A great musician of the 60s in Sri Lanka
Nimal Mendis - dared to dream
Sisira CHANDRASEKERA in London - Sunday Observer Feb 21 2010
Recently I got in touch with Nimal Mendis, a veteran composer of hits such as Master Sir, Nim Him Sewva and Ganga Addara. He has been living in Britain for many decades travelling to and from Sri Lanka to write those hits that have proved extremely popular.
When I emailed him I received the following reply.
"Thank you very much for your email. Unfortunately or may be fortunately I am now in Sri Lanka. We came over three months ago and have been busy settling down here in Malabe. Hoping to be here now with an occasional visit back to London. Our son worked for the BBC (TV Centre White City) for seven years as a sound/video editor and he too is now here with us.
There is outstanding talent in Sri Lanka, especially in some of the young musicians and singers here today and we are quite amazed that they have not got on to the world stage as yet. One thing we are determined to accomplish is to try and do our best to help these young artists."
This is the man, as a young lad from Sri Lanka who dared to dream that he was good enough to perform with the best in the West. An impossible dream at the time!
He would swim along the coastline at "Bambalawatte" (Bambalapitiya) as it was called then, gazing at the sky on his back dreaming his dream. Just out of school at Royal College he filled in his music ambitions playing the piano for the Harold Seneviratne Combo. He said that they used to be paid Rs 10 a night and Rs 15 for an all-night gig at the 'Pigalle' night club in Colpetty.
He came from a family that viewed the world with an anglicised professionalism and the house was filled with the atmosphere of western classical music, art and literature, although it was also infused with everything Sri Lankan, especially in the world of art philosophy and politics. There were discussions of Ghandian and Nehru values. His mother was the first author in Sri Lanka to write in English and her first book was published in London in 1929. His father was an inventor - inventor of the now famous brand of "Mendis Special" that reached great heights through its development by his brother, Walter M Mendis.
The Mendis family was a set of liberals, five children making their mark in different spheres and the youngest Nimal, who dared to dream a tall dream into the entertainment world. Nimal said, "It must have been the `gene jewels' we inherited from my father and mother. The liberalism of his parents is what enabled the young Nimal to convince his parents to send him to England, initially to study accountancy. However, there was a manipulation that took place because after an year of accountancy studies in London he was playing the piano in sophisticated restaurants and writing songs and composing music. The seeds were sown of the dream he dared to dream.
Big break
His first big break came when he was playing the piano at the Ceylon Students Centre. He had formed a group called `The Kandyans'. Mano Chanmugam on piano accordian, Anura on Kandyan drums, and Subra de Silva as the singer in the group.
Nimal played piano and also sang. The piano was in the restaurant and after meals the manageress allowed them to practise there while Sri Lankan students and their guests drank coffee or tea. While they were practising one of Nimal's songs a young woman came up to them an inquired about the song.
She was Mary Marshall an up and coming English singer. The song was "Kiss Kiss Kiss" and it went on to be a huge hit in Sri Lanka played regularly over the airwaves by the late Vernon Corea, Livy Wijemane and Jimmy Bharucha, the veteran broadcasters of then Radio Ceylon.
It did well in England too but soon after Mary married a successful agent in the entertainment industry, she left England and went to live in the Channel Islands.
After 40 years Mary is in contact with Nimal again. Her daughter had seen some of his work on Sinhala Juke Box on the internet and emailed him. Although Mary had faded out from the music scene in London she was involved in a lot of charity work in the Channel Islands. Mary always kept her interest of 'Ceylon' and when the tsunami occurred collected funds for an organisation dealing with the victims. of the tsunami.
"Kiss Kiss Kiss" has still an occasional play on the SLBC.
String of hits
A string of hits followed when Nimal came back to Sri Lanka for a short spell. Kandyan Express, Butterfly in the rain, Cherry Blossom Tree, Champagne Blues, Oh My Lover and Goodnight Kisses, all with the Harold Seneviratne Combo and singers such as Ciff Foenander, Sandra Edema and the Jay Brothers. The dream beckoned him back to the bright lights of London and Nimal became a successful musician of the sixties in London.
Nimal Mendisi
Although he did not share the fame of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones he held his own as a Sri Lankan with his singing partner Sandra Edema who was now also searching stardom in London. They teamed up and were on' Top of the Pops", the famous British TV show at the time and "Beat Club" and even the more successful TV show in Germany that was viewed by millions on the continent of Europe. Nimal Mendis is one of the two Sri Lankan artistes to sing on BBC Top of the Pops. The other singer is Bill Forbes who lives in Yorkshire. Nimal said that he was searching for over 30 years to get a clip of the performance on "Beat Club" and there it was two weeks ago on the internet. He managed to get a copy which is of good quality and is hoping that a TV company in Sri Lanka will pick it up for airing.
It is certainly a clip that is worth seeing by all our young people of a lad who dared to dream. They will be inspired and they too will dream. To dream the dream is the first step of fulfilment.
Unfortunately, but as Nimal said, "What looks like misfortune at first, if accepted and you do not `Cave in could lead to fortune once more. He was in a race attack in the late sixties and decided to come back to Sri Lanka.
He got 10 acres of land in Norton Bridge and farmed for five years. While doing this he experienced first hand all kinds of negative values.
This was what led him to write " Master Sir". His good friend Manik Sandrasagara said, "You are not a farmer, you are a composer. Stop burying yourself here. I am making a film and you must write the music for it."
Doing the music for Kalu Diya Dahara was the beginning of Nimal's entry to the Sinhala film Music scene. Lester and Sumitra Peries and Manik used his talents to write several scores and songs. Every song that Nimal wrote for a Sinhala film was a hit with our people. Master Sir, Ganga Addara, Nim Him Sewva, Upul Nuwan, Gehenu Lamai, Viyo Gee and Obey Adare are household name songs.
From the dream of the western entertainment stage Nimal was now conquering the Sinhala music scene with his songs and composing. This is a career that should be followed by our youngsters as an inspiration.
Here is this veteran come back to his motherland. Come on - make use of him - meet him - get his experience and storm the world stage with the amazing talent that exists today in Sri Lanka.
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2010/02/21/mon16.asp
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Our Friends, The Burghers
We cannot think of Ceylon without them
By T. Max Perera and T. Andrew Wickremasinghe
I have a great predilection towards Burghers. Not only because I have many
bosom cronies in that community, but because I have spent some of the
happiest years of my boyhood in their homes.
The finest lady that I ever knew was a Burgher. The most select gentleman
of my acquaintance is a Burgher; and if some unfortunate Sinhalese girl
fails to discover me, I could still discover both intelligence and beauty
in a Burgher girl and - marry her.
This is merely a personal outburst, because a fair face seldom fails to
floor me. But the Burghers are not only fair of face ¡Z in truth, along
with an attractive complexion they have, in addition, such a broad sense of
fair play and fair dealing that they are the easiest to get on with in the
world.
We have been brothers and sisters in blood for we have tasted more things
than salt together, and I never set eyes on a Burgher but I take an instant
liking to him or her.
THEY GIVE ZEST
They are a Western graft upon an Eastern tree, but so well have they
acclimatized and endeared themselves to the native soil that we cannot
think of a Ceylon without Burghers.
Wellawatte would be a dull strip of sand; Bambalapitiya a barren wilderness
of wind; Colpetty and Dehiwala gloomy haunts of melancholy, if there were
no Burgher girls to scatter radiance on the way.
With their good looks and musical voices they give a definite zest to
social life, dancing with hips of rhythm and crooning melodies that are
filled with moonlit dreams. The sparkle of life is in their eyes and the
tremor of love is on their lips.
They have captured all the romance in the world and shut it all to
themselves, that no Matchmakers can enter into their lives with deceitful
talk of daughters and of dowries; and so they believe in marrying for love
and believe also in all the sacrifices involved in the one great adventure
of Love.
EYES SO FRANK
They wear their hearts on their sleeves and in the frank lustre of their
eyes one can read their very souls. Faithful as friends and forgiving as
enemies, they are always too good-natured to be obstinately malicious and
too easy-going to bear any rancour.
They are the descendants of all those Portuguese who came along with
Lorenzo d'Almeida or of the Dutch who arrived with Joris Van Spilbergen.
The former held the land for 134 years and the Hollanders for over 156, and
although their governments have disappeared, the two nations remain with us
as - Burghers.
INTELLECTS
Theirs have been some of the greatest intellects of the land. The past has
given us Dornhorst and Lorenz; the present has Blaze and Schneider.
The only Ceylonese Bishop in the island was a Burgher. Maartensz and Wille
are men of the age we live in; and in the field of sport as in the realm of
music, Kelaart, Foenander, Arndt and Zilwa are names of high repute, while
the Van Langenbergs are men of wide renown.
Remains also with them the blessed light of Christianity that they brought
into the Island; the Roman-Dutch Law ; the forts that they built and the
canals they constructed. Those forts may crumble and the canals run dry but
Portuguese or Dutch we have always in our midst our tried friends the
Burghers.
"The Government officers", explains the well-known Dutch Burgher historian
of Ceylon, "were known as Company's Servants and the non-officials as
Burghers or Viyburgers (free Burghers)". From these Burghers were appointed
officers for the Burgery, an armed force composed of Tupasses, (people of
mixed Portuguese descent). When the rule of the Company ceased in 1796
there could be no Company's Servants any longer and all the Dutch people in
Ceylon became Burghers.
They are the sponsors of western art and fashion in our midst. They are a
vivacious Occidental group in a sedate Eastern land. Cocktails and Fox
Trots will not join the Dodo as long as there are Burghers in the country.
Besides, is not music the greatest passion of their lives and beauty their
common heritage ? Great Race, this, the Burghers.
HAPPY BONDS
Politics do not flutter them; they like the men of the land and the men of
the land are fond of them and these happy bonds of love are often drawn
closer together with a ring of beaten gold and a vow before the Altar.
They are certainly not an effeminate people: The heroic spirit of
Constantine de Sa and the martial spirit of Azevedo still linger in the
hearts of their descendants, so, in every branch and walk of life have
proved themselves to be an honour to their country and community.
Whether in the learned professions or in the Government service or lower
down in the humbler crafts which the poorer ones follow for the sake of
their living, they have singularly distinguished themselves by their
honesty and integrity, just as wherever they go they must have, in their
own characteristic manner and according to their lot in life, their feasts
and musical festivals.
They fill a very big place in the social life of the country and if we
Sinhalese have not quarreled with them and have found them to be the
pleasantest of friends, it is mainly because of their savoir faire and good
breeding and of the winning ways of their men as of the smiling charm of
their ladies.
------------ and another follow up
My Recollections About The Burghers
By Harold Gunatillake
I totally agree with the sentiments and the thoughts about the Burgher generation in Ceylon being circulated by an anonymous Muslim.
I did not go to a Christian denomination school like S. Thomas’, St. Peter’s on Galle Road, or St. Joseph’s College, or Trinity or Kingswood College in Kandy where most Burgher boys were educated, but I came to acquaint with them after I qualified to become a doctor.
I am from Kandy and Duncan White who excelled at the Olympics was a Trinity product and the people of Kandy were so proud of that achievement. I am not a Kandyan and the Kandyans who are so proud of their ancestry from the Kandyan aristocracy, nicknamed us ‘Canadians’ because we migrated from the low country.
My memory goes back to the university and medical school days in Colombo, when during the weekends cycling through Galle Road was an anticipated pleasure and the opportunity of chit chatting with the teenage Burgher girls wearing shortie shorts and cycling along Galle Road was a treat. It was traditionally taboo for Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim teenagers to be seen cycling on Galle Road or anywhere, in shorts. Today, to my surprise I see a lot of local girls cycling in the Negombo area on the main bustling roads, and Negombo men don’t seem to bother about them.
The young Burgher boys and girls were a happy lot, always giggling, laughing and having fun most of the time which was not seen among other nationalities who behaved in their more orthodox behaviour. These teenagers gave a lot of colour and joy to the suburbs around Galle Road. It was a great asset for the country to see such a multi ethnic community enjoying life during the post-colonial period. Bambalapitiya was named ‘Bambalawatte’ where most of the Burgher families lived. Bambalapitiya flats were totally occupied by the Burghers then. Some called the area “Bamba”.
I still remember Ms. Maureen Hingert, ‘Miss Ceylon,’ who went on to become the second runner-up at the Ms. Universe contest in 1955 lived with her parents, down Lorensz Road running parallel to Dickman’s Road close to the Savoy Cinema.
Situated between Lorensz Rd and Davidson Road was the New Wellington Sports Club. The members were mainly Burghers of Bambalawatte extending to Wellawatte. The President of this Club was Richard “Aiyar” Perera who was the Chandiya (thug) of the whole of Bambalapitiya, Wellawatte region right up to Vihara Lane in Wellawatte. He had a huge eagle with wings spread tattooed on his back.
Kinross Swimming Club was very popular and it was by the sea in the vicinity of Savoy and the access road was Kinross Avenue, and the name of the street remains the same even today. After the Burghers migrated to Australia in the late sixties and after, the popularity of the club declined. We used to go for dances at the Kinross Club in the old days.
We had many Dutch Burghers in the Police Force excelling themselves in sports and in their official duties. I remember the late Jack Van Sanden, a police officer who commenced his career in the Ceylon Police. He started as a sub inspector and rose to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police.
He arrested “Yakadaya” who was one of the most notorious criminals of the day. Yakadaya kept his pistol on Jack’s forehead and pulled the trigger. Fortunately, there were no bullets in the weapon and Jack survived and Yakadaya was handcuffed.
During the period of 1957/58, I was Mahara Prison doctor, and I got married whilst working there. Yakadaya was my favourite prisoner patient. The day I went back to work after getting married, Yakadaya gave me a bouquet of grass, and he said, “Hamuduruwane mechcharai apata dhenna puluwan” (This is all what we can give).
Van Sanden was an old boy of Kingswood College, Kandy and he captained the cricket team.
I cannot think of any Burgher who did not participate and excel in sports, including cricket. The Claessen boys ring a bell who played cricket for Wesley. Then there was Walter May the famous hurdler, later settled down in Perth, Australia. They did not go for football (soccer) as it was considered a “rowdy game” played by the “not so good” school boys and market jonnies. During that period they referred to good schools as three in number — Royal, S. Thomas’ and Trinity. Then, came the Catholic schools like St. Joseph’s, Wesley, St. Peters and so on. Buddhist schools were considered as ‘not so good schools’ though the boys excelled in studies.
Then there were the famous Burgher policemen like V.T. Dickman, Eddie Buultjens and many others I faintly remember. Eddie Buultjens was the first Ceylon boy to represent All Ceylon at cricket.
The first Ceylonese who was appointed as Asst. Superintendent of Police was a Burgher, de La Harpe. He was famous for raiding a counterfeit money den and was rewarded handsomely with a reward of Rs 5.
Then there was inspector Toussaint who was in charge of the Colombo Harbour.
George Von Hagt, a special constable was shot dead by the infamous bandit “Saradiel”.
Another policeman who excelled in sports was Inspector Edward Gray. He was an excellent bowler, and also a famous boxer. I think he became a champion at the Commonwealth Games Boxing Championship.
He retired prematurely after he fell off a horse whilst on duty. He got himself condemned in 1956 when I was working in the Orthopaedic Department at the General Hospital.
There were famous doctors like Surgeon Bartholomeuz, Austin, and Physician Blaze, recognised for their skills. They were true gentlemen, honest and most ethical.
Among the famous lawyers was Justice Sansoni, Gratian, and so on. They were men with stature and quite famous in those days.
The list will go on, it is just a matter of putting on your thinking cap, but memories are fading fast, and my apologies for omitting so many other Burghers who excelled in our country and contributed immensely to that island we called “Ceylon.”
----------
HOORAY ! LONG LIVE THE BURGHERS.
Written by Harold Gunatillake
My memories
I totally agree with the sentiments and the thoughts about the Burgher generation in Ceylon.
I did not go to a Christian denomination school like St.Thomas’, St Peters’, on Galle Road, and Trinity, or Kingswood College in Kandy. where most burgher boys were educated, but I came to acquaint with them after I qualified to become a doctor. After all Duncan White who excelled at the Olympics was a Kingswood product.
My memory goes back to the university and medical school days in Colombo, when during the weekends cycling through Galle Road was an anticipated pleasure and opportunity of chit chatting with the teenage burgher girls wearing Shorty shorts and cycling along Galle Road was a treat. It was traditionally taboo for Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim teenagers to be seen cycling on Galle Road or anywhere in Shorts. Today, to my surprise I see lot of local girls cycling on Negombo areas on the main busy roads.
The young Burgher boys and girls were a happy lot always giggling, laughing and having fun most of the time which was not seen among other nationalities. These teenagers gave lot of colour and joy in the suburbs around Galle Road. That was a great asset for the country to see such multi ethnics enjoying mateship during the post-colonial period. Bambalapitiya was named ‘Bambalawatte’ where most of the Burgher families lived. Bambalapitiya flats were totally occupied by the burghers then. Some called the area,”Bamba”.
I still remember Ms Maureen Hingert, Miss Ceylon, who went on to become the second runner-up at the Ms Universe contest 1955 lived with her parents, down Lorensz Road running parallel to Dickman’s Road close to the Savoy Cinema.
Situated between Lorensz Rd and Davidson Road was the New Wellington Sports Club. The members were mainly burghers of Bambalawatte extending to Wellawatte. The President of this Club was Richard “Aiyar” Perera who was the chandiya (thugman) of the whole of Bambalapitiya, Wellawate region right up to Vihare Lane in Wellawate. He had a huge Eagle with wings spread tattooed on his back.
Kinross swimming club was very popular and it was by the sea in the vicinity of Savoy and the access road is Kinross Ave, and the name of the street remains the same even today. After the burghers migrated to Australia in the late sixties and after, the popularity of the club declined and today there are very few locals who patronise. We use to go for dances at the Kinross Club in the old days.
We had many Dutch Burghers in the Police Force excelling themselves in Sports and in their official duties. I remember the late Jack Van Sanden, police officer who commenced his career in the Ceylon Police
As a sub inspector and rose to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police.
He arrested “Yakadaya” who was one of the most notorious criminals of the day. Yakadaya kept his pistol on Jack’s forhead and pulled the trigger. Fortunately, there were no bullets in the weapon and Jack saved his life and Yakkadaya was handcuffed.
During the period of 1957/58, I was Mahara Prison doctor, and I got married whilst working there. Yakadaya was my favourite prisoner patient. The day I went back to work after getting married, Yakadaya gave me a bouquet of grass, and he said,”Hamuduruwane mechari apata dhenna puluwan” (This is all what we can give).
Van Sanden was an old boy of Kingswood College, Kandy and he captioned the cricket team.
I cannot think of any burgher who did not participate and excel in sports, including cricket. They did not go for foot ball (soccer) as it was considered a “rowdy game” played by the “not so good school boys and market jonnies. During that period they refer to good schools as three in number- Royal, St.Thomas’ and Trinity. Then came the catholic schools like St.Joseph’s Wesley, St Peters, and so on. Buddhist schools were considered as ‘not so good schools’ though the boys excelled in studies.
Then there were the famous burgher policemen like V.T.Dickman, Eddie Buultjens and many others I faintly remember. Eddie Buultjens was the first Ceylon boy to represent All Ceylon at Cricket.
The first Ceylonese who was appointed as Asst Superintendent of Police was a Burgher de La Harpe. He was famous for raiding a counterfeit money den and was rewarded handsomely with a reward of Rs 5.
Then there was inspector Toussaint who was in charge of the Colombo Harbour.
Then there was George Von Hagt a special constable shot dead by the infamous bandit “Sardiel”.
Another policeman who excelled in sports was Inspector Edward Gray. He was an excellent bowler, and also a famous boxer. I think he became a champion at the Commonwealth Games Boxing Championship.
He retired prematurely after he fell off an horse whilst on duty. He got himself condemned in 1956 when I was working in the Orthopaedic Department at the General Hospital.
----
By T. Max Perera and T. Andrew Wickremasinghe
I have a great predilection towards Burghers. Not only because I have many
bosom cronies in that community, but because I have spent some of the
happiest years of my boyhood in their homes.
The finest lady that I ever knew was a Burgher. The most select gentleman
of my acquaintance is a Burgher; and if some unfortunate Sinhalese girl
fails to discover me, I could still discover both intelligence and beauty
in a Burgher girl and - marry her.
This is merely a personal outburst, because a fair face seldom fails to
floor me. But the Burghers are not only fair of face ¡Z in truth, along
with an attractive complexion they have, in addition, such a broad sense of
fair play and fair dealing that they are the easiest to get on with in the
world.
We have been brothers and sisters in blood for we have tasted more things
than salt together, and I never set eyes on a Burgher but I take an instant
liking to him or her.
THEY GIVE ZEST
They are a Western graft upon an Eastern tree, but so well have they
acclimatized and endeared themselves to the native soil that we cannot
think of a Ceylon without Burghers.
Wellawatte would be a dull strip of sand; Bambalapitiya a barren wilderness
of wind; Colpetty and Dehiwala gloomy haunts of melancholy, if there were
no Burgher girls to scatter radiance on the way.
With their good looks and musical voices they give a definite zest to
social life, dancing with hips of rhythm and crooning melodies that are
filled with moonlit dreams. The sparkle of life is in their eyes and the
tremor of love is on their lips.
They have captured all the romance in the world and shut it all to
themselves, that no Matchmakers can enter into their lives with deceitful
talk of daughters and of dowries; and so they believe in marrying for love
and believe also in all the sacrifices involved in the one great adventure
of Love.
EYES SO FRANK
They wear their hearts on their sleeves and in the frank lustre of their
eyes one can read their very souls. Faithful as friends and forgiving as
enemies, they are always too good-natured to be obstinately malicious and
too easy-going to bear any rancour.
They are the descendants of all those Portuguese who came along with
Lorenzo d'Almeida or of the Dutch who arrived with Joris Van Spilbergen.
The former held the land for 134 years and the Hollanders for over 156, and
although their governments have disappeared, the two nations remain with us
as - Burghers.
INTELLECTS
Theirs have been some of the greatest intellects of the land. The past has
given us Dornhorst and Lorenz; the present has Blaze and Schneider.
The only Ceylonese Bishop in the island was a Burgher. Maartensz and Wille
are men of the age we live in; and in the field of sport as in the realm of
music, Kelaart, Foenander, Arndt and Zilwa are names of high repute, while
the Van Langenbergs are men of wide renown.
Remains also with them the blessed light of Christianity that they brought
into the Island; the Roman-Dutch Law ; the forts that they built and the
canals they constructed. Those forts may crumble and the canals run dry but
Portuguese or Dutch we have always in our midst our tried friends the
Burghers.
"The Government officers", explains the well-known Dutch Burgher historian
of Ceylon, "were known as Company's Servants and the non-officials as
Burghers or Viyburgers (free Burghers)". From these Burghers were appointed
officers for the Burgery, an armed force composed of Tupasses, (people of
mixed Portuguese descent). When the rule of the Company ceased in 1796
there could be no Company's Servants any longer and all the Dutch people in
Ceylon became Burghers.
They are the sponsors of western art and fashion in our midst. They are a
vivacious Occidental group in a sedate Eastern land. Cocktails and Fox
Trots will not join the Dodo as long as there are Burghers in the country.
Besides, is not music the greatest passion of their lives and beauty their
common heritage ? Great Race, this, the Burghers.
HAPPY BONDS
Politics do not flutter them; they like the men of the land and the men of
the land are fond of them and these happy bonds of love are often drawn
closer together with a ring of beaten gold and a vow before the Altar.
They are certainly not an effeminate people: The heroic spirit of
Constantine de Sa and the martial spirit of Azevedo still linger in the
hearts of their descendants, so, in every branch and walk of life have
proved themselves to be an honour to their country and community.
Whether in the learned professions or in the Government service or lower
down in the humbler crafts which the poorer ones follow for the sake of
their living, they have singularly distinguished themselves by their
honesty and integrity, just as wherever they go they must have, in their
own characteristic manner and according to their lot in life, their feasts
and musical festivals.
They fill a very big place in the social life of the country and if we
Sinhalese have not quarreled with them and have found them to be the
pleasantest of friends, it is mainly because of their savoir faire and good
breeding and of the winning ways of their men as of the smiling charm of
their ladies.
------------ and another follow up
My Recollections About The Burghers
By Harold Gunatillake
I totally agree with the sentiments and the thoughts about the Burgher generation in Ceylon being circulated by an anonymous Muslim.
I did not go to a Christian denomination school like S. Thomas’, St. Peter’s on Galle Road, or St. Joseph’s College, or Trinity or Kingswood College in Kandy where most Burgher boys were educated, but I came to acquaint with them after I qualified to become a doctor.
I am from Kandy and Duncan White who excelled at the Olympics was a Trinity product and the people of Kandy were so proud of that achievement. I am not a Kandyan and the Kandyans who are so proud of their ancestry from the Kandyan aristocracy, nicknamed us ‘Canadians’ because we migrated from the low country.
My memory goes back to the university and medical school days in Colombo, when during the weekends cycling through Galle Road was an anticipated pleasure and the opportunity of chit chatting with the teenage Burgher girls wearing shortie shorts and cycling along Galle Road was a treat. It was traditionally taboo for Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim teenagers to be seen cycling on Galle Road or anywhere, in shorts. Today, to my surprise I see a lot of local girls cycling in the Negombo area on the main bustling roads, and Negombo men don’t seem to bother about them.
The young Burgher boys and girls were a happy lot, always giggling, laughing and having fun most of the time which was not seen among other nationalities who behaved in their more orthodox behaviour. These teenagers gave a lot of colour and joy to the suburbs around Galle Road. It was a great asset for the country to see such a multi ethnic community enjoying life during the post-colonial period. Bambalapitiya was named ‘Bambalawatte’ where most of the Burgher families lived. Bambalapitiya flats were totally occupied by the Burghers then. Some called the area “Bamba”.
I still remember Ms. Maureen Hingert, ‘Miss Ceylon,’ who went on to become the second runner-up at the Ms. Universe contest in 1955 lived with her parents, down Lorensz Road running parallel to Dickman’s Road close to the Savoy Cinema.
Situated between Lorensz Rd and Davidson Road was the New Wellington Sports Club. The members were mainly Burghers of Bambalawatte extending to Wellawatte. The President of this Club was Richard “Aiyar” Perera who was the Chandiya (thug) of the whole of Bambalapitiya, Wellawatte region right up to Vihara Lane in Wellawatte. He had a huge eagle with wings spread tattooed on his back.
Kinross Swimming Club was very popular and it was by the sea in the vicinity of Savoy and the access road was Kinross Avenue, and the name of the street remains the same even today. After the Burghers migrated to Australia in the late sixties and after, the popularity of the club declined. We used to go for dances at the Kinross Club in the old days.
We had many Dutch Burghers in the Police Force excelling themselves in sports and in their official duties. I remember the late Jack Van Sanden, a police officer who commenced his career in the Ceylon Police. He started as a sub inspector and rose to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police.
He arrested “Yakadaya” who was one of the most notorious criminals of the day. Yakadaya kept his pistol on Jack’s forehead and pulled the trigger. Fortunately, there were no bullets in the weapon and Jack survived and Yakadaya was handcuffed.
During the period of 1957/58, I was Mahara Prison doctor, and I got married whilst working there. Yakadaya was my favourite prisoner patient. The day I went back to work after getting married, Yakadaya gave me a bouquet of grass, and he said, “Hamuduruwane mechcharai apata dhenna puluwan” (This is all what we can give).
Van Sanden was an old boy of Kingswood College, Kandy and he captained the cricket team.
I cannot think of any Burgher who did not participate and excel in sports, including cricket. The Claessen boys ring a bell who played cricket for Wesley. Then there was Walter May the famous hurdler, later settled down in Perth, Australia. They did not go for football (soccer) as it was considered a “rowdy game” played by the “not so good” school boys and market jonnies. During that period they referred to good schools as three in number — Royal, S. Thomas’ and Trinity. Then, came the Catholic schools like St. Joseph’s, Wesley, St. Peters and so on. Buddhist schools were considered as ‘not so good schools’ though the boys excelled in studies.
Then there were the famous Burgher policemen like V.T. Dickman, Eddie Buultjens and many others I faintly remember. Eddie Buultjens was the first Ceylon boy to represent All Ceylon at cricket.
The first Ceylonese who was appointed as Asst. Superintendent of Police was a Burgher, de La Harpe. He was famous for raiding a counterfeit money den and was rewarded handsomely with a reward of Rs 5.
Then there was inspector Toussaint who was in charge of the Colombo Harbour.
George Von Hagt, a special constable was shot dead by the infamous bandit “Saradiel”.
Another policeman who excelled in sports was Inspector Edward Gray. He was an excellent bowler, and also a famous boxer. I think he became a champion at the Commonwealth Games Boxing Championship.
He retired prematurely after he fell off a horse whilst on duty. He got himself condemned in 1956 when I was working in the Orthopaedic Department at the General Hospital.
There were famous doctors like Surgeon Bartholomeuz, Austin, and Physician Blaze, recognised for their skills. They were true gentlemen, honest and most ethical.
Among the famous lawyers was Justice Sansoni, Gratian, and so on. They were men with stature and quite famous in those days.
The list will go on, it is just a matter of putting on your thinking cap, but memories are fading fast, and my apologies for omitting so many other Burghers who excelled in our country and contributed immensely to that island we called “Ceylon.”
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HOORAY ! LONG LIVE THE BURGHERS.
Written by Harold Gunatillake
My memories
I totally agree with the sentiments and the thoughts about the Burgher generation in Ceylon.
I did not go to a Christian denomination school like St.Thomas’, St Peters’, on Galle Road, and Trinity, or Kingswood College in Kandy. where most burgher boys were educated, but I came to acquaint with them after I qualified to become a doctor. After all Duncan White who excelled at the Olympics was a Kingswood product.
My memory goes back to the university and medical school days in Colombo, when during the weekends cycling through Galle Road was an anticipated pleasure and opportunity of chit chatting with the teenage burgher girls wearing Shorty shorts and cycling along Galle Road was a treat. It was traditionally taboo for Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim teenagers to be seen cycling on Galle Road or anywhere in Shorts. Today, to my surprise I see lot of local girls cycling on Negombo areas on the main busy roads.
The young Burgher boys and girls were a happy lot always giggling, laughing and having fun most of the time which was not seen among other nationalities. These teenagers gave lot of colour and joy in the suburbs around Galle Road. That was a great asset for the country to see such multi ethnics enjoying mateship during the post-colonial period. Bambalapitiya was named ‘Bambalawatte’ where most of the Burgher families lived. Bambalapitiya flats were totally occupied by the burghers then. Some called the area,”Bamba”.
I still remember Ms Maureen Hingert, Miss Ceylon, who went on to become the second runner-up at the Ms Universe contest 1955 lived with her parents, down Lorensz Road running parallel to Dickman’s Road close to the Savoy Cinema.
Situated between Lorensz Rd and Davidson Road was the New Wellington Sports Club. The members were mainly burghers of Bambalawatte extending to Wellawatte. The President of this Club was Richard “Aiyar” Perera who was the chandiya (thugman) of the whole of Bambalapitiya, Wellawate region right up to Vihare Lane in Wellawate. He had a huge Eagle with wings spread tattooed on his back.
Kinross swimming club was very popular and it was by the sea in the vicinity of Savoy and the access road is Kinross Ave, and the name of the street remains the same even today. After the burghers migrated to Australia in the late sixties and after, the popularity of the club declined and today there are very few locals who patronise. We use to go for dances at the Kinross Club in the old days.
We had many Dutch Burghers in the Police Force excelling themselves in Sports and in their official duties. I remember the late Jack Van Sanden, police officer who commenced his career in the Ceylon Police
As a sub inspector and rose to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police.
He arrested “Yakadaya” who was one of the most notorious criminals of the day. Yakadaya kept his pistol on Jack’s forhead and pulled the trigger. Fortunately, there were no bullets in the weapon and Jack saved his life and Yakkadaya was handcuffed.
During the period of 1957/58, I was Mahara Prison doctor, and I got married whilst working there. Yakadaya was my favourite prisoner patient. The day I went back to work after getting married, Yakadaya gave me a bouquet of grass, and he said,”Hamuduruwane mechari apata dhenna puluwan” (This is all what we can give).
Van Sanden was an old boy of Kingswood College, Kandy and he captioned the cricket team.
I cannot think of any burgher who did not participate and excel in sports, including cricket. They did not go for foot ball (soccer) as it was considered a “rowdy game” played by the “not so good school boys and market jonnies. During that period they refer to good schools as three in number- Royal, St.Thomas’ and Trinity. Then came the catholic schools like St.Joseph’s Wesley, St Peters, and so on. Buddhist schools were considered as ‘not so good schools’ though the boys excelled in studies.
Then there were the famous burgher policemen like V.T.Dickman, Eddie Buultjens and many others I faintly remember. Eddie Buultjens was the first Ceylon boy to represent All Ceylon at Cricket.
The first Ceylonese who was appointed as Asst Superintendent of Police was a Burgher de La Harpe. He was famous for raiding a counterfeit money den and was rewarded handsomely with a reward of Rs 5.
Then there was inspector Toussaint who was in charge of the Colombo Harbour.
Then there was George Von Hagt a special constable shot dead by the infamous bandit “Sardiel”.
Another policeman who excelled in sports was Inspector Edward Gray. He was an excellent bowler, and also a famous boxer. I think he became a champion at the Commonwealth Games Boxing Championship.
He retired prematurely after he fell off an horse whilst on duty. He got himself condemned in 1956 when I was working in the Orthopaedic Department at the General Hospital.
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