Fr. Tissa Balasuriya passes away

17 January 2013 07:10 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 21 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Founder of the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR), economist and well known human rights activist Father Tissa Balasuriya passed away this morning.

For several decades Fr. Bala, who was a highly qualified economist, had played a powerful prophetic role to bring about social justice and an equitable distribution wealth and resources among all people of all races and religions. It was with this intention that he set up the four-storey CSR at the Fatima Church premises in Deans Road to coordinate inter-religious and inter racial action for justice, freedom and lasting peace.

One of the best known and most respected oblates in Sri Lanka, the 89-year-old Fr. Bala in keeping with his vow of poverty donated even his 80-acre ancestral property and home at Andi Ambalama to the congregation. Till his last days when he was unable to walk, Fr. Bala was to known to travel by bus to Andi Ambalama and walked to the OMI farm and retreat house there.

Silently but powerfully, he played a major role in promoting not only social justice but also religious and racial harmony.

The body of Fr. Balasuriya was taken to the OMI headquarters at St. De Mazanod House in Mattakkuliya yesterday and will be brought to the CSR today for people to pay their respects. The funeral will take place tomorrow at the General Cemetery Kanatte after a Holy Mass at 3.00 p.m. at the Fatima Church.
May he rest in peace.

Comments - 21

Damian Thursday, 17 January 2013 10:51 AM

May the Good Lord grant, my former teacher/Director at Aquinas University College (1970-70), with whose able guidance we learnt to live fruitful lives among citizens from many nationalities, etnic and national origins making useful contributions not only to motherlanka but to the world at large the way that pleases God! We offer our prayers for you
you may unite with the Lord in Heavan as you led a life like that of a Saint and as one past student, at Aquinas, Mr S.J Gunasekera, who studied for his LLB and the then President of the Student Union (brother of Mr S.L Gunasekera) referred to you, at a meeting, Fr Balasooriya, an Interlectual Giant", when he granted students request to have one common room for both girls and boys, when Aquinas had two seperate common rooms for girls and boys unitil 1970. Breaking barriers that existed in the way to equality was Fr Bals passion! We love you and miss you Rev. Fr..Our sumpathies from this distant land..RIP

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Johnpaul Friday, 18 January 2013 01:39 PM

May his soul Rest In Peace.

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Shirley Siriwardena Friday, 18 January 2013 10:07 AM

It was with great sadness I received the news of the death of my beloved friend and great theologian Fr Tissa Balasuriya OMI.

Fr Balasuriya was a great theologian and a scriptural scholar, whose insight revolutionised our thinking. He suffered at the hands of the Vatican being ex-communicated from the Roman Catholic Church for a short period, aided by certain members of the present hierarchy for his excellent book "Mary and Human Liberation" based on Mary's prayer "Magnificat."

He believed in what he preached and preached what he believed and lived his life accordingly. Thomas Merton, that great Cistercian Monk said that, "it is easy to say that I know Christ but very difficult to follow Christ." Fr Balasuriya was a priest of the people who knew Christ followed Christ to the end.

May the Lord grant him Eternal Rest.

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mohideen Friday, 18 January 2013 06:45 AM

A great visionary with no bias towards anybody but the welfare of mankind as his ultimate goal.

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mohan Friday, 18 January 2013 03:31 AM

RIP.........................

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Antony Jayamanne Friday, 18 January 2013 02:56 AM

He was a prophet of our time. May his live among us inspire us to work justice and truth. May his soul rest in peace. Antony

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sach Friday, 18 January 2013 02:47 AM

many religous leaders in the country has a lot to learn from him!

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Dass Friday, 18 January 2013 01:48 AM

May your soul rest in peace !

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M Kuruparan Friday, 18 January 2013 01:36 AM

May His soul Rest In Peace.

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rimza Thursday, 17 January 2013 02:38 PM

Being a Muslim student in the 70s at Aquinas did not deter me from benefitting from the largesse of Fr Tisssa Balasuriya.. Such was his magnanimity to humankind and today, I salute him silently.

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Ranil Thursday, 17 January 2013 11:32 AM

St. Peter is the blessed one to receive fr. Balasuriya

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Jerad Thursday, 17 January 2013 07:36 AM

RIP

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Mithra Thursday, 17 January 2013 10:21 AM

A great Catholic priest who silently fought against injustice from his own superiors and said ..............

""I commit the few remaining days also of my
life.
For the Church to be ever more Jesus-like, united,
prophetic, just ~d lovable,
to work for the development of Christian theology in
relation to global and local justice, our Asian situation in
these times, ,
to try to safeguard human dignity, gender justice and due
freedom and rights of all.
for the honour and better understanding of Mary, the
fearless mother of Jesus and our mother, who supportively
and courageously co-suffered with her son Jesus"",

May you rest in peace!

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Observer Thursday, 17 January 2013 10:15 AM

May his soul rest in peace. Your voice will be always lingering in our memories.

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Shanthi.. Thursday, 17 January 2013 09:20 AM

Your Pen & Voice will be ETERNAL !
Come Again to this Abandoned Land - Before.... Heaven...!

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jayantha silva Thursday, 17 January 2013 09:20 AM

A great Sri Lankan. RIP.

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Lihana Thursday, 17 January 2013 09:09 AM

mercy mercy him.

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Saliya Wickremasuriy Thursday, 17 January 2013 08:25 AM

R.I.P. Reverend Sir.

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hmm Thursday, 17 January 2013 08:13 AM

Rest in Peace Father. May god grant you eternal bliss.

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Tony Fernando Thursday, 17 January 2013 07:51 AM

All the valued services which you did will ever be remembered by all of us. May you rest in peace with Jesus.

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Achari Thursday, 17 January 2013 07:37 AM

May His soul Rest In Peace ,

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