Mr. Lakshman Balasuriya – Not Just My Boss, but a Father and a Brother

It is with profound sadness that we received the shocking news of the untimely passing of our dear leader, Mr. Lakshman Balasuriya.  
I first met Mr. Lakshman Balasuriya in 1988 while working at John Keells, which had been awarded an IT contract to computerize Senkadagala Finance. Thereafter, in 1992, I joined the E. W. Balasuriya Group of Companies and Senkadagala Finance when the organization decided to bring its computerization in-house.  
Mr. Lakshman Balasuriya obtained his BSc from the University of London and his MSc from the University of Lancaster. He was not only intellectually brilliant, but also a highly practical and pragmatic individual, often sitting beside me to share instructions and ideas, which I would then translate directly into the software through code.  
My first major assignment was to computerize the printing press. At the time, the systems in place were outdated, and modernization was a challenging task. However, with the guidance, strong support, and decisive leadership of Mr. Lakshman Balasuriya, we were able to successfully transform the printing press into a modern, state-of-the-art operation.  
Mr. Lakshman Balasuriya was a farsighted visionary who understood the value and impact of information technology well ahead of his time. He possessed a deep knowledge of the subject, which was rare during those early years. For instance, in the 1990s, he engaged a Canadian consultant to conduct a cybersecurity audit—an extraordinary initiative at a time when cybersecurity was scarcely spoken of and far from mainstream.  
During that period, Senkadagala Finance’s head office was based in Kandy, with no branch network. When the decision was made to open the first branch in Colombo, our IT team faced the challenge of adapting the software to support branch operations. It was Mr. Lakshman Balasuriya who proposed the innovative idea of creating logical branches—a concept well ahead of its time in IT thinking. This simple yet powerful idea enabled the company to expand rapidly, allowing branches to be added seamlessly to the system. Today, after many upgrades and continuous modernization, Senkadagala Finance operates over 400 locations across the country with real-time online connectivity—a testament to his original vision.  
In September 2013, we faced a critical challenge with a key system that required the development of an entirely new solution. A proof of concept was prepared and reviewed by Mr. Lakshman Balasuriya, who gave the green light to proceed. During the development phase, he remained deeply involved, offering ideas, insights, and constructive feedback. Within just four months, the system was successfully developed and went live—another example of his hands-on leadership and unwavering support for innovation.  
These are only a few examples among many of the IT initiatives that were encouraged, supported, and championed by Mr. Lakshman Balasuriya. Information technology has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of the E. W. Balasuriya Group of Companies, including Senkadagala Finance PLC, and much of that credit belongs to his foresight, trust, and leadership.  
On a deeply personal note, I was not only a witness to, but also a recipient of, the kindness, humility, and humanity of Mr. Lakshman Balasuriya. There were occasions when I lost my temper and made unreasonable demands, yet he always responded with firmness tempered by gentleness. He never lost his own composure, nor did he ever hold grudges. He had the rare ability to recognize people’s shortcomings and genuinely tried to guide them toward self-improvement.  
He was not merely our boss. To many of us, he was like a father and a brother.  
I will miss him immensely. His passing has left a void that can never be filled. Of all the people I have known in my life, Mr. Lakshman Balasuriya stands apart as one of the finest human beings.   
He leaves behind his beloved wife, Madam Janine, his children Amanthi and Keshav, and his four grandchildren.  
May he rest in eternal peace.  
Timothy De Silva  
(The author is the Information Systems Officer at Senkadagala Finance.)