{
  "id": 1834894,
  "title": "Eric J. de Silva: An appreciation and celebration of a life",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/eric-j-de-silva-an-appreciation-and-celebration-of-a-life",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T00:00:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/eric-j-de-silva-an-appreciation-and-celebration-of-a-life/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Eric J. de Silva's passing last June, just short of his ninetieth birthday, marked the end of a remarkable life. It also signified the conclusion of an era when public service exhibited consummate skill, genuine commitment, and steadfast reliability, as well as when education produced citizens who contributed to the nation's stability and continuity. Personally, it meant losing someone who had grown so dear to me over the past two decades that it felt akin to losing my own father. Dr. Usvatte, a contemporary of his, has already penned an appreciation detailing the remarkable nature of his life. I shall not attempt to surpass it. In celebrating his life, I will focus on the impact he had on me. Dr. Usvatte mentioned that Eric Uncle, as I affectionately called him, had only one surviving friend from their days in Ramanathan Hall during the late 1950s. The anecdotes and valuable lessons they could share with us, if given the chance, would be invaluable. I first encountered Eric Uncle in the early 2000s, when he was retired from the public service and actively contributing to the nation as a respected public intellectual through the English print media. He frequently published beautifully crafted articles in The Island, where he and I had crossed paths. I, too, was writing, albeit under a pseudonym due to my lack of confidence. While my writing was already strong, I recognized that it needed improvement, and I came to realize that the gap lay in the decline of our education system between the 1950s and my own 1980s. Eric Uncle, already familiar with my pseudonymized articles, offered to assist me in refining my writing skills. We spent many Saturday mornings together, a kind of master-student relationship, as I diligently applied his suggestions to my work. His guidance transformed my articles, making them shorter, punchier, clearer, and more impactful. Eventually, he suggested that I could give up my pseudonym, marking a significant milestone for me. To me, Eric Uncle embodied the best of 'the educated Ceylonese' and 'the elite Ceylon Civil Service'. His articles, books, and memoirs provide a unique glimpse into the era he lived in and the impact he had. One anecdote he shared, which did not appear in his public writings, occurred during his tenure as Secretary of Education during the J.R. Jayewardene government. When a United National Party Member of Parliament visited his office to discuss filling a principal vacancy in his electorate, the MP immediately stated whom he wanted appointed. Eric Uncle calmly requested all the necessary details and promised to investigate and report back. A few days later, he called the MP and recounted the story with a subtle chuckle. He assured the MP that his chosen candidate was not even in the top three but would not be appointed. Eric Uncle then offered a suggestion: if the MP met the President at DDC meetings, he could share this information and request the President to take action. While Eric Uncle knew the MP likely wouldn't follow this strategy, given the political landscape, his act of integrity and fortitude was unparalleled. What made him truly exceptional was not just standing up for what he believed was right but also setting an example for others to follow, ensuring the protection of his subordinates throughout the ministry for as long as he was Secretary. This exemplified the strength of the Ceylon Civil Service, a product of the education system that existed in the 1950s. In his memoirs, Eric Uncle praised only two politicians who, by then, had passed away: Sirimavo Bandaranaike and M.D. Banda. In jest, I remarked that this was fitting, as the only good politician is one who has passed away.",
  "summary": "By Panduka Karunanayake Eric J. de Silva’s passing last June, just short of his ninetieth birthday, marked the end of a remarkable life. Quietly and poignantly, it also took our nation a step closer to the conclusion of an era – when its public service had consummate skill, genuine commitment and steadfast reliability and when […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}