Autobiography of the Founder - Shantha de Silva

1st October 2020

• Born in 1955 at Walpola Matara

• Born to the parents from Galle - Habaraduwa  and Matara - Kadawadduwa - Mr. Thilak de Silva and Mrs. Kusuma de Silva (nee Ranathunga)

• I have 3 brothers and no sisters

• I am the third in the family

• The three brothers are Themiya, Thusantha and Piyal

• My Father was an Estate Superintendent and Mother was a good House Wife

• There are 10 Family Members in Father's family and 6 in Mother's Family

• Father's Father was a Village Headman and a Proprietary Planter who owned several tea and rubber properties in Habaraduwa and Akuressa

• Father's Mother was a House Wife

• Mother's Father was a School Principle of a Government School in Yatiyana - Kadawadduwa

• Mother's Mother was a House Wife

• Father's brothers were a Skin Specialist, a Motor car Examiner, Agricultural Officer, etc.

• Father's Sisters were House Wives

• Mother's two brothers were an Electrical Engineer and an Estate Superintendent

• Mother's 4 Sisters were Trained Teachers, House Wives and a Secretary at a Ministry

Mother's Ancestral House at Kadawadduwa - Matara 

Father's Ancestral House at Habaraduwa - Galle

My Father's youngest sister is revealing about the family history in the following videos

My Childhood

• I was born on 12th June 1955, when my father was the Estate Superintendent at St. Francis Estate - Bulathsinhala

• My Father was a Proprietary Planter too at Habaraduwa

• My childhood was spent mostly in the estate while I was looked after by a maid named Jane
  
  

My Parents

• My Father and Mother were loving, friendly and used to play cricket, badminton, table tennis with all four of us

• They were the best friends of me. They have never scolded nor hit me for any reason and were full of advice for my future betterment.

• They provided us with almost everything that we needed and I have no words how to thank and gratitude them 

• My father owned a Peugeot 403 which had been bought brand new for Rs. 11,000/- in 1955 the year I was born

• I still adopt what my father advised me. Those are 

  • To erase the words "NO" and "CANT" from the dictionary

  • You must know your limits

  • You are not too late

  • There's nothing impossible

  • Never give up

  • When driving, think 50 - 50 when you see a vehicle, a human or an animal whether it/he will jump or not and be ready to brake

  • Maintain the distance between the vehicle going in front depending on your tyres, braking capacity, performance of the vehicle and the speed.

  • When overtaking, maintain the same speed of the vehicle that you are going to overtake, be closer and accelerate  when you get the chance to overtake

  • My father used to offer all 4 of us prizes of Rs. 25/-, 50/-, 75/-. and 100/- for 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st place obtained during the school term tests. Most of the time I was a prize winner and managed to get Rs. 100/- and 75/-

5th Oct 2020

1960 to 1969 at Richmond College Galle

• Entered to the Lower Kindergarten at Richmond College Galle and was boarded at the hostel

• I still can remember the Singing Teacher clipped a Cow & Gate badge on my shirt pocket (This is my first childhood memory)

• We used to sing when the Singing Teacher played the piano at the college hall

• I was promoted to Grade 1 to 8 in school

• During this period I was a bright student and used to become within the 1st and 3rd of the class at every term test

• I used to obtain 100 out of 100 for English and mathematics in most of the time

• I still can remember, once I got 98 out of 100 marks for English for a spelling mistake of the word CHOCOLATE where I spelled CHOCLATE 

• I took part in Scouting, soccer, Table Tennis and Swimming to represent the House - Hartley

• I played Badminton, Table Tennis, to the college team and interschool tournaments which were held ay the YMCA Colombo 

• I was selected to the junior school dancing troupe under the Dancing Master Mr. Walawe

• We as a dancing troupe became the 2nd place of the All Island Inter School Dancing Competition held at the Royal College Hall Colombo in 1960s

• I became the Badminton Champion under 14 from the inter house tournament held at Richmond College Hall 

• Our Badminton Coach was Mr. Ariyadasa de Silva who came to the college from Ambalangoda

• Once I lost to a girl from Goods Shepherd convent during an interschool Badminton Tournament held at Richmond College Hall 

• I still can remember the day I was about to drown myself when I went for swimming classes at the Galle Harbor after getting a cramp on my right leg

• I can remember the day that I went with some of my friends to pluck coconuts and got caught to the master and got caning. The friend who climbed the tree saw the master coming that way and came down while holding 5 coconuts from his mouth and had bruises all over his stomach and legs.

• If I am not mistaken the 100 years for the college was celebrated in 1968 and there was a jamboree held at  the college grounds. During that period I was a scout and took part in the jamboree in various activities.

• I had to spend time in the hostel according to a time table and we were so disciplined.

• My parents came to see all of us (4 Brothers) once a week with the car load of sweets, puddings and daily needs. My hostel mates used to tell us that "the Pudding Car is Coming"

• I used to walk 2 miles along the rail track with my other friends to go for swimming lessons and foot ball (soccer) practices to Galle harbour and the Cricket Stadium

• I used to keep 1 rupee coins on the rail track for the trains to go over them to make sharp knives.

• I played soccer with my hostel friends in heavy rains.

• Once when I came to Colombo YMCA for a Badminton Tournament, I ran out of money and when I was wondering what to do, all of a sudden I saw my father in front of me and I got pocket money from him. It was a god sent.

• Once I came with our College Table Tennis Team for a Tournament held at Colombo YMCA. Unfortunately I was not able to take part of the tournament as I got Mumps (KAMBUL GAYA) and I went back to the College by train, thereafter home. 

• During the holiday seasons, I used to go to the estate. I went field rounds to walk in the estate with my Father and Brothers

• During this tenor, I used to go to sea baths at Koggala reef and Unawatuna Beach with my Father and Brothers

• When I was in Grade 8, My class teacher asked everyone to tell their aims / dreams of the future expectations. I said one fine day I want to be an Electrical Engineer.

• I got an opportunity to play a Pair of Bongos at an end of a term concert in college. I played the bongos for Mango Kalu Nande song

• I became the first in the class in that term and my Father bought me a brand new pair of Gold Colour Bongos as the prize, as my father had promised us to offer prizes for good performance in class

• I used to get down Radio & Electronics Distant Education Course from Battaramulla Capital Radio Institute through post in 1968

1970 to1973 - at Nalanda College - Colombo

• I was admitted to Nalanda College to Grade 10 in 1970

• I was excited and unhappy to be with new unknown class mates.

• I got Jaundice on the 2nd day of the 1st term at Nalanda.

• Doctor advised me to rest for 1 -1/2 months while on medication and I missed lessons at Nalanda during this period

• I was not happy at Nalanda as most of the class mates were not friendly and I missed all my sports and friends at Richmond.

• I did (OL) twice and got through with 6 Credit Passes.

10th Oct 2020

1974 to 1976 - Leisure Period until I found an employment

• During this period I studied Radio Technology and Electronics Engineering while attending practical Electronics Classes at Capital Radio Institute at Battaramulla. 

• I enjoyed traveling for classes from Dehiwela to Battaramulla in Double Decker Busses on the top deck with site seeing.

• I bought lot of measuring instruments and started a small workshop at home to repair Electrical Home Appliances, Radios, Music setups, amplifiers, tape recorders organs etc.

• Neighbors, relations and friends brought electronic items for repairs.

• A friend of mine requested me to join a western musical band to play drums

• I joined the band as the drummer and my father bought me a set of drums for Rs. 1,600/- in 1974.

• We used to play Sinhala and English pop songs which were popular during the period. The name of the band was PELICANS and we used to play for weddings, parties, stage shows and dances. We had 7 in the band, as Lead, Rhythem, Bass Guitarists, Organist, two male and female Vocalists and myself as the Drummer.

30th Oct 2020

1977 to 1982 - Special Apprenticeship in Electrical Engineering at CCC

• Joined Colombo Commercial Company (Engineers) Ltd. as a Special Engineering Apprentice (Electrical Power) under the National Apprenticeship Board (NAITA - National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority) on 1st March 1977.

• I had to go under a ragging period during the 1st month of the training. All senior apprentices used to rag 6 of us in the batch during the lunch interval.

• We were asked to mix our meals together and eat together sharing one large mixed meal. The senior's had taken our eggs, pieces of chicken, fish etc. We had to eat only the left overs as a mixed vegetable rice.

• We had to say "SIR" to all the seniors during the ragging time.

• How ever it is it was good to have  an understanding of unity and to control temper and release proudness as freshers.

• After the ragging period was over the seniors had organized a party at a Club in Colombo 03. All six of us had to contribute our 1st monthly salary of Rs. 175/- each. The seniors had put a notice in the notice board for a special costume for us to wear during the party. 

• The costume was from top to bottom - A straw hat, a bloated condom fixed on top of a Straw Hat, half of the face applied makeup, half of the lips applied with lips stick, a long sleeve shirt to wear inside out and front to rear, a short trouser inside out and front to rear, a stocking and a sock, a clog and a tennis shoe.

• We had to get down at the Kollupitiya Junction and marched along the Galle Road during the office peak hour up to the club. During the fresher's feed party we were asked to perform various activities, the seniors bathed all 6 of us with liquor, we were given liquor to dope and so on. Once the party was over, we had to tell the CCC Special App's oath. Thereafter all the seniors were friends and telling SIR was no more

• During this 5 year period I got an excellent training in Apprentice's basic Training School, Machine shop, Foundry, Sheet Metal workshop, Carpentry Shop, Stores and the Electrical Workshop, office and major construction sites where CCC had undertaken the Electrical Installation.

• I was lucky to get the training in Electrical Installations at major sites such as 17Storeyed Insurance Corporation at Colombo 02, Porcelain Factory at Dankotuwa, 32 Storeyed Bank of Ceylon Building in Colombo Fort, United Spinning and Weaving Mills - Ja-Ela etc.

• During this period I used to play Table Tennis with friends during the lunch interval. My doubles partner was Kichil. He was senior to me and the best player at CCC.

• Once both of us became the Runners Up of the doubles event of an inter company tournament held at YMCA Colombo and I received a cup

• I used to visit lot of work sites with our site Engineer in the Company Double Cab

• I really enjoyed my life during this period while learning Electrical Engineering which is my pet subject

• I left Colombo Commercial Company in 1982 and joined Ceylon Grain Elevators as an Assistant Electrical Engineer

17th May 2022

1983 to 1985 - Ceylon Grain Elevators - Electrical Engineer

• Ceylon Grain Elevators Ltd is a subsidiary company of Prima Ceylon Ltd. Main business was to import wheat grain and manufacture poultry feed

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