The Good Old Days by JB Muller

The Good Old Days -Anglophiles, Eurocentric arrogance and Reality by J. B. Müller (This dissertation is written from almost 50 year’s of on-the-job experience in the print and electronic media and from first-hand knowledge of people and events and from careful, objective research. It is written to illuminate a ‘grey-area’ that is often obscured or concealed. As a human being my aim is that the Truth be told with no holds barred and so that the oppressed, the marginalized, and the discriminated-against could come out of the shadows. That can only happen if we change our warped attitudes and acknowledge that great wrongs have been done to harmless people because of various evil motives.) After 62 year’s of independence we still have in our midst persons who not only admire but who also hunger for colonial rule by Britain. These individuals, men and women, look at the past through rose-tinted spectacles and pine for the ‘good old days’ when decisions were made in Whitehall. Astonishingly, they sincerely believe that the British had a divine right to rule this country for its own good. They are fond of pointing to the roads and railways, the post and telegraph services and the administrative infrastructure as some noteworthy sections of the Colonial legacy bequeathed us by the British. Their naïve beliefs fly in the face of this country’s modern history because they do not go beyond the surface veneer. Their near-fanatical admiration for the Anglo-Saxon ‘Way-of-Life’ is strongly influenced by legend, mythology, and fallacious beliefs that were wrapped around colonial empire-building by such people as Rudyard Kipling and latterly, Winston Churchill. One of the predominant driving forces behind colonial expansion from the beginnings of the 16th century was Eurocentric Racism. Europeans strongly believed that they were a ‘Chosen People’ superior to the rest of Mankind. The holdovers of this sickening legacy are still with us in the form of some of those of mixed parentage and those anglicized natives who think they were born here accidentally. I actually knew one such warped individual, scion of a Kandyan family who lived at the ‘British’ Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Institute. He lived here because the name of the place had the word ‘British’ in it. He used to meet me at breakfast, sharp 7:30 AM. He used to imperiously summon the white-clad waiter by calling-out ‘Boy, bring me my breakfast.’ That was bacon and eggs (sunnysides up) with toast and marmalade washed down by a cup of English Breakfast Tea! He read only "The Times" from London (about five days old!) and disdained all local newspapers stating that they were only good enough to clean windows or for use in the toilet! Of course, he was a ‘High’ Church Anglican who attended St. Michael & All Angels in Kollupitiya and, occasionally, St. Peter’s Garrison Church in the Fort. Do these people, these anglophiles, really know the sordid history of British rule in this Island? A rule soaked in the blood to those who dared to resist that rule? Have they ever read the extensive correspondence of Sir Robert Brownrigg to General Hay McDowall available in the British Colonial Office, Series 54? Have they read the General Order (one of several documented by the late Prof. Tennekoon Vimalanda) issued in 1818 that stated: "Kill every man, woman and child including the babes suckling at their mother’s breast. Destroy all dwelling houses. Burn all crops. Cut down all fruit trees. Slaughter all cattle; take what meat is necessary to feed the troops and burn the rest. Destroy all reservoirs, canals and channels. Poison the wells. Lay waste utterly the countryside denying any relief whatsoever to the rebels." This Order was carried out, laying waste Uva and Vellassa, a destruction from which it is yet to fully recover. British writers commented that every tree from Ratnapura to Badulla was festooned with the hung bodies of rotting human beings that gave off a revolting stench. The word ‘genocide’ was coined in the 1940s meaning the wiping-out of a people, but if this wasn’t genocide then, what is? Kandyan Sinhalese survivors of this colonial holocaust reported that the East African Askaris (Negro) were encouraged by their British officers to barbecue captives and eat their flesh! To the freedom fighters watching horrified from the edges of the jungle, these weren’t human beings but demons. They fled into the deep fastness of the southeastern jungles and all resistance collapsed. I have talked with the descendants of some of these survivors in hamlets near Kumana and they confirmed this. Their records in Africa, Asia, America and Australia have been extensively documented. They wiped-out or enslaved millions of Africans; they slaughtered millions of Asians; they butchered the Amerindian tribes, and they almost decimated the Australian aborigines. In addition to this bloody record of unbridled carnage, European diseases such as syphilis, smallpox and other communicable diseases destroyed entire populations who did not possess the immunity to resist these new-to-them diseases. They also introduced alcohol and to this day it is as blight amongst indigenous peoples throughout the planet. Even at this moment the Amerindian tribes in South America are being annihilated as precious minerals and oil has been discovered on their ancestral lands. White-owned multi-national corporations are involved in the business of obliterating these indigenous peoples. Those who inhabit Borneo and Papua-New Guinea are also losing their habitats before the inexorable onslaught of giant corporations that either want the tropical hardwood timber or valuable natural resources that lie underground. Millions died as slaves, treated as sub-human beings. It was preached in churches up to recently that the non-European peoples had no salvation because they were Black, Brown, Yellow, or Red. A well-known lady resigned from a Calvinist congregation in Colombo and sought to join another church because the minister preached a sermon in which he stated that biblically, there was no salvation for non-Whites! She was quoted by Riccardo Orizio in his book "Lost White Tribes" (© 2000.) Another mixed-descent Sri Lankan clergyman walked out of a Christian pastoral conference in South Africa when he was barred from entering a ‘Whites Only’ toilet and directed to a    "Coloured’s/Blacks’ toilet. Didn’t these pastors know that Jesus was an Asian, a Jew, and coloured to boot? And, it is also a fact that non-Europeans were not permitted to even enter ‘Whites Only’ clubs throughout Sri Lanka. One such club in Colombo displayed prominently a notice which stated: "Natives and Dogs Not Allowed." It was removed in 1961 on a government directive. Another club at a popular Up-country resort had a rule that said that you had to be dressed in a European suit plus tie or be denied access to the Dining Room. The Club kept several coats of different sizes and ties for patrons who arrived ‘undressed.’!I worked in one such establishment where the waiters addressed all Whites as ‘Master Sir.’ Jesus Himself couldn’t have used a ‘Whites Only’ toilet in South Africa or entered a ‘Whites Only’ club in Sri Lanka. In the region of the Plantation Raj, I came to know a man in his Sixties by the name of Kalu Banda. He had a sinister furrow carved diagonally across his face from above his right eye to below his left ear-lobe. He told me that the road on which we were standing was once a horse-track and the European who owned a tea plantation a few miles away was to ride this way often. He met him one day and failed to remove his turban and bow. For this act of ‘disrespect’ the European struck him across his face with his leather riding quirt, drawing blood and leaving a huge gash which healed slowly. He told me tales of labourers being tied to trees and whipped until their backs were shreds of torn flesh. There was no one to complain to he said. Then, pretty women or girls as young as 12 years from the Labour Lines or the village were ordered to be brought to the bungalow at dusk—properly bathed and with the coconut-oil in their hair washed-out thoroughly. The plantation areas have many bastard children—some with blue eyes and blonde hair—the result of the sexual exploitation the voiceless were subject in the ‘good old days.’ Lorna Wright has documented this in her book: "Just Another Shade of Brown" (© 1976), followed by Dr. Kumari Jayawardenain her "Erasure of the Euro-Asian." (© 2007), andDonovan Moldrich in his "Bitter Berry Bondage." Writing about the indentured labour brought from the Ram Nad district of present-day Tamil Nadu, he wrote: "The trail from Talaimannar to Matale was marked by the whitening bones of thousands of men, women and children who perished on the way from infectious diseases, malnutrition, snake-bite, and attacks by bear, leopard, wild buffalo and elephants. When they arrived at Matale they were auctioned off to different White plantation owners: the man here, the wife there, the children somewhere else. The heartless tearing-up of families went on year after year. That became bitter berry bondage as the coffee estates gave way to tea, all built up on the blood, the sweat, and the heart-rending tears of these wretched people." They were like this for 125 years, from 1823 to 1948 when they were deprived even of their citizenship and became stateless non-citizens. The writings of John Capper, William Knighton, Dr. Henry Marshall, P.D. Millie, C.R. Rigg, William Sabonadiere, Edward Sullivan, and Herbert White, among others add grist to the mill and vividly describe some of the many, varied and unpleasant facets of British rule. Old marriage registers available at the National Archives provide enlightening reading where it is stated in black-and-white: "John Brown* of the 20th Regiment married a native woman." (Name not recorded.) The only redeeming factor was that the issue were no bastards—they were designated ‘half-castes’ and despised by both sides. (*For obvious reasons a pseudonym is used here to illustrate the point being made.) The very reason that the Paynter Home was established by the Indian Christian Mission was to take care of these unacknowledged offspring produced through the unrestrained sexual exploitation of helpless local women. Another home was set-up in Badulla by Methodist missionaries and elsewhere. Sri Lankan publicists had the courage of their convictions to expose the injustices that were perpetrated on the people of this country. Let me quote the well-known social activist Susil Siriwardena here: "Long was the line of those distinguished practitioners, who provided leadership to their institutions, were gurus to the juniors and who contributed to the profession:Tarzie Vittachi, Denzil Peiris, J. L. Fernando, H. E. R. Abeysekera, Donovan Moldrich, Fred de Silva and Victor Gunawardena.Viewed within the setting of the intellectual milieu of the second half of the 20th century, Mervyn de Silva, both the craftsman and the personality, stands out as an exemplar of a meritocratic age, where the values of excellence, quality, disciplined labour, and commitment to professionalism, a multicultural sensitivity and an intuitive grasp of truth, were the norms of those who set out to reach for the stars. It as an age when youth were inspired by idealism, for which independence provided a supplementary value addition. The whole country, Asia, the Tricontinent, and the world itself, provided the intellectual canvas." These highly-respected commentators despised the entire raison d’être of colonial rule and the utter arrogance of Eurocentric racism that drove it forwards and outwards and its latter-day metamorphosis into ‘decolonization.’ This was its new face with its indirect domination through trade, aid, and military alliances that sought to conceal the hidden hands of command and control. When people from this part of the world visit London, Paris, Rome, and other European capitals they are awed into profound silence by the magnificent edifices: The palaces, museums, and monuments to greatness that they see around them. Do they realize that all this exists on the bitter and unrelenting exploitation of man by man? Or the enslavement of innocent peoples? On their labour in the cotton fields of the American South, the coffee plantations of Brazil, the cocoa estates of West Africa, the diamond mines of South Africa, the tobacco fields of Zimbabwe, the tea gardens of Sri Lanka, the rubber estates of Malaysia, the sheep farms of Australia, the sugarcane fields of Mauritius? These are the places where people laboured for a pittance in wages or no wages at all. They laboured on lands that were stolen from the indigenous peoples? They laboured in inhuman conditions so that a few White men in London, Paris, Antwerp, New York or Basel could amass fortunes beyond the dreams of avarice. Then, is there any justification whatsoever that Man (created in the image of God), any man, should enslave another and exploit him to the death? In"Roots" (© 1976) written by Alex Haley we read with feelings too deep even for tears a story of how a man rudely torn from his family in Africa in 1750 ends with this recounting of that odyssey seven generations later. Indeed, for a human being whose mind has been opened by the LORD God to the Truth it is abominable that human beings, brethren all under the Fatherhood of God, could countenance, much less, justify the conduct of those who issued forth from the European continent 500 years ago to despoil the Earth. The insoluble problem of global warming, the depletion of the Earth’s water resources, the pollution of the environment (earth, air, and sea) and a score of other grave problems could all be traced back to these arrogant Eurocentric racists. Their attitudes should not be allowed to influence us in any way or manner. The LORD chose to bring His Word to Mankind through an Asian people, the Israelites and, latterly, their descendants, the Jews. Jesus, the Christ was a Jew, of the House of Judah, born on the Western edge of the Asian continent. The Mediterranean Basin in which His Word was first preached is the Melting Pot of three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. The Word of God went to Armenia, Ethiopia and Egypt long before it reached England. The Mar Thoma congregation in Malabar was established during the lifetime of the ApostleThomas whose grave is to be found in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. A Nestorian Christian congregation existed in Anuradhapura and another in Vavuniya in the 4th century of the Common Era, that is, in the 300s. If one blindly follows the blind both will assuredly fall into a ditch. Open your eyes to reality. Only the utterly naïve and those who would be ignorant would want to be anglophiles# and believe that the Anglo-Saxon peoples represent the zenith of civilization; what they actually represent is the nadir of barbarism. This quote which ends my dissertation puts it quite succinctly: "The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do." - Samuel P. Huntington

Colombo in 1947

Sunday Observer Oct 9 2011

Colombo I saw in 1947

[Part 1]

by Bernard W. Dissanayake

My very first visit to Colombo was in April 1947, when I was a teenager and my reminiscence is clear and vivid of the city and places I visited then with my parents.
We came to Colombo by Kelani Valley Train, boarding the train at Kahawatta railway station, the one before Opanayake which was the last station on KV Line. Coming from the remote village of Emetiyagoda in Sabaragamuwa boarding a train to Colombo was indeed a thrilling experience we youngsters looked forward to passing many railway stations travelling all day long.
We reached Maradana our destination in the evening. I well remember climbing the steep stairs and coming out of the station to the road at Maradana which was well lit up and full of traffic with tramcars moving and the street filled with people on the pavement. At Maradana we boarded a bus to Dehiwala where we were to stay at our aunty's house down Fairline Lane.
Following day we visited the Colombo museum where the Holy Relics of Sariputta and Moggallana, the Aggrasavaka of Buddha brought down from India were in exposition for Buddhists to pay homage. The main purpose of the visit to Colombo was to pay homage to these relics.

Museum

The entire museum was gaily decorated and a long line of devotees in waiting, winding its way to worship and pay homage to Sacred Relics.
A group of drummers clad in white with decorative red headgear was humming their drums outside the Relic Chamber on the green. The entire place looked dignified and serene and devotees moving slowly and silently to pay homage. These many hundreds of Bhikkhus coming in a different queue to pay homage.
After worshipping the Relics we visited many halls in the museum where historical objects including the throne of the last King of Kandy were on display. We the younger were awe-struck by the impressive museum, its long corridors and archways in gleaming white. The large lawns outside neatly kept with flower beds made a lasting impression in my mind of beauty and order in a garden as part of a large building.
Getting out of the museum with a deep sigh, father took us to show the Race Course, Royal College and the University at Reid Avenue. We walked down Thurstan Road to Reid Avenue under the shades of giant Mara trees grown on both sides of the road, forming a green canopy over the road.
We saw the massive Race Course, the grand stand and the white railing along the race track. The university building and its centre tower and the play ground in front were very impressive. I remember father showing some students entering the large building and saying if we studied hard we too could study there. We had no idea then what a university was. Later when we saw the red buildings of the Royal College nearby with very large trees in the front garden. I thought university was another college for senior boys.

Ocean

Boarding a bus from Reid Avenue we came to Galle Face Green where I was awe-struck by the vast scene I saw - The vast ocean in front with the green running along the Galle Face Hotel at one end and the Parliament, grey in colour, standing at the other end. We all walked the entire length of the Galle Face ground to the spot called Galle Buck, a rocky spot with a few coconut palms and the sea waves dashing on the rocks to reach the beach. We were let to touch the sea water and walk on the beach. From there we saw many ships in the sea across and the harbour at the distance. We walked up to Chatham Street where we had lunch. The shops along that street were full of people mostly foreign tourists.
After lunch with ice cream as dessert we hit the street again and saw the massive grand Queen's House with two impressive gates with uniformed guards standing motionless armed with guns. We were too scared to get near the impressive gates and look closely. Father explained that they were special police guarding the Queen's House where the Governor resides. We visited the beautiful garden next to Queen's House. It was called Gorden Gardens. There we saw beautiful beds of flowers, roses and many others well laid with pathways to walk on adorning that garden.
It was full of European visitors, some seated on the benches eating bananas and pineapples, under shady trees. They appeared to be enjoying the sun very much as some had large hats in their hands.
Leaving the beautiful Gorden Gardens to them we then visited the Colombo harbour and saw large ships anchored at a distance.
We saw the jetty and the landing pier and few white passengers leaving in boats, some carrying bunches of bananas and pineapples. Father explaining to us that they were European travellers returning to their countries by ship.
There were several sailors all in white uniforms wearing caps and appearing very smart on duty at the pier. Opposite the harbour was the Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) from where many travellers walked to the pier. We were told that Europeans stayed either in the GOH and boarded the ships to travel to England. While watching them leaving in boats to big ships, I thought to myself that journey across the ocean must be thrilling and wished I too could go on board a ship London bound. My father explained to us while walking back from the harbour, that the sea journey took several weeks and the ship had all the things the passengers required during the long sea voyage. That visit to Colombo harbour made a deep impression on me and kindled a desire to travel across the seas one day.
We returned to Emetiyagoda after a few days and the pictures of Colombo, the buildings, the roads, tram cars, parks, gardens and the harbour and the ships lingered in my mind for months. Father bought us Pilot brand fountain pens and tooth brushes and tooth paste for us to use as utility items in Colombo.
My second visit to Colombo was in 1950 to join a college for studies after junior level education in Dickwella, Matara at Vijitha Vidyalaya. After coming to Colombo during my early youth, I grew up in Colombo and saw the city growing up after independence in 1948, and experiencing many changes within the city's urban environment.
When I came to Colombo I stayed in a private boarding house, down Maligakanda Road, Maradana. The boarding house was close to Vidyodaya Pirivena and was opposite to Cliffton Girls School.

Residential areas

Then the area around Maligakanda was typically a residential area, close to two leading boys schools, Ananda College and Nalanda College. The boarding house had a number of students attending Ananda College including my brother and two graduate teachers of Nalanda College.
I attended Alexandra College, Colombo 7 managed by G. Weeramantrie, the well-known maths teacher of the Royal College. Maligakanda area being close to leading schools had boarding facilities in most private houses. It was a service to outstation students attending Colombo schools as well as a source of supplementary income to those householders who had space to let and willing to provide full-board to a few students.
Those days college teachers wore full dress in white and wore a black tie while most junior students wore navy blue shorts and white shirts and the seniors white long trousers and white short sleeve shirts and girls white frocks.
In the mornings and early afternoons Maligakanda Road, otherwise drab, turned lively with white clad students moving down the road after school on their way home.
wThe girls were orderly though somewhat chatty. The most striking feature was that they were not accompanied by parents or any elders.

Propriety

This was probably due to order and propriety that prevailed then in Colombo. Most students walked to schools by themselves and hardly anyone came in vans or other private vehicles. So did teachers and few came in cars or rickshaws.
The entire length of Maligakanda right up to the water supply reservoir on the hill, was dotted with houses some quaint and others cute with hanging flower pots or window boxes.
Only a few had front yards to grow flowers, but most had neatly kept flower pots at the entry points to the houses. One well kept house down Maligakanda Road was 'Sigiriya'.
It was the house where the late Karunaratne Abeysekara and his brothers, who were students at Nalanda College lived with their parents.
I saw the famous lyricist and radio - broad caster going about along Maligakanda Road.
He was immaculately dressed in white trousers and short sleeve shirt. And he wore a thin moustache.
Opposite the 'House Sigiriya' was the well-known dancer Premakumar's Epitawala's residence. On an ordinary day this road was not congested and one could cross at any point without fear as only a few cars and rickshaws moved up and down.
Evenings were colourful with yellow robed bhikkus in groups, leaving the pirivena after classes to their respective temples. Being close to Vidyodaya Pirivena, there were several bookshops and publishing houses along Maligakanda Road, Maradana.

He comes from Sri Lanka

Sunday Times Sep 18 2011

Cooking up a taste of Jaffna

Devanshi Mody checks out the Yaal virundu Jaffna food festival

A “pottu” the hostess dots you with and ushers you into Yaal Virundu hosted by the Ramada. Attesting to its immense popularity, the annual Jaffna food festival is now in its seventh successive year. If you haven’t been before, do avail yourself of this opportunity over the next three weekends to get a taste of Jaffna. Curious about cooking traditions particular to Jaffna, I request to meet the chefs whom one expects were brought down from the peninsula. It transpires, however, that the food has been made by in-house chefs. In-house chefs from Jaffna? There seems to be no consensus for someone says a team of Sinhalese chefs has admirably recreated flavours from the northern territory, someone else says the chef is Tamil but from Hatton and yet someone else says the creations are courtesy of their North Indian Chef Santosh Chaniyalal. Too many cooks might spoil the soup. But they make a superb kool (famous Jaffna seafood soup) and piquant parippu rasam. I am impressed. I am told, but of course, they have called a Tamil amman as consultant. “Is she from Jaffna?” I ask excitedly. I am told, “Eh no, from Wellawatta….” Admittedly, costs of transportation are rather astronomical nowadays. I find myself soon distracted by a live station where two chefs prepare hoppers and thosais. Thosais are plump and come with an especially good coconut chutney. The hoppers, crisp, porous, served with stunner seeni sambol and lunu miris, are quite possibly the best in Colombo currently. As methods of preparation of dosas vary erratically across Tamil Nadu, I ask if the technique used to prepare these lovely hoppers is particular to Jaffna. I am told somewhat cryptically, “This is a Sri Lankan technique.” But paal appam made with milk and jaggery hoppers are quintessential Jaffna specialities. After an indulgence of three delicate hoppers I think I should be making an effort with other items on a buffet that perhaps comprises a hundred dishes including titbits like fried banana chips, jak fruit seed etc. Expect countless Jaffna salads, enticingly displayed in indigenous baskets and exotic paraphernalia, cradled on banana leaves and adorned in vibrant vegetable and beautiful floral sculptures. Nobody quite explains to me the difference between varais, poriyals and pachchadis but the salad counter undulates with varais of murunga leaves, bitter gourd, snake gourd and for more bite shark varai (yes!), multifarious poriyals (long beans, cabbage, plantain flower) and pachchadis like mango or ingi (whatever that is is excellent. The salads, of course, are accompaniments to enhance or modulate robustly flavoured curries to which I next attach myself. Clay and brass pots lain on striking straw mats fume with fragrant preparations. Not having been to Jaffna I cannot vouch for their authenticity but I have travelled extensively around Tamil Nadu the cooking traditions of which one hears influence Jaffna cuisine. However, had I anticipated the explosive spices and teasing tanginess of Chettinad, they aren’t replicated on this buffet. On the other hand, tongue-tickling red brinjal curry in a lightly textured gravy juxtaposed by white brinjal curry thick and heavy with coconut milk, exemplify strains from Tamil Nadu and Southern Sri Lanka that perhaps fashion Jaffna’s unique culinary culture. Again, the fantastic sambaru throbbing with vegetables evokes Tamil Nadu whilst the dhal is as elsewhere in Sri Lanka. Jaffna’s cuisine is renowned for its seafood and this buffet presents favourites like nandu sodhi (crab and gravy) or variations on prawns (prawns with drumsticks, shallow fried prawns etc) and several fish curries. However, the unexpectedly large variety of vegetarian dishes arrests. Convened for the first time on a single buffet are potato (here made with an unusual red gravy), ash plantain, pumpkin, manioc and bread fruit curries. Nice, firm textures (unlike soggy or undercooked yams often found on buffets). Preparations are flavoursome, ingredients balanced and certain combinations interest: Beads of fenugreek with enormous pearls of garlic cloves merge in an extraordinary creation. For once I decide to ignore the sheets of oil under which curries are oppressed and oleaginous rivulets running amuck on my plate. My only protest is that the buffet is enormous and worse, everything is delicious. So when the waiter comes to clear my plate for the third time, I say I wish to sample yet something else. And then I must queue. You would be well advised to reach early or patiently await access to the food as guests before you pile up pyramids of pittu, uppma, string hopper biriyani and tamarind rice (here, a mild approximation of what I’ve had in Tamil Nadu). The Jaffna Food Festival certainly seems to have captured the tourist imagination for the Alhambra restaurant is packed, predominantly with tourists. One even accosts me to ask if I’ll do a “reportage” about him, “A Saudi tourist in Sri Lanka.” I quickly extricate myself explaining I must get some fresh mangoes before they are all gone, which they are. But the brisk and obliging steward Lakmal winks, “I’ll get you some from inside.” Desserts on the buffet are many but the jalebis, muscats, halwas and such like are too vigorously hued for me. The milk toffee, however, looks gorgeous and what looks good generally tastes good. Wonderfully chunky, without the Milkmaid overdose, it melts in the mouth- maybe the only milk toffee I’ve actually eaten in its entirety. You might lose a tooth biting into the thala balls, but it’s worth it for that taste. The pongal is studded with swollen raisins and generous in enormous king cashew nuts, contrasting starkly with buffets at grand hotels where cashews have disappeared or been reduced to shavings. Amazed by the fare, I am persistent about meeting the chef. Mr Dian (Assistant F&B Manager) presents Chef Asoka. I ask, “Is he from Jaffna?” Mr Dian says, “No he is Sri Lankan.” An averment as colourful as the buffet! The writer is a freelance travel writer who has contributed to international magazines and newspapers including Tatler, Conde Nast Traveller, Harper's Bazaar, Wallpaper, Elle, The Telegraph, The Evening Standard and The Independent.

The Chartered Bank Boys 1970

            Gerry Carvalho, Felix Vindurampulle, Davidson, Chubby Weinman, Rohan Masilamany

In the Beginning

 

The Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China, was, originally a UK based bank, who had their branch in the Fort of Colombo since Colonial times. It was one of many other UK based banks who operated in the country serving both the Colonial masters and the local community.

 

The Colombo office was located on Queen Street in the Fort opposite the Queen’s House, as it was called then,

long before the presidential system of governance was implemented in the island.

 

The building was a majestic one that stood tall as a legacy to amazing British Colonial architecture, its massive columns holding up like mammoths sprouting off the ground.

The magnificent colonial architectural structure was maintained by a British construction company, M/S Edward Reid, & Begg.

 

The banks office was flanked, on the south, by a row of shops located on Chatham Street around the Fort clock tower, and, on the north by Baillie Street, now renamed to Mudalige Mawatha. The western face looked directly towards the Indian Ocean, across the Mercantile Bank building along Upper Chatham Street which led to the Galle Buck Road now renamed to Chaithya Street.

 

The building is a massive brown stone pillared structure of British architectural fame, and also housed many other businesses within its multi floors above the bank itself. Aitken Spence & Company Ltd., Bartleet & Co., Cumberbatch & Company Ltd., and Muller & Phipps, TAJ

Noorbhai & Co, were some of them. The bank occupied the ground floor and the basement, where the vault, record rooms and the lunch room were located.

Built on the site of the religious houses of St Augostino from Portuguese times, the building stood on a very prominent and prime location in the Fort, adjacent to the GPO and facing the Presidents House, with the clock tower located at the intersection of Chatham Street and Queen Street.

 

The structure of the facility is very solid in its frame and viewed beautifully from the corners, with its arched entrances, majestic columns, and the eight carved elephant heads complete with tusks that stick out at the extreme corners.

 

Chatham Street in Colonial times

The bank was originally established in 1852 by a group of East Indian Merchants in order to provide suitable banking services for the rapidly expanding trade between Britain and the East. It was incorporated by a Royal Charter, in London, in 1853, by a Scotsman named James Wilson. The first overseas branch was opened in Calcutta, in India, and numerous other branches rapidly spread throughout the orient even extending to Beijing.

The Colombo branch was opened in 1880 at the Queen Street (now renamed to Janadipathi Mawatha) premises where it has stood for many decades until the nineties, when the management had no option but to move, lock

stock and barrel, to the ANZ Grindlays bank premises,

which the bank had acquired, located at the York Street/Prince Street intersection. This was on account of the Fort area being closed and declared a high security zone during the 30 year old LTTE war.

 

In 1969 Chartered Bank merged with Standard Bank of London, which did business throughout Africa. The merged enterprise was incorporated in London under the name Standard Chartered Bank.

 

Chatham Street

The massive growth of the tea industry in Ceylon contributed to the development and success of the bank as many British based tea companies and estates chose to manage their finances via the Chartered Bank in Colombo, on account of its British connections and also very large network of branches across the globe. The rubber, coconut and spice industries too provided much impetus to the banks customer base.

 

The bank had purchased the land on which it stood, in

1927 and work on the building was started in 1930 and completed in 3 years.

 

Management, in the 60s, was still under the control of a few British senior executives with a group of locals reporting to them, who had come up the ranks, now holding top level executive positions.

 

Life, in Colombo, in the late sixties was quite laid back, as the city had always been in those halcyon times, even though the wheels of politics, business, economics, and life

was churning in a melting pot of many difficult and uncertain conditions.

 

An elected Prime Minister had been assassinated a decade ago, his widow had campaigned herself into power, and the state of affairs in the country was not in the best of its

Health, as much the people would have liked it to be. The nation had enjoyed its initial sojourn into independence from the British in 1948 and ruled by an elected right wing political party until 1956. A swing to the left took its course thereafter for five years. The pendulum has since been swinging right and left every five years, since then, until a new system of governance, based on proportional representative and an executive presidency was introduced in 1978 by the UNP government who were ruling at that time.

 

1970 saw the government of Ms Sirimavo Bandaranaike, widow of the late Prime Minister, SWRD, declaring the country as a Republic, and its name was thus changed from Ceylon to The democratic and socialist republic of Sri Lanka.

 

She nationalized many companies in the plantation sector

and imposed restrictions on several imports. This led to the downfall of the country's economy, and she was, subsequently, defeated in the general elections of 1977, with allegations of corruption which later led to her expulsion from Parliament.

 

It was in the backdrop of this turmoil that I had just completed high school at Royal College and also at the end first year at the University of Colombo.

An uncle, AWM Ghouse, who worked at the bank at the time and who was married to my Dad’s oldest sister, Sithy Rameela Sameer, suggested that I take up a career in banking. I agreed, after some persuasion from Dad and was invited to the bank for an interview and test.

 

The hiring process entailed a test in English and Arithmetic, followed by an interview by the country Manager, Mr PJ McNamara. Everything went well and I was hired, together with six others who also appeared for the interviews with me, and, all of us commenced work in 1969.

 

The others in this batch were Nirmal Jayasuriya, Nihal Fernando, the late MM Alfred (Alfred “Maama” who died in a tragic drowning accident in the Mahaweli river on a trip he was making to the hill country), P Sugathadasa, Asoka de Silva and Ranjit Fernando.

 

My first regular full time job thus began in Feb 1969, when we had to sign up an employment contract with the bank. This was a turning point in my life that I will always remember, and, maybe not necessarily, cherish with too

much fervor on account of the many ups and downs that passed by during this tenure.

 

Banking was new to all of us, and, it was here that we learnt the tricks and travesty of how business is done, the hard way, sometimes by hook and on other times by crook, to hell with all the ethics and decency that we were taught

back at school that was considered most precious and

obligatory.

 

Working life at the bank was hectic as well as lots of eventful humor and fanciful fun. We were all in the prime of our youth, so it was not too much hassle to handle the tasks assigned to us, reasonably comfortably. The management style of employer-employee relationship was one of master and slave, inherited by the colonial past, each trying his best to hoodwink the other in every manner possible for individual gain. The bank staff union, who were very active and strong, was always hell bent on attacking the management at every single turn on the evolved presupposition that the organization was trying to rip the skins off the employees backs. At the same time, management too had the least respect for the staff, a kind of tit for tat situation that had evolved, between management and staff, across all walks of commerce in Sri Lanka since independence. It was, in many ways, a very self-oriented situation where the master was misusing his subordinates to serve him, for mutual benefit, at any cost and with scant respect for his fellow humans. There were lots of acts of skullduggery going on behind the scenes with the management and some blue eyed boys of the staff who were loyal to them, some visible, and others behind closed doors.

 

It was a very tragic first working experience for me, even

though I had the golden opportunity of gathering much

knowledge about the banking industry and business in general, which  I will probably remember for the rest of my life. Discrimination, based on ethnicity, race, religion and favoritism was the order of the day, sadly.

 

As a Muslim by race, belonging to a small minority community in the island, I had very little scope of any form of career  success in such a hostile environment that prevailed within the work place. The ones wielding power, at the top, were the majority Sinhala community ably supported by the minority Colombo Chetty community, who were Catholics by religion, and quite adept at banking, money lending, and trade, in that era. I was more than certain that this was not the right place as a career for me in the long term. 

 

NCR Class 32 Accounting

 

We were, initially, given training on the effective operation of the very popular NCR Class 32 Accounting machines by a burly old Burgher lady, Ms Swan at the NCR office down the road at York Street. These electro-mechanical monsters were the level of automation prevailing across most banks in that era. They sure did a great job in providing the accounting needs of a financial institution, even though it will sound rather klutzy looking back now from the 21 century.

 

Our group was first assigned to the Current Accounts department under a burly senior Burgher gentleman, BNR Raux. Although a very humorous man by nature, he was also most fearful of the management and would bend in fives to appease them at anyone’s cost and his personal benefit.

 

The young guys working for him also feared him for the

simple reason that he could make or break their career and lucrative future that they all looked forward to in their hearts and minds as young budding career seekers.

 

Some of the other senior staff who were working, within the current accounts department at that time, were Jeyaraj Fernando, from whom I learned most of my current account operations, Stanley Fernando, the two Ronnie de Silva’s, one from Ragama and the other from Wellawatte, Canicius Leonard, M Thomas, Premadasa, Stanley Fernando, Tyronne Candappa, Eddie Melder, Weerasooriya, Rex Cooray, and a few others whose names I cannot distinctly remember now.

 

We were, in a few months, joined by several more

newbies, Brian Wickremasinghe, Subashchandra, Machado, Merryl Crusz, Nimal Ranatunge, and Paiva. 

 

Of the senior staff in the bank, there was Steuart Keuneman, Siddiq Ghouse (my paternal cousin, son of my uncle AWM Ghouse), Ronnie Henderling, Ronnie de Silva, Ragama Ronnie, Derrick Alles, Douglas Ingram, SF Yehiya, Eustace Fernando, Anslem Ludwig, V Gulasingham, SC Dias-Abeysinghe, Moses, Elmo Silvapulle, Rex Wijesooriya, Gerry Carvalho, Lucian D’Olivera, Michael Perera, Lal Heenetigala, N Colambage, ND Perera, and  RAD Perera (who later became Accountant after the Englishman, Mr PA Cameron left to the UK).

 

Of the staff who were seconded for service from the UK, then, was the country Manager, PJ McNamara, Mack, Assistant Manager, SC Buchanan, PA Cameron (Accountant), and NP Davenport.

 

The only lady among the management staff, at that time, was Ms Muttiah, who was the executive secretary to the

Accountant. We also had a telephone operator, Ms Maisy Downall who managed the switchboard. It was totally a man’s world at The Chartered Bank in the early seventies. 

 

The majority of the cash department staff, including all the tellers who worked at the counters, belonged to the Colombo Chetty community, while there were also Burghers and Sinhalese staff members on the main payroll. Top management consisted of Caucasian men from London as Manager, Sub Manager and Accountant as the pecking order was, in those banking days in Ceylon. We also had an Englishman from London managing the current accounts department.

 The internal politics that pervaded the entire staff, from top to bottom, was most appalling, and, was certainly not the best environment for any beginner to start a career. There were lots of deep human behavior issues to put up with. 

 

Yet, that was the working culture that prevailed across most sectors of the corporate world in post-independence Ceylon.

 

The many clashes between the management and the clerical union, through the years, were like a border war that would see no end. The internal intrigue that went on between management and their “blue eyed boys” was another lesson that I learned, the hard, difficult, and uncomfortable way. Favoritism was the order of the day.

 

You could never get anywhere near the top unless you pleased your bosses in whatever way they wished. Racism was inherent in the hearts and minds of most of the staff.

I just wanted to get away from it all and run away to some far off distant land. However, at that point of time, I did not have much of a choice but to stay, learn, enjoy, and deliver.

 

The Normal Work Day

 

Work began at 8am and clocked off at 5pm with an hours break for lunch. Offline operations went on, based on shifts, towards the late hours of the night. Month ends were even more tedious in that all the financials of every department needed to balance to the last red cent, and, sometimes went on till morning. However, these were fun filled evenings where dinner and drinks were indulged in very ostentatiously. The local transport board bus services operated till very late into the night, from the Fort to various corners of the city, which facilitated the commute of the staff back, safely, to their homes.

 

The general working environment that prevailed within the banking sector in that era was very comfortable and easy going. While one had to clock, in and out attendance, by signing in a manual register, based on time, the staff were quite free to move out of the office premises at any time of the working day.

 

Overtime was paid at one and a half times the regular days wage, and, this was gobbled up by most of the staff using all possible machinations they could conjure up every month. One, was delaying the balancing of accounts by

creating imbalances willfully. Some broke up for dinner at

8:30 pm and went out to enjoy a good movie at the Regal Cinema, only to return and finish the work by the early hours of the morning.

Management was quite aware of these tactics but chose to turn a blind eye to them as they felt that the boys deserved a little extra piece of the pie. Furthermore most of the present management staff had also risen up from the ranks and indulged in the same games during their own era as junior staff.

 

Weekend work was necessary only if it was required during any emergency crisis situation that may arise. The boys were extremely efficient in delivering the goods. The quality of service that the bank offered then to its customers would put most present day banks to shame. In addition the excellent proficiency in English of all the staff was way above par. Today, it is so hard to communicate with a banks customer service officer or even the help desk on the phone, in English.

 

Career

While the current accounts department was staffed by a jolly bunch of young guys who treated work as fun it was also a part of the banks policy to transfer staff to other departments in order that they may learn all the banking products, services, and offerings. It also helped the young men to improve their banking skills for their own career development.

 

There were seven current account ledgers, five of which were arranged alphabetically by customer name. These consisted of both consumer and corporate accounts that were prevalent from several years ago.

 

The other two were created to handle the new accounts

that were being opened after the governmental approval for local consumers to open accounts with foreign banks in 1969.

 

Initially I handled Ledger 6A which had accounts with names from A to K. I then moved to ledger #2 which had some very high net worth corporate accounts in addition to personal accounts that were opened many moons ago.

 

The work, basically, involved updating the account holder ledger cards and statements with the days transactions, account by account. The NCR accounting machines were operated by a metal which had stops fixed to it that defined the date, description, debit, credit, balance breaks that are normally found on a bank statement. Each card contained the details of a customer account and each statement replicated it in order to be mailed to the customer at the end of the month. A backing sheet was used, overlapped with carbon, in order to capture the total transactions for the day for reconciliation, debugging, and archiving.

 

Each transaction, hand written on paper slips (some were typed too, depending on the source), that was received at the cash counters or processed by other departments based on their nature, ended up in the current accounts for posting into the customer ledgers.

 

The online transactions were posted in real time whenever a customer transacted with a teller. All the paper slips were then deposited into pigeon holes, labeled by ledger numbers, by the peons to be posted into the statements sheets by the next batch of operators, after the bank closed its doors to the public at 1pm.

 

I also managed “blocked” and non-resident” accounts that belonged to people, from Colonial times, who had either passed away or left the island for good.

 

This was a very interesting assignment as I had to deal with overseas heirs of the departed account holder and the local Central Bank to obtain the necessary approvals to release funds.

The Central Bank allowed a fixed sum of money to be released on a per diem basis for the heirs of such account holders visiting Sri Lanka, to be used for local disbursements during their stay in Sri Lanka.

 

My first internal transfer was to Fixed Deposits, which was a one man department reporting to the head of the Cash Department, Neville Fernando, at that time.

 

I took over from Felix Vindurampulle, who had been managing FDs for many years.

 

It was a very comfortable job and also gave me the opportunity to meet and get to know many high net worth clients. Everything, from recording the transaction to issuing the deposit certificate was manual. I also had the luxury of enjoying the comfort of the Shroffs room at the end of the tellers counter row at the far end of the cash department.

 

The cash department was run using the outsourced shroff and teller model that prevailed amongst all foreign banks in that era.

 

The shroff hired the tellers, directly, and took full responsibility for the cash that was transacted at the teller

counters.

 

The tellers worked till 2pm as the bank closed for business at 1pm. Once they balanced their cash and handed it over to the shroff they were free to leave. Most of them gathered at the nearest pub and enjoyed the afternoon with a sumptuous lunch and drinks, before they left for home.

 

Derrick Alles, was the shroff at the time and some of the

tellers I remember comprised, Roche Tevarayan, Christie Tevarayan, Mervyn Fernandopulle, Aloy Anandappa, Jerome Anandappa, Rohan Masilamani, Trevor Fernandopulle, Royce Fernandopulle. Derrick took over from his brother Herman Alles who retired towards the end of the 60s. The model worked like clockwork precision.

 

The whole cash department gang belonged to the Colombo Chetty community and most of them lived in the north of Colombo, from Kotahena all the way to Kandana.

The cash department was fully secured with access allowed only to the internal department staff members.

 

There were six teller counters for servicing customers and the daily rush was quite heavy through the week. Corporate accounts also processed a high volume of transactions on a daily basis.

 

Next, I moved to the Bills Payable department managed by Anslem Ludwyck. We had Subash, Paiva and Nimal, manning the counters in the department at this time. Many were the foreign remittances that were pouring in from expat labor working overseas.

Bills department processed these payments on a daily basis to a massive volume of customers who used to flock to the counter to collect their monies from their loved ones.

 

Work was interesting as we had the opportunity to meet many people who had family members working overseas. The daily turnover at the counters was very high due to the large number of drafts and funds transfer payments that were being sent to Sri Lanka from overseas contract workers.

 

From there I moved to the Outward Bills department where I took over from Tyronne Candappa in handling the special “P” form approval process for Sri Lankans planning to travel overseas to buy air tickets with local currency.

 

Up to that point of time there was a restriction on the purchase of air tickets for foreign travel imposed by the government in order to save forex.

Once the Central Bank issued a new order that this will be allowed based on a controlled mechanism managed by the banks, the “P” form was introduced to facilitate it. Travel agents issued the air tickets on the approved “P” forms.

 

A significant event that may need to be placed on record during my tenure with the bank is as follows:- Sometime in the mid-seventies The Chartered Bank of Dubai sent a request to the management of the Colombo branch stating that they need several senior staff members with good experience in banking products to be transferred to their branch.

 

No announcement was made to the staff in seeking the participation of interested staff members. Instead, a few blue eyed boys were contacted privately by the management and offered the opportunity.

 

All of them accepted and were sent off to Dubai where

they reaped the financial benefits of petro dollars while the rest were left behind feeling desperately neglected. It was a very sad moment in the history of my career with a British bank that was supposed to uphold moral values supported by equality, justice, and goodness. 

 

It was in 1979, after ten long years of service, that I finally decided to quit the bank to take up a position with Metropolitan Agencies, a family owned private sector organization, in setting up their first Computer Department after they had obtained the agency in Sri Lanka for HP Computing products. The task lasted 10 months after which I had the golden opportunity to leave the country and join Citibank Global Technology in the Middle East & North Africa region in Nov 1979.

Thereon, my career took a steep climb in the IT sector, lifting me up to the position of Head of one of the Application Software Development units at Citibank where we delivered various financial products, project management and continued applications maintenance and support.

 

The Bank Employees Union

 

The Ceylon Bank Employees’’ Union is a very powerful organization where every single bank employee in the island was a member.

The actions they took whenever they had an issue related to pay or perks was always extremely harsh and had huge economic effects on the country.

 

Many were the strike actions that we were forced to be a part of even if we didn’t agree with the decisions taken by the union management.

 

Pay was lost and the banks too had to take a hit in terms of customer service and operations.

 

An interesting letter, in immaculate Shakespearean English, was once written by the Assistant Managers typist, EMA Wijeratne, in relation to an incident during one of the bank strikes as follows:-

 

EMA Wijeratne, Typist-in-Charge

Information Department

Colombo

02 March, 1973

 

The Acting Manager

Thro’ the Accountant

The Chartered Bank, Colombo

 

Dear Sir:

 

COMPLAINT

 

Whilst it is considered noblesse oblige on the part of an employer to investigate complaints against any member of his/her staff, I maintain the principle Imprimatur or nihil obstat to the hilt by bringing to your notice that one of the typists of the drafts department, Nelson Siriwardene by name, and a renegade during the recent bank strike, comes out of a cheap sense of bravado to the Information Department and stands outside the balustrade and communicates in a stentorian voice with his counterpart, Costa (my assistant), in such a manner, releasing a volley of vituperative and unprintable language in the Sinhala, couched in indirect hints at me and all others who had been faithful strikers to the very end of that period.

 

But, as discretion is the better part of valor, I exercised a good deal of wisdom and patience, taking good care, however, not to bury the matter in oblivion. These nasty incidents invariably take place during the lunch interval, say between 1 and 2pm, when not much work is in progress in practically all departments of the bank.

 

These are cowardly acts perpetrated by the person in question, who surely is lacking in moral rectitude and decent behavior, whose vital statistics compare favorably with a half-starved individual’s. I am not censorious towards so-called blacklegs, but I would make bold to say that they have now become members of a hideous coterie created among themselves, though not of course a political oligarchy.

 

Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that some quasi-national minded folk in this office who imagine they uphold golden tenets and shower encomiums on the Government are behind the scene as dramatis personae who conduct a goblin choir intoning a liturgy of woe.

 

In the light of the foregoing, I wish the management will bring to book this particular offender in order to restore peace and harmony which are cardinal virtues in times of storm and stress.

 

Yours faithfully,

EMA Wijeratne

Typist-in-charge – Information Department

 

Sports & Games

 

Sports and games were also very popular with the boys and the bank participated in many cricket, rugby, football, carom, draughts, and table tennis tournaments with other banks as well as the mercantile sector.

 

Some of the guys who were very active in these events were Tyronne, Ronnie, Rohan, Dougie, Steuart, Gerry, Eddie, Rex, & Nihal.

 

Many  of the younger lads were very keen sportsmen and gave their best in performing skillfully in the various tournaments and competitions they participated in.

 

Management support for these events was also very forthcoming and this gave an extra impetus for the boys to pursue their passions.

 

Many were the victories and trophies that the boys were able to win and be proud of on behalf of the bank.

 

It was on a visit to Scarborough, in Canada, to see my grandkids that I was to meet up with a small group of ex Chartered bankers in Markham at the home of Joseph Vitalis Fernando, where we enjoyed a great chat about old times and relished a sumptious lunch that was prepared by Mrs Fernando.

 

Tales from the CB boys since the 60s

Dougy at the R-T match

Douglas Ingram was an old Thomian, and, one year he wanted to attend the Royal-Thomian cricket match on a Friday which was a working day. So he stayed away from work and attended the match. It so happened that RAD Perera, Accountant, was also at the match that day. He had spotted young Dougy sporting a Thomian flag and dancing with the boys, on the grounds, during the lunch break.

On checking the attendance records on Monday RAD found that Dougy had reported sick on Friday and submitted a medical certificate. He called Dougy and questioned him stating that he had seen him at the grounds on Friday. Dougy denied, vehemently, that he was truly sick and convalescing at home in bed and that RAD may have seen someone who looked like him.

Later, the issue was put to bed because there was no way RAD could prove it was Dougy at the match.

Lunch hour

It was a common practice, during the normal days lunch break for the young lads to stand at the main entrance steps of the bank and watch the awesome working girls of Fort pass by, along the banks arcade. Many were the damsels who worked in several private sector corporations housed upstairs in the bank building.

Eddie Melder had this humorous habit of pointing to the girls and saying they dropped something so that they would pause and look around them while the boys had a good laugh. The mirth was merry and all such events were taken in the best of spirits by the young guys and gals in that era. Life was full of fun in the 70s.

H.OT

There was a period in the 70s when the then government imposed a bank transaction debit tax where every debit to an account was taxed at 5% and needed to be deducted at source by the concerned banks and remitted to the tax department on a monthly basis.

The guys who worked in this team were led by Eustace Fernando and comprised Sabaratnam, Russel Fernando, and Nihal Fernando.

The process in place was that the daily transactions had to be computed and balanced with the daily debit tax value for review and sign off. It so happened that on one day there was quite a large discrepancy in the balancing. On investigation the guys found out from where it was originating and fixed it. No one wanted to disclose its source as they felt that it was an opportunity to keep silent about as they could simply pretend the error popped up and use the time spent on reconciliation to add more hours to their overtime. This proved very beneficial, economically to the whole team who kept it going for as long as they were working on the debit tax reconciliation process.

There were several similar opportunities to extend the working hours by creating error situations and staying over, late, to try and fix the bugs in order to claim overtime. One was the daily journal balancing and another, the month end balancing of accounts.

Reported by Nihal Fernando – Mar 31 2022

Canteen

The bank canteen was located in the basement and the boys used to gather down there to enjoy their lunch and also some carrom. The lunch packs were usually delivered by the lunch delivery man “Toffee” (aka “Rathu” as he sported a red turban and sarong). These were usually outsourced from various home catering housewives. The bills were settled directly with the supplier by the staff members on a monthly basis.

There were those lean and hungry bankers who used to check the attendance register, diligently, each day to find out who was absent. Since these lunch service providers would not be aware of whether their clients had clocked in to work or not the food would always be delivered. So these crafty guys used to relish the lunch of those who were absent and be satiated for the day. Some even left thank you notes inside the empty plates.

Demonetization

It was sometime in the 70s, during the reign of PM Mrs B

FM NM Perera that the currency was demonetized and replaced with brand new notes to be exchanged through all commercial banks.

 

The staff had to spend long hours in the bank receiving the bundles of currency notes that were deposited by the customers and have them counted, separating many of the crumbling notes that were stuck to each other, having been stored in basements and dungeons in people’s homes and offices over years.

 

It was a fun period.

 

From Kodi’s archives (posted on the WA Group)

A collection of hilarious and interesting stories

The National Hotel

When I joined the bank in 1979, there were many seniors who lived a very lavish and comfy working life at the bank. Some of them used to drop in at the adjoining National Hotel to have a shot or two before lunch. Some of them made remarks such as "if you drink, you will die, if you don't drink you will still die. Therefore, it’s better to drink and die"

 

Memories of Militancy

This story reminds us of the rally and meeting our branch Union had in front of the old SCB building in the Fort.

 

The year was 1978. We were obstructing Queens Road, and the all-powerful Executive President, JR, was due to arrive at Queens House.

 

Kumar was on top of the HNB gate pillar addressing  the comrades, However, Fort Police headed by Felix Yahampath managed to control the crowd without much difficulty to ensure a safe passage for JR to the Queens House.

 

Today we can see many similar activities unfolding in from of our very eyes in Sri Lanka.

 

Department Chats

By some chance, if the day’s work was finished early, then we used to sit around and enjoy a good conversation until 05.15pm, which was a lot of fun.

 

We all worked hard and enjoyed meeting deadlines,

adapted to taking  the blame for making mistakes, followed the seniors working styles, and learnt the art of delivering results in the perfect way. In short the basic foundation that we all got was exceptionally solid.

 

Subsequently, the seniors were transferred to various other departments. Jagath, Saliya and Nalin went to Forex, Koswanage went to a bank in the middle east. Kumarage resigned and embarked on his own gem business, Kera and Jayanth moved to Bills Payable. I am thankful to all my friends who worked with me in the clearing department for the solidarity and clear understanding they shared and the humanity they bestowed upon us.

 

In 1979 I was asked to report to Eustace Fernando in Bills Payable department, adjoining the clearing department, and spent four years there.

 

The bank then initiated some major changes to its operational process by starting a centralized operations unit called CBO - Consumer Banking Operations, in the year 1996. All operational processing work handled by the branches were transferred to the head office and the branches were instructed to focus more in managing an effective Service and Sales offering.

 

This Project was named as “Lobue” and was handled by Systems Re-Engineering and Implementation Manager Abdul Azeez (Firdousi).

 

Damayantha Seneviratne was appointed as the Head of CBO and the processing staff were increased in the department.

The project was guided by two Unit Heads, Mr Nick Miller – Head CB and Kumar Mayadunne - Head Ops. In order to help the branches, several couriers were arranged at frequent intervals, and a cut off time and turnaround time were introduced for all functions.

 

SLA, Service Level Agreements were introduced to compromise the situation. In the initial stages we had lots of arguments, disagreements and complaints, but gradually all of us got adjusted in accepting the new system.

 

Due credit should go to Project Manager, Azeez for absorbing the criticism patiently, with pressure passed on him to deliver the end result successfully.

 

As a part of this project several designations of the staff were changed, Branch Managers became BSSM - Branch

Sales and Services Manager; Banking Assistants attached to Branches were named as PFC’s - Personal Financial Consultants.

 

During this period a single queue was introduced in the Cash department. In the initial stages, all customers were guided and helped by a Security Officer until they became familiar with the new queue system.

 

Karu was relating a story, that, one day his father who was a Senior Officer attached to Central Bank had come to the bank to make a savings withdrawal; Karu had accompanied him to Cash department.

 

He was surprised by the poles installed in front of the tellers and asked Karu, “I say what the hell is this, Diga Polima and Lanu with Steel Bambu”

Am I to go behind these people ?, I don’t like this Putha – Finally Karu had pleaded with him not to make a big issue there. “I will get you the money as quickly as possible.” Luckily someone offered to serve his Dad, otherwise poor Karu would have been chased out of his home on that day.

 

During this period I was the Cash Officer, Joy was the chief cashier and in the evening once the cash position was balanced we used to transfer all the money trunks and other files to the main vault. These trunks were carried by our minor staff, Sandanam, Velu and a few others who usually came to the cash department in the evenings around 5.30pm.

 

Joy once told them,

“from tomorrow you guys will be promoted to weight lifting engineers since you are always carrying heavy weights”

 

And they responded,

“This is the only shortcoming that we are in need of Sir, please try to speak to the management and increase our pay at least”

 

One historical incident was that when the evening tea was served the cash staff used to relax a bit for few minutes while enjoying their cuppa. Joy and I were smokers during that period; we used to exchange extra cigarettes that we had during tea time.

 

When we ran out of stocks, Joy used to come to me and say “Kodi nothing to worry, I will get you one free, now watch me carefully”,

He went straight to Firdousi’s table in CBO and shouts at him in a raised voice saying, “Look here Azeez, see what you have done, all this time everything went on smoothly you came and started this bloody Lobue project and customers are shouting at us all the time”.

 

Azeez never liked anyone shouting at him. He immediately pulls out his 555/Gold leaf cigarette packet, lights a cigarette and throws the pack to Joy by saying, “Take one men, Shhhhh now  speak softly, just lower your voice cos the staff may hear what you are saying”

 

Joy lights a cigarette happily and says Kodi is also blaming you for starting this Lobue thing. Then, Azeez says, “Take one for that man also and please vanish from this place now”

 

Joy slowly gets up and winks, shows a thumbs up sign at me while I used to watch the entire scene through the glass in the cash department entrance door.

 

Another incident was when I was attached to the main office for issuance of cash order customer requests to back office and Daha was in charge of it. Normally Daha raised various type of questions when someone brings anything to his table.  To annoy him a bit, I used to say “I also have lots of stuff to deliver today so please don’t make a big issue”. Then my trick works as Daha gets angry instantly and jumps up at me saying “Look, please go away without trying to take the mickey out of me”. Later on we meet each other in the wash room and he keeps apologizing continuously for shouting at me.

 

There was another incident that took place during the LTTE

war. One day a call was received by the bank that there was a bomb planted in the 5 floor and that it would explode in ten minutes.

 

As we had already undergone several emergency drill exercises before to face for such situations, the staff was immediately instructed to vacate the premises through the staff entrance and emergency exit.

 

Then the branch manager, Magdon Ismail came running to the cash department shouting, “Kodi get the tellers cash into paper bags and put them all into the main vault”. So along with Joy, Magdon, and I, took turns by running into the basement taking the cash to safety.

 

On seeing this OA Nayanananda also joined and helped us,

voluntarily, together with a few labor and carried the big trunk with the bulk cash. We were the last to leave the building. Although it was a fake call I was wondering had this been a real incident we may not be here today to tell this story.

 

These are some of the funny and thrilling  events what we

have encountered during our working career with the bank.

 

ATM Intruder Login

This happened when I was working in the IT department at the main office. Generally, we start the main IT offline update process by 8:30 pm. Since it was a very light work day the staff were relaxing a bit. Suddenly we heard an alarm repetitively coming out from the speakers fixed near the ATM Main Controller Monitoring lights and within few seconds all 3 lights went dead and switched off.

 

We checked the monitor of the ATM controller (Sparrow)

and found there was a warning highlighted message appear as "An Intruder Login" with its error code.

We checked the message code in the ATM controller manual and found if anyone tried to use the ATM cash dispenser unit forcibly with an invalid card the machine would shut down automatically for a period of half an hour.

 

I was about to leave the room to see what was happening. In the meantime I saw a young security officer, who came directly to me and said “Sir, hell of a thing happened. A white foreigner is trying to break the ATM machine and it took me quite a hassle to stop him. Please come and take a look”

 

So, I went to the ATM machine and it was pitch dark and completely dead. I looked at the so called Sudda (white foreigner) and he happened to be one of our account holders, standing in front of the machine angrily.

 

I noticed at a glance that he was local, thin tall person in late 30s, who was suffering from a skin pigmentation 

condition that gave him white patches on his body that made him look like a Sudda (Caucasian foreigner).

 

I asked him what has happened and he said that he came to withdraw some cash but the machine did not allow it. I asked him if there was sufficient cash balance in his account and he replied that he had deposited his company check the day before yesterday and it was only showing a minimum balance.

 

When questioned further he said had done a few account balance inquiries and tried withdrawing cash and when the available cash balance was insufficient he got mad and could not control himself and had hit the card slot

without removing the card out in order to cancel the previous transaction.

 

I explained the situation and told him that in the first place he should have sought assistance from the security staff to speak to a bank officer, and with regard to his check I asked what his account number was and he said he could not remember it. He was insisting that he needed to take his ATM card right away. I politely told him, “Sir your card has being captured by the machine there is nothing we can do to retrieve it until tomorrow morning.” He then got angry again and started scolding the bank in English using some nasty expletives.

 

Finally I asked for his name, status of check, whether it is a Colombo or outstation check, and said that I will check his account balance and inform him. He then replied “I am so and so and that check is from a Commercial Bank branch in Colombo”. To ease the situation I accompanied him up to the security office.

 

I went back to the IT unit and inquired into his account  balance and found that the clearing department had changed the value date of the unrealized check by extending it for an additional day. Perhaps it may have been done on a request made by the paying bank. Then, I returned to the customer to see that he was seated, sporting a disgusted face and tried to clarify the true situation of his account. Further I said you may collect the ATM card from OIC in the cash department. on the following day.  Then he got up and left without saying a word.

 

The most significant part of the incident was seeing the two security guards (they were both new to the Bank) who were fully surprised watching the entire scene with half opened mouths. When the customer mentioned his name one of the guys was so inquisitive, he slowly said to his other partner: “We were thinking that he was a foreigner and only knew he was a local when he mentioned his name. We were deceived. How did this man get so white? Maybe he was born in a tea estate to an English planter”

 

I was fortunate that the angry customer did not hear any of their words. By some chance if he did then I would have had to settle another dispute with a huge customer complaint for insult.

 

(Full Credit of this story must go to BC Perera who supplied the raw materials)

 

Sometime in the mid 1990s, the bank had taken a policy decision that all current account holders should maintain a minimum balance of Rs 25K in their respective accounts

 

If not funded to maintain this minimum balance requirement, then the account will be closed and a date was fixed for implementation.

 

Consumer Banking Marketing Manager, Terrence Pulasinghe was appointed to handle this task and an appropriate customer advice was printed with his scanned signature and the IT department was involved in printing them. However, staffs accounts were exempted from this requirement.

 

It was a major task that needed to be handled very carefully and manual intervention was necessary to separate the staff account advices that were printed along with other current account holders advices. Some staff members from the IT department had done this and all the staff account advices were kept separately and tagged with an A4 sheet with a black R using a marker to denote “reject”.

 

The following morning the mail department staff had come to the IT department to collect the printed advices in order to put them in envelopes and dispatch them by mail. They saw the staff account advices with the ‘R’ tag and collected them too and sent them to the account holders by registered post, thinking the ‘R’ meant “Registered”.

 

After two days Terrence was questioned by Jayanth in the officers mess, during lunch break, as to why staff members were not exempt by the banks new ruling on current account minimum balance requirements,

 

JG: “Terrence, why have you guys sent registered mail to staff regarding the banks new minimum balance policy of Rs 25,000/- Isn't this a gross injustice?”

 

TP: “No, we only sent out mail to ordinary customers and not to staff account holders”

 

JG: “Go to hell man, just today my wife informed me that we have received a registered letter from the bank addressed to me, how can it be a lie?”

 

Terrence, coming under a heavy attack by his colleagues was now denying all charges.

 

That evening when he went home after office Terrence’s wife has told him “See, today, your bank has sent you a registered mail, open it and take a look”

 

Terrence was taken aback and only then realized that the story was true.

 

With his shaking fingers he opened the envelope and read the contents of his own letter drafted and signed by him.  (seeing is believing)

 

The following morning he had come to office and called Jayanth Gunawardena.

“Look what you guys have done, even I received a registered letter, signed by me, to my home with regard to this minimum balance. My wife is asking me what kind of joke is this when I am receiving mail sent by me”

 

“I’m totally embarrassed and can’t even stay home now”

 

IT Department stuff

I will mention a very hilarious incident that happened in

the computer department. The seating arrangements for

input operators in the offline batch processing area have been set up in a row, parallel to each other. One morning after finishing posting of the inward clearing possible CSA items, I was handling some input error rectifying entries with the help of Chanaka Manathunga.

 

In the last corner seat, I saw our friend Sirimal Fernando who started walking here and there, shaking his head right and left, peeps into his computer screen uneasily, focusing at a certain section and goes back to his seat again.

 

By that time all input terminals in the input room were temporarily closed by main controller terminal.

 

In a few minutes he repeats the same thing as above so that if an outsider was watching it would certainly create a mockery added to suspicion. We both watched his action without saying anything. This went on for at least five minutes and all of a sudden Chanka raised the question:

 

“What the heck are you doing peeping into the computer screen repeatedly in this manner, what kind of skullduggery are you watching?”

 

You will not believe Sirimal looked at us, shook his head a few times and then smiled innocently and answered “No my friend, I was looking at the time as I have to take a tablet according at a certain time”

 

The old IBM computer terminals displayed the digital clock at the bottom of the screen, on the right, in a light green display.

 

I have never known anyone in my life who has never ever

used a wristwatch while in the banks service.

 

Loan

Once, when Russel Fernando was working in the staff department, one of his old friends (let us call him, Z) had come to see him to check the possibility of obtaining a loan. So Russel stopped all his work and checked the details of his loans to date and compared it with his present salary.

 

Unfortunately Z was already at his upper limit and was not eligible to take any more loans. In order to help Z, Russel told him the best solution is to borrow some money from a friend, settle his current personal loan and apply for a fresh loan as the current loan was being liquidated in another 2 months.

 

Then Z said, “Russel,  OK, I can do that but you should not deduct any installment as my current 40% take home pay is not enough to manage my domestic expenses. In other words he said, “Do anything you please but, son, please do not deduct anything from my salary”

 

Russel had expressed in detail that any loan taken by a staff member has to be paid in installments to cover the capital and monthly interest. Z has waited for a while and told Russel “I know that very well, but just see whether there is any other way to take a loan and skip the repayment for at least one year?’’

 

To make a joke out of this conversation, Russel told Z, “in that case you better borrow as much as possible from anywhere  and vanish from the bank and the country so

that nobody will come to know your whereabouts.”

 

Z had questioned Russel asking that if he did that would the bank recover the current loan outstanding from his EPF balance. Russel replied “Yes, definitely, that will be the first thing the bank will do, if there is any shortfall the bank will auction the property (Housing loan) and recover that, if there is any excess balance that will be returned to your wife.”

 

After a few minutes Z says, “I think that is the only solution available right now, but for God’s sake don’t deduct anything from my salary. That will be a gross injustice.” Russel also told him that the bank will not pay you any more salary thereafter and will not treat you as an employee who has vacated his post.

 

Russel then asked him that since his was so urgent and that he is in a tight situation too, then what will be his next move. Z was in a deep mood by that time and responded that he should ask his wife whether she would be in a position to grant him some financial assistance from her with the disposed proceeds received from the Bank.

 

At that moment I thank God for giving him that glaring golden idea into his mind as I was so desperate to get rid of him as Z has not understood basic rules applicable to staff members under our loan facilities.”

 

Rex Cooray and his (diretcha lanu) Dead Ropes

Good old Rex Cooray had a huge talent giving dead ropes to anyone without displaying any change in his facial expression.

 

There was one friendly and smart guy, let’s call him XY, who had worked for a short period, resigned from the bank and left overseas.

 

After joining the bank in the mid 70s XY had applied and  joined as a management trainee in a leading private manufacturing Company in Attidiya seeking better prospects, while he was still in the banks service. However, he soon found out that the job was chaotic.

It required that he was punctual, fully target driven, had to face many labor issues, and was always getting rapped by top management for various lapses on his part.

 

So, he felt the old place was much comfortable and better. He slowly returned to work at the bank, again. Somehow our fun lovers had come to know this story, either directly from him or from some other source. Irrespective of the source our (rope gang) had set up a fine trap to scare XY, just to frighten him for the sake of making fun.

 

One day around 2:00pm there was a call from the garment manufacturing company to XY, who naturally answered the phone. Those who were aware of the plan were watching from other departments, hiding behind the Chubbs/Cupboards.

 

The call was from the MD (foreigner) in that company he asked XY if he had vacated his job without giving prior notice and that it was a breach of his employment contract.

 

After few minutes our chaps had seen XY in a desperate mood, feeling uncomfortable, twisting left and right and sweating profusely. He was even wiping his face with a handkerchief several times. They also noticed that he was also stammering a lot while answering the phone and also keeping his voice at a low pitch. However, one of the bank boys had moved closer to him pretending that he was attending to some official work, while trying to listen in to the conversation.

 

This is what he heard:

“Please Sir./ Don’t do that Sir/ I admit that I made a mistake/I apologize / Yes Sir/ I will send my resignation tomorrow right away.”

 

While answering the call suddenly XY has realized that the caller was actually making an attempt to speak up in an accent pretending to be a foreigner. He also had an inkling that the voice sounded very familiar to him. XY looked around to see whether anyone was listening to the conversation and saw many known faces who were peeping in with big smiles and lots of curiosity.

 

This aroused lots of suspicion in XYs mind and all of a sudden he saw that Rex was standing few yards away from his table, holding a phone receiver in one hand and looking at XY face with a sarcastic smile. XY got up and ran towards Rex and squeezed his neck. saying “Rex, I will kill you today, I could have easily suffered a heart attack”

 

Hats off to Rex and his humor - What a talent he had.

 

Refer Sheets

During that era we had so many Refer Sheets to handle on

customer transactions. I am sure those who were attached

to current account and clearing departments will remember our old colleague, Mahmood, a middle aged Muslim gentleman, older to us but a very funny and jovial personality who used to speak quite loud and also entertained all his friends with his many tales/jokes.

 

One good quality that I noticed in his charisma was that, irrespective of the position held, he moved and respected every single employee in the bank.

 

He had been employed as a Sub Inspector in the Police for two years before joining the Bank and was handling the overseas ledger in the current accounts department for some time.

 

Mahmood used to go around with a Funds Refer Sheet (Orange/Green color) to the clearing, BP/BEP, Exports departments shouting the account holders name asking if there are any unrealized proceeds. He goes to the clearing and inquire from Kera “Guys, why are you holding the outstation clearing, please release them upfront”

 

Nimal Wijesinghe

Our expert banker, Nimal Wijesinghe, who worked in Forex used to go around the bank, stealthily, looking for those who had failed to pass purchase contract sheets and sales contract sheets on foreign currency buying and selling transactions handled by them on the previous day, in the voucher bundle.

 

He would say, machang, I am in big trouble and will get scolded by FX dealer, Elmo Silvapulle, for not presenting the correct positions for the foreign currency transactions.

 

When I took over Nimal’s role, I had many issues with

Wilathgamuwa (BEP) who always overlooked passing this contract sheet by his processing staff. When I used to investigate his unit he used to ask me “OK, now, I did this, so what is the advantage the bank gets from it?”

 

Then I used to explain that based on the contract sheets final net total the exchange dealer would cover the banks exact positions for each currency on the days transactions.

Either he sells the excess amount or borrow from outside to cover the days positions in order to avoid incurring a loss if there is any change in the exchange rate later (called overnight risk) depending on the amount involved.

 

Afterwards he realized the gravity of it and said “OIC, it is only now that I understand that the job you do is one that can take our necks too”

 

Wheelchairs

I remember that  before going to the Southern province our SSL officials made a trip to the North Western province in the mid 80s. On that occasion we visited Gokarella to hand over wheel chairs to few disable people who were selected with the help of a few other social service organizations in the NWP.

  

MUS Jayasinghe volunteered to give his Toyota Hiace (Yellow) van for transportation at a special reduced rate. Some of the guys who joined us on this trip were Baratha, BC, and Lal Wijesena representing the SSL.

 

We started on a Sunday morning and had breakfast at Warakapola. The driver was a funny and friendly guy. When we took the turn from Ambepussa to the Kurunegala

Road, Lal unexpectedly said: “The wheelchairs tied to the

roof seemed to be rattling a bit and may have come loose. Should we stop and check it out to be safe?”

 

Having heard that statement, with the van moving, all of a sudden the driver puts his upper body out of the window, keeping his left hand on the wheel, and shakes the packed

wheel chairs on top a few times with his right hand and

says: “Nothing to fear Sir, it’s all well, nothing is loose.”

The van was steady and moving straight on the road perfectly. But we all were stunned to see what took place. Lal was terribly upset and said: “OK OK, if there’s nothing wrong then you better concentrate on the road and keep driving ahead” In fact, the driver checked the wheelchairs several times, despite Lal’s warning, but nothing went wrong.

 

We were welcomed by the officials of the society in the village and they appreciated our generosity with great relish. We distributed the wheel chairs by 1:30pm. Before lunch, we were taken to an ancient Buddhist temple with old ruins located on a higher elevation area facing an old lake filled with fresh water, lotus/other natural flowers. That was one of the beautiful places that I have ever visited in my life.

 

The temple was an ancient historical place where villagers believe King Walagambahu had sought shelter for a few years. The Chief incumbent Thera has not allowed any modernization work even though several business men and politicians in the area had tried to introduce some changes.

 

After getting attracted to the place we spend nearly an hour

in the comfort of a cool breeze  and some sight-seeing. Then we bathed in the lake for half an hour, came back to the secretaries residence opened a bottle and had few quick shots and finished the session thereafter.

 

We were served with a tasty village meal with fruits as deserts.  As usual after the post lunch session those who were a little high were talking about several interesting

topics on current politics, cost of living and world affairs. Since the time of our arrival we were hearing some nice dainty female voices coming from the inside could not see anyone. However our boys were curious and alert to see the faces of these voices before departure time.

 

Finally, around 4:30pm we thanked the house owner, his wife and few others who were there to host us help and take care of our needs. We said goodbye to all of them \and our boys were  getting into the vehicle one by one. Then Lal was about to shut the door we saw a very pretty fair young girl with a pleasant smile in her lovely face who came out with an elderly lady, presumably her mother. She was smiling shyly with our boys. There is a famous saying, “Seeing is Believing”.

 

Now, after this, we forgot our destination (let it be far away from Colombo forever) The beehive was in in flames. The boys were astonished and started peeping out of the van to get a good glimpse of the young lady. 

 

Our colleague, Baratha, was a very open man and could not stop his feelings at all. He expressed his thoughts loudly “Where the hell was this beauty hiding all this time, you buggers?”, he quipped.

 

Bills Payable

Anslem Ludowyck (AL) was the head of BP (Bills Payable) department sometime in the mid 80s. He had a very characteristic way of doing things, his instructions, interrogative; giving instructions with a slight European

accent. Even his manner of signing documents was quite different and unusual from the other officers at the time.

It was more like a Palmyra flower that was unopened. When he used to sign cash orders his signature used to go right up to the date on the top left of the check.

 

When the admin unit delivered letters received for BP department he usually reviews them very carefully and pastes yellow/ pink sticky notes (SN) within remarks written on them directed to the correct person for action.

 

Some of these  were, “Attend urgently”, “Why, How, Explain, Not acceptable, Send letter, Telex”. After attending to these notes they were put into the waste paper basket by the subject officers.

 

The late Sirimevan (SR), being a very fun loving and jovial guy, was watchful and collected all these sticky notes for future use. He had a huge collection of them in his drawer. In order to have some fun he used to stick these notes on to random documents that were lying on the desks of officer who used to get totally confused by them. Everyone had a good laugh once the joke was announced and explained.

 

Many of the senior guys may remember that there was a huge rush in the 80s, especially during the morning sessions around the BP department. Some customers used to present drafts with slight defects in the  beneficiary/payee names, incorrect ID numbers being

typed or crossed with Account Payee remarks. They usually visit accompanied by someone known to one of the staff members and we helped them to cash their checks most of the time.

 

On one occasion we provoked and teased Kalu while working out on one of these draft payments.

He was angry and took all his stuff moved to another area in the corner of the department. I was at the counter at that time and one customer asked for Kalu, saying he is a friend/relative. I went across and informed Kalu that a visitor had come to see him. Initially he did not listen to me but when I kept on insisting, he came to the counter.

 

He turned back to me and in front of all others said aloud, “Who the hell is this guy, I haven’t ever seen him in my life.”

 

That was Kalu’s style.

 

The customer also got confused and shocked and said he is a relative of Kalu’s uncle and was directed to see Kalu.

 

Kalu responded, “OIC. Say it that way. What is your problem, how can we help you?”

 

The draft drawn on us with a slight typo in the payees name. I explained  to Kalu that there is no risk if you know the person.

 

Such defective drafts were paid if any of the staff signed off stating that the customer is known.

 

Kalu took the draft to Anslem and excused himself,

explaining his long relationship with this customer and how he had come to know him, shifting from side to side. It was fun to watch Kalu when he becomes so humble and decent when dealing with Anslem.

 

Anslem stopped him at once and directly told him, "Mr Kalubowila, I do not want to listen to any of those long

 stories. Just tell me whether you can sign saying that party is known, then I will authorize the payment.

 

July ‘83

Many of you don’t really know what happened to us on the day of the July ‘83 riots  (Friday) after which there was always panic that the Tigers were coming to Colombo, on a daily basis.

 

Even though I was in the BP department I was also asked to help the cash department,  by Anslem, since very few people showed up for work due to the tense situation in the country. It was also the month end salary payment day for employees in most companies. The bank opened for just 3 hours only, from 9am to Noon.

 

So, on that day I must have paid millions of Rupees without entering the books, just paying the customer with the check amount.  When the bank closed for the day I started entering the amounts and balance the cash and rest of the work. It was around 2:30pm in the afternoon. I used to travel on my Kawasaki motor bike in those days.

 

I came out of the main door and saw Leonard at the bike parking area Elmo Silvapulle was also there. Elmo was saying he was not able to catch a cab to go home.

 

Since we could not take Elmo on our bikes, both Leonard and I decided to walk with him up to the Khan Clock tower, from where he could possibly take the Mattakkuliya bus.

 

On our way, somewhere close to the Cargills building one guy came to us and said, “Sir, don’t go that way pointing

towards the Pettah because they are killing Tamil people. Both Leonard and I looked at each other in dismay. We decided to return to the bank and stay in there until morning. We tried to order some dinner from Hotel Intercontinental and other restaurants/hotels in the area but none were willing to comply as they all said that there was not enough food for outside orders as they had to cater to their in-house customers.

 

So, finally, our man Richard came to the rescue and offered us food in his apartment for two days. At that time Silvapulle told me he had blasted Richard on many occasions for issues related to bank work but he still helped us in such a crisis situation.

 

I still vividly remember this incident. On Sunday the Manager, Mr Cox, came to the bank, and along with his curfew pass, took the three of us in his car and dropped us at our homes. I still have the letter of appreciation from the manager. So Richard was a very decent human being and I can’t forget him for what he did for us on that day. Thanks mate!

 

MR Amarasena

While working in the Accounts department in the mid 80s MRA had to face a big issue with his pants, one morning. After arriving in the office he had bent down to pick something up and all the stitches in his trouser on the rear had ripped off.

 

Poor Amare could not even walk properly and was helped by some others in the department by covering his back with some files. He was then escorted by them to the

basement near the Office Assistant's changing area. The plan was to bring a needle and thread by Krishna.

 

By that time Krishna left to Hospital Street to buy the stuff,  a golden plan had been hatched by Karu. He was hanging around at the entrance area of the staircase to the basement and Krishna was stopped half way on his way down. Karu told him that another OA has assisted Amare by stitching his pants and the had already left the office to get it properly sewn by a tailor. Krishna was also told that Mallawarachchi was looking for him. So, Krishna was back in his department attended to his  normal duties. Poor Amare was seated in the basement waiting for Krishna for more than two hours. Around 11:30am Krishna went down to the basement and saw that Amare was still seated there with his pants half  opened. Amare started firing away at Krishna. “You have screwed me up properly you devil, see I’ve been sitting here for two hours.” Krishna was shivering and replied, “I got your needle and thread but the boys told me that you had already left to a tailor shop to get your pants stitched.”

 

The Accounts department boys had a great laugh that day.

 

Offsite

We used to take our annual trip to Triton Hotel Ahungalla. There was a big crowd with family members and we were given two adjoining rooms. As usual plenty of liquor with bites were freely available and all had a good time.

 

There was a funny scene when we joined the queue for

buffet. Vicky G was in very high spirits and standing in line holding his trouser in one hand and the plate in the other.

When asked why he said his trouser was slipping down. So I asked him where is his belt was and his reply was “That broke this morning and I need to get one on the way back.”

 

One of the guys served him with the rice and curries from the buffet table and escorted him carefully to his table.

 

At that time there was a standard practice of pushing guys into the pool. To avoid or not to getting caught to this was a skill one had to remember and practice. During the pre-lunch session poor old Norman and Lalith M were victims of this prank. Our boys were like bees and in high spirits throughout the day.

 

The leader of pushing guys into the pool was the soft spoken, calm and quiet big bird, none other than Pramith Pasqual. I was already prepared for it and took along two extra kits with me in case I got dunked. I waited till 5pm in the pool and then got dressed.

 

In the evening, the second victim was Dilrukshi Settinayake wearing a denim pant with a silk shirt. She came out of the water scolding Passa who ignored her with his usual soft smile. We saw D Seneviratne was neatly dressed wearing dark glasses, relaxing in a pool chair a few yards away from the pool. Passa saw him went there at caught him with both hands and flung him into the deep end. Being a good swimmer, DS, came out of the water without any difficulty. Since someone had to help them I gave my extra kits to both.

 

When we came to our room the time was 5:30pm and it was getting dark but our guys were not in a hurry to leave

the hotel. I was fortunate to see some funny stuff going on inside the room as follows:-.

 

Six hefty guys were sleeping, snoring heavily on the king size bed. How they managed to squeeze in is still a wonder of the world.

 

Some were still boozing, smoking, and enjoying bites, while singing.

One was in the shower.

Two were into a big argument over politics.

Dila was still crying and shouting at Passa.

 

In the adjoining room was where the bank girls and wives of the staff were. They were all dark faced as none of the guys wanted to leave yet. Some of the little kids were crying for milk.

 

Finally, we were able to leave by 6:30pm and reached Colombo by 10pm.

 

Sunil

In the mid 80-s there was a boy, slim and  tall, who had joined the bank as a mess boy in the officers tiffin room. Let’s call him Sunil. He was quite yet a little shroud, and did all kinds of mockery depending on his moods.

 

His duties were to distribute tea for the officers in the mornings and evenings, collect lunch boxes around 10:45am  and return them in the evening. In addition, he also prepared the lunch for officers and served it to them, with desserts, to their tables.

He was very friendly with all the staff, especially jolly gang. He had few weaknesses, like getting angry suddenly and also behaving funnily in such situations, ignoring the advice given to him by the seniors.

 

He was also sent from pillar to post, based on several dead ropes set up by the jolly boys and their circle of pranksters. So, he comes to our table and asks, “Sir is it difficult to learn how to use computers? How to improve learning English to express my ideas?” At one time he even made a request from me to speak to him in English so he may improve his language skills.

 

He also gets annoyed with certain officers who used to give him cash checks at month end as their monthly settlements. Some incidents related to his characteristics are mentioned here to read and enjoy, perhaps some may be familiar to you.

 

One day after a grand party that was held in the bank, Milroy Fernando had given him a ride to his residence at Kandana around mid night. When the vehicle was stopped in front of his house he had told Milroy, ”Brother, please sound your horn a few times so that the people in the neighborhood will think that I have purchased a new car.”

 

Milroy has yelled at him stating, “Get off you bugger without asking for a beating from me, what if the neighbors come and beat me up for disturbing them?”

 

Sunil was once temporarily transferred to CEO’s office as the Office Assistant. The CEO, then, was AH Deverral, and his secretary was Kumarini Madawela. 

SG was so keen to learn English that he had asked one of the boys from the jolly gang the manner to be used when dealing with an Englishman.

 

SG: “What do I say to the CEO when he coughs or sneezes?”

 

One of the jolly gang told him, say, “Bloody Hell, you better go to Hell”

 

So Sunil learnt this from memory and remembered the words. When he was in  the CEOs office once the CEO started to sneeze  and poor Sunil responded with those words.

 

Having heard this the CEO shouted back at Sunil saying, “how the hell do you dare say this to me?”, He exited his room and called out to his secretary, saying, “ I don’t want to see this fellows face anymore and I want him out within the next few minutes.”

 

Poor Sunil was victimized badly. But. later Kumarini was informed about the prank that the jolly boys had played on him and explained it to the CEO, after which he was reinstated in his job.

 

On one occasion Sunil was admitted to a private hospital an d the jolly boys had gone to see him. He had paid a huge bill in addition to the normal bill as he had placed orders for refreshments for the visitors who had come to see him.

 

Sunil started a small private business supplying breakfast for the jolly gang boys and some of the officer.

Before embarking on this he requested the jolly boys to support him in this cause and assured them that he would supply good quality food.

 

As promised the quality of food remained unchanged for nearly two weeks, but gradually the boys found that the taste, quantity, and flavor was deteriorating. When this was brought to Sunil’s notice he retorted that he would never cheat them at all.

 

However, he could not continue his cunning work any longer as one day one of the boys had followed him and observed that the food he brought for the senior officers were not the same quality as those given to the rest,

 

Finally, Sunil admitted his guilty and apologized and from that day onwards his business came to a standstill.

 

Sunil got married after few years. He used to complain that his mother in law was a big nuisance and that she was shouting at him for petty things.

 

One of the boys told him to get drunk at night and make some noise in the house so that she will get scared and stop grilling him. So, one day, after a couple of shots, he goes home in a three wheeler and gets down.

 

Before entering he remembers his friends advice and shouts, “Ask any woman in this village to come out and fight, we are not afraid of any of them.”

 

 

 

 

Attendance Register

After some years the monitoring of late comers was taken over by one of our senior staff member. He was a late comer too before but once he took over this new role he always reported on time, By 8:40am he starts ordering the  OAs in admin to take the normal registers away and replace them with the late register on his table. He was quite a popular guy in those days but with this kind of attitude the boys started to detest him.

 

One day while we were working late in the Forex around 7:30pm, suddenly there was a power outage (major breakdown).  Generally the security officers would run immediately to the generator room to start the backup power, but on that day they too failed.

 

It was pitch dark inside the office and boys were whistling making various noises. We could hardly see inside the bank except for few seconds only in the event of the lights of a passing  vehicle along the Janadhipathi Mawatha reflected through the windows.

 

All of a sudden I saw a waste paper basket flying to that particular staff members table and heard a sound of someone being getting hit by it. After some time I heard some nocturnes walking in the other units grabbing waste paper baskets, large registers, plastic trays, without a single word being said, all the stuff started flying to that particular table. The incident was almost similar to a grand fireworks parade attack at night.

 

There was a huge silence for s few minutes. Unexpectedly the power returned and all the lights came on.

I stood up and had a look around. Stunt actors working in other units were not to be seen. Some were crawling, to hide themselves or take cover behind chubs or cupboards. Some had large books in their hands and were pretending to read. The biggest scene was that they were in the wrong department.

 

I looked at that members desk and saw all the missiles sent were lying around him. Without uttering a word he got

shut his drawers, locked up his cupboards, signed the

register and left the Bank. I saw the security officers were laughing by covering their mouths. Some body shouted saying: “It’s OK mates, the dude has left, let’s just clear up the mess.”

 

There were no cleaning services those days.  After some time I saw the offenders came and cleaned the department with big smiles in their faces. All dislocated items were relocated nicely and there was no evidence of any such having taken place. No witnesses, no inquiries were held. In fact no reporting to the higher ups was even done by the victim. He chose to adopt a deaf and dumb policy.

 

Export Loans

When the open economy was introduced in 1978, the CBSL started a new scheme to grant loan assistance to customers of all banks, who were involved in export,  in order to encourage and promote the influx of forex to the country.

 

This was named as Packing Credit Facilities for Exports and granted by the Head of the Advances department. Disbursing of funds was handled by Exports, while Forex Department was responsible for reporting such facilities to the London Office.

 

During that time the head of the FX department was Elmo Silvapulle and he usually sends out a return to the London office each month. The reporting document was drafted by him and had it typed manually by a senior staff member.

 

On one occasion the senior typist in FX was not available and we could not dispatch the return before the deadline. Hence a junior typist was asked to type this document on an urgent basis.

This junior person was a bit of an uppish and eccentric case who never listened or accept and admit when a mistake was pointed out.

 

So this person typed the final reporting document and gave it to Elmo for his sign off. We saw Elmo carefully checking the document and stood up at once, hits his right hand on his fore head and said, “OMG! what the hell is have you typed here? If I send this document to London they will think we are downright stupid.”

 

So the document was returned to the junior typist for retyping. We went and checked what the mistake was made in the typed document and saw that Elmo has put a circle around a word because the sentence was been typed as:

 

“This pucking credit loan facility …………….”

 

The 100 Rupee Note

When Rex Cooray and I were working at the TT counter, Ariyapala was our OA. Rex suggested that we will fool Ariyapala and cut a strip of a 100 rupee note and paste it

inside an envelope to resemble an envelope with full of cash.

 

He quietly dropped the envelope near Ariyapala’s table and the two of us were observing Ariyapala’s movements. Having noticed the envelope with money, Ariyapala looked around and picked the envelope and put inside his pocket and raced towards the side entrance.

 

We two followed him and he was walking fast and opened the envelope near the Central Bank.

He would have had high hopes of having a drink straight away. We saw him returning back with a dejected face.

 

Mr Miller

We were in Accounts department and our boss, Amitha Mallawarachchi entrusted Stephen Gamage a special assignment. A Mr Miller was due to visit Sri Lanka and he had requested to locate the grave of his grandfather who had died in old Ceylon during the world war and was buried in the General Cemetery at Kanatte.

 

Stephen usually was a latecomer to office and he took advantage of this assignment and pretended going to Kanatte before coming to work. This happened for several days.

 

One day he booked a call to Kanatte office and we overheard this and rang the accounts department extension.

 

Stephen thought Abey or Manatunga had connected the call to the Kanatte office and responded, “Good Morning, is it GC Kanatte, and were you able to locate Mr Miller’s grave?”

 

Then came the reply " Yes Mr Stephen, we have managed to locate Mr Millers grave and by the way we have reserved one for you too."

 

Stephen slammed the phone down with a bang and quietly sat in his chair. Accounts department staff, Faisal, Karu, Ananda, George and even Mallawarachchi enjoyed the prank.

 

 

Wasantha Alutwela - Kadawatha Bus

This is something that took place in the mid 80s.After a heavy boozing bout at the National Restaurant, about six of us went towards the telecom office in Fort to catch the bus home. Jerome boarded a Ja-ela bus.

 

Since he was the only passenger the driver and the conductor got down from the bus and went off to put a quick shot since it was almost 11:00 pm and passengers were very few.

 

Jerome saw one of our friends bound for Kadawatha passing the bus.

 

He quickly started shouting, “Peliyagoda, Kiribathgoda, Kadawatha, Kadawatha.” Our friend got into the bus without checking the sign board.

 

After a while the driver and conductor returned they were on their way to Ja-ela. Somewhere close to the Fort Railway station the conductor started shouting, “Wattala, Kandana, Ja-ela, Ja-ela.”

 

“Brother, you were saying that this bus was going to Kadawatha at first when it was parked at the Fort stand and now you are crying out Ja-Ela. How is that?” And he gave the conductor a thundering slap.

 

Response by Jerome Seneviratne

 

Wasantha :..Continuing from where you stopped....after receiving the thundering slap from our friend the conductor asked if he is known to me.

I pretended and I told him that I thought he was a friend of yours. I also got off near the Bo tree junction unable to face the embarrassment.

 

Sunil Gamage  

Sunil Gamage was fond of Music and our oldie Lal Heenatigala had promised him that he will arrange an audition test for him at the SLBC using his connections. One day Lal was working in the mail dispatch room and called me around 10:00am and asked me to come with Kera urgently. Both of us went to see him and asked the reason. He said wait, now there is a Singer from our Bank coming to see me. I want to give him a chance to go and sing in a SLBC program for fresher’s, so you two have to assist me now in the audition process. The door was opened and our Sunil entered and walked towards Lal’s table with a big smile saying: “Oh my you two gentlemen have also come to hear me audition. It is my desire to sing a Jothipala song and become a famous singer in Sri Lanka”

 

Lal said: “You better go and take that broom from that corner and pretend it’s a mic and think that you are at the Radio Ceylon recording studio, and our Kodi will give you the accompanying music and Karu is the recording

engineer. As soon as I say Take 1-2-3, start the song”

 

After a while Sunil  was ready to start his song, cleared his throat and waited for Lal’s signal. At once Lal said, “Take 1-2-3”, winked at us and he started singing while I was playing the percussion role hitting the desk, while Kera was watching and enjoying the scene. Sunil sang another, and, this time it was a Mohideen Baig Masters track.

 

I noticed that he was finding it difficult to maintain the

tempo and rhythm in time.

 

At the end Lal said,”Everything’s fine except that you are stepping out of tune in between. I suggest you drink a spoon of bees honey and gingelly oil every morning which will lower down your high pitched voice. Let us meet ion a month and hear you sing again.”

 

It took more than 90 minutes for this drama and all of a sudden another OA entered the room and said, “Amitha is waiting for his lunch upstairs and you are still waiting here with the lunch packet in your hands. Why are you doing all these mad things?”

 

Sunil ran like a horse in fear saying, “Mr Lal, I am out of here, today Amitha will eat my head.”

 

After he left the room, we were all laughing and I wonder whether Sunil has continued facing anymore audition tests in his life, after that.

 

Another Sunl Gamage story

Some timer in the mid 80s, Sunil was asked to work for the CEO again for a few days as the permanent OA

(professional guy) had taken his annual leave. One day Sunil was informed by the secretary that there will be few directors of a corporate organization with some other high net worth customers coming in the morning to meet the CEO. Sunil will have to serve them tea upon a signal given by her. Sunil agreed but later faced a big issue after seeing the number of people arriving. Basically he had only 6 quality expensive tea cups with a pot.

 

So without informing the problem to the secretary, Sunil

took a few large beer mugs from the pantry and washed them clean.

 

He prepared the tea and filled the tea pot with 6 cups, kept them all in one tray, and poured tea into the beer mugs as well, kept them in another tray and taken both trays in the trolley to the CEO’s room.

 

All the visitors were looking at each other’s face and just imagine what would have been the CEO’s position at that moment when tea was served in beer Mugs to the directors of the best tea exporting company in the country? 

 

Another firing incident started by then CEO and Sunil was sent out within no time from his office. His response was that the secretary didn’t inform him that there would be more than six visitors.

 

Records of SCB Branches from 1990-1992 with staff names:

When Kumar Mayadunne was the HOCB we opened 3 branches with full banking services.

 

Kollupitya, opened in Dec1990 located at Asha Agencies building along duplication road.

Manager: Magdon Ismail

Asst Manager: Aruna Kodituwakku 

Officers: Abdul Azeez / Chitral Perera, /  Neomal Fernando

Staff:

Ajantha Karunaratne, Amal De Silva, Surangi De Silva, Niranjai Dangedeara, Dilrukshi Tucker, Saddha (Entertainer), Sharaz Refai, 

Niranjan De Silva, Shanka Abeywardena, Sandamali  Kapukotuwa,

Ranmali Athukorala, Sujani Hewawitharana

Wellawatte, near the Dehiwela bridge.

Manager: Nihal Fernando

Asst Manager: Milroy Fernando

Officers: Kasturi Gulasinham

Staff:

Viranga Wickramaarachchi, Nalaka Ariyaratne, Miranjala, Rizny Ismail, Shehani Peters, Shravithri Kahawatte, Shamala Jeyaraj, Thilak Guruge

 

Kiribathgoda, Kandy Road

Manager: Anura Yapa

Asst Manager: HS Namarasena 

Officer: Ananda Kodituwakku

Staff:

Felix Perera, MAC Gamini, Rizlie Seneviratne, Preethi

Ajantha, Gunathilake, Keshani Liyanagamage, Chamini

Karaunaratne, Jinadasa, Nilma Kumarasinghe, Mahesha Samarathunga, Dennis Motha

 

Automation

The Bank decided to introduce automation in 1985/1986.

 

A new department. was formed and named The Computer Department and Kumar Wickramaarachchi was appointed as Manager to formulate the task and for other key positions suitable staff, with theoretical background in technology were brought on board.

 

Aruna de Silva was appointed as the Operations/Admin Officer, Lyra Gomez and Anura Boteju, EDP Officers. Jagath Dheerathilake (System Development Officer) was

given the task to handle Automation work related to Imports department. issuance of Customs and other Guarantees, SGs and various customer mailing. I think all these names should get added to the history in CB Colombo Branch.

 

The initial main core system was known as PAS (Personal Accounting System) later upgraded to BBS – (Basis Banking system). IBM Sri Lanka Branch was handling all hardware supplies, support functions and their latest machines (Desktops/Printers/Main Server) were bought to equip the department. IT staff was sent to the regional office in Singapore for preliminary training and there was a team from the regional office to support us on the project. They also did few training sessions for staff locally in Colombo.

 

Before automation commenced, there was a need to compile the master data and staff were invited to work on

weekends. I could remember on the very first day there were more than 25 people. Initially we were addressed by KW as to how we should handle the task with a brief lecture. Staff were instructed to fill about 4 or 5 printed sheets, we were asked to enter with full data available about customers Account opening mandate and complete certain fields with standard codes defined in a sample sheet.

 

As there was no previous experience before EOD output was little lower on the first day. But gradually the skill levels increased after gaining a thorough knowledge of the system with guidance from IT staff.

 

I enjoyed working nonstop for more than 3 months on

account opening. We could not establish correct opening dates for some old accounts and they were filled up as 01/01/40.

 

Later such filled forms were checked manually by a batch of staff officers and input to the main system by input operators. Then the input data was validated with the reports generated with manually filled customer data computer forms.

 

We then, had centralized batch posting system with a cut off time of accepting them. Processed vouchers were arranged in alphabetical order and handed over to the current account department with the printed transactions Journal. On the following morning, all such vouchers were distributed equally among all officers to check against the journal and complete before 2:00pm. There was an error book maintained to rectify any manual misposts /irregularities.

 

Also for the first time we had a CSA-Computer Suspense Account where the entries get generated by the system in the update time itself due to valid reasons, where the responsibility lay within the relevant processing department, to post the reversal entries in rectification. This CSA Account balance needed to be zero at all times.

 

It was a challenge and learning curve for the entire staff. At the end the whole project became a collective effort and we went for a fully automated computer system where life became so easy for all of us.

 

Response from Nalaka Ariyaratne

I am proud to state that Nalaka Ariyaratne, Sarath Rajapakse, Ajith Heenatigala, Ronald Fernando, Mahinda Perera, Adrian Alles, Sridharan, Gamini Samarawickrema, Thilak Guruge and I were the original staff members who worked as the data entry operators in this department. Yes we were trained by the Singapore team. We had to work for shifts for the first time in the banks history.

 

First shift started at 7:30am and went on till 3:30pm. The second from 10:30am to 7:30pm.

 

Most of the officers joined the department as bachelors but married while working in the computer department. As I can remember Kumar, Aruna, and Lyra were among them. Thilak Guruge also got married during that period.

 

After some time, for the first time we had two pretty ladies joining the department. Shamara Dias and Rasangi Pinto.

Along with them we had  Gaetan Silva, Lorenzo Jayasinghe and Jeraad Isaacs joining the team.

 

 

It was the happiest and most enjoyable time spent during my entire banking carrier, especially the encounters with Gamini Samarawickrema.

 

Response from Kumar Wickramaarachchi

Kodi, you seem to be remembering a lot, and what is more fascinating is how precise some of your descriptions and memories are.  The effort you are making to put them together is great. First of all, a big Thank you.

 

Yes, to add a bit more, computerization was a huge change towards accuracy and efficiency. The hardware system was an IBM 36. Interesting thing to note is that S36 was about a cubic meter in physical dimensions then. The present day mobile phone carries many multiples of S36 storage capacity and processing speed. This S36 was housed in a purpose built computer room. All transaction voucher input was done in a centralized input room. Nalaka has elaborated this. Fraser King was the Asst Manager of Colombo Branch, who was overseeing the project. Douglas Brown was the Manager.

 

Staff across the Bank was extensively involved in the preparatory work (which ran into months). Enthusiasm and support was remarkable.

 

CA ledgers and GL were changed to computer based transactions.

 

Data files were backed up on  a number of 8” floppy disks every night.

 

The whole project was a great ‘first time’ experience for all of us. That was a big leap back then, more than 3 decades ago. Look at today’s advancements. Amazing!!

 

Dear Hema, ‘Computerization’ was a phased out project. Initial preparation started somewhere in 1985. The first major conversion was in mid-1986, which continued till the end of 1986 with adding more modules (e.g FX, Loans etc.).

 

Of course there were version upgrades through to about early-mid 1987. Then after I took over Trade Finance

(Imports/Exports)  Exim Bills was implemented MESA region-wide. Interesting and unforgetful landmarks in the banks history. 

 

From AK  

The Golden era of our cultural prosperity in Sri Lanka in so many fields such as music, cinemas, songs, drama, literature, poetry and lyric writing has taken place between 1970–1980.

 

Matched with the present day society the taste of general public during that period was very high and at a peak level. We were so lucky that lots of talented SL poets, lyricists, dancers, play-writers, novelists, artists, translators, musicians, singers and film makers was also contributed with their best performances to enrich their fields further.

 

SLBC Sri Lanka has also conducted several programs to support this cultural flourishing in the music field. SLBC’s National Services started a new musical program where their Musical Orchestra goes and backing music for the Employees working in Public and Private sector who has

singing skills in their work places.  This was done in your own Offices, factories villages, farms and any suitable place convenient to SLBC music orchestra This was done after selecting few workers who can sing well and facing a voice test in front of SLBC panel.

 

I think most of the oldies have forgotten this wonderful event that happened in the bank in the era 1980/1981.

 

Those days our Sinhala Literary Association was very active and Amitha Mallawarachchi who had connections

with SLBC and has invited their officials to come to our office and conduct a live program. Management gave the approval and that program was held twice at the Bank.

 

Our staff who performed were Saliya Perera (now in Canada), Ananda Kumarasiri (former Deputy Speaker/Wellawaya MP, Palitha Gunathunga Wilbert (OA).

 

We were thoroughly delighted with their singing and wished them whole heartedly. .

 

I can remember our Accountant Mike Burgess who was thoroughly impressed with our musical instruments and the superb talents of artists in the SLBC Orchestra (especially violinists) was asking few questions from Amitha.

 

Cinema

Somewhere in 1980, Lal was given the task to handle the reception job in BP, and one morning around 10 am I asked Lal how was life with him. He looked at me and said hell of a thing happened last evening in a sarcastic voice.

 

Last evening, he and Russel had gone to the New Olympia Theatre to see the 6:30pm show. Once the money was paid they had issued 2 small pieces of paper and pushed both of them into a dark room and were ordered to look at a wall for nearly 2 hours. Finally they were asked to leave the cinema hall at 8:30pm.

 

Then I asked him why he complain to the responsible person or the Maradana Police. He said that they were both afraid to tell anyone.

Then the fire was started when we said that it should be reported to the cinema hall manager immediately as they were an accountholder of the bank, too.

 

While this story was playing out, Mervin  Abeywickrama was typing a letter, and stopped  his work and said how can they treat our boys like that "I know Jabir A Cader, the owner of New Olympia”.

 

Then Sudugala, Lyra, Keragala, and BC had thrown more fuel to make the fire burn stronger, and asked Abey why don't you take this incident to the owner,

 

Abey got annoyed went to the telephone asked the operator "Get me Olympia" after a while the call came in and Abey answered and asked for the Manager, then someone answered from that end. Abey started shouting at him by stating the incident, and finally. Abey was told that it was the Olympia typewriter repair Company, and that there was no such incident that happened there on the previous day,

 

Things became hotter and Abey shouted at the telephone operator to get the New Olympia on call.

 

The call was connected, Abey spoke to Manager and he had told him that two victims must come and show who the culprits who had ill-treated them were.

 

The whole days incident was relished by all and we asked Lal to go with Russell; Lal asked whether they could attack them again.

 

BP was so noisy and by that time the story had got spread

all over and even the other departmental  staff started asking what’s going on. They too came to BP and enjoyed the incident. The best part is that Abey could not explain the whole incident.

 

Anslem had asked Rex Wijesuriya, a senior hand what was going on, and Rex had explained it then Anslem had smiled and kept silent. Abey was shouting at Lal and asking him why he you cannot go there after he had done so much.

 

In the evening Anslem called Abey to come to his table and Abey was asked to sit. There was no response from AL and finally Abey could not bear it any longer and had asked why he was called.

 

Anslem took his specs away looked sharply at Abey and said:

 

"Look here Abey I never thought you are so foolish to understand what had been told by Lal, What is 2 pieces- those are entrance tickets, what is dark room – that is the cinema hall, then time duration for a cinema is 2 Hours, Can’t you understand that they had gone for a Film.

 

Having realized his blunder Abey came back slowly to his seat like a tamed sheep ,that time there was Pin drop silence, all were smiling and those smiles were about to get burst.

 

Douglas Ingram

This is about senior hand Douglas Ingram who had migrated to Australia somewhere in the 80s, Dougie was

tall, plump, and well-built guy but who had played Rugger for the CB.

 

He was soft spoken  and hilarious guy ,I can remember when I joined Bank in 1978 he came to me and had a lengthy chat, was told to work hard and come up in life.

 

He used to wear Shorts sleeves shirts with Short Trousers with big stockings. He buys the Daily Newspaper when coming to office and keeps it in his armpit, he leaves his bag in the table signs the attendance register but the paper still remains where it was. After that he turns back and ask "What news Machang"

 

Abey was so watchful all this and sarcastically replies "Ado you crazy fellow you carry all news under you armpit and asking us nonsense, have you gone mad", then everyone start laughing. He migrated to Australia and sent a nice picture post card to Abey (which was  very popular those days.)

 

That picture shows some well-built fat youths wearing shorts who had removed them and showing their all back sides to the onlookers, on the reverse following remark

was stated, "Ado Abey this is a gift from me for all fun we

had at the Bank"

 

Abey’s Estate

When we were at BP Abey used to tell us that he owns a coconut estate and visits there very often, and he even invited some of us to visit.

 

So once we made a request we were taken to his estate,

One day we saw that fresh passion fruit juice was served to

all officers/DMs at 11:00.

 

This has aroused our suspicion and somehow BC had come to know it was brought by Abey.

 

We were little annoyed as the BP staff were not served with the drink. After lunch BC started the protest to grill down Abey, and he said one of our good friend owns a big coconut estates which never produce coconuts instead only passion fruits can be plucked, so I said we will write this miracle to media so the estate owner will become so famous, a very popular figure in the country, all in the department used to contribute to pass hints at Abey which he accepted with his sarcastic smile.

 

Merril

As you all know in those days we had a hilarious habit of asking some silly but well known question "P U K E. Dathda". Later on when the new Plessey phone system was introduced this habit got a bit out of control when many hot tempered characters became victims.

 

However some staff members got annoyed while most of the people were enjoying the humor behind it.

 

One day, someone started giving this “P Dathda” calls to our good friend Merrill De Crusz. Since morning these calls came continuously.  Merrill's response was very soft, he used to say only the word "Shit" and slam the phone receiver. Throughout the day there were many such calls and situation became worst as Merrill got boiling in his inside feelings. 

 

We still don't know to date who has initiated this and the

last call came around 4pm. Merrill went to the phone to answer the same old question which was repeated since that morning. 

 

Merrill replied loudly “FO". We have been watching the drama with big smiles but without showing Merrill. After that he didn't come to his seat and waited in front of the phone, Premadasa who was the Imports department Manager was scared to say anything and he was working calmly.

 

Suddenly Merrill has excused Premadasa and said following:

"You know Prema since morning some idiot fellow is asking me whether I have teeth in my backside. I could not give him a proper answer because I don't have any"

 

Prema slowly replied “Yes you are correct; now get back to your seat and finish the work.”

 

Luckily there were no more calls after that.

 

Fernando

Fernando was only one of our savings account customers. He was also a real big bragger. In short, thousands talks

with only a penny in hand. When he visits BP, BC and Sudu used to encourage him in a cunning way to come out with his exaggerations.

 

Once he told that he owns an estate in Kurunegala area and there has been a huge snake living there. According to him this snake's size was almost like a big Python. He had been telling that there was a mutual understanding between him as the land lord and the snake identifies him at any time. 

 

One day he was coming to his Estate with the family in his van and the snake was lying on the road with its prey in his mouth, Having seen the coming vehicle the snake immediately went back (reversed) to the side of the road without eating its prey. The snake has raised his head (like a cobra) shaking it looking at Fernando to move on with the vehicle where he was heading (probably this Snake would have been working as a traffic cop in his previous birth)

 

Since then BC/ Sudu has labeled Fernando as the traffic naya.

 

Gamey and his Stationery order

This incident took place in early 90's where Dori ,Gamage, and I were working as officers in Imports department reporting to Kumar/ Susantha.

 

Our good old friend Gamage had a big weakness that he never ordered sufficient stationery stock for his staff in a timely manner.

 

He used to borrow from our stocks and  never replaced them.

So we also refused to give him any after that. I can't remember once someone from his staff shouted at him badly. Frustrated, he said "We cannot be humiliated in this way, my friends, today I will place a huge order from the admin department. The order was sent to Astrid who was handling it.

 

The order was delivered in a cart by Pabilis, Rupasinghe and Piyadasa around 2:30pm. Unfortunately Gamey was at lunch when the cart came, and all had taken what was ordered by Gamey for themselves. Only those cards were lying on Gamey's table.

He came after lunch at 3pm,  saw the card's and asked someone where were his stuff. Someone replied that they did not see who took what. I was watching the drama and acted as if nothing has happened, then 3 laborers came in and asked for the cards. Gamey was furious and asked why he should be signing for stuff that he never received.

 

The guy lamented that he has delivered the order and that he needs the cards signed as per procedure. It is not his business to see who took what.

 

Gamey really got annoyed looked at me and asked who was handling stationery. I said Astrid. Her then asked me what's her contact number. I said extension 225, which was downstairs in the security room.

 

Gamey dialed 225 and said "Get me Astrid”. The guy responded, “Sir, this is the security office”. Gamey: “I don't care about that, don’t try to fool me, get me Astrid now”. They then told Gamey to dial 220.

 

Gamey put the receiver down and looked at me with his

burning eyes and said, "Yes, we are not living on this planet right now, you guys better have your laugh, have your damn laugh”

 

Having heard that Priyankara stopped his work and said, “Guys, Gamey is on 101 and mad and when he is like this he also speaks a little bit of truth. He is physically here, but his mind is always out of this world"

 

Now just imagine the laugh that came out in Imports similar to a volcano erupting. Such memories will not fade away for many decades.

 

Dust Allowance & Sarongs

Seniors may remember that the bank has decided to go for a renovation somewhere in the 80s to give a new look to the bank. When it was started staff had to face lots of inconvenience,

 

All the ceiling fans were removed,  scaffolding were being fixed and we could not move freely. It was also quite noisy as certain walls had to be demolished during the day, resulting in dust spreading all over. Staff were protesting about this inconvenience. 

 

We had a strong branch union (I can't remember our officials names, it was affiliated to CBEU). The union had several discussions with Mr Deverell, CEO, and asked for an allowance, but he turned down all the demands.

 

One Friday night we had a union meeting in the canteen.

 

All members came up with several ideas that were proposed and some very heated arguments and criticism

over the management decision. No final decision was made.

 

Having watched all this nonsense suddenly our old Soldier Merrill Crusz got up slowly and said, “Excuse me Mr President I have been listening to everyone, now you have to listen to me, I think,....Yes I strongly think that we all should wear Sarongs and come to office from next Monday on wards to teach a lesson to our deaf and dumb management.” I still remember there were big round of applause, some were whistling while clapped, shouting, “Come on Merrill” continuously, welcoming Merril's suggestion. He became a hero, overnight.

 

There was no better proposal than that and someone seconded, Everyone, together with the union officials agreed to implement this.

 

So next Monday we all came with our normal clothes with a sarong packed in our bags. As some of us had life time membership with the adjoining National Bar their staff allowed us to change our clothes there.

 

So the entire staff walked into office wearing sarongs and gathered in front of the bank. By that time, the media from Lake House had come to know of this this protest and interviewed the BU officials and they also took a group photograph.

 

The following day it was published in the Daily Newspaper. We continued our work as usual; officers and SA's didn't say anything but the CEO was very annoyed with us.

During the day he was moving around the bank with a red face looking for an opportunity to shout at anyone.

 

Unfortunately on one occasion, Jaye (Danda) got caught to the CEO waiting outside in the customer area and was scolded badly.

 

By then all the other offices in the Fort area had come to know this and visited the Bank during their lunch hour.

 

We didn't stop our protest and continued our work as usual until Friday.

 

Finally, after a few weeks, the London office approved our

demands and awarded one month’s salary for all the staff

members.

 

We should be grateful to Merrill at all times, if not for his suggestion we wouldn’t have won our battle.

 

Update by Vitalis:

Kodi, if I remember correct this dust allowance concept was started by the subordinate staff Abubacker (tall person). He went around to all the employees to sign his petition to the union. We laughed at him initially. I assume he was one of the union committee members. But the union was successful in the demand, finally. I never wore a sarong in my life. But I wore my sarong over my trousers over that one week period. Manager AH Deverell was so angry and mad he kicked one of the brick wall that was being built and broke it, closer to the small door leading to the basement cafeteria.  He yelled at the mason for not doing a proper job. I can vividly remember this incident.

 

Michael Perera

Seniors may remember the late Michael Perera. He was a humble kind hearted person, and I have never seen him

shouting at anyone. He worked as an officer in CA, Clearing, several other departments, and retired in the mid 80s. I worked under him in Clearing in 1978.

 

He was living close by to my home at Kiribathgoda. One day in the morning  I met him  (after his retirement) on the Kandy Road. I greeted him and had a long chat. He started inquiring about  the banks progress and whereabouts of colleagues who worked with him. He then came out with some old stories during his younger days at the  Bank.

 

I listened to him. having understood the pleasure that

gets out of the discussion. So our meeting was held for more than one and a half hours. I was getting late to reach my destination, I decided to put a halt and said 

"OK Mr. Perera I will take your leave now, I promised him that I will  visit his place with more news about the bank”. He thanked me a lot for the time spent with him and welcomed my idea. When we were about to get separated suddenly he asked me, "By the way you are Mr..?"

 

I realized that with the ageing he was getting a bit forgetful (even we have faced it now). I smiled and said that "I am Kodi” , then he said, "Ohhhhh !!!!!! Kodi, why didn’t you tell me who you are at the start. You waited until the end to tell me this. Why?”

 

I had no legitimate answer to that question. You decide!!!!

 

 

 

Newbies

I was working in the Clearing department during the period 78/79. In  that era there was a tradition that when a newcomer joins the bank he gives a party to his joining

department staff and most of the time it's a bottle of arrack

followed by dinner limited to a certain amount as when the bill arrives everybody contribute to settle it.

 

I can remember that Dhammika Fernando hosted his fresher party at Chinese Dragon Cafe in Colpetty near NSB. By 6pm all the department staff headed by Candappa, Michael Perera, Neville, Jagath, Sirimal, Banda, Jayanth, and I (can't remember the other chaps names) proceeded.

 

Someone went to a nearby wine and store purchased two bottles of Pol Arrack.

We ordered the bites and dinner, Sirimal opened the bottles and  passed it on to those who take liquor. After about an hour some of us were in very high spirits on top of Pidurutalagala (myself, Sirimal, Michael) 

 

We finished dinner at 10pm came to Galle Road and Candappa was concerned about his staff who were over the limit. He asked "Now Kodi, how are you going to Kiribathgoda, can you manage to go alone?” and I said “I will go with Michael Perera” (he was living in Mahara)

“Austin you don't need to worry about  Kodi ,  I will take care of Kodi. I heard him telling someone, “looks like Kodi is too high today?”) 

 

We said goodbye to each other and started moving. Both of us crossed Galle Road, alighted a Pettah bus. I bought tickets when the bus was passing Galle Face green and there was a cool breeze with heavy blowing from the sea side. I felt Michael was nodding his head, within 5 minutes we came to Fort bus stand, and there was a Kadawatha bus

I had to take care of him as he felt sleepy while walking and I somehow managed to get into the bus with him.

We just passed Pettah market I felt that he was fast asleep on my right shoulder. He remained as it is until the bus has reached Kiribathgoda junction, I went to the Conductor, showed Michael to him and requested to drop that gentlemen in Gala junction (where our Kiribathgoda Branch was) and he agreed to do so.

 

Monday morning we all met in the office and were discussing the party. Slowly Michael approached me, put his right hand in my shoulder and said in an appealing

voice, “Brother, did you get home safely that night? I was surprised how I managed to get off the bus and go home as I felt I was a bit too high which is quite abnormal for me. I will not take a drink again. It must be that Galle Face blowing that kept me safe?”

 

How can I be upset with a real gentleman like him?

 

Michael Perera was a very jovial, timid, kind person who has never hurt anyone. He had maintained a friendly relationship with everyone in the bank. Due to his poor health condition he passed away within few years after his retirement.

 

 

 

The missing Chubb key

In the mid 80's those who were in Accounts Dept. may remember this incident. All voucher postings were done with the help of an automated A5 Olivetti Machine in pink/white color cards and for security reasons these GL cards were held in a fireproof chubb. It goes to the main vault in the basement and returns the following morning.

 

During that time Amitha Mallawaarachchi was the

department head and one morning the then CEO, Mr Bradley had asked for a particular GL Account card from Amitha, for him to see the account transaction balance .

 

Unfortunately, the FP chub had a mechanism that to lock automatically, in the event the sliding door goes to one side. The original key to this fire proof chubb was misplaced and there was no duplicate key either. The situation worsened.

 

We were all searching for the key but could not find it.

Amitha was very angry, running all over and shouting at the department staff saying, “You guys better look everywhere without idling, Bradley will eat my head”.

 

At that time there was an oldie called Stephen (he was a timid and very humble person) attached to Accounts. He had gone out for some errand when this incident happened and when he returned in (he was high to a degree).

 

After seeing Stephen hanging around doing nothing, AM instructed him to help the others. Stephen was clueless about what had gone wrong . On finding out he went to Amitha, pointed  his finger at the chubb and said : 

"Amithaaaaaa, I strongly think! Yes I think, that the key that you are searching all this time must be......... inside this Chubb. If you want open it then you have to take the key out.”

 

Amitha was so furious with Stephen and told him in no uncertain words,  “(X!”£$%^and*”£$$%^and*)” (I can’t find the courage to write them down)

“you are playing games here while we are in a fire fighting mode, get lost”

 

Accounts staff were suppressing their laugh with a big effort while Stephen  came to them slowly and said in a very disappointing voice, “Look guys, I am trying to help and this is what I get?”

 

Later a key cutter was brought in and managed to open it , afterwards I heard department. staff used to ask him, “Stephen did you see chubb keys?”

 

Outstation Clearing Check

Sometime in 1978 there was a posh old lady who used to come to clearing department counter very often. Michael Perera was the assistant officer and used to help her willingly on most occasions.

 

One day she came to deposit a BoC Piliyandala Branch check with a rubber stamp showing York Street branch and she was in a dilemma whether the check she is trying to deposit would be treated as a Colombo (3 days) or Outstation clearing check (7 days).

 

What happened was that BoC had overprinted some of their Piliyandala Branch check books and issued them for York

Street Branch Customers by placing a rubber stamp of York Street. Initially it was total chaos for all banks. Having seen the lady Mike ran to the counter while I watched the scene. Following dialogue took place.

 

Mike: “Good morning lady what can I do for you.”

 

Customer: “Please let me know the status of this Check?”

 

Mike examined the check carefully raised his spectacles 

 

Mike: "Lady, this is an outstation and normally takes 7 days to clear."

 

The deposit counter clerk, at that time, was Mahendra Kalubowila .

He immediately said ‘’Boss, this is not an outstation check it is Colombo, don’t you see York Street rubber stamp is on it?”

 

Mike: "Yes my lady, sorry, it is a Colombo check, and will clear in 3 days.’’     

 

Keragala was watching this scene too and h intervened purposely to confuse the situation and he said. "Boss, all of you are crazy, this is an outstation check, can't you see the  Piliyandala Branch printed on it?” 

 

Mike: "My humble apology lady, it is an outstation , you will have to wait for 7 working days to withdraw the funds."

 

Just imagine the poor lady who looked at everyone’s face with a big question mark on her face, and finally said,

looking at Mike, "I am totally upset with the whole scenario and leaving this check with you, please do what is appropriate"

 

When she left the counter we saw Mike taking a deep breath and settling down more comfortably although he was sweating profusely.

Mike said: “Guys, BoC are crazy, why the f**k have they put the York Street stamp on a Piliyandala check? Look at the mess they have out us in?”

 

Bomb

A bomb exploded in CTO in Colombo Fort killing 11 people and wounding more than 115 innocent people. It was a very sad day for all of us, Although certain roads were closed in the Fort area, we noticed that the Bank had lots of transactions and the staff continued their work as usual on that day.

 

In the evening there were thunder showers with lightning which swept over Colombo City. The boys had a hard time getting home due to the inclement weather.

I was working with Lyra in Forex and we finished our work at 7:30pm came to the security office, and met Gamage (Imports), who was hanging around having got stuck there. 

 

We were informed by the security that  the roads beyond York  Street roundabout towards Pettah were all closed. Pedestrians were not allowed to walk to that side. So we waited until the rain seized as there was no way we could walk out.

 

Magdon Ismail (Manager CA) was then leaving in his car and he offered to drop us at Bambalapitiya since he was going that way. We agreed as we could easily get a 154 bus from there.

 

Ismail used to drive a small Honda and we all got in, with GG in front and  Lyra and me at the rear.

 

Thunder showers continued like a waterfall.  Magdon was driving towards Galle Road and when we reached old Parliament junction roundabout we saw that the Galle road was fully flooded with water.

 

As there were no vehicles in our lane Magdon drove slowly. It was pitch dark outside. We saw a bus coming from Kollupitiya side towards Fort at a very high speed, may be over 80 km/h. 

 

As there were no street lights available Ismail couldn’t see the road ahead clearly and we felt something hitting the underside of the car. The very next moment the car overran the island in the middle of Galle Road and went over to the other side.

Suddenly we saw that bus was right in front of us and its head lights were directly hitting our faces. 

 

We were at the Mercy of God and thought it was all over for us. I remembered my two kids.

 

Time passed so fast and there was pin drop silence inside and no sound of any big crash , none of us were screaming.  The bus had also jumped the island and moved to the other side of the road.

 

It was a sheer miracle. Thank God! He had looked at us saved us. 

 

Canteen

The  CB Staff Canteen has been a facility that has been located in the basement for many decades. It was managed for some years by John Bowie and later his son, Ian.

 

Previously, it was divided into two sections, one for the senior staff and one for the juniors. Later, some of the young and brave rebels had broken the  old colonial tradition of segregation.

All staff members were treated equally after 1977.  

 

JB was a very helpful person. Whenever our annual trips were organized he used to handle all the catering for us.

 

There were few solid wooden tables and chairs in the canteen and washing facilities.

 

There were, also, some long wooden chairs for the guys to relax and, I remember,  W Costa, Ananda, Priyankara P,

and few others who used to take a quick nap on them after

lunch.

 

The union secretary, Rex Cooray, the prankster he was, used to bring his lunch in a hard aluminum box. After washing the box he used to turn around slowly to see who was sleeping . Then, he used to come close to them and drop the box on the floor with a clatter to disturb their siesta.

 

You could see some angry and sour faces and some quietly leaving without saying a single word.

 

One day Priyankara was waiting for an opportunity to get his back on Rex. He somehow managed to pinch Rex’s lunch box and didn't return for a long time.

 

Sports Club

The banks sports club was located on the third floor. We had facilities for indoor games, Carrom, Chess, Drafts and Darts.

 

Carrom was the most popular game and the following guys were very good at it:- Gerry, Brian, Ronnie, Weere, Karu,

 Nimal W, Wasantha A, Yehiya, Royce, Palitha C, Shanthi, VSP L, Sridaran, Rohan M, Lalith, NAV G, Amare, Jerome, and me. TT was popular with Brian, Felix W, Ronnie S, Lyra G, NAV G, and me. Others played Drafts. Among the girls, Chandi P and Chandima R played carrom.

 

Asoka W and Palitha G used to sing some old Sinhala hits of Jothipala, Milton. Asoka being a good musician used to whistle nicely for songs sung by PG. I played percussion by hitting a drafts board.

 

When Merril played carom he used be very serious and always did a careful analysis of the dogs on the board, bends in all directions to get his aim correct, and then play, much to the annoyance of his opponents. Karu used to tell Merril that he had to play within  90 seconds and Merril used to give  some excuse to justify his delay.

 

Chandi L comes, soon after lunch by 1:15pm and she starts looking for a partner. No one wants to play with her as she is a very skilled player and very difficult to beat.

The guys used to give some excuse and disappear.

 

Abey and his Love

There was a tradition in the department that before going down to the basement for lunch the boys used to have a word with Abey. Once we were talking about the advantages of  a love affair or being a bachelor.

 

Abey was listening to us and suddenly said he didn’t believe in any of those love marriages. We asked him why and he told us this story.

 

“You know I started an affair with a nice girl working in a government office close to Fort and we were really happy together. Suddenly she was transferred to Kandy. So I called her once in two days, visited her during the week ends, and continued the affair. Gradually, I noticed that she was trying to ignore me and was not even  answering my calls, One day, around 11:30am I received an anonymous call saying that right now my girl was at Peradeniya Botanical Gardens with another guy.

 

I was little upset at first, the applied for half a day’s leave,

got on to my BSA Bantam bike and started riding to Kandy. I reached in 45 minutes and went over to the gardens and found my girl and her new guy seated on a bench under a tree. Seeing me she got excited and scared. I waved my hand at her and told her that I didn’t come to harm anyone and she may continue her life as she chose but not to do the same thing to that guy too.

 

Machang I turned back got on my bike again and returned to Colombo in 45 minutes.”

 

Later the boys used to tease Abey by asking him

 

·        Were there any other vehicles on the Kandy Road, or was it deserted?

·        What was your speed like? You went there without applying brakes?

·        Did Traffic Police stop the bike for high speed or did they overlook you?

·        Did you not stop the bike for a cup of tea?

·        How about the Kadugannawa climb?

 

Abey did not answer any of these questions. He got up all of a sudden put his sarcastic smile and said, “I am getting late for my lunch. Let me go now. I will come and reply after lunch.”

 

Having heard most of his old exaggerated stories like this one there was no necessity for further responses from Abey. But he had a time with Kalu, Sudugala and BC after that day with all those funny questions.

 

Vegetarians

One day in a joint fun discussion we were talking about the value of eating a vegetarian meal, at least, once a week. This topic started as I went with Lyra to Saraswathi Lodge on that day and enjoyed a Masala Dosa diet. We came back and praised the taste of the food enjoyed and service given at the hotel.

 

This became a really interesting and others also contributed to it. They were asking the names of other vegetarian restaurants on Galle Road.

Having listened to this entire Abey was saying that there is a good place where you could enjoy a vege meal but that place is located little distance from Colombo. “Tell me if you guys know the place?”

 

The boys came up with names like - Wellawatte. Dehiwela. Mt Lavinia as there are many vege joints in all these towns. Abey did not answer and there was dead silence for a few minutes. Finally, as we all lost our patience BC said, “OK, now tell us without showing your colors and delaying it anymore.”

 

Abey smiled at us and said you have to go to – KATHARAGAMA, There is a superb Saiva Café there where they serve a tasty rasam, and, if you have that your bowel motions will become as smooth as silk. So we asked Abey, “Are we to travel over 225km from Colombo just to have a vegetarian meal and this Rasam hodda to open our………… boors?”

His response was that if any of us have a constipation problem in the morning, just visit there once and experience the relief.

 

Suwa Sahana

In those days there was a social service league called “Suwa Sahana Sewa Sangamaya”. Funds were raised by deducting a certain subscription fee from our monthly salaries. The working committee had decided to donate some wheelchairs for selected disabled persons in the southern province. So, on one bright Sunday, officials of the SSS and few fun lovers, Palitha, Sirimal, and I,  left Colombo and proceeded to Matara in a private bus operating between two cities, organized by BC Perera.

I still can remember that Jagath gave us a tasty meal (Game Kema Welak) for lunch at his Matara Residence followed by curd and treacle (super quality) for dessert bought from Harischandra Mills.

 

We donated all the wheelchairs to several people living in the southern province and were returning back from Walasmulla to the Matara Bus stand as we had to get into another private bus bound to Colombo.

 

This incident took place in Gandara area somewhere close to the Matara Town around 4:00pm.

There had been a major water project that was started in that area. As a result one side of the road was excavated for laying steel pipelines and all vehicles passing were diverted through a single traffic lane. Our driver was passing that area and all of a sudden another private bus heading to Katharagama also came our way by knowing that both buses cannot cross each other and hence stopped. 

 

Both drivers started scolding each other and the arguments went on for a few minutes. Passengers from that bus also alighted and vehicles which were stuck behind started

tooting their horns. It was a total mess and trauma for all of us. I can still remember, Premadasa who joined us as a supervisor, told us not to get involved in their arguments.

After fifteen minutes, as we could not bear it any more,  Palitha Costa  alighted first, walked up to the driver in opposite bus and told him to backup and the road will be cleared.

 

Then, I alighted with BC and was watching the incident. We saw Sirimal was the next to get off and he went to the driver with an angry face.

He looked at the driver for a while and started shaking his head several times to the back the bus. That day both Palitha and Sirimal, who were very well built and strong and sporting short haircuts, looking like Police Officers, wearing white T-shirts and shorts, could have scared the driver.

 

He finally backed the bus. Within few minutes the road was cleared we were able to proceed to Matara without any more hassle.

 

Everyone in the bus were talking about what made that driver to reverse the vehicle.

Staff

PJ McNamara was the Manager in 1969

 

JC Cameron was the Accountant in 1969

 

RAD Perera Took over as Accountant from Cameron. Deputy Head Advances department, lives in USA now.

 

N D Perera Succeeded RAD. Accountant, sharp person, never gets up from his seat until 7 pm but knew what’s happening during the day in the office. 

Sydney Perera veteran Banker, unfortunately he left us early and joined a local Bank. Used to teach us a lot in bills, forex with his wide banking knowledge.

 

Eustace Fernando SA-Efficient neat methodical worker/Assigned to work in ME, Retired as our first internal Auditor. I personally respect him as my mentor.

 

Jerry Werasinghe SA-Tall, smart jovial person ,used to bully Michael.

 

Austin Candappa SO- OIC Clearing department, famous as Insurance Sales Agent.

 

F Moses SO, Never shout or hurt anyone, kind person, once he was in Imports got disappeared after lunch(high on spirit) At 4:30 Jayantha Chandra has received a TP call from Mossi, "put all docs lying on my table in the cupboard and close it”, he came following morning and finished his previous day’s work.

 

BNR Raux OIC current Accounts in 1969.

 

Neville Fernando Today the topic is about Neville Fernando. (residing in Canada now).  He was a jovial smart,  polished person, who came to office nattily dressed,  well qualified and holding a Degree in Law,  and joined the bank a management trainee in the mid 70s. He was also very simple and humble.

 

Most significant part in his character was that he didn’t take anything very seriously; we had lots of fun during his time.

 

When Neville he was the Manager in CA, the CEO (AH Deverell). came to his department and asked him if all ledgers are balanced. 

 

Neville replied "Yes, all ledgers are balanced except ledger numbers1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. We had 6 ledgers only and number 5 ledger was already balanced. We still don't know how the CEO responded.

 

Once Neville was holding a beautiful envelope opener.

Having seen it, Wasantha Alutwela asked him “Mr. Fernando would you mind giving that to me?” NF had replied  “Aiyse , I am keeping this to stab  that rascal Deverell on his back”

 

As CA Manager, Neville used to cancel the signatures of account holders presented through the clearing house with a red pen while talking, and enjoying jokes with boys. He never actually checked the signatures with the specimens. He was so fortunate that nothing went wrong during this time.

 

Having seen this, the CA boys used to put blank white

sheets, cut in the same shape and size as the checks,  in between the checks. Later, they used take them out and keeps them on Nevilles table. He smile and response saying "This is one of those foxy tricks of one of you guys”

 

One day, a cash check was referred to him by a ledger keeper. After a long delay the customer was making a big fuss and the teller had come to CA to collect it for payment. The check was missing.

 

The ledger keeper told Neville that he was holding it the last time he saw. Neville had responded, “I didn’t see the

check” After a frantic search it was found inside the Infrared machine lying on his table (which used to scan the checks to avoid forgeries). He had kept the check and closed the machine and attended to some other matter. You can imagine the next scenario between the angry customer and embarrassed teller?

 

Neville resigned from the bank and migrated to Canada in the mid 80s.

 

Once, Asoka Jayasuriya had gone to the HSBC in Colombo and accidentally met Neville who had come to carry out an Audit. With his usual friendly smile while touching his bearded face he had asked, "Aiyse, Asoka how nice to see you. Are you still at the Chartered Bank. How are the chaps over there? Please give them my best wishes"

 

One day while having a fun chat with the boys while scratching his beard Neville stated with his foreign accent: “Aiyse, I am fed up with this life. I have a great desire to go somewhere far away and become a monk”

 

Linton, who later joined Commercial Bank Matara Branch, then said, “Boss, great idea, then you may hand over your wife to me to take care of just like King Siri Sangabo did before”

 

Being a Gentleman who can accept a joke without getting angry Neville said: “Don’t turn me into a murderer, please”

 

Everyone starts to laugh loudly including Neville.

 

Later on Neville held the position of Head of Financial

Investigations Unit  at CBSL which was established to prevent money laundering activities in the country. Once he gave us a lecture on that subject at HNB Auditorium. He was so delighted after seeing us.

 

P Premadasa NO- one time our BU President, silent kind heart gentleman, after retirement joined Sampath Bank .

Wijesiri SO, kind person worked in Clearing and CA

         

JC Fernando SO - attached to CA department, famous as hilarious Yarns teller, when working late in the night (around 9.30 pm), always saying: “Brother it is 530pm and time to go home” but he still continued to work till late.

 

V Gulasingham  NO- was DM for BP, Outward Bills, Auditor, Training Manager, Good actor, Never signs a letter at once used to amend so many times.

 

Once Niranjala Dias brought a letter for his signature told customer is waiting for this, as usual he started asking if

 the Customer a friend of yours followed by so many other?

 

She got annoyed and said loudly in her English accent " Come on Sir, it is nothing for you, just sign that bloody letter, "Like an obedient child without asking anymore Gula signed that letter. Suby was a good friend of Gula went slowly to Gulas table and said " Hey you old F....r, when a Female comes wearing a Satin Sari or dress, you sign anything for them, but when we bring  something your editing machine starts" Gula was clean bowled raised just his head, without  looking Subys face said just FO from here.do some work without eating my head, We enjoyed a lot with the scene.

 

He used to meet his old colleagues after work at National BA, used to come to me ‘’Hey young man I will be in the next door, finish your work and come soon.’’ His daughter joined as a MT, later migrated to USA. Gula died few years ago.

 

Amitha Mallawarachi SA- DM CA, Admin, Finance  departments, was behind as an Advisor for Banks Social service  work , Sinhala Literary Society, good organizer in Annual trips(still remember the hot tasty lunch  supplied by Salgado Hotel Kurunegala for our annual trip went to Sigiriya.

 

We know the Bank' depts. are inter connected; in the meantime People worked with us are also inter connected.

 

We are indebted to them as some of us joined the Bank with their blessing,

We enjoyed their Company, their guidance, learn a lot about work life balancing , humanity perseverance, how to progress carrier wise and so many other good things.

 

MG Silva was a senior typist, residing in Panadura, and wife was employed as a nurse. He was released from work due to his bad health conditions, and rejoined in the mid 80s, and started working again with Imports departments.

 

In the beginning we were a little scared to talk to him, due to his age, but later realized that he was a really jovial and kind gentleman. Despite medical  advice he was a very heavy smoker and a mild talker.

 

Gordon Baldsing SO, worked at CA imports, known as Bolo, calm and quite person, his hair used to fall on his

face, I told him once why not become a bold headed person , always smiling, later became Gune's Partner in progress after work, died in Aussie recently.

 

 

 

Derrick Alles

Derrick Alles was the Chief Cashier. He was a very nice gentlemen, kind hearted, and helpful. Very often we used to go and meet him for change money converting big notes into small ones. 

 

When we enter his room you can always hear him humming a song which no one understood. It went like this, "Dee, dee, dee". He stops humming and ask us "Yes Machang what do you guys want? 

 

“Boss can you change this?”,

“Why not. Give it to me”

He then counts out large notes and small notes, counting them, all the time humming “Dee, Dee, Dee” but not counting from his lips. Perhaps the calculation comes into his mind mixed with his humming from inside his mind.

"Here you are”

“Thanks boss”

“Not to mention, machang make sure you close the door when leaving that bloody AC is on in that room.” At that time Derrick was living down Dickmans Road. He got into the bus from front door, Bus was fully crowded and we kept hearing his humming.  Some passengers were wondering what was going on and were looking at each other’s faces. When we reached the Galle Face Green, I could not help myself and shouted with a voice similar to him, calling out "Derrick!"

 

He stopped humming and looked back at all the

passengers. Being a tall guy Shanthi was trying to duck and hide himself.

 

Somehow, h managed to cover his face. This exercise went on from Galle Face to Kollupitiya. After getting off at Kollupitiya I was served by some hot words by Shanthi.

 

Shanthi was working in the cash department as a teller. One day Derrick was short by a huge amount (which was later recovered) in his accounting and everyone in the department were trying locate the error. All of a sudden my good friend Shanthi asked, "Derrick By any chance did you check the coins bags”. Then the reply came like a tracer bullet, “Coins! have you become mad to tell me that"

 

One day, after his retirement, Derrick came to meet someone at the bank and was hanging around. To make things humorous I repeated my voice by changing my tone and called out his name  "Derrick”

 

This went on for a while then I saw some staff members in the bank were uneasy with fear in their faces by looking here and there where this voice was coming from.

 

Then Susantha came in running to me and said "You devil, stop this madness even now, look who is there in the corporate.

 

I looked at that department and saw the second in command at the bank, Derrick Juriansz, was standing with a puzzled face by looking all over, holding some documents in his hand, however I looked so innocent that there was no one to take the blame.

 

 

 

Denzil Noyah

The seniors may remember one of the old soldiers, Denzil Noyah, who was a small made and very innocent kind hearted person. His partner was AVG Perera, both were attached to the archives department. Keragala and I used to visit them very often, mostly in the mornings. Both of them liked us visiting there, as always had fun.

 

One day we saw some glasses were stored in their room, and after seeing that I told Noyah, “Machan may I say a small poem about you, he replied “Why not go ahead”

 

So I said: “Glassware, Handle with care, Yanna Soya, One and only Denzil Noyah"

 

Rohan Masilamani

There was an old lady by the name of Mabel Thirimanne who used to come to the savings department during Gamageys era. Cash withdrawal slip went to Gamage for his signature on which there was a slight difference in her signature. Gamage, from his seat shouted at her saying “Madam Marble, Madam Marble” She didn’t know it was for her. Then Gamage went over to the counter, pointing to her and said, “Madam Marble please come to the counter”.

 

She angrily said “I’m not marble but I’m Mabel”. Ultimately he passed the withdrawal form without even getting her to sign again; and gave her the cash.

 

Lucian D’Olivera

One of the greatest old soldiers of our era,  Lucian D’ Olivera (presently in Aussie). I wonder whether I may have posted this before but I cannot recollect my memory

now. However, in response to a request made by

Champika to start the column again I just thought of posting this, as a memory, for us all.

 

Those who were there in Current Accounts department  may correct this if you remember more details of the incident as I am writing with some information that I have with me during that period.

 

This Story was told to me by one of the chaps (can’t remember his name now) who had worked with Lucian, and who had witnessed the entire scene. The drama may have taken place somewhere around 1975-77 period when he was working in the C/A department handling the Overseas Ledger.

 

A tourist, who was visiting Sri Lanka, during that time, was expecting an inward remittance which was to be processes by the CB-Colombo Branch. There had been a delay. He had visited the bank several times but the bank had no trace of it being sent. Due to this delay, he had faced some personal financial issues and was in a very angry mood with everyone around.

 

The remittance was finally received by the bank from the UK branch and when the tourist came along to receive the cash he was using some nasty expletive language supported lavishly by the ‘F’ word in each sentence.

 

He was also blasting and blaming the bank, our banking system and  the staff. On this day, it so happened that Lucian was handling this angry customer with unusual patience, and, without uttering a single word against him.

 

Being a perfect gentlemen everyone in the bank knew that

Lucian would definitely handle this attitude in his own special way.

 

So our hardworking young Lucian prepared the documentation, had it authorized by the C/A Officer, went over to the Cash department himself, collected the clients’ money on behalf of him and returned to his desk in slience.

 

Now, here comes the real drama.

 

Lucian looks up at the customer sharply and starts returning the customers documentation, identification and the cash, followed by this dialogue quite loud enough for everyone around to hear.

 

Look here Mr. X:

• Here is the F…..g memo of your remittance.

• Collect your bloody F…..g passport.

• Here is your F…..g money that you have been crying for all these days .

• Now Collect every F…..g’ thing belongs to you and F… off from our Bank.

• Make sure that you don’t ever step into this F…..g country again.

 

The previously angry  foreigner was aghast with shock and fear. He was half mouth opened, red faced, looking like a tamed terrier, and without saying a single word collected his belongings and vanished from the Bank.

 

Lal Heenetigala

This is an anecdote about our late colleague, Lal Heenatigala (may he RIP), as everyone knew then who was

 a great musician, clarinet and piano player and used to

perform with many orchestras while working at the bank.

 

One day, Lal did not report to work and was playing with an orchestra at a wedding which was attended by RAD Perera. Lal was excited, anxious, and scared and hence was missing his notes on his clarinet, fearing that he would have to explain his absence from work that day.

 

On reporting to office the next morning RAD called Lal and shelled him for his absence. This story was related to by Lal himself.

 

Tyronne Candappa

This was the strike at The CB that went on for two or three months and after which Tyrone was given leadership.

 

Fort Police led by Felix Yahampath were controlling the crowd on picketing, while JR was proceeding towards the Queens House after winning the historical Election in 1976.

 

Somehow Yousuf managed to get a favorable response to our struggle, who campaigned for UNP!

 

Kumar, hope my memory is correct?

 

Myself, Lal, Layra and two other guys were out on strike, while we were still on our 6 month probation period.

 

We were confirmed on the same day, after the strike was won as promised to us by the Union Leadership.

 

Felix Yahampath went onto become a loyal customer of the Chartered Bank for his business venture " Kandygs

Handloom".

 

The greatest out- come of 1977, CBEU, CB Branch Union militants!!

 

The strike took place in 1977 and went on for some 50+ days. The Government changed during the strike and JR came to power. Ronnie de Mel became finance minister, and wanted the bank to settle the strike - each evening CBEU members from other banks (particularly Bank of Ceylon and Peoples Bank) came to support us in front of the bank. Some days we had meetings there and occasional friction with the police.

 

The strike was staged because Tyronne was suspended,

amongst some other issues (which I don't recall). I was elected President of the Union when Tyronne was suspended.  CBEU gave some financial assistance to each member during the strike (just less than Rs. 200/- as I recall), although they were angry that we going on strike without informing them (and getting their approval). Those on strike did not get their salaries, but Tyronne (whose suspension was withdrawn in settling the strike) did get his as he was suspended! Yahampath was friendly with Tyronne, and on some days I have had tea with both of them at The Pagoda. It was during the strike (but prior to election) that Rusiripala who was the then President of CBEU was appointed Chairman of Bank of Ceylon.

 

This what I heard from some of the seniors, that in this strike a few minor employees had agreed to go back to work as they had lots of financial issues to prevent that the late Mervin Abeywickrama had volunteered to give away

money to them from his Savings Account at that point in

time.

 

It is worth to mention after resuming duty the late Douglas Ingram was telling me how he travelled to Nuwara Eliya to meet Hon Gamini Dissanayake to convince the Hon PM elected, JRJ, to put pressure on the CB Colombo manager to settle the strike immediately. I salute all our past comrades who tirelessly worked in 1977 to bring a lasting solution to this major issue.

Hemasiri

 

Ananda Kodituwakku

A few words about me with some pertinent details of my career history with CB in each department over a period of 35 years. Those who were in the clearing department

please correct me or share your views as I am writing about certain incidents happened more than 40 years ago.

 

1978-1979 – Clearing Department.

I joined the bank on 07th Feb 1978 as a Clerk at the age of 19 years. I can remember that I  faced an interview followed by a written test held on a Sunday in Oct 1977. Along with me Vasantha Raj, Jayantha Keragala and Anura Yapa also sat for the written test. The test was held in the morning on a Sunday and we were asked to come again at 02.00 PM for the Viva, after lunch. As we were new to Fort area and not familiar with the Restaurants and eating houses there we went to a dosay boutique located alongside some Gem shops just few yards away from the bank along Baillie Street. I remember Kera and Yapa were inside the Hotel. We smiled at each other but did not speak to them on that day. However we all met in the Bank again. Yapa and Kera had joined before me.

 

When I came to sign the letter of appointment I had forgotten to bring a pen. The LOA was issued by Sugathadasa - Admin Officer, who looked at me sharply with his burning eyes, made a “chuk” sound showing his anger and dissatisfaction and taught me the very first lesson. Afterwards, he gave a ball pen to sign : “Brother, remember to carry a pen wherever you go”. This advice is still in my mind.

 

1st Day: I came to the bank on a Tuesday and assumed duties in Clearing department. I was accompanied by Sugathadasa.

 

During that time the Clearing OIC was Austin Candappa, his deputy was Moses. I was introduced to both of them,

Candappa raised a few questions but Moses was very silent – No smile, and did not asked any questions.

 

I remember there was Jagath Dheerathilaka, Saliya Perera (Canada now) Sarath Koswanage, Nalin Bandaranayake, Kumarage, Jayanath Gunawardena, as the senior hands. Neville Fernandopulle and Sirimal Fernando worked as Typists, Ariyaratne and Jayasena as Office Assistants.

 

All of us used to sit around a big table with about 12 chairs. Behind the OIC’s table was where the two typists sat. Next to them was the Transfer Posting Machine and the Apollo Equipment. Behind our table were the two Clearing Processing Machines.

 

Nearly a week had passed and Moses did not talk much to me. One day he called me and asked me, “What is your name? How old are you? I have been noticing you work. Do put your best foot forward and give your best”

 

My first assignment was to accept Check Deposits, There was a tall counter made out of Burma Teak with two additional counters covered with brass poles. One counter was used to hand over the checks and the other was used to give the deposit slips booklets back to the customers. A tall barber saloon type chair was used to enter the first counter. Two medium sizes cane baskets were used to put Clearing Checks and Transfer Checks (our own CB account to account transfers). There were four Rubber Stamps (1) CB Crossing stamp (2) Colombo Clearing Deposits (3) Outstation Clearing Deposits  (4) Transfer Check Deposits where we were able to change the date, accordingly.

 

Duly verified/guaranteed Colombo clearing checks were

sent to the Processing Machine. There were 3 Boroughs Brand - quite old noisy machines. Some days there was a technician (Livera) from Office Equipment Ltd (Galle Face Courts) seated with us for few days to assist as the two machines used to falter. One example was BOC York St Branch Checks. Full total gets added into BOC 05th City Br Total. On such days we process the entire operation manually and Candappa is seen firing the top management for not giving us a new machine.

 

So many hilarious incidents took place in the Clearing Department.

 

Banking clerk of Maniam Stores used to insert outstation check deposits among the Colombo deposits and got a hiding from Candappa frequently. He used to say too many banks nowadays.

 

Those days BOC Negombo was falling under Colombo

 Clearing whereas Peoples Bank Negombo was classified

as an Outstation branch. He used to mess up filling the deposit slips between these two branches despite several clarifications. As the UNP government introduced an open economy environment in 1978, several new banks were also opened in Sri Lanka.

 

One day an unknown party came to the clearing counter and shouted at Michael Perera (who was our Relief Officer) saying, “I say, Michael, you did a dirty thing the other day by saying you would join us and never turned up”.

 

We were wondering as to what is going on as it was one of their private issues.

Michael Perera also did not give up easily as he came to the counter and stretched himself took his right leg (it was bandaged – he was wearing a slipper and there was a shoe in the other leg) on to top of the tall counter and said in a louder tone: “I say, how could I have come when my leg was injured and swollen like this and I was finding it so difficult to walk”

 

Michael Perera was quite a short person and I still cannot believe how he managed to lift and keep his leg on top of the counter

 

We all managed to teach a lesson to Jayasena when sorting checks by switching on the ceiling fans because he used to sneak about us to Candappa.

 

One day both  machines were out of order and there were lots of check deposits and we were entering them and getting the totals, manually.

Now, the next exercise was to cast the amounts manually under each bank and tally them with the full total of all the credit slips.

 

Moses was supervising us and he got a few Chinese

Rolls with a drink of Fanta through one of the laborers and gave it to us Somehow there was an error where we could not balance and the time was 08.30pm. Moses limit was exceeding its patience as his usual boozing session was being missed. He came to me and asked: “I say, Kodi, why are you guys sweating over this. Just post the difference to the State Bank of India total as they do not receive many checks and it won’t be noticed. You guys are still like babies and need to learn these simple tricks of the trade to survive in this business”

 

Somehow we found the error and within the next few minutes and released him from his discomfort. Before leaving the department he called me and asked, “If you like to have a small shot join me to the next door National Bar”

 

Candappa used to canvass newly joined staff for selling life Insurance cover from SLIC. He had approached Dhammika Fernando once and Dhammika gave a fine lecture back to him by explaining the depreciation of the Rupee value with the Inflation in future being a disadvantage of buying an Insurance policy. I am not sure whether he sold any more policies to our guys after that.

 

Ajward In the mid 80s our Advances department. was located on the first floor and Lakmali de Zoysa, who joined as an MT, was the department manager position reporting to the second in command, Mr Smart.

I cannot remember the names of all the staff members now. Old Ajward was the office assistant, and he was an innocent guy, (had a poor eyesight but did not use spectacles)

 

One day he became a victim of one of the famous “PK Dath” calls where someone from outside was calling on more than 20 occasions every five minutes. He did not got angry at the beginning, but had been silent and slammed the receiver, loud. 

 

This took place during the lunch hour and Lakmali was not in the department. At 2:30pm his phone started ringing again. Assuming it was also another prank call Ajward went to the phone, took the receiver, and responded with the words - "FO"

He kept the receiver slowly, came back to his seat continued his work.

 

Adjacent to Advances was Mr Smart's room. He came out with a very angry red face and asked who answered the phone just now. Staff had showed poor Ajward. Mr Smart returned to his room without saying anything.

 

When Lakmali returned, after lunch, she was asked to come and see him. By that time those who were there had told her what had taken place. Lakmali had explained the whole story to Amitha. Being a smart person, Mr Smart has smiled and accepted her explanation. No action was taken against poor Ajward. Just imagine if that kind of a thing happened in the present time?

 

Milroy Alles He had joined as a cashier and had taken over the Chief Cashier role after the retirement of Derrick

Alles. He was tall 6 footer, wore shorts and long stockings. He also walked quite fast.

 

His personality displayed an image of a Dutch/Portuguese

warrior, with his large handle bar moustache twisted upwards at both ends. When Neville Fernando was the head of the Cash department Milroy had an extra-ordinary habit. After cash is balanced in the system he puts his two fingers into his mouth and blow a whistle quite loudly which gives the sound to Neville to come immediately to the department. That was the accepted thing those days and Neville used to run as Milroy wants to leave the office after transferring the chubbs to main safe ASAP.

 

Tudor Jayawardene Senior hand, He was tall 6 footer who minds his own business and worked in Imports

department. He used to go out distributing duplicate Import Bill documents to customers. He had a short temper. Used to call juniors, Malli, Putha or Machang.

 

He was handling Bank Guarantees in Imports Dept. I was handling Recon work in Forex when GT Commissions are credited to GBP Nostro Accounts I have to inform him to pass the entries. He writes down such details in a file before passing the vouchers to clear them.

 

Tales from Jerome Seneviratne - The OAs

 

All the OA's during our time were very unique characters and we really enjoyed working with them.                   

 

The "Pala 's”, the evergreen Ariyapala, Somapala aka Thalaguli, Yasapala, acting manager CA and agent of money changer Nizar Traders, and the quiet Hemapala. 

 

The “Deens”, Kamaldeen (famous for his Malay Muscat), Thattadeen, Jainulabdeen (aka Ravuldeen, a great Pakistan cricket supporter ), and Shahabdeen, 

 

Aboobucker who initiated the cuff links and dust allowance,               

 

Piyadasa (ground boy and passport agent )

 

Premadasa who holds the Guinness world record for travelling most number of times between Kandy and Colombo. He used to help me in carrying money for my parents.

 

Dias the Stationery Manager,

 

Ajward, with his limp in his leg...Rex Cooray imitates how he carries the casket at funeral processions. There were a few more, too.

 

Kularatne He was the Office Assistant (OA) to the Accountant for many years and served under NDP, Burgess and Elmo. He spoke English was unable to read. He had to seek assistance to read the file name to know where they were due to be delivered.

 

Premadasa  OA - Home town was close to Katugasthota.  A jovial and kind man. Fond of playing Carrom.

 

Ariyapala OA, He enjoyed his life, was a jovial and playful chap. Brother of Napoleon, Turf Accountant as well.

 

Once I noticed, when the bank renovation work was going

on, Kamal went down to change his office wear and Ariyapala jumped at him like a demon by wearing a black face mask with a long hair wig. Next moment I saw Kamal screaming in fear, and, after identifying Ariyapala, started hitting him with a club and a wastepaper baskets or whatever that came in his hands. Ariyapala ran all over the bank in his underwear.

 

Pabilis Worked hard, always had financial issues, while Lal and Russell were his consultants to listen and resolve all his problems. Some days goes early in the morning to see Lal and he sends a chit to Russel through Pabilis. Russell showed me one chit and it said:

 

“Dear Russel, bearer is an employee of our Bank and he is

in dire straits, the World Bank and IMF have turned down all his applications, please grant him a staff soft loan by using your powers”

 

Russel replies, “Received, His Loan capacity has exceeded the ceiling and if I used my powers and grant him a loan then I will be expelled and moved to Hell.”

 

Once his house was damaged due to a big wind storm and somehow he had managed to explain his plight to the second in command and he had visited  Veyangoda to inspect the situation. Pabilis was granted an interest free loan to be paid in considerable time against his salary. Rupasinghe was his step brother.

 

There were so many Muslim OAs who worked with us and I can only remember, Kamal, Abubucker, Ravul Deen, Thatta Deen, Ajward, Shahabdeen, and Zubair.

 

Velu used to bring tea bags from the staff of Bartleet Tea Company and earned some extra cash by selling them to the staff.

 

Stonach He belongs to the Burger community,  joined as an Electrician but the bank changed his role to a lower grade as he was not conversant with electric work. He spoke a funny form of  English where no one could understand and he cannot read or write.

 

Ratnasena was promoted as an OA in the mid 80s, Speaks loud and a very cheerful person, Few years ago, a few of us visited him at his Matara residence and spent a few hours with him talking about past incidents, He was so

happy to see us, and when we said goodbye there were

tears in his eyes.

 

Krishna Fair short guy who stammered a bit. He had a time, when attached to accounts department with Karu, Jerome, Shanthi and Wasantharaj where they give him so many dead ropes. Poor Krishna swallowed them without knowing but never was offended and took everything with a smile.

 

Piyadasa Another big talker, who never stopped when he opened his mouth. Used to travel from a distant place in Bandaragama.

 

Muniyandy small made chap, heavy boozer, heard that he had three wives. It was said that they all waited outside the bank premises on pay day but,   somehow, he used to evade all three and escape from the back.

 

Kamal Many will remember the office assistant,  Kamal. He was a very friendly and innocent guy, very much devoted to his religion. He had very good relations with all the staff.  Yet, he had a temper and when in a bad mood he used to yell at those who irritated him. As a result, many jokers in the bank used to tease him just to get him worked up and listen to his rhetoric.

 

In the mid 80s, he started a small business of making sweets at home in order to make some extra cash.  Muscat was his favorite. His wife helped him in this endeavor.

 

Initially, he approached the young members of the staff  and as a good gesture everyone supported his business by buying his sweetmeats.

 

In order to stop Kamal canvassing, Palitha Costa, with few others ordered a large quantity of his muscat  but when poor Kamal brought the stuff many were absent. Poor Kamal was very disappointed  and took the stuff back home, angrily.

 

The following day, having seen Palitha in the office, he looked sharply at everyone and said, “Gentlemen, from now on if you want muscat from me, you must tell me in advance, honestly, make advance payment.”

 

Wilson worked as a laborer in the 70s

 

Weddings

I was the best man for 3 staff members in my 35 years carrier with the Bank and I am just sharing few interesting incidents that I encountered with FYI.

 

C. Manathunga

P Ponnamperuma

G Samrawickrma 

 

At Chanaka Manathunga’s home coming party Srilal Perera (was a bachelor then), gave the vote of thanks with some advice about married life to the couple.

At the end of his speech BC asked Srilal to recite a poem. Srilal took a deep breath and said, “I can't remember the first3 lines”, and recited the last one only.

 

I saw both Chanka and his bride - Mano were laughing and hiding their faces shyly but the crowd attended really enjoyed SP's poem. (He was gifted by God and sheer inbuilt talent with enormous knowledge in Sinhala)

 

Prasanna Ponnamperuma's wedding photos were taken by Chanaka. After the ceremony was over at the Wattala Church CS started taking some pix of the couple and the attendees.

 

By nature Gamini Samarawickrema (a kind and innocent chap), was a bit of a nervous guy and used to overthink, unnecessarily, for minor issues and feel uncomfortable. His elder brother being an engineer by profession was a jovial guy.

 

Both Prasanna and I promised to come to his Residence at Jawatte in the evening of his wedding day before 3:00pm.

We got prepared by ourselves by 4:00pm as the ceremony at the St Mary's Church was scheduled to be held at 5:00pm. By 4:30pm we got into his wedding car (Me in front, G and P in the rear seat) and proceeding towards the church as it takes only 5-10 minutes to go there.

 

I noticed that Gamini was somewhat uneasy, looking at his watch, sweating a lot in his face, then I asked him “what is wrong with you.”. He said, “No Machan I’m wondering if those people will come on time?”

 

Then Prasanna said that he doesn’t need to worry cos the bride may have already left before us and she will surely

be there on time and we will also get there in a few more minutes.

 

Renovation

When the premises was undergoing structural and cosmetic renovations which were completed in the early 80s we had the comfort of air-conditioning installed by Colombo Commercial Co Ltd. They sent a technician, Richard Malwatte, who was responsible for the complete installation and delivery of the service. During his stay he had a hard time with our Napoleon related workhands and OAs, where some use to bully him a lot on and off, just to make fun of him. Generally he never argued back or confronted anyone but diplomatically evaded such situations.

 

Stephen

Once, while working on a weekend in Forex, after lunch, I went to Accounts with Earl Perera just to enjoy some banter with the jolly gang. By that time Earl had already

taken his usual quota of liquid refreshments from the National.

 

We saw that Stephen Gamage was also after a couple of shots and was relating a story about European history to Faizal and a few others, gathered around him. Faizal was showing great enthusiasm to listen and was encouraging Stephen to tell the whole story about Great Britain.

 

Stephen agreed and started with: “When King George the 5th was in power..... and continued his story for few minutes"

 

The very next moment he was stopped by Earl and said

"Stephen you are completely wrong, I think that happened during King George the 7th period."

 

Stephen stared at Earl and said “Who said that, you know nothing, keep your damn mouth shut ,let me continue , then he started again - So Faizal during the King George 5th regime....... "

 

Earl interfered once again "Now you are misleading these young boys with your nonsense, I did European history at \school, so I am fully aware of the subject; you are bullshitting with false information.” 

 

While enjoying their argument we saw Stephen get up angrily and pointing his forefinger at Earl, say, “Just go

away men without disturbing us from sharing stories about history”

 

He shut the drawer and walked out slowly and looking

angrily at Earl, who was now laughing, said, “Some rambling idiot always has to come and disrupt my story”

 

Earl, then said aloud, “ I’m not from rambling, I’m from Modera”

 

Sigiriya

In the early 80s the Sinhala Literary Society (SLS) organized an excursion to Sigriya. It was one of the best trips that we ever made where the organizers did a splendid job in making it fun filled and enjoyable. Transport, food, drinks were all served to the best quality and the guys behind the organizing were BC, Asoka G, Srilal P, Amitha M. 

 

Five buses were arranged and all staff were invited to join with their families. 

 

Accountant, Mike Burgess, also joined one of the buses, with his camera, and sat in front. As we set off the boys started singing Sinhala songs. Susantha being a good singer took the leadership on singing while Vicky also joined him.

 

We took breakfast somewhere half way through the ride. Lunch was taken at Kurunegala and we reached Sigiriya by 11:30am. Most of the guys were quite high after having indulged into the bottle in the bus.

 

Climbing the rock fortress was quite tough for many in their stage of drunken stupor.

 

We climbed down around 2:00pm. There was a beautiful canal nearby and the guys stripped and jumped in wearing

their underwear only.

 

Then some relaxed and took a nap under some shady trees, some polished a few more bottles, others were inside the bus singing and dancing.

 

Mike was taking pix of the crowd and enjoyed the singing and dancing. Gamage was giving him a lecture on the historical back ground of Sigiriya.

We returned to Colombo around 4:00pm

 

Ronald Fernando in Toronto, Canada

I joined SCB in 1979, and I worked there until 1995.

 

The computer department was located in the center of the

building then. It resembled a fish tank enclosed with glass all around. Everybody around us could see us through the glass.

 

One day, while at work, I went down under the table to take a nap. All of my colleagues knew that from time to time. All of a  sudden, the head of the computer department, Kumar Wickeamarachi, showed up to attend an urgent meeting. I was under the table, and there was no time for me to come out, and he started the meeting without noticing my absence. I was shocked and scared, and so were the others.

 

So, I remained under the table until the meeting was over.

At that time, the staff members in the computer department were Nalaka Ariarathna, Mahinda Perera, Agith Heenatigala, MAC Gamini, Sarath Rajapakse, and Anil de Silva, a few to mention.

 

Another incident was when our computer room was located on the mezzanine floor. One day, when I went to the bathroom, I heard through the window that some workers were carrying on some job just under the window.

Terrance de Silva was one of the caretakers who was supervising with a few helpers. I grabbed a bucket of cold water and poured it out of the window on their heads.

I heard the screams of the guys down there. Mahinda Perera, who was also there with me and assisted me, ran back to the computer room and kept quiet.

 

Later, they were inquiring as to who did that kind of thing but never found out.

 

*

Once I invited a few guys to my place for a meal. We had a few drinks and some chatting and a bit of fun. At the end a few guys went missing. At the rear of my house was the Negombo lake and they were paddling boats that were parked on the shore which belonged to some poor fisherman who lived there.

 

They have moved on

 

Joseph Vitalis Fernando has stated that, “We should not forget the following staff members who died while in service. They genuinely sacrificed their lives to the Bank. Some were silent characters while some never changed their usual style and enjoyed life. Let us get together and wish them May their souls Rest in Peace!”

 

In Memoriam

Tyrone Candappa He was a smart, friendly person, Fair tall with a big moustache, had a little tummy, and one time

our branch Union President, I have heard he had heated arguments with CEO’s over certain union issues on endearing our rights. Had lots of friends/contacts inside and outside, After finishing my work I have participated in many rounds of boozing events in adjoining National Restaurant with his old friends Suby, Eustace, and Gula, I sit with them and sip a Lemonade watching them coming out with old time stories, soft quarrels for nothing, then he takes a taxi and gives me  a lift up to the Thorana junction,  late at night (he always advised saying, “Machan enjoy your life but don't drink too much”), He worked in BP Department suddenly fell sick and passed away in the mid 80s. The entire bank participated at his funeral, The CEO, Ian Bradley, authorized the bank to sponsor luxury coaches to transport the staff to the funeral.

 

George Azariah He was slim and tall man, Good fast bowler, played cricket for Wesley College/Bank, he was given light duties by the Bank due to his poor health condition. He was working in BP department handling signatures of authorized persons for local and correspondent banks.

He had a very good memory for recognizing signatures.

 

Earl Perera Old boy of St Benedict,  Earl was a senior hand, fun maker , entertaining person, smiling always, who was promoted to an officer in the mid 80s. 

 

Mohammed Faizal He joined as a clerical officer in the early 80s, a big made plump sporting a large moustache and had a charming smile. Old Zahirian, His elder brother was a Principal, Once his department staff were invited to his sister’s wedding ceremony held in Gampola.

Heavy smoker, was attached to C/A, Accounts Department, Good efficient worker, It was so sad to mention in 1991 he was promoted to Officer grade, came to collect his appointment letter while on Annual leave from the operations manager, came to see me while I was working in cash department. I held his hand and wished him and he then left the office,  (presumably I happened to be the last person from the Bank to talk to him). After about 15 minutes we were informed that he was in the Hospital. He suffered a heart attack while passing by the Foreign Ministry and passed away.

 

Brian Machado: Brian was a real kind, genuine person, I had a good understanding and close relationship with him. He joined as a teller in the mid 70s and was promoted as an Officer. All-rounder, great sportsman. We  played TT after office till 9pm ending up with a booze. We used to call him brother of famous American actor Charles Bronson as Brian also had similar features.

 

One good quality he displayed was that he never panicked in any emergency or tight situations, never passed pressure on to others.

Whenever there was an issue he first listens to all the

ideas, critics, arguments and then comes out with his own views at the end. He was handling cessation of banking operations at Kiribathgoda Branch as its last Manager in 1995, then took over the clearing department held under CBO. Both of us went on trips and watched many movies together. I heard about his sudden demise from Joy and came down from off Anuradhapura to be at the cemetery one hour before his funeral.

 

Periyapperumage Premadasa: National Officer. One of the greatest gentleman that we have seen in the bank, who was a model icon for youngsters, Everybody loved and respected him and most of our seniors called him “Premey”. His subject knowledge was excellent and he used to advise us to stop wasting time and get our paper qualifications ready to be eligible for promotions. He was in charge of the banks communication, imports/exports department. After retirement, he joined as an Auditor with Sampath Bank.

 

Ronnie De Silva: Thin, tall, fair person, another great all-rounder in sports. Calm and quiet character, did not panic much even in a contingency situation. Jovial and fun lover. Having come to know that I am a crazy wild life fan he gave me a CR book written by his one of his closest relations who has worked as the former Park Warden in Yala.

 

SF Yahiya: Fair, short in height, a Malay gentleman who played soccer for the bank, used to hobble a bit when walking, always had a big smile.

 

Once after a Union meeting he had kicked some wooden

chairs over a heated argument in the staff canteen.

 

Following day, the Accountant has called him and warned him saying “Yehiya, I heard that you are a good football player. But in case if you break my chairs I will recover the damaged balls from your monthly salary.”

 

Rex Cooray: Rex was a very senior hand, held the position of union secretary and also presidents posts for several years.

He was a leftist and believed in creating a fair and socialist society in the country. A close friend of Russel Fernando. He was satisfied with what he gets and was not looking forward to a carrier change. Capable of paving the way to swallow all kinds of dead ropes to anyone without smiling or showing any facial expressions. Once on a heavy rainy day he was keeping a bag full of perforated particles generated by the Telex machine and keeping them for seeking an opportunity in the Banks corridor. One OA has come out from the Bank with his umbrella and was talking to Rex for a while. In that moment somehow he managed to insert that stuff into that OA’s umbrella without his knowledge. The OA unfolded the umbrella while stepping on to the pavement. You may visualize the very next scene what was his situation with the raining condition and blowing wind. Rex passed away in the year 2018 at Kalutara.

 

Sirimevan Ranasinghe: Siri was a fun loving jovial guy, always moving around with a smiling face, but his mind wandering elsewhere.

 

His best partner was Jerome. Planning and settings up all tricky things were done with him.

He used to give Ariyapala chewing gum when Ari does not have any teeth at all. Was working in Clearing, BP, Imports, departments and loved to travel with bank staff. Unfortunately he died under tragic circumstances at his residence.

                                                                                 

Trevor Fernandopulle : Trevor was a senior hand, a kind gentleman with good qualities.

Never seen him shouting at anyone, very methodical and duty conscious person. Once I shouted and threatened a nasty typist in FX for refusing an official duty. Trevor was watching the entire scene and praised me for helping him. He was too careful on his health, used to drink lot of water at once and I have warned him several times to avoid that habit but he did not care me. But after his retirement he was getting treated for kidney failures and died due to its chronic disorder.

 

NAV Gamini : Joined the bank in the early 80s. A very skilled TT player, also played carrom. Jovial friendly kind person, short in height, he had a C-90 bike, and as a result of his height he had experienced many difficult situations controlling his bike in sharp steep places while trying to turn into the main road (when there is a traffic situation) with a pillion rider. He has even left them on the road with the helmet and returned to pick them after a few minutes. I was one of the victims in two such incidents. He was married and living in Kadawatha, was suffering from a cancer and was treated in Apollo hospital Chennai, but he passed away in the mid-90s.