DENZIL S . J. DE ALWIS - AN APPRECIATION A Great Valuer who will be missed and remembered always

It was in October last year, I with two other Valuers visited Denzil at his Dehiwela residence on hearing that he was not too well. Having spent some time there with reminiscences of our long association we bade him good bye and left. We did not realise then that we were never to meet again. Almost three months have passed now since Denzil departed from us forever. It is with a heavy heart then that I pen below, in honour of his memory, some of the incidents we recalled at our visit.

I had to work closely with Denzil for the first time in 1971 when we were directed by the Finance Ministry to compile a Manual or Technical Handbook outlining the Departmental valuation procedure. Here Denzil contributed immensely to the task with his intricate knowledge and long experience in the field operations involved in the valuation exercise.      Then again in early 1976, Denzil came to the rescue of the Department when we were directed by the Government to complete all the valuation work involved with acquisitions for the widening and improvement of Colombo– Katunayake Road in time for the Non-aligned Summit scheduled for August that year. He was placed in charge of the team of officers assigned to cover the longest sector of the road and he completed the work in time by working 24/7 continuously for about four months. No doubt he was highly pleased to receive the letter of commendation for his efforts from the Office of the Prime Minister.  

Denzil’s contributions in training new recruits in fieldwork involved in valuations for the assessment tax of local authorities, went a long way in producing a set of highly competent Valuers for the Department.  He was able to instil in the officers in his own unique way the importance of maintaining correct and neat field records. Not even a single coconut tree  can go uncounted was his dictum, as these records were not only used for Departmental  purposes, but also
  the Courts too invariably  depend on these records to resolve issues that may  arise  in litigations.

Another instance where Denzil proved his mettle arose when we had to clear more than 600 files related to properties in the Southern Province which had accumulated over a long time due to some reason or other.   He organised a special arrangement which we aptly labelled     as a ‘Crash Programme’ to attend to all the work involved in the valuation process. The most important prerequisite for finalising a valuation was the field inspections. As the Department did not have vehicles for this purpose at the time, we had to depend on the Government Agents to provide the necessary transport facilities. For this purpose we had to arrange well in time for the release of some of those ubiquitous Willys Jeeps attached to the Kachcheris [which are now known as District Secretariats]. This was at a time when Direct Dialling and Mobile Phones were unheard of. We had to make a reservation at the CTO on Official Priority   basis and wait for the call to come through. It will take two to three hours, if you are lucky at all, to get through to the Kachcheri.   Denzil with his methodical programming and the close rapport he had cultivated with all the relevant persons at the Kachcheri level from Government Agent, his Deputies down to   Jeep Drivers, managed to get the Jeeps released on time to cover all the locations in Galle, Matara and Hambantota Districts. We successfully cleared all the files within three months. Denzil and his team of officers received many accolades on this achievement from the three Government Agents, and even from the Finance Ministry.  I always noticed a gleam in the eyes of Denzil whenever he used to describe this story to young officers at various gatherings.            

It is not only the professional acumen and expertise of Denzil outlined above, that led me to cultivate a close bond with Denzil. The most towering qualities I saw in him were the integrity, honesty and his cultured lifestyle.

Even after his retirement from the public service he continued to serve the valuation profession as a Council Member of our Institute for a very long period until early last year when he was compelled to resign due to failing health.  His contributions at the Council Meetings were very valuable and helpful as he could view some issues with his mature intellect from a different perspective which our younger minds failed to see. His analysis of and decision on any issue were never myopic.   He also   was   very alert and our Treasurer, I believe, was on toes when Denzil went through microscopically the Monthly Financial Statements tabled before the Council.
 I also feel a deep debt of gratitude for the care and attention he paid for my safety and well being whenever we had to travel together on numerous occasions on official duty. One event remains etched   in my mind which occurred during our visit to a remote village in the fringe of a forest in Hambantota District, known by the rather intriguing name of Thuppahigama. By the time we reached the village in a Jeep released for the purpose by Hambantota GA, it was dusk and we had to camp in the open, outside the Grama Niladari’s cottage for the night. At the first light next day we ventured into the forest to reach the land we had to inspect by trekking   in Indian file through the high bush.  The Grama Niladari was leading and I followed suit. Denzil with the two officers from the Kachcheri and our Jeep Driver were following a few yards behind us.  After an hour or so of our journey, the Grama Niladari suddenly stopped and shouted asking us to take extreme care as we were now entering a stretch where trap guns set by villagers for wild boar are common.  At this, Denzil came running to me and insisted that I should fall back a few yards behind, allowing him to lead the way.  I was highly moved by his valour and dedication to save me from an untoward accident which, no doubt, could have resulted in disastrous    consequences.  

His children and family can overcome to some extent the grief on losing him, by the conviction that Denzil served God well through his exemplary life of not harming anyone, helping all who needed his help and his commitment to his chosen profession.

We of the valuation fraternity salute Denzil for the honesty and integrity displayed by him throughout his career and for striving to build these qualities into the young Valuers as well. Meanwhile, I will continue to cherish fond memories of my long association with Denzil that was based on mutual respect, admiration and love.  

- S. N. WIJEPALA ( President –Institute of  Valuers  of  Sri  Lanka /  former Chief Govt. Valuer)