I came to know Tissa and his family about about 35 years ago and we have remained good friends ever since! Tissa was the most Sincere, Loyal and Generous friend one could ever have; on the few occasions I needed his help / advice he went out of his way to help me! Tissa was a “Larger than life” character and there would never be a dull moment when you were in his presence! What impressed me most about him was his rather remarkable talent to see the funny side of even the most mundane events of everyday life; he was, in my opinion, a kind of Sri Lankan version of George Orwell! It was this innate ability of him which earned the friendship of many of his acquaintances, including mine! He also considered himself to be a kind of “Crusader” whenever he “perceived” injustice or bureaucracy and never hesitated to take on the establishment! I knew he was quite ill for some time and the debilitating effects of his illness got progressive worse. No one escapes the inevitable end, but when it comes to the person you loved and cared for, you go through a very emotional time. Personally, I am trying to reconcile the grief from the loss of a very good friend and a remarkable person; and the feeling of relief that it is probably the best possible outcome from his painful illness. Tissa was a devout practising Buddhist; one of the core concepts of Buddhism is that life is only a transition and death brings liberation of the soul. Tissa was blessed with a “close knit” and caring family who nursed him through the last few years of his life. I pray that God almighty give them strength cope with the loss of a loving husband / dear father My sincere condolences to the family! May his soul rest in eternal peace! Visvalingam Thillainathan Wilmslow Cheshire, UK 29 August 2023