An Echo from the Past Or ‘ From Better Times’? Rajeewa Jayaweera:

June 19, 2020, 4:44 pm

Rajeewa’s contributions to the Sunday and daily ‘Island’ had both quality and excellence. The manner in which he touched varied subjects had a resonance which in effect enriched the reader in many ways. He brought to bear on his essays a total grasp of facts, thoroughness, and incision in analysis. He exploited minute details to render his arguments irrefutable. And he presented them to the reader in a logical , intelligible style. His critical essays pursued the truth, and he did not forgive those who transgressed values, ethics, morals, and still others who committed violations which undermined the national interest.

The unbroken thread that ran through his essays was impartiality. Political angles did not influence his writings. He offered no respect to the dishonest, and those professionals who failed to preserve the national interest and dignity of office. He was fearless in the expression of his beliefs, convictions and conclusions, and was undaunted by reaction and reproach. He wrote without fear or prejudice. There was much to learn and absorb from his writings, particularly because intense research underpinned his analyses and conclusions. Reading him was a process of enlightenment, enrichment and education . The ‘ Island’ newspaper will no doubt miss his contributions. He has left a void which may be difficult to fill.

I first met Rajeewa four years ago when I helped my daughter to purchase a house from him. I then had first hand experience of his approach to any task . He displayed virtually the same characteristics which he demonstrated when writing, and also in his profession. He was prim and proper, to the point, frank and reasonable, sincere enough to point out a few minor shortcomings which would otherwise have escaped our attention, and above all, exuded an impression that he was dependable and trustworthy. Showing an organized mind, a feature of his literary contributions, he helped us conclude the transaction successfully by his methodical approach. Sad but true, the road to his death by his own hand also appears to have been planned with the same thoroughness and attention to detail. He had therefore had been methodical in death, as he was in life. Methods and systems, products of a highly organized mind, were writ about the manner in which he lived. Rajeewa and ‘method’ were synonymous throughout his life. They were inseparable.

Unknown to some is the fact that he had served Sri Lankan Airlines with panache. He earned a reputation for upholding the highest professional standards as a country manager in Paris and Austria. The son of a highly respected former administrator and diplomat , Stanley Jayaweera, Rajeewa invoked the identical principles of his father in administration. His life, writings and work were based on a sound conscience, a proud inheritance from his father. He displayed a fierce independence, and his exertions were laced with honesty and the uniform application of rules, regardless of class and stature. Deviation from values, ethics and norms governing service was anathema to him. He certainly enriched Sri Lankan Airlines by serving as a model of rectitude.

His assiduous commitment to the fundamental principles governing his profession was in consonance with his approach to writings as well. His writings were in quest of the truth, and in the process he criticized without restraint but was fair in telling both sides of the story.

Rajeewa Jayaweera should have belonged to better times, in fact ‘ lost’ times. His writings and the ethics he practiced in his profession may have found greater favour in the past. His father left a great reputation mainly because he worked in more spacious times. I pause to ponder how well Rajeewa would have fitted into a senior slot in the public sector, being a stickler for rules, propriety, discipline, and the capacity to divorce self interest from a profession . Clinical analysis, detachment from self-interest, honesty of purpose, a deep sense of responsibility, fulfilling obligations were intrinsic elements of his repertoire even in life. But then he would have had to serve in an environment that was not exactly conducive to his style. He therefore may have perished, rather than prosper. His father played on good batting pitches. Rajeewa and those of his ilk, would have faced ‘sticky’ wickets.

His death has evoked sadness not merely because it was untimely but more for the manner he chose to depart from this world. He left his acquaintances and numerous readers of his columns in grief . His tragic departure is a loss to the nation for a voice that cried out loud for truth, justice, honesty and good values os no more.

MERRIL GUNARATNE