Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Training Centre

Centre de Formation en Hôtellerie, Tourisme et Loisirs

Vanuatu Institute of Technology

  Uncle Deryck

It is with sadness I received the news of the death of uncle Deryck. I have known him all my life and to me he was, Uncle, Friend, Mentor and Hero. His values in life and his impeccable honesty is something that most people today sadly lack.

He was born at Pahala Waluwa Matale to Mr L. B Aluwiahre and Mrs Julia Nuwerawewa Parangama Aluwhare Kumarihamy. Deryck was their youngest Son

 His Grand Father was the Disawa for the Matale district during the British occupation of our Island.

 Deryck was educated at Trinity College where he excelled in his studies and later graduated with Honors from the University of Colombo.

He Joined the Ceylon civil service and he held very high offices, in the public service of Sri Lanka.

Aunty Rani his wife was kindness in its self, and during the time I was attached to the Ceylon Hotel School, I was with them and it was home away from home. The values and principles that Uncle Deryck has instilled in me, has enabled me to face life, with a philosophy that is practiced in both Buddhism and Christianity.

 To have courage Love and compassion on all things

.To be honorable in ones dealings, have a practical approach to life, are some of the many traits that I have tried to emulate from him.

Uncle Dep was not a good driving instructor, I remember the time he decided to check my driving skills, and he was so nervous at my driving that I too forgot all what I had to do on the what at that time was busy Galle Road.

 Uncle Deryck held many very high positions in the Civil Service, but never a political cringer, and as such enjoyed the respect of all ruling parties of the time, but not their favored Son status.

One of the greatest acts of bravery displayed by this Son of the Soil was in Anuradhapura. It was 1958 and he was the government agent of the Anuradhapura district, there was rioting, to maintain law and order that night he walked the main street of this ancient city holding only a stick for protection.

 Many a Tamil family owed their lives to this man who had no racial preferences, all he had was what was right and what was wrong.

 I have seen this stick which has a silver plaque and the words to a brave person who saved many lives, presented by the Ceylon Army. He is mentioned in the book emergency 58 by Tarzie Vittachie.

Uncle Deryck was never popular with people who bent the laws of the land to line their pockets.

I remember many a time Uncle Deryck relating his early childhood in Aluwihare, Today these stories would have made the charts in a movie or a novel .He was a great story teller, and loved to relate war stories. 

He knew so many branches of this very old Kandyan family. My Mother Julie is the only surviving member of his family of three boys and seven girls. Uncle Deryck retired and followed his daughter Neila to settle down in Auckland New Zealand, where he spent a useful retired life, delivering talks to social groups on Sri Lanka.\

Having been born to a very staunch Buddhist Family, but having been converted to Christianity at Trinity he had a unique blend of two religions and he lived by their teachings.

I used to visit him in Auckland, and their home was warm, filled with goodness and Love.

To Aunty Ri, Neila, Lucky, Chantal and Arjan, I mourn with you the loss,

I celebrate with you his life, and I strive to live by his principles.

It’s Hard to break the chords of Love that bind our hearts.

Rohan de Silva Jayasundera

Port Vila

Vanuatu.