Faarewell, Commander Somasiri Devendra … RIP
Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne, in The Island, June 2025
Farewell Mr. Devendra! Thank you for everything and for shaping the researcher in me.
LCdr (Rtd) Somasiri Devendra (1933-2025) passed away on 19th June 2025 having fulfilled a long and illustrious career under many hats. One that he is most remembered for, is being one of the founders of Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka. He was instrumental in initiating underwater cultural heritage projects in Sri Lanka starting with the ‘Sri Lanka-British Colombo Reefs Archaeological Survey’ in 1989 and through the ground-breaking maritime archaeology excavation ‘The Galle Harbour Project’ in the 1990s, where he trained the first generation of maritime archaeologists of Sri Lanka. He has organized and served under various local and international programmes for the management and protection of Sri Lanka’s Underwater Cultural Heritage. He was also awarded the Junior Research Fellowship of UNESCO and the Uruma Prasada Pranamaya for his services of towards the Protection and Development of National Heritage.
I came to know you almost ten years ago where you guided me in my initial research into the history of Colombo. I will forever cherish those memories of us discussing various topics in your home in Dehiwala. Even as your eyesight was failing at 92, the teacher within you never died away. It was a pleasure serving on a panel discussion with you in January, where despite the weather, you came and shared your knowledge with us.
You truly shaped me into the researcher I am today and I wish I could still call and visit you. May be one day…again…
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Recollections from Michael Roberts in Adelaide, 29 June 2025
My fading memory echoes Chryshane’s regard for the patriotic commitments and the skills displayed by SOMASIRI DEVENDRA. The reference to his home in Dehiwela has revived a memory of my visit and chat with him in the course of my research on the moment when Rajiv Gandhi was hammered by a naval rating in the front rank of an honour guard welcoming his arrival – an event that occurred on 30th July 1987 and marked the local hostility to the Indian government’s imperial imposition of a “Peacekeeping Force” in 1987.
That bold intervention was carried out by Rohana de Silva, a man from Ratgama (thus presumably of the Salagama caste). I interpreted that action as a guti dheema in the assailant’s mind (an interpretation Somasiri did NOT agree with). But it was Somasiri who put me in touch with Lt KH Perera, the officer in charge of the Honour Guard. When I interviewed De Silva, he told me that during the court-martial trial that eventuated Rohana de Silva indicated that “even if it was a broomstick he had in his hand, he would have hit him with the broomstick.”
Hence my conclusion that it was a GUTI DHEEMA.**
MOREOVER …..
Chryshane’s information on Somasiri’s role in promoting maritime archaeology has been news to me. It is a vital recording act to imprint knowledge of Somasiri Devendra’s impact on this branch of historical research. As a swimming and surfing person born near the sea and as one who has swum in Galle harbour, Chryshane’s details are like gold dust in the career of an explorer.
A Hail For You, SOMASIRI …. We treasure Your Life of Patriotic Fulfillment.
