Mrs Susila Samaranayaka’s birth century fell on June 10 A century of grace remembered

A tribute to Susila Samaranayake’s enduring legacy of compassion, service, and devotion on her 100th birth anniversary

June 10, 2025 marks the 100th birth anniversary of our beloved mother Mrs Susila Gunadari Samaranayake. Our devoted Ammi, was born on 10th of June 1925 and passed away on 11th of March 1997 after a brief illness at the age of 72.   
Her death created a tremendous void in our lives especially because both our beloved parents passed away within the short span of one year. She was the daughter of Mrs Beatrice Suraweera & Mr W. H. W. Perera, Proctor and Founder Member of the Ceylon Temperance Association, founded in 1912. She was the youngest amongst five siblings, preceded by Keerthi, Somie, Dully and Nanda.   
Ammi was indeed the embodiment of love, kindness, simplicity and generosity. She was a true practicing Buddhist whose prime aim was service to the less fortunate and to this service she devoted over forty-five years of her life.   
Her sphere of involvement spanned a multitude of organizations and activities.   
As a young mother she responded to a notice in the Daily News and enlisted herself as a volunteer at the Ceylon Red Cross Society. The activities of the society as that time included visiting homes of the needy, providing tea to patients seeking treatment at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital and the Orthopaedic Clinic and providing a library service for patients at the Colombo General Hospital.   
In all of these activities Ammi was a willing worker. My sister Manthri and I had our introduction to social service then as we would spend Saturday morning with her doing work for the Red Cross Society.   
Around this time, the Lanka Mahila Samithi attracted Ammi’s attention. Under the guidance of eminent ladies like Mrs F. B. de Mel and Mrs Violet Rajapakse, she often travelled to rural areas and taught women the basic of hygiene, cooking and house-keeping. Once again, we joined Ammi at weekends.   
A few years later Ammi had the good fortune to be influenced by another great lady, Mrs C. H. Gunasekera. I recall vividly the first time that we visited Vihara Maha Devi Childrens’ Home Biyagama, maintained by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress with Mrs C. H. Gunasekera.   
It was on a Saturday morning nearly sixty five years ago. The children thought that Akka and I were two new recruits to their ranks! That introductory visit culminated in a lifelong commitment of service to the Home. Initially as Honorary Secretary and later as President, Ammi served the Home for over three decades.   
At the Vihara Maha Devi Childrens’ Home or any other institution which she served, Ammi was not a mere nominal holder of office. She was a mother to all the children numbering nearly 150.   
With the help of a dedicated staff she saw to their complete upbringing both materially and spiritually. The Home came to be known as one of the best run childrens’ homes in the country.   
Her concern extended to obtaining employment for the girls and even organizing their weddings thus becoming a grandmother as well to their offspring.   
Ammi had a long association with the Mallika Niwas Samithiya, serving a year as president too of this organization which manages the Mallika Home for Elderly Ladies and the Sneha Home for Infants in Bambalapitiya and the Parakrama Home for Boys in Kandana. She was a special friend of the elderly ladies visiting them almost daily during her period as President.   
As the Vice-President of the All Ceylon Buddhist Women’s Congress she concentrated on the Sandya Home for the elderly striving to bring comfort and happiness to the ladies there by arranging picnics, magic shows, pilgrimages and the like.   
One of her last acts was a programme to commemorate ‘Elders Week’ which ended with a pilgrimage to Attanaglla Raja Maha Vihare.   
This was just before she entered hospital for surgery. Believing firmly in handing responsibility to younger persons she handed over her work in time to those she thought were capable and dedicated workers. In spite of her varied activities outside our home, Ammi was foremost a dutiful wife and a loving and caring mother who was always at home when needed. She received enormous encouragement to carry out her social service from Thathi. She looked after her mother and her mother-in-law who lived in our home for many years, both of them receiving her love, care and attention in equal measure.   
It was our mother who encouraged us to participate in activities outside our studies. She had a remarkable talent for knitting and crocheting and knitted for us and even our children the most beautiful socks.   
She prided herself on her ability to do intricate work and knitting and darning were her forte. Being very keen that we learn to make our own clothes she sent us to dress making classes between our O/Level and A/Level examinations.   
She was a livewire at social gatherings of friends and relations – always eager for a sing song and laughter. Our mother gave leadership in to organizing extended family outings annually, which were eagerly awaited and enjoyed by the 3 generations interacting together.   
 No one who came to her for help was ever sent away without assistance rendered, problems solved and a meal provided. Her care and kindness covered her extended family, her girls and elderly ladies, and anyone else in need and animals.   
A keen animal lover she was a member of “Gal Gava Mithuro” – Friends of the Cart Bull. Many a time she would get Thathi to stop the car when they were travelling so that she could plead with a carter being unkind to a bull or to request that a bull foaming at the mouth be given water. She readily found places for aged bulls to spend their last days without torment.   
At the time of her death Ammi was President of the International Children’s Village, Rambukkana for the expansion of which she had great plans. She was strong willed and courageous and never let her illness gets the better of her. She passed away peacefully after the chanting of pirith by monks from a temple in our neighbourhood.   
Our beloved mother taught us many lessons, the foremost of which were simplicity, kindness and service to others. She was indeed a remarkable lady. Dearest Ammi, may your journey through Sansara continue to be rewarding and may you finally attain the supreme Bliss of Nibbana.   
Anula Wijesundere (nee Samaranayake)
Hemanatha Samaranayake