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100 years is a time period of significance. In the last century people have seen world war, slavery, colonialism, apartheid, nuclear bombs invented and used, the emergence of technology, mobile phones, the internet, and most recently a global pandemic that shuttered the world and will soon have claimed the lives of over 2 million people in the last year alone.
The world has changed so much in the last century, and few people have been lucky enough to bear witness to this transformation with a sound mind. One of these fortunate individuals was my grandmother, Viola Welikala. Her elegant soul made it to the age of 100, made it through the tumultuous year 2020, and peacefully departed this world on January 1, 2021. Through the century that was her life, her mind was as sharp as a nail, and she took in all that life had to offer. It was this way right up to the last few days of her life.
The new year greetings of hope for 2021 were marred by the news that ‘Master’ Weerasingham, an English teacher of excellent repute at Royal College who subsequently settled in Canberra had passed away at age 92
Tiddy Wijeratne, Don Abey, Beryl Dias Abeysinghe (widow of a former High Commissioner) and ‘Master’, as he was fondly referred to, were the Canberra senior seniors who graced all our Mission functions regularly despite being handicapped by mobility issues that are normal for those beyond four score and ten.
They graciously lit the Lamp to celebrate events and their blessings stayed with us throughout the year.