Major S Mahindan – An Officer of honour, a Gentleman of Character

(30th March 1960 – 17th June 2026)

There are moments when words seem inadequate to express the sorrow of losing an extraordinary soul. Today, we remember Major Seevaratnam Mahindan (Retd), an exemplary officer, an inspiring instructor, a devoted Catholic, and above all, a true gentleman whose life was defined by honour, humility, compassion, and unwavering faith.

Affectionately known as Mahindan, he embodied the finest qualities expected of an officer and a gentleman. Quietly confident, impeccably disciplined, unfailingly courteous, and deeply compassionate, he earned the admiration and respect of all who knew him.

He received his education from Hindu College Nuwara Eliya, Hindu College Jaffna and Hindu College Bambalapitiya, where the values of discipline, humility, and excellence that would define his life were firmly rooted.

His military journey began on 28 April 1980, when he joined the pioneering First Intake of the Short Service Commission (SSC 1) and proceeded to the Officers Training School in Madras, India, later at the Army Training Centre Diyatalawa. On completion of his training successfully, he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant and posted the 4th Field Regiment Sri Lanka Artillery.

A proud Black Belt and accomplished martial artist, Mahindan possessed remarkable physical and mental strength, yet remained one of the gentlest of souls. His professionalism, integrity, and sound judgement earned him the confidence of both his superiors and his peers. As an Officer Instructor at the Kotelawala Defence Academy (KDA), Adjutant of the 4th Regiment, Sri Lanka Artillery, and later Adjutant of the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA), he moulded generations of young officers through discipline, example, and genuine care.

I was privileged to know him first as one of my Officer Instructors at the KDA and later as Adjutant at the SLMA. To us, he represented the very essence of military leadership. His commanding presence, immaculate turnout, and uncompromising standards inspired every cadet under his charge.

Yet, beneath that disciplined exterior was a heart of extraordinary kindness. I vividly remember an occasion when our Intake 3, raised concerns that the quality of our lunch was far below acceptable standards. As the Duty Officer, Lt Mahindan intervened with his characteristic calmness and resolved the matter without unnecessary confrontation. It was only many years later that we discovered the additional food served to us that day, including the extra bull’s-eye eggs, had been paid for from his own pocket. He never spoke of it, nor did he seek recognition. That quiet act of generosity revealed the true measure of the officer.

We were indeed blessed to have outstanding young officers such as Lt Mahindan, Lt Dushantha Chelliah (retired in a higher rank and now settled in, Virginia, USA), and Captain Raj Fernando (passed away in 2024) as our instructors. They were uncompromising in matters of military training, discipline, and standards. Yet, behind closed doors, they tirelessly advocated during officers’ meetings to improve the welfare, meals, and living conditions of Officer Cadets.

As young cadets, we saw only their strictness. It is only now, more than four decades later, that we fully appreciate how deeply they cared for our wellbeing and how courageously they stood up for us. Their leadership extended far beyond military instruction; they genuinely cared for the young men entrusted to them.

Beyond his distinguished military career, Mahindan was a devoted husband, a loyal friend, and a man of profound Christian faith. His greatest earthly blessing was Dushy, whom he first met during a train journey from Mannar to Colombo, a chance encounter that blossomed into a lifelong love. They later exchanged their marriage vows before God at the altar of St. Lawrence’s Church, Wellawatte with fellow Artillery officers, Capt. Jagath Rambukpotha (retired as Maj General) and Capt. Ranjith Rupasinghe (retired as Colonel) standing proudly beside him as his best men. Together, Mahindan and Dushy built a marriage founded on love, faith, mutual respect, and unwavering commitment.

In October 1990, Maj Mahindan bid farewell to his military career and embarked on a new chapter of life in Toronto, Canada, with his beloved wife, Dushy.

A cradle Catholic and a faithful servant of Christ, Mahindan lived his faith not merely in words but through his actions. He faithfully shared God’s Word, encouraged those around him, and placed his complete trust in the Lord throughout every joy and every trial.

My final conversation with him was on his birthday, 30 March. Despite his illness, there was no fear in his voice only serenity, courage, and unwavering faith in God’s will. That was Mahindan: calm in adversity, steadfast in faith, and always an inspiration to those around him.

Today, we mourn his passing, but we also celebrate a life lived with honour, dignity, humility, and selfless service. His military achievements were distinguished, but his character was greater still. His legacy will endure not only in the many officers he trained but also in the countless lives he touched through his kindness, integrity, humility, and quiet leadership.

On 11 July, Maj Mahindan’s batchmates and fellow officers of the Regiment of Artillery organized a Requiem Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, Rajagiriya. Held in a deeply solemn and prayerful atmosphere, the Mass was offered for the repose of his noble soul, in recognition of his distinguished and dedicated service to the Sri Lanka Army and the nation.

The service was attended by a large gathering that included the serving and former Commanders of the Army, retired and serving military personnel, family members, relatives, and friends, all united in paying their final respects to a soldier, gentleman, and patriot whose life of honour and selfless service will be remembered with gratitude and admiration

May Maj Mahindan’s soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace eternally.

Rest in eternal peace, dear Maj Mahindan. Your life was a lesson in honour, your faith an inspiration, and your legacy will continue to live on in every officer you trained, every soldier you inspired, every friend you cherished, and every life you quietly transformed.

Nilakshan Perera

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“A Book That You Will Never Read”

Journalist Mubeena Barry’s book, “A Book That You Will Never Read”, was launched recently at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute (Light House Auditorium and Lawns), Colombo. With an intriguing title that captures attention, A Book That You will Never Read, invited readers reflection,imagination and thought provoking ideas.

The High Commissioner of Malaysia, Badli Hisham Adam, was the Chief Guest and he received the first copy of the book. Renowned author Anthea Senaratna also attend as the Guest of Honour.

The event brought together members of the literary community, media professionals, and distinguished guests to celebrate the launch of this new publication.

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Tribute to the King of Pop at Cinnamon Life

As the lights of Colombo shimmer into the night, a new era of entertainment is quietly taking shape. The city of Colombo is no longer simply a place to dine, stay and unwind, it is becoming a destination for spectacular experiences where luxury, culture and live entertainment meet.

It was against this exciting backdrop that Cinnamon Box Office unveiled its new Destination Event Calender at the City of Dreams Sri Lanka promising to bring an impressive line up of entertainment to Colombo and give the city’s social calender a glamorous new beat.

Cinnamon Box Office unveils a new era of entertainment with the world’s leading Michael Jackson tribute concert, This Is Michael – Relive the Legend, presented by City of Dreams Sri Lanka

Cinnamon Box Office (CBO), the strategic ticketing engine connecting audiences, event partners and world-class productions, introduced its Destination Event Calendar at the official launch event held on 06 August, 2026, at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s evolving entertainment landscape and reinforcing Colombo’s ambition to emerge as a vibrant regional hub for culture, creativity and entertainment.

Mariam Gunawijayah (PR) introducing the evening programme

As part of its expanding Destination Event Calendar, Cinnamon Box Office introduced This Is Michael – Relive the Legend, the world’s premier Michael Jackson tribute show celebrating the music and legacy of the King of Pop. The live show will take place on 08 and 09 November, 2026, at The Podium, City of Dreams Sri Lanka, bringing this internationally acclaimed production to Sri Lankan audiences.

Recognised internationally as a leading Michael Jackson tribute production, This Is Michael – Relive the Legend recreates the energy, artistry and spectacle of the King of Pop’s legendary performances through an electrifying concert production. Featuring a world-class performer celebrated for his striking resemblance and vocal likeness to Michael Jackson, the concert combines iconic choreography, live music, spectacular visuals, signature costumes and Michael Jackson’s greatest hits, delivering a performance that has captivated audiences across the globe.

This is Micheal – Relive the Legend Presented by City of Dreams Sri Lanka

Destination Event Calender: Launch event

With events of this nature, Cinnamon Box Office supports the growth of Sri Lanka’s creative economy by connecting audiences, event partners and globally recognised productions. The platform supports Colombo’s evolution into a dynamic city defined by year-round cultural, entertainment and lifestyle experiences.

Built on more than a decade of experience delivering entertainment, lifestyle and knowledge experiences across Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Cinnamon Life and now City of Dreams Sri Lanka, CBO, brings together expertise in ticketing, event access, hospitality and audience engagement. The platform builds on a strong legacy of a successful diverse portfolio of ticketed experiences across entertainment, lifestyle, knowledge and destination events.

From bringing Broadway productions, such as Mamma Mia the Musical and The Sound of Music to Sri Lanka, to facilitating experiences featuring internationally renowned culinary personalities including Nigella Lawson, George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Marco Pierre White, Cinnamon Box Office has continued to expand the scope of premium entertainment available to Sri Lankan audiences.

Its portfolio has also included knowledge-driven and lifestyle experiences, such as the Future of Tourism Conferences, Travel Sloggers Conference of Asia, Cinnamon Summer Camp, Cinnamon Island Weddings, celebrity-led experiences, featuring Manushi Chhillar and Jacqueline Fernandez, as well as through leadership engagements, featuring global personalities such as Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google X.

More recently, the platform supported La Samba: The Song of Veracruz, presented by City of Dreams Sri Lanka and John Keells Foundation, further strengthening its role in Colombo’s evolving entertainment landscape.

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Moment two planes narrowly avoid disaster of mid-air crash

The FAA and the airline have launched an investigation into how the near-disaster occurred.

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Captaining India in 600th Test an honour – Gill

India will play their 600th Test when the first Test against Sri Lanka gets underway at the Galle International Stadium today, with captain Shubman Gill describing the opportunity to lead his country in the landmark game as a “huge honour”.

Only England (1,097) and Australia (883) have played more Tests than India and the occasion carries added significance as the milestone falls on India’s Independence Day.

“It’s a big honour and privilege for me to captain India in any Test match. Captaining India in our 600th Test is a huge honour and doing it on India’s Independence Day makes it even more special,” Gill told reporters on the eve of the Test.

Gill also believes India are heading in the right direction as they attempt to secure a place in next year’s World Test Championship final.

“I’m very comfortable with the way we have progressed over the last year. I feel we are moving in the right direction. Our main goal is to play in the World Test Championship final next year and if we win six or seven games out of the next nine, we have a good chance.

“To get there, winning this series is very important and that’s what everyone is focusing on,” Gill went on to say.

India have been forced into changes due to injuries. Sai Sudharsan, who has occupied the number three position in recent Tests, is unavailable, with Devdutt Padikkal, who struck an unbeaten century in the warm-up game in Colombo, set to take his place.

“We have players with immense potential and skill. We want them to succeed, but players are going to develop at their own pace. When I came into the side, I struggled with consistency as well, but they persevered with me. Some players require more time and we are ready to back them,” Gill said.

Today’s Test will also mark a milestone for Galle, which will become the first venue in Asia to host 50 Test matches.

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who has played at the venue since his school days, said the landmark occasion made the Test particularly special.

“It’s a big occasion for Galle. We have had a lot of success here and personally for me, I grew up playing my cricket here. This will be a different pitch from the usual Galle surfaces that we get.

“I feel this will help the batters a lot, although the rain around has prevented the groundstaff from putting in their best effort. But we should get good batting conditions,” de Silva said.

Sri Lanka have also been forced into a couple of changes due to injuries, with wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella set to return to the Test side after an absence of more than three years following an injury to Kusal Mendis.

The selection has sparked some debate, with Dickwella’s returns with the bat in domestic cricket having been modest.

“Galle is a tough place to keep wickets and we have to get our best wicketkeeper on board. Having spoken to the selectors and Head Coach, we feel that Dickwella is the right choice,” de Silva said.

Sri Lanka also have uncapped off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha in the squad, with de Silva indicating that the youngster could be in line for a Test debut.

“He has shown a lot of promise. He is young and very promising. He has consistency with his line and length and looks a good prospect. He will be a good investment for the future.”

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St. Anne’s 155th feast: A celebration of faith, fellowship and community

By Ifham Nizam

The 155th annual feast of St. Anne’s Church, Wattala, was more than a traditional religious celebration this year. For Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Preeya Jayamanne, it was an opportunity to renew the spiritual life of the parish, strengthen community participation and encourage people to look beyond the external aspects of an annual feast.

Speaking to The Island, Rev. Fr. Jayamanne said his primary focus was to use the historic occasion as a period of spiritual renewal.

“I always take the annual feast as a special opportunity to work towards the spiritual upliftment of the parish. Often, we tend to concentrate only on the external extravaganza, but for me, the annual feast is a God-given opportunity — almost like a retreat — to uplift and strengthen the spiritual life of our people,” the priest said.

The preparations for this year’s feast therefore began well before the actual celebrations, with particular emphasis on the Small Christian Communities and reaching parishioners at grassroots level.

As the National Director for Small Christian Communities, Rev. Fr. Jayamanne said he strongly believed in the concept and had worked to strengthen it in the different parishes where he had served.

“My main concern was to reach people at the grassroots level. We began our preparations through the Small Christian Communities, meeting parishioners and encouraging families to pray together and intercede for others,” he said.

The objective was to make the feast a spiritual journey for the parish rather than simply a major event on the annual calendar.

Rev. Fr. Jayamanne also wanted to reach people who may not regularly participate in church activities.

“In any parish, there are people who do not come to church regularly. During a period such as the annual feast, we have an opportunity to reach out to those people as well. That was one of my main concerns,” he said.

The Novena leading up to the feast was therefore given particular importance.

Parishioners were encouraged to step away from their normal routines, make a small sacrifice and devote time to prayer, Holy Mass and listening to the Word of God.

“The seven or eight days of the Novena give people a wonderful opportunity to step away from their normal routine, make a little sacrifice for God, listen to His Word and preaching, participate in Holy Mass and allow themselves to be spiritually nourished,” Rev. Fr. Jayamanne said.

Families were also encouraged to make a commitment to attend the Novena continuously. Small gestures such as placing a pledge sticker on their flags were used to encourage families to make a personal commitment to the spiritual preparation.

Confession given priority

The Sacrament of Reconciliation was another major focus of the preparations.

Rev. Fr. Jayamanne wanted parishioners to understand that confession should not simply be an annual obligation but could become the beginning of a continuing spiritual journey.

“Confession was one of my top priorities. I wanted people to make a good confession and understand that confession is not simply an annual obligation. It can become the beginning of a regular spiritual journey,” he said.

Around 35 priests were brought in during the feast period to hear confessions, providing parishioners with greater access to the sacrament.

For Rev. Fr. Jayamanne, confession is fundamentally a personal encounter with Jesus.

“When you make a confession, you are speaking directly to Jesus. The priest is an instrument. You open yourself, you are guided and you receive God’s forgiveness. It is a very personal encounter with Jesus,” he explained.

He believes that this spiritual emphasis contributed significantly to the positive response to this year’s feast.

Faith and community

For Rev. Fr. Preeya Jayamanne, the role of the Church does not end at the church gate.

He believes Christianity must be reflected in the way people live with one another and contribute to society.

“Christianity is not something that we practise only within the four walls of the church. Jesus taught us how to live with people. Love one another, live with one another and share with one another — that is at the heart of our faith,” he said.

This philosophy was reflected in the social activities associated with the feast.

The carnival, for instance, was not regarded simply as entertainment. It provided an opportunity for people to meet, interact and spend time together.

“I really value the carnival because people come together, meet one another, talk and participate. Even the vendors who come to make a living should benefit. They are part of the community, and they too should receive something in return,” he said.

For the parish priest, everyone connected with the feast has a role to play and should feel that they are part of the wider community.

A welcoming parish

Another encouraging aspect of this year’s celebrations was the interaction among people from different backgrounds.

Rev. Fr. Jayamanne said he was particularly pleased to see people from outside the regular congregation visiting the church premises and participating in the wider atmosphere of the feast.

He also observed a greater presence of Muslims among the visitors and said he welcomed the opportunity for people of different faiths to interact naturally.

“I always try to speak with everyone who comes, ask where they are from and make them feel at home,” he said.

For him, this was simply another expression of the community spirit that the feast sought to encourage.

Participation creates belonging

Rev. Fr. Jayamanne believes that participation is essential to building a strong parish.

People should not merely attend events; they should feel that they have a role in them.

“We have to give people opportunities to participate. When people participate in small activities, they begin to feel that they belong. That sense of belonging is very important for building a strong community,” he said.

This is also why he places such importance on Small Christian Communities.

Large events can bring people together for a short period, but smaller community activities can create lasting relationships.

The annual feast, in his view, should therefore be the culmination of a process of preparation and participation rather than an isolated event.

Renewing a 155-year tradition

The 155th annual feast carried with it the weight of a long and respected tradition.

For generations, devotees have turned to St. Anne seeking her intercession and guidance. The historic shrine has consequently become an important part of the religious life of the community.

Rev. Fr. Jayamanne believes that even a tradition with such a long history requires periodic renewal.

A parish can sometimes become lukewarm or lethargic, he said, and a major occasion such as the annual feast can provide an opportunity to revive enthusiasm and participation.

The challenge is therefore not merely to preserve the tradition, but to make it meaningful for each new generation.

Rev. Fr. Shehan Rajesh (left) with Rev. Fr. Preeya Jayamanne

That was one of the principal objectives behind this year’s preparations.

Looking ahead

With the 155th feast coming to an end this week, Rev. Fr. Jayamanne is already looking towards the next opportunities to strengthen the spiritual and community life of the parish.

One of the major events ahead is the Corpus Christi procession, the Eucharistic procession expected towards the end of September.

He sees this as another opportunity for parishioners to come together in faith.

Christmas will provide another important platform for community participation.

“Christmas will be another important opportunity — not simply as a religious celebration, but as a social event where everyone can participate and experience the joy of the birth of Jesus,” he said.

The underlying philosophy remains the same: religious celebrations should ultimately bring people closer to one another and encourage them to play a more active role in their community.

More than a feast

For Rev. Fr. Preeya Jayamanne, the success of the 155th annual feast cannot be measured simply by the size of the crowds or the scale of the external celebrations.

Its real value lies in the spiritual preparation, the participation of parishioners, the strengthening of community relationships and the opportunity to welcome people beyond the regular congregation.

“I thank the parishioners. They were very open-hearted. They appreciated what we were doing, and that encouraged me to do a little extra,” he said.

He hopes the momentum created by the feast will continue long after the decorations are removed and the celebrations are over.

“Wherever we have a church feast, we must make maximum use of the opportunity — not only to attract people to the Church, but to spiritually nourish them and strengthen the bonds within the community,” he said.

And that perhaps captures the deeper meaning of St. Anne’s 155th annual feast.

It was a celebration rooted in history, but directed towards the future — a time for prayer and reflection, but also for fellowship and participation.

For Rev. Fr. Preeya Jayamanne, the feast was ultimately an opportunity to remind the parish that faith is not something confined to a church building.

It is lived through families, communities and relationships — through the willingness to pray together, participate together, help one another and make everyone feel that they belong.

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Sugeeshwara Bandara further remanded

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Private Secretary, Sugeeshwara Bandara, was further remanded until August 25 after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The court rejected a bail application filed on behalf of Bandara, who is in remand custody over allegations that he received two salaries under the Presidential Expenditure Head.

Following the rejection of the bail application, the court ordered that Bandara be further remanded until August 25.

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