Trincomalee community leaders felicitated

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 October 2005, 03:47 GMT]
Four leading citizens of Trincomalee town, three of them octogenarians who have rendered selfless services to their language, religion and community were felicitated at the 2005-Literary Festival of the Trincomalee Divisional Secretariat held Friday evening at Trincomalee Town Hall.

The octogenarians felicitated are Mr.Ponnambalam Kandiah, called as Gandhi Aiya, Mr.O.L.M.Ismail, most senior attorney-at-Law in Trincomalee and Mr.Iyampillai Markandu, senior Tamil ayurvedic physician. Mr.Hewawitharange Ariyasena is fifty years old.

Mr.K.G.Leelananda, Trincomalee Government Agent who was the chief guest honored the award recipients by presenting them with golden shawls and handed over certificates appreciating their services in their respective fields.

Mr.Sundaram Arumainayagam, Trincomalee Divisional Secretary presided over the event.

Mr.Kandiah born in Mathagal in Jaffna district, served a teacher for about four decades. He was one of the leading activists to found the Trincomalee District Development Association (TDDA) to serve the displaced and victims of the 1983 pogrom. Late Hindu leader Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh conferred the title "Sevaratna" on Mr.Kandiah for the services to his religion and community. Hindu Affairs Ministry honored him for his services. He has written several literary works on Hinduism and Tamil language.

Mr.Omaru Lebbe Mohamed Ismail who was born in Trincomalee, passed out an Attorney-at-Law in 1945 and is still practicing in Trincomalee courts in civil side. He is a Tamil scholar and has held key posts in Tamil literary societies. Trincomalee Bar Association recently honored him for completing fifty years service in the legal sphere.

Mr.Iyampillai Markandu was born in Palaly in Jaffna district in a family of native physicians. He settled in Trincomalee in 1935 as an apprentice under Mr.Nagamuthu, a leading ayurvedic physician of the day. He is a social and religious worker.

Mr.H. Ariyasena was born in Matara and is a devout Buddhist. He has written several books on Buddhism and has devoted himself for the development of Buddhist activities in Trincomalee.

Mr.S.Mahendrarajah, District Cultural Officer made the welcome speech.