Polwattage Cyril Chandrasiri Perera
This trust was created to bestow merits on Polwattage Cyril Chandrasiri Perera who passed away on 15th September 2017.
He was the 6th child of a family of 8, born to Pearl Harriet Perera and Simon Perera in Junen Estate, Kedah, Malaya. Junen was a rubber estate owned by a Britisher which was looked after by Simon Perera. Whilst working in Malaya, Simon returned to Ceylon (as Sri Lanka was then called), married Harriet and took her back to Malaya. All the eight children were born in Malaya, as Malaysia was called then. The family returned to Sir Lanka permanently after the second world war.
Cyril was an exceptionally good looking child and the cherished baby in the family. Astrologers predicted that he will be a very fortunate child. After Cyril passed away, Soma Wickramasinghe, the second daughter of the family, wrote a brief narration of her beloved brother, fearing that memories of him may fade away with time. She wanted her next generation family members to know who Cyril, her loving brother was.
The following is an extract from her narration.
“ …….He was born after a string of three girls. My parents joy knew no bounds. He was very fair and chubby, his hair was jet black. He had dark brows. On his arrival the manager’s wife came to see him. She was surprised to see such a beautiful baby and remarked that she did not know that Ceylonese babies were so pretty. My parents called him Rajah. Everything given to him was special – food, clothes and above all love. He grew up as a spoilt child fighting with his siblings all the time. As he grew up he changed his ways. He became a person of few words. Unlike his elder brother he was very particular about his dress and looks. He did a great deal for the family. In short he was a good son to my parents and a good brother to his siblings….
Upon returning to Sri Lanka some years later, Cyril worked hard to help his parents. He got up at 3 am everyday to cut grass for the cows they milked daily, filled the pots with water (for daily use as there was no pipe water then) and cleaned the compound meticulously. Cyril was passionately fond of his mother and continued to help her by carrying out these chores before leaving to school and later to work.
Cyril started his career at Julius and Creasy but after a short spell he joined Ceylon Insurance which was later called Insurance Corporation of Sri Lanka and currently known as Sri Lanka Insurance. After serving there for nearly 30 years he moved to CF Brokers where he continued to serve right upto his retirement as Asst. General Manager.
Cyril was a man of few words, yet a man of many actions. He was thoughtful, generous and a stickler for perfection. He gave generously to the poor and needy as well as to his siblings in their hour of need. In a time where super markets were unheard of, he made it a point to purchase provisions from elderly and less well to do vendors in order to help them and he never haggled over price. He even swept the public road in front of his home to ensure tidy surroundings.
As a loving son, a devoted husband and a father, a generous brother, relation and friend, he performed all these roles with much insight and dedication. He was a very good master to his servants. He provided his family with all the comforts he could afford and shouldered the responsibility of providing for them. His far-sighted approach ensured that his family was well provided for even after he was no more.
He paid a lot of attention to the village temple as well. He was very devoted to late Ven. Navagathe Sri Pemarathana Nayake Swaminvahanse and attended to his needs with dedication.
Latterly, his health began to deteriorate as diabetes took its toll on him. During his last 5 years on earth though he suffered pain and discomfort, he stoically endured it all. He went on his last journey like a whiff of air, leaving behind fragrant memories to all who knew and loved him.
May the merits accrued from this noble trust be bestowed on him!
May his samsaric journey be short and may he attain Nibbana!