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Remembering Ajith C.S. Perera, a man for all seasons 

28 Feb 2022

  • Beloved son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, and friend to many
BY Sidath Perera   Dear Ajith,   You are physically no more amongst us, but live in the memory of many. What you did in 68 years of life was multidimensional and immense, a rare feat indeed which I will expand upon as I go on.  What shocked all who knew you, was the end to a very successful professional life at 40 years of age, brought to an end by the falling of a wayside tree on the car you were travelling, killing your chauffeur and making you a paraplegic. This was a shock to your family and to all those who knew you.  The story of life did not end there, but it was a new beginning. It showed the heart of a very brave and courageous man who refused to be put down, despite being confined to a wheelchair. You formed a non-profit organisation called “Idiriya”, to help those like yourself with restricted abilities. You fought for your rights and others in similar situations and even went to Court and after much effort, won the rights in the Court.  Let me go through the memory lane of your wonderful life that tragedy could not stop. Ajith was the son of the Founder and first Commandant of the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee and the first Director of Naval Training of the Royal Ceylon Navy who later became the Nautical Instructor in the Ceylon Shipping Corporation (training Deck Officer Cadets), late Commodore M.G.S. Perera, and of the late Maureen Johanna Perera, a great wife, mother and friend to all. His sister, Deepthi Guneratne, Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) (Botany) and Master of Science (Soil Chemistry), also contributed much to the ladies’ world of cricket, serving in many dimensions of the game. Ajith was born on 24 February 1952, and passed away on 29 October 2020. The time in between was very well used for himself and the society at large. He began his education at Royal College, Colombo, and entered the University of Colombo in 1972, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975. In 1978, he obtained a Master of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry, one of the first students to register for what was then a brand new Master’s degree programme in Colombo. Ajith was a Chartered Chemist by profession and a registered Analytical Chemist of the Royal Society of Chemists (RSC) in the UK. He became a Fellow of the RSC (FRSC), and was an Honorary Life Member. Between 1984 and 1992, he held the post of the Secretary/Treasurer of the Sri Lankan section of the RSC. Ajith was also a Life Member and Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon (FIChemC) and a Fellow of the Institute of Quality Assurance, UK (FIQA).  Despite having only a general degree, Ajith started his professional life as a tutor in the Mathematics Department at the University of Colombo, and in 1978, started as an Assistant Lecturer in the university’s Chemistry Department. His work thereafter in the multinational pharmaceutical manufacturing industry extended for almost 14 years. His places of work included Glaxo Ceylon Ltd. as a Production Executive, Mackwoods Winthrop Ltd. as a Senior Manager in charge of quality assurance, and finally he moved on to the cosmetics and healthcare industry with Hemas Manufacturing Ltd. in 1992 as Director and Senior Manager of Quality Assurance and Product Development. It was only after 14 weeks of service there that he met with this road accident leaving him a paraplegic for life at the age of 40 and putting an end to his professional career that had just begun to blossom.  His cricket career extended to being a former Test match panel umpire. He was at one time or another, a player, umpire, scorer, training instructor and examiner on its laws, an administrator, writer, author, and even an activist promoting accessible facilities for all in cricket stadia. In 1975, whilst still an undergraduate, Ajith qualified to be a cricket umpire. He is the only Test match panel umpire that Royal College and the University of Colombo produced.  Ajith became the first Sri Lankan to be accepted and recognised by the international body, the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (ACU&S), England, as a registered overseas instructor. He became a full member of the ACU&S in October 1985, a full member scorer in 1987 and an advanced level scorer in 1990 of the above association. Ajith also had the opportunity to umpire two four day, second 11 cricket matches in England in Lancashire County, and several one day games of the Lancashire Schools’ Cricket Association. At the age of 40, on 10 November 1992, he made his way to the panel of six Grade One senior umpires of Sri Lanka Cricket. Ajith was appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka and was assigned as the field umpire for the first test match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, in November 1992. Ten days before the test match, the accident took 17 years of his hard work, sacrifices and dreams, but that was not the end of his journey. After the accident, Ajith was the recipient (1999) of the Star of Asia award for excellence in sports. In 2007, he was amongst the five cricket scorers, recognised and honoured for his untiring and admirable services rendered to this aspect of the game. He also authored two very valuable books on cricket, The Golden Era of Sri Lankan Cricket and Thinking Cricket, his magnum opus on Sri Lankan cricket.  After the accident, Ajith went through some time reorganising his mind and body. He realised how little was provided for basic amenities for the disabled in Sri Lanka. He became a lobbyist for the disabled and realised that it would be more powerful if he represented an organisation. Thus “Idiriya”, a non-profit organisation was born in 1995. Its members were his close friends and family. My father, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Prof. Wilfred Perera was also a member. Ajith was the Secretary General of “Idiriya” from its inception, and in that capacity did all the work: fundraising, organising press conferences, and lobbying ministries, banks, hotels, etc. He worked ardently for the rights of the differently-abled people like him, filing cases before the Supreme Court to gain access to architectural buildings and easy access to washroom facilities. Ajith worked hard and gave everything he was capable of doing to make his dream and vision a possibility and that was much needed. I used to be in touch with him during this period and life was not easy for him, being bound to a wheelchair. He always attended family functions, including my daughter, Dr. Tehasha’s wedding, wearing his wonderful smile as usual and having the ability to be a great conversationalist. Ajith even contested the National Elections to the Parliament as an independent candidate, to bring about his learned vision and dreams for mother Lanka. His hard work brought him no honour or monetary gains. He worked tirelessly to his end, and his work would have been greatly appreciated in another land.  Your work is not over cousin, and now you are at rest from the great work done for a disabled society at large, and the world of cricket. I bid you farewell, my dear friend and cousin. It is very rare to see folks like you, who work with such courage and bravery amidst all odds. The books that you brought your vision to would always have a place amongst interested readers. May you attain the supreme bliss of nirvana.  These thoughts were penned for readers to know some aspects of your “golden life”. (The writer is a friend and cousin of the late Dr. Ajith Chrysantha Stephen Perera, and an artist) …………………….  The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication.


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