by Vineetha Gunasekera Forty five years ago, in May, Sir Lalita passed away at his residence in Horton Place Colombo 7, a property inherited from his mother’s mother, who built and presented to the Sasana, Abeysingharamaya (Kolonnawa). Born in 1900,under a lucky star, in Galmangoda Maha Walauwa to an “old family” rooted in the South, he was a direct descendant of Maha Mudaliyar Louis de Zoysa, the famous scholar who deciphered ancient rock inscriptions. Sir Lalita was an Anandian as a child, and developed in to a well rounded student at St Joseph’s College, Darley Rd. when Fr Le Goc was Rector. He excelled both in studies and sports, playing cricket for the College and winning most of the athletic events. It was here that the foreign Rev Fathers inculcated in him to attain every goal he set himself, with perseverance and energy.