact card or casing money through ATM is not practiced by the world reputed banks like Barclays, Nat West, Midland, and by all UK banks. This is typical of Canadian banking practice in addition to the high taxation in the country.

The quality of service provided is directly proportional to the price. Higher the quality higher the price. But in the case of my bank, it is another way about it. When I tried to use my interact card in some retail shops, the machine prompted “No account in the file”, thus giving an opportunity for other customers to stare at me. Luckily, I had cash to pay the bill. I tried again in a bookshop and was faced with the same situation. My complaint to the bank about the interact card took some to get resolved. Later I came to know that they have made a mistake in transferring the details of my account to the database. How would you like this answer from a bank that is re-engineering its structure towards full automation? Customers, please check your bank balance every day, otherwise one day, suddenly your money will disappear from your account.

The next experience I had was with a Professional body. I passed three stages of the Cost & Management Accountancy exam in the UK when I was working in Inmarsat. I thought that I should get necessary exemptions from the appropriate professional body in Ontario State. I applied to them in writing with all documents. The reply I received was disheartening. If I am to get Canadian qualifications, I have to start from the beginning like a Graduate starting from the Kindergarten class. The same applied to those who have ACMA and ACCA qualifications from the UK and served for many years as accountants in the UK. This is another form of professional jealousy. When you apply for migration, the problems a new immigrant will face in getting credits for the qualifications is not explained in detail at the High Commission. Probably the education ministry and immigration ministries, like the health ministry, are not on talking terms. This is a pure bureaucracy that makes you crazy. It is the same culture in many countries

The worst experience I had was in getting a Motor Insurance. All the big buildings in downtown are owned by Insurance companies, Banks, or Real Estate companies. Like parasites, they suck the money from the people and reinvest. Insurance premiums are very high compared to other countries. They do not value your 30 years of accident-free driving experience and the no-claim bonus certificates. Like your CIMA exemption, you must start from the beginning.

The other experience I had was in the job search area. I was called up by a recruiting agency called head hunters for a job in a Telecommunication company involved in the global marketing of their Telecom products. Please do not think that they are cannibals, after a couple of questions, he asked do you have Canadian experience? I said "no". I am a landed immigrant from the UK.

The reply came " that does not matter. They look for Canadian work experience". My reply was sarcastic.

" You mean to say if I would have worked in Mc Donald's for one year, you will count it as Canadian work experience?

" He laughed and said, "oh no…. they want experience in the appropriate area."

I replied, " I thought they are dealing with global marketing of their product. I have global marketing experience in the Telecom field…". He was not happy with my reply. Probably the term global marketing is a new term for him

After a long search for a job, I must ask for help from the Internet. I advertised my resume in the Internet Workopolis. Within a week I received 5 calls from US recruiting agents. Unlike Canada, the USA is not worried about the US experience. If you can speak English fluently and have the skills and experience you stand a better chance of getting a job. I appeared for interviews in Colorado Springs, Columbus, Ohio, and Dallas Texas. I was offered jobs in all three places. It is a question of picking the appropriate one.

I liked Colorado offer but the salary and benefits were not attractive Ohio job was food and only an hour and half flight to Toronto Buat gain the deciding factor was Salary. Work environment and benefits. The Texas job offer was good The salary of 90K with travel back home on two weeks’ vacation Only issue frequent traveling to several states on projects I discussed with my wife and we decided to go for the Mobile company consultants Job at Richardson Texas They gave me 10.000 dollars initial settling cost For three months I had no work for the then training on their system I got bored Later I was assigned on a project for three months in Atlanta Once a week I took an hour and half flight to Atlanta. After completing the project in four months I was back at Richardson office after nine months I decided to quit. They gave me good handshake and bid goodbye I returned o Mississauga with US drivers once without much problem Thu aged it to Ontario drivers license within a month I receive a call from head hunter for John in Mississauga for a US telecom company I like the job There was frequent travel to Sacramento, San Francisco. Taiwan. My analysis trip gave me an opportunity to meet after many years my cousins. Twice I went to Taiwan and Singapore in first calls in Cathy Pacific’ after serving two years they closed their branch in Mississauga and asked me whether I am prepared to move to Sacramento. I refused. They have me and shake Again I was back to square one. Within three weeks I was offered a job by Group Telecoms Its headquarters is in Vancouver That gave me opportunity to go to Vancouver twice and once to Calgary. I was not happy with what the way the company was progressing at that time I saw an Advertisement in Toronto Star The hob they advertised was ready-made for me. I applied with my profile for the job with Telus company in Mississauga branch I was interviewed and within 30 minutes they offered me the job with a yearly of 95 KC$ with benefits as Senior Product Manager. I liked the job. I traveled again to Vancouver on business. I worked for 4 years and in 2001 I had my open-heart surgery in trillium hospital. I rested for six months and worked from home. After six months was asked to leave the job I presume they would have thought that health-wise I am not fit to work. I accepted with six months’ salary and a good handshake with that I completed my job search in Canada

****

CHAPTER 18

Life in Texas 1997 April - October

Texas is the second-largest state in the United States by both area and population. Geographically located in the South Central region of the country, Texas shares borders with the U.S. states of Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the west, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the southwest, and has a coastline with the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast.

Houston is the most populous city in Texas and the fourth largest in the U.S Austin is the Capital of Texas state. there is a Tamil association among the Tamil students of Austin University and Houston university. Many Indians do business in Houston

I remembered my friends in Canada warning about Texas as a racist state I wouldn’t say Texas is a “popular” state but I would say “infamous” or “notorious.” Certainly, that reputation is nothing to make its citizens proud, of unless those citizens are, in fact, racists and they are glad of it. It is where there are many Mexican labor jobs most of them are illegal immigrants. It’s a state that I have avoided nearly all my life because of the bigotry and the obsession with guns.

My Texan friend who worked with me narrated an interesting story. In about 1960 When he was riding on a Greyhound Bus through Texas and a young black woman (about the age of 40 years was sitting next to him. they pulled in for a lunch break. He invited her to come to go with him and have a hamburger and coffee. She was hesitant but he persuaded her. When both got to the lunch counter she wouldn’t sit down, and the waitress told me in no uncertain terms that she had better NOT sit down. There was a place for a Niger to eat, outback, she said. We took our food and went out, to eat it on the bus, and on the way, we passed the window of the place where black people were fed. They were being given the leftovers, scraped from the plates of white people! He was shocked and his new friend was embarrassed. What a shame, that black people should be embarrassed by the bad behavior, toward white Texans 

I was lucky that Idi not face any racial attacks when we were in Texas. We made friends with a Pakistani woman who was the Manager of Wells Fargo Bank. We opened a deposit account in her bank. There was a Chinese shop where we bought crabs and Sheer fish We managed to locate an Indian shop where we rented Tamil videos

Life in Richardson Texas was only for ten months. I had an opportunity to travel to the capital of Brazil, but I missed it because I was holding only a Canadian Residence and not Citizenship, I was posted on 2 months assignment to Atlanta. I took my wife with me for a week There is a Vedanta Society in Atlanta This organization was dedicated to Shri Ramakrishna, Vivekananda a Shri Sridevi. Meditation Yoga and Vedanta classes are conducted in the Atlanta Vedanta Society. People from other religions too attend this organization

My wife and I searched for a south Indian restaurant and had a Dosai meal The quality was average. At Richardson, we were able to locate a Thai restaurant and the food was good Rice pudding was excellent. The house we were staying in was with high security. We made friends with Tamil IT specialists. We visited Arlington where many Sri Lankan Tami live. A former Air Force pilot was a senior person in the Tamil community They organized a Tamil event.

In Texas, I observed Texan families normally have meals in the restaurant with their children Austin is the capital of Texas. Many say that it is a racist state. An African with British citizenship was treated badly by his neighbors There was incest at my company I was trained in PLANET software to plan locations of Radio towers. The company was owned by an Arab The flight from Dallas airport to Toronto was about three hours and thirty minutes. The flights in TWA and American airlines were horrible. We must pay for the horrible food served. People travel in the bare bodies as most of them were peanut farm owners like Jimmy Crater Former President of the US There was another racial attack murder in Texas

James Byrd Jr. an African American was murdered by three white supremacists in Jasper, Texas, on June 7, 1998. Shawn Berry, Lawrence Brewer, and John King dragged Byrd for three miles behind a pickup truck along an asphalt road. Byrd, who remained conscious throughout most of his ordeal, was killed about halfway through the dragging when his body hit the edge of a culvert, severing his right arm and head. The murderer drove on for another 1 1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) before dumping his torso in front of a black cemetery in Jasper. Byrd's lynching-by-dragging gave impetus to the passage of a Texas hate-crimes law

Brewer was executed by lethal injection for his involvement in this crime by the state of Texas on September 21, 2011. King was executed by lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, on April 24, 2019, Berry was sentenced to life imprisonment and will be eligible for parole in 2038

Thank god we both were safely back in Canada where we have a better communal life

****

CHAPTER 19

Canada Life 1997 - to date

Once I returned from Texas I managed to get a Canadian driver’s license without any Tests because I had a US driver’s license. Within 3 months I got a job in Mobile System Integrators. Its Head office was in Sacramento California. I worked for the branch in Mississauga. I traveled frequently on business to Sacramento via LS and to San Francesco. I went to Taiwan twice and to Malaysia vi Singapore. That gave me a chance to meet my cousins who live in Malaysia

MSI closed its branch in Mississauga and ask me whether I am prepared to work in Sacramento. I declined. I left the company MSI and joined Group Telecom. Its head office is located in Burnaby Vancouver. That gave me an opportunity to visit Vancouver. Although I enjoyed the work, I observed that the company may close down in a few months’ time. For my luck, I observed an Advertisement in Toronto Star by Telus. The job that was advertised perfectly fitted me. I applied for the job and was appointed as Senior Product Manager. Its head office is in Vancouver. Telus had its office in Mississauga and bay street. I worked in Telus for four years and I had bypass surgery, due to my health condition I retired from Telus with a good handshake.

****

In the year 2001, I was approached by two Tamil seniors to take over the Peel Tamil Seniors Association with a limited fund of 200 C$ and few members. There was no one to manage. First I refused. Again, they approached me a second time and I could not refuse. I took over the position of President Senior Tamils Society of Peel (STSP) Within a year I obtained a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) for 1.25K C$. I ensured that the money was spent in a properly budgeted manner. The cost center accounting method was introduced. I ensured that each asset is numbered as we purchased computers and audio and video equipment. Several training classes in the basic computers were held. A women's group was established. I also managed to get a heritage grant for Canada day and a New Horizon grant of 25,000. I started Walkathon and the annual Muthuvenil (முதுவேனில்) magazine. It generated additional revenue for the association. I took the seniors on two foreign trips to Cuba and Dominican Republic. I took the seniors on a trip to Northern Ontario. I introduced an annual BBQ and Annual dinner with cultural events I started the project Grow our own Vegetable project

I tried to buy an office for the association but was wrongly advised by a lawyer, My attempt to start a Trust for fund seniors was discouraged by a lawyer, Later it was established by Dr. S Kumaraswamy, The organization was named Peel Senior Tamils Benevolent Association (PBA). Many members from STSP joined. The membership grew very fast. Now the organization a which is functioning since 2012 has about 247 members and paid the nearly 90K C$ to 28 beneficiaries of 26 demised members It is facing many challenges in its growth and the organization’s service was extended to Tamils Senior Associations in Ontario which was not liked Peel Tamils seniors as they want to hold control over the members from other associations False propaganda was spared to bring disrepute with a selfish motive. When we Tamil in Sri Lanka are fighting to unite North and eastern province for Tamil in Canada the policy of Sri Lanka Jaffna Tamils is regionalism. They talk one thing about practice just the opposite

****

CHAPTER 20

Literary work in life

I started writing short stories at the age of ten, When I was working in Colombo, I wrote stories for Veerakesari and Thinakaran and short dramas for Radio Ceylon Radio program for Children

My writing skill started developing after I migrated to Canada. I learned MS office and computers. I started typing in Bamini fonts and later switched to Unicode using google Tamil input tools.

I registered a Dual language magazine by the name KUVIYAM (குவியம்) It was published in the year 2000. Four issues were published Since I was fully occupied with my work, I could not continue the Magazine. Late Kugathasan was the Asst editor and Late Mr. Nallanathan looked after the English section. I released three of my books namely two Tamil books Strange Relationship and Waterfall (poems) and English short story collections The literary critic Mr. K S Sivakumaran was the chief guest. Prominent Immigration lawyer Barbra Jackman and MP Jim Gariganis were speakers at the book release.

I published Tamil and English e-books and paperbacks through Amazon KDP. Pustaka. Oviya. Notion publishers and Pothy’s I started a KuviyamCanada com internet magazine and my personal web site KulendirenCanada.com I published Muthvenil (முதுவேனில்) Magazine for Senior Tamils Society of Peel in the year 2001. The 17th annual magazine was released in the year 2018. The last Tamil and English books published by me are given below.

     The List of Tamil and English books.

I thank the young lad Mr. Vignesh from Gobichettipalayam Erode who is responsible for formatting eBooks and paperback books and Book cover for many of my books was designed by Vignesh under his business name மின்கவி (MINEKAVI) I introduced to him many customers from Canada

SL #

 Book Title 

Type

eBook

P/B

1

விதித்திர உறவு

Shorts Stories

Yes

Yes

2

அருவி

Poems

Yes

Yes

3

விதை

Short novel

Yes

4

பெண்ணியம்

Shorts Stories

Yes

5

அந்தமான் காதலன்

Short novel

Yes

6

குறிப்பம் புளியமரம்

Shorts Stories

Yes

7

,மனிதனும் மற்றைய உயிரினமும்

Shorts Stories

Yes

8

பாட்டிசொன்ன கதைகள்

Shorts Stories

Yes

Yes

9

இலங்கையில் நடந்த கொலைகள் 18

Shorts Stories

Yes

Yes

10

குடும்பம் ஒரு கதம்பம்

Shorts Stories

Yes

11

வாழு வாழ விடு

Shorts Stories

Yes

12

முள்வேலிக்குப் பின்னால்

Shorts Stories

Yes

13

ஜன்னல்

Shorts Stories

Yes

14

வணிகக் கதைகள்

Shorts Stories

Yes

15

வாழ்க்கை

Shorts Stories

Yes

16

உரிமை மீறல் கதைகள்

Shorts Stories

Yes

17

அழகு

Short novel

Yes

18

அறிவியல் கதைக் கொத்து

Short Stories

Yes

19

காதல் கதைகள் 16

Short Stories

Yes

20

இலங்கை கிராமத்துக் கதைகள்

Short Stories

Yes

21

நாட்டாண்மை நாச்சிமுத்து

Short novel

Yes

Yes

22

பறை

Short novel

Yes

24

சிந்தனையில் சிதறிய கவிதைகள் 32

Yes

Yes

25

வன்னியில் வளர்ந்தவை 16

Short Stories

Yes

Yes

26

கோபுர தரிசனம் கோடி புண்ணியம்

27

காலம்

Science fiction stories

Yes

Yes

28

விடிவு இல்லம்

Novel

Yes

Yes

29

தலைமுறைகள்

Novel

Yes

Yes

30

முகங்கள்

Short Stories

Yes

Yes

31

முது தமிழர் முத்து மாலை

55 Short Stories

Yes

Yes

32

வளரும் வணிகம்

Business Articles

Is bring created

33

அறிவியல் கட்டுரைகள்

Science Articles

Is bring created

34

கட்டுரைக் களஞ்சியம்

Articles

Is bring created

35

துஷ்ட கைமுனு

Short historical novel

Is bring created

36

Strange Relationship

Short stories

Yes

Yes

37

Generations

Novel

Yes

Yes

38

The Time

Science fiction stories

Yes

Yes

39

Colombo Coolie

Short Novel

Yes

Yes

40

Ransom

Short suspense novel

Yes

Yes

41

Hinduism a Scientific Religion

Spiritual articles

Yes

Yes

42

The Dawn

Novel

Yes

Yes

43

The Hindu Temples in Sri Lanka

Spiritual articles

Yes

Yes

44

A Bouquet of Short stories

Short Stories

Yes

45

Short Stories from Sri Lanka reflective of Traditions and Culture

Short Stories

Yes

46

Sufferings of innocent souls

Short Stories on HR Violations

Yes

Yes

47

My 8 Decades

****

CHAPTER 21

Health Issues I faced in my Life

At the age of Ten when I had a wound on my right leg from a Cycle accident. Native physician Paruthiaddaipan (பருத்திஅடைப்பான்) treated it and cured me after two months.

I had measles and whooping cough at the age of 12

I broke my left leg while playing and after a year sprained my leg when I was at Puttalam. I was treated by a native physician

When I was in Colombo, I was treated for high Blood Pressure

When I was in the UK, twice I had angioplasty.

In Canada, I had my first bypass heart surgery was an excellent surgeon Dr. Shafqat Ahamad

Followed by a Cataract operation done by Dr. Mills

I had Thyroid Operation

I had a melanoma operation

I had a Gall bladder operation

I had an attack of Edema The fluid retention in my body made me to go for dialysis. I started doing Dialysis in September 2017 at the age of 78 in the Credit Valley Hospital After one year my Kidney specialist Dr. Gordon Wong gave me the option to go for home dialysis. Initially, I had a Jamaican PSW, but after a few months she fell sick after three months break and they assigned a Nigeria PSW by the name of Informa. She is excellent in her work and is very strict with my diet

****

CHAPTER 22

Community work during my life

My community work started when I was in Puttalam during the fifties. At that period, I was sixteen years old. Since I was a good volleyball player, I started Wembley Volleyball club. It was well received by the youths We played matches in Pulichankulam and Pallivaasalthuri. The club became second in the Puttalam district Volleyball competition

After I left Puttalam for studies in Jaffna I concentrated on my studies.

My full-fledged community work started when I moved to Canada.

I started a business called Post telecom Inc which was involved in sorting Market research survey forms from the US and Canada. In that organization, we gave jobs to retired postmasters and their families living in Scarborough I was the President of the business. After fur years the business was closed and the saved money of 60.000 dollars was given to Sri Lankan Post and Telecom officers in Canada,

The two senior embers from Peel tails senior’s association in Mississauga approached me and wanted me to be President First I refused. They approached me a second time and loaded and I accepted with specific conditions. I was president of STSP for four years and contained several grants. Introduced Walk a Thon, an Annual magazine project. Took the Tamils seniors on foreign trips to Cuba twice and the Dominican Republic. I took them on two tours to Northern Ontario.

I was illegally voted out as President I started another organization SCREEN of Peel which is now called SOPCA. The word Screen stands for Social Cultural Recreational Educational Environmental Network. Within a year of starting the organization, I obtained a grant for 10,000 dollars. I organized a quiz competition for children. I observed that the treasurer was trying to develop his private teaching business through the organization as such I left the association.

After I left the association and concentrated on writing. I published a Paper called KUVIYAM It was a dual language appearance, it was well-received by the people

When I was President of STSP I attempted to buy a voice for the association but wrong legal advice prevented me from buying an office. I left 60K in the fixed bank deposit the amount I saved during my four-year period as President. The aim was in the future an office will be bought. During2017 from donations received from many seniors and businesspeople were added to the amount of 75 K in the fixed deposit a 700 square feet office at Dundas Street west was bought for 290,000 C$. Now at the time of writing this biography 96 K is to be paid as a Mortgage

I stayed at Ontario United Tamil Seniors Association Group with the aim to link up 16 associations. It was not much supported by the Associations. After three years I closed it down

I started an internet Magazine called Kuviyam Canada and a Blog அரசடி அரசியல்

****

CHAPTER 23

Friends & Relations in my life

Since I worked in many countries such as Sri Lanka, and Oman. UAE. The UK. US. and Canada and involved in community work in Canada I made many friends in different communities and helped my relations. I am being a Sri Lankan by birth my mother language is Tamil, English my second language, and Singhalese the third language. I can read, write and communicate in these three languages

Name of the Friend 

A H A Rashid

Aboo Haniffa

Jamaluddin

K Rajaratnam

Thadian Rajaratnam

Kailasapathy

Ganenthiran

Ramanathapillai

Nadarajah Pillai

Sivarjaah (Banda)

Sivagurunathan (Editor)

Dr Sivathmaby

Vivekanandarajh

Sakthivel

Natkunam

Dr Sahadevan

Jeysaingh

Maivaganm (mails)

Parameswaran

Kasi Navaratnam

Rajadurai

A P Gunatillake

Selldurai

Sathiyanathan

Moorthy

Manuel Jesudason

29 Ahil Sambasivam

Dr Lambotharan

Dr Victor Figuradao

Daaid Rajaratnam

Varpragasam

A Muthuingam

Ratnarajah

Dr Illagupillai

Mrs Thilaga Kangasabai

David Rajaratnam

Vathalai Pirbah

Charles Devsagayam

Cheelappa

C V Wigneswaran

Ahamad Bin Byatt

Kangasabai

Muthurajah

****

CHAPTER 24

My Achievements in life

Started handwritten monthly four-page Tamil appear at the age of ten

Wrote first short story titled Mad Woman in Tamil to Veerkesari followed by the article about our family trip to Kathirkamam from Puttalam at the age of ten

published Handwritten paper The Student at the age of 12 at Andre’s College Puttalam. Established Wembley Volleyball club in PuttalamCaptained Colombo University Volleyball teamEditor of Hindu student paper in Colombo UniversitWrote dramas for children for Radio Ceylon. Wrote short stories for Thinkaran and Veerakesari in ColomboInvolved in CADS, OCDS, Indo Ceylon Microwave .link, Telecom SEMEWE projects in Sri Lanka and Middle east9 Established Post Telecom Inc and gave jobs for 18 members of retired postmaster mad about 60K dollars and donated Post and Telecom officers association

Started Kuviyam dual language magazine in Ontario in the year 2002

 Won many literary awards and Prizes

When I was President of Peel Tamils seniors and obtained seven grants and started to walkathon and a magazine. Took the members of the association on a foreign trip to Cuba another Caribbean island, and Northern Ontario

Functioned as Director for a Tamils seniors Trust. Obtained a Red Cross grant. Established Wen page, Facebook

       13. Started website KUVEYAM.com

14 . Planned and executed a Literary contest 2022 for Kuveyam with Kolusu magazine in Tamilnadu

****

CHAPTER 25

The Places I Visited On Business & As a Tourist 

When I was working in Post and Telecom department, I visited many rural areas in entire by official jeep and in my car, In the certain occasion, I travelled by Train upcountry and enjoyed the journey through tunnels and watched the tea estates and waterfalls I had the experience of getting bitten by leeches. Visited Peradeniya botanical gardens and Haggala gardens was really an interesting visit

I would have made about for visits to India and covered major areas in Tamil Nadu by car. we went to Kulsegarapatinam where an Ashramam was run by my brother-in-law Swami Shanmugananatha. We visited Many temples such as Thiruchendur, Kanyakumari, and Madurai Meenatchi My train to Calcutta, Bombay, and Cochin by train from Chennai

The countries visited were the UK, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. France in Europe. I attended thrice the working group at ITU headquarters in Switzerland. When I visited France, It was the first time I tasted croissants for breakfast.

I have traveled in many states such as Newyork, Washington D, Arkansas, Illinois, Pittsburg Hindu temple, and Rocjhster Hindu temple. Florida Disney land, Atlanta. Los Angeles, scale too. Colorado. Columbus. Dallas Illinois, Phidelia Kentucky

On business and as a tourist I had been to Taiwan, Hongkong, Singapore, and Malaysia. In Taiwan, I observed during lunchtime the staff are allowed to sleep in the office for an hour. I went to Taiwan by Cathy Pacific airlines in First Calla via Vancouver It was a long journey. I was staying in an intercontinental hotel in Taipei. Frog legs were served in the hotel. I happened to visit a local market where snakes were cooked snakes were sold. The market was smelling and I could not tolerate it.

In Singapore, I enjoyed the fruit market where many sour Asian fruits namely Mangoes, Mangosteen, Pineapple, Rambutan, Duria, etc were available. The two restaurants Banana leaf restaurant and Komathy villas were popular Indian restaurants where I enjoyed the meals Pirate software was available in an IT center. there is jewellery market controlled by Indian businessmen. There is a popular Hindu temple. I visited with my family the Tiger Balm garden My journey to Kulalampoor from Singapore was by express Train vai Johar Baru. It was a four-hour journey I noted many Hindu temples. In KL we visited Batthu Cavs. The temple was patronized by all communities for Thai Poosam. From KL, I traveled with my aunty and my family to Malacca. I enjoyed ice Katchchan. I saw in the open-air restaurants the entire Chinese family was selling food. The children with a school book, on one hand, served customers. Ikkan Belli (sprout) and Crab was a favorite dish I enjoyed

When I was President of Peel Tamil seniors I took the seniors for a week twice to Cuba and once to the Dominican Republic n Pensacola was my favourite drink. Cuban cigar was expensive. We visited the Rum factory. In Cuba with an arrangement with the hotel Manager, we slaughtered a goat and prepared Jaffna-style hot curry and soup.

While having a sea bath a Tamil woman was about to get drowned but with the help of Sinathamby good swimmer, we saved her. One day when six of us were returning in horse carriage the driver lost control of the horse carriage and it turned over. Luckily no one was seriously injured. We made a trip to Havana the Cuban capital. Poverty is easily visible in that communist countries. We gave gifts to the children. They speak Spanish. The cars were very old American cars and I heard Cubans were good mechanics.

I took the Tamils seniors to the Dominican Republic, but I was not impressed with that country. The adjoining country was Haiti a very poor country

In Ontario took the seniors on a trip to Sudbury and Manitoulin Island and returned via Tobermory by taking a ferry

I visited thrice Pittsburgh Vishnu temple. It was built by India. The Rochester Sakthi temples were established by a Tamil Sri Lankan architect.

I made several business trips to Los Angles, San Francisco, and Sacramento the capital of California

****

CHAPTER 26

Jobs held during my lifetime

Education and Jobs held by me played a vital role in my life. I had the opportunity to serve as a Teacher Lecturer, Administrator, Manager, Engineer, Writer, and Community worker as a community worker I introduced an annual walkathon, Magazine, and a Mothers front. foreign trips and three trips to northern Ontario for seniors and grow your own garden. introduced e-library and Ontario Senior Tamils e-Groups (OUTSAG)

Job #

 Position held

Location

Year

1

Science Teacher for OL & AL

St Mary’s college Chilaw

1959 for six months

2

Asst Lecturer in Physics

University of Colombo

1964

3

Visiting lecturer in Physics

Aquinas University College Colombo

1964 - 1970

4

Visiting lecturer in Physics

Colombo Tamil Sangam

1964 - 1970

5

Technical Staff Assistant

Ceylon Coconut Board Colombo

1965- 1966

6

Asst Supdt of Telecom Traffic

P &T Department Colombo

1966 - 1976

8

Supdt of Telecom Traffic

 P &T Department Colombo

1976 - 1979

9

Controlleer Traffic

Omantel- Oman

1979 - 1980

10

Network Planning officer

Emirates Abu Dhabi

1980 -1981

11

Controlleer Traffic Operations

Etisalat Dubai

1981 -1986

12

Asst Manager Operations

Etisalat Dubai

1986 – 1989

13

Manager commercial Operations

Etisalat - Abu Dhabi

1990 -1 992

14

Senior Network Engineer

Inmarsat – London - UK

1992 - 1996

15

Mobile Telecom Consultant

A Telecom company in Texas

1997- 9 months

16

Mobile Product Manager

MSI - Mississauga

1997- 1999

17

Snr Network Panning Engineer

Group Telecoms Toronto

1999–10 months

18

Snr Product Manager

Telus Mississauga

1999- 2023

19

President

Post Telecom Inc Scarborough Ontario

1998 - 2002

20

President (Voluntary)

Senior Tamils Society of Peel an NPO- Mississauga

2001 - 2004

21

President (Voluntary)

Screen of Peel (SOPCA) 20 Mississauga

2005

22

Director (IT) (Voluntary)

Ontario Senior Tamils Benevolent fund (OSTBA)

2019

****

CHAPTER 27

Photo Album

The End