Sarojini Kadurugamuwa is no more. She left us on February 10 as she wished; a mere 6 weeks after she lost her husband, Kaduru, whom she cared for with single-minded devotion. This was after he was diagnosed with a terminal illness over a decade ago. We, who mourn her loss, are left with the fragrant memory of a beautiful life well-lived, in selfless service to those she loved.
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Sarojini Kadurugamuwa
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Sarojini was beautiful. Her face, like the legendary Helen of Troy, could launch a thousand ships. She coupled that face with a powerful intellect and a sharp and incisive mind. Yet, she was incapable of arrogance. Sarojini accepted her physical and intellectual attributes with the same humility, generosity of spirit and self-deprecating humour with which she lived her life. She reached out to all, even to the rare few who may have wished her ill.
Sarojini’s father, Mr. T. B. Subasinghe, a man of unquestionable integrity, was a gentleman politician of a by-gone era who lived by his principles. Sarojini was very close to her only sibling, her beautiful, talented, older sister, Swinee. Theirs was a home in which they imbibed sound values and a love of Sri Lankan history and culture from both parents. Having grown up in an intellectual political environment, Sarojini was always interested in politics and governments. She enjoyed discussion and debate on the same. She provided interesting insights and clear, unbiased opinions. An avid reader and deep thinker, she would despair over the wrongs she saw taking place in our own Sri Lanka and in the world we live in. Yet, she never judged harshly. She always sought to try and understand the other point of view, searching for reasons why individuals, groups, societies, governments and leaders acted the way they did, to the detriment of their own people and humanity at large.
I had met Sarojini socially in our formative years, through mutual friends. Both of us studied at two leading girls’ schools in Colombo. However, it was only after I joined the Central Bank in 1983 that I got to know her well. We worked especially closely when she was Director, Legal Department and I was Director, Bank Supervision Department, almost 25 years ago. Having an entirely mathematical academic background, I had to learn from scratch to interpret the law, especially as applicable to the banking and financial system. I could not have asked for a better mentor.
Throughout my professional career, I have read, listened, questioned and concluded that many in the legal profession hide their limited understanding of other subjects and their inability to interpret the law in the context of those subjects, by resorting to confounding legal language which no non-lawyer can be expected to understand easily! Sarojini was different. She could dissect and analyse the facts about any subject and interpret the relevant law within that context. She would convey the same in simple non-legal jargon, for the layperson to be able to understand. She never made the listener feel inadequate, however junior or senior the officer she was working with. Those facets of her personality made her loved and respected by her superiors, peers and subordinates, within the Central Bank and in the legal and financial professions.
She was also a very wise and mature friend, whose advice I valued greatly. She taught me to recognise and accept the shades of grey in my naïve black and white world view. When I went into battle in the Central Bank, usually with my superiors, including the Governor, on what I considered a matter of principle, she would gently get me to back off, making me realise that one needed to prioritise one’s battles, choosing the really important ones and letting the insignificant ones go, rather than fight them all.
On rare occasions in retirement when she would put pen to paper, her articles were excellent reads. I tried to get her to write more, but she replied “Thanks for all your encouragement. But you really wouldn’t want me to write-I do it only when things get unbearable!” I would get her to review myown presentations and articles prior to finalisation. She was very encouraging of my efforts to try and raise public awareness on socio-economic issues and always found the time to provide constructive criticism, however busy she was.
Sarojini also took a great interest in Sri Lanka’s performing arts, both dance and drama, and in our country’s history and archaeology. These interests she shared with Kaduru. As a schoolgirl, she had trained under the legendary Vajira, and went onto perform with the Chitrasena Dance Company until 1985. Later, she and Kaduru supported the establishment of the Chitrasena Foundation and continued to support their work throughout their lives. She also supported Kaduru’s efforts, with Dr. Roland de Silva, former Commissioner of Archaeology, Mr. Kanageesvaran, President’s Counsel, and others, to establish the National Trust of Sri Lanka. She and Kaduru loved to visit their “Watte” in Ingiriya, to indulge in another mutual interest, agriculture and landscaping. She followed Sinhala theatre avidly. Our co-Central Banker, the immensely talented Asoka Handagama, launched a new production at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on 31st January this year.With many of us in the audience, Sarojini was a notable absentee.
Sarojini and Kaduru were a couple who loved their close-knit families. They found great joy in their only daughter Anuradhi, her husband, Chamilal, and their two sons. From all I have heard, Sarojini and Kaduru were the pivot and organisers of most extended family get-togethers. Through her many varied interests and her love of people, Sarojini had a wide circle of family and friends. She remained close to all, never neglecting one individual or group for another.
Sarojini accepted her physical and intellectual attributes with the same humility
I was one of such a group of 5 Central Bankers who retired within a few years of each other. In retirement, we would meet regularly for lunch, to reminisce,exchange a bit of gossip, laugh, discuss a new book, film or play, and analyse the country’s and the world’s problems over our meal. As Kaduru got weaker, we were no longer able to meet regularly.
When Kaduru passed away at end-2022, I optimistically hoped that we, her friends and family, could help Sarojini build a life without Kaduru, around her many interests. No one knew that she had kept her own seriously deteriorating health condition hidden from all, in her single-minded determination to nurse Kaduru to the end. By then, it was too late. Sarojini was disillusioned with a country and a world increasingly controlled by lust for power, position and wealth, rather than concern for people and the environment. With Kaduru gone, she was ready to move beyond this world. I believe that all who knew and loved her, including Anuradhi, Chamilal and Swinee, respected her decision. And so, she drifted away from us, gently and peacefully.
I have lost my friend and one of the most multi-faceted, unpretentious and humane individuals it was my privilege to have known. We, who knew her, are all the poorer for it. I will miss her radiant smile, her wisdom and her infectious laugh, but I remain forever grateful for many precious memories of her. May she rest in peace.
Anila Dias Bandaranaike
