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Hi! My name is Nihal Jayathissa. Jayathissa is actually my father's first name. His actual name was very long so he adopted the name of Martin and made Jayathissa his surname.
His father's name sounded like this: Maharamba Kodithuakku Arachige Saranelis Appuhami.
I wonder how many Welatantriges there are in Sri lanka or abroad. My grandfather on my mother's side went by the name of Welatantrige Alphaeus Bothaju came to Malaya in the early 1900's to work as a technical person (engineer in those days?) in the government printing department. He also married an Isabella Perera (my grandmother) who was said to be of a lower caste and thus shunned by some family members, and they both came to Malaya to start a new life together.
They produced around 9 children. W.A. Bothaju died when my Mr. Thuriappah to mother was still very young. My grandmother was forced to eke out a living as a tailor to keep the family going. My uncle (mother's brother- Joseph Boteju) was a stern personality who refused to allow my mother to continue her school education. My mother was very bright and witty. My mother's younger sister (Helen Boteju) was more adamant and self-willed and managed to enlist a kindly neighbour's (a Mr. Thuriappa) assistance to go to school. She gave tuition while still a child to earn her way through and studied at Kirby, London. She became a well-known lecturer in the Day Training College in KL and was a Girl Guide Commissioner. She was a devout Buddhist for 54 years before she embraced Christianity and belonged to the Calvary Church in Damansara , Kuala Lumpur. She used to print her own prayers and affirmations and distributed at least 10 thousand copies to friends and strangers alike.
My uncle Joseph was also a colourful personality in that he worked in several government departments before retiring as an Officer's Assistant in the Education Department. Another uncle , Sammie Bothaju died before I was born. He was a Stationmaster. Another uncle , Eddie Bothaju married a Daisy Benjamin of the Benjamin clan in Malaya and had 2 daughters (Gladys and Elizabeth) who ended up marrying 2 brothers (David and Henry Fonseka)consecutively who were Singaporean citizens. Gladys is now in Toronto, I believe and Elizabeth is is Singapore playing a significant role in the operation of some government kindergartens. Henry still works in the oil industry.
My uncle Joseph (Sivananda) Boteju was a disciple of Swami Yogananda way back in Malaysia and his colleague was none other than the founder of the Divine Life Society in Malaysia. After his retirement, at his Sri Lankan wife's behest, he returned to Sri Lanka and was the Chairman of the Yogoda Satsanga Society in Sri Lanka. I visited him in 1977 and in 1984. The Deputy Inspector General of Police in Sri Lanka was one of the participants who used to practise the techniques of Kriya Yoga with my uncle.
I am interested to know how far I can detect my roots and would appreciate any assistance in this area.
I once went to the library in Colombo and learned of a possible relative who was a Reverend or a Pastor.
If you want to know about myself, you must know my parents background first as they were the roots from which I grew. My father had a colourful life as well and was one of the pioneer students at Goon's Institution, Malaya where he studied book-keeping. He worked with several instituions under the whites and was a steward in the Air Force at the Tengah Aerodrome in Singapore. His wife threw away his air force identification papers and forced him to return to Kuala Lumpur where he eventually landed a job with the Police Force, gaining employment as a clerk cum auditor of the Police Treasury. He had a letter of commendation from the top ranking police officer for excellent service around 1961. He retired around 1971 and my brother, Melville Jayathissa, who worked for a short time at his secondary school in 1967 (he was a librarian there) and he studied for the professional examinations of the Library Association, UK and began work as an Assistant Librarian at the British Council Library in Kuala Lumpur. He worked there from 1969 or 1970 to 1983 when he married a Pansy Wijedasa who was working at the Sri Lankan embassy in Singapore. He resumed his law studies with the University of London which he cleared with 3rd class honours. He was Editor of the Library Industry, an irregular periodical that he published by himself. It was sought after by many libraries and universities during that time. I am indebted to my brother for bringing home books to read, some were collections of fairy tales, and they whetted my appetite for reading. Melville went on to work as a Law Librarian in some prominent law firms in Kuala Lumpur and is still gainfully employed at present. He is an avid fitness enthusiast and if you look at him you will think he is still in his 30s. He can outswim others half his age and is an Aerobic Dancer.
As for me, I am a self-styled professor whose short record of adventures you may find at www.cosmoedu.net at the roll of honorary doctorates under N for Nihal. This list has not been updated in the past 8 years and I have some more to add and perhaps a little to revise in order to make it more palatable.
The spiritual forces in and around me have blessed me with a wealth of books (at least 3,000 in all) and materials which cover organisational behaviour, motivation, spirituality (Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, the Seth Material), languages, psychology, philosophy, dancing, music, business, management, environment, history, health, education, and human behaviour. I hope to impart this wealth of knowledge to the younger generations and am looking for such an opportunity.
Currently, I am working in the capacity of Assistant Meteorological Officer at the Malaysian Meteorological Department. I am desirous of retiring end of 2007/early 2008 so that I can concentrate on developing my fellow man. If there's any country or organisation that will recognise my unique talents and giftings, I am open to suggestions provided it is to a place where people are willing to learn and be helped. I will also need require assistance in transporting my library and in relocation.
Nihal Jayathissa
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