Meeting up with my only class friend after 85 years—it feels like such a special reunion! – By Dr Harold Gunatillake
Mahendra, my classmate, my friend,
Time carried you far, where horizons bend.
From schoolyard laughter to skies of command,
A Squadron Leader, guarding Britain’s land.
Decades rolled on, silence grew wide,
Letters unwritten, oceans to hide.
Yet fate conspired, as old bonds do,
To bring us together, in Colombo anew.
We spoke of our youth, of cadeting and cheer,
Of classrooms that echoed with voices sincere.
The chalk and the slate, the bell’s steady ring,
The songs of our boyhood are still eager to sing.
Your tales of the RAF, courage untold,
Of wings in the tempest, of hearts strong and bold.
Mine of the homeland, its struggles, its grace,
Both journeys are converging in one warm embrace.
Eighty-five years—yet friendship survives,
A testament written in both of our lives.
Mahendra, dear comrade, the circle is whole,
The reunion rekindled the soul’s light.
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I attended Dharmaraja College in Kandy, and I have fond memories of being in the kindergarten classroom back in 1935 when I was just 5 years old. We used to call it the town school because it was located at Temple Square, right next to one of the Devala premises.
After finishing primary school at the local town school, I began my secondary education, starting with 1st Form at the main building on Dharmaraja Hill in Peiris Mawatha.
My friend Mahendra Situnayake started upper school in Form 1, the same year I was in that form. We quickly became friends and always sat next to each other in class.
I fondly remember when we both started the newsletter, ‘Voice of the Hill’. I used my father’s Gestetner machine to print copies, while Mahendra handled the editing. We managed to publish a few issues before our interest waned, but those memories still make me smile.
We were both junior cadets, and I cherish fond memories of our camping trip at Matale St Thomas College.
We became enthusiasts in bodybuilding. Mahendra got the Charles Atlas course from the States, and we shared it.
It was a self-resistance method, using muscle against muscle for strength rather than external weights, aimed at overall health, confidence, and a powerful physique. Key exercises involve isometric tension and controlled movements, like push-ups, squats, and specific muscle-vs-muscle actions (e.g., bicep curl with opposing hand), promoting muscle growth, density, and functional strength, all while emphasising proper nutrition and a positive mindset.
We used to compare our biceps while bodybuilding, and that was great fun.
After Form 3, I left Dharmaraja at 14 and went to Ananda College in Colombo.
I lost touch with him while we were studying. When we finally met up, I told him I had started university to study Medicine, and he said he had joined the RCyAF.
He proudly served in the RCyAF for 10 years before happily moving to the UK, where he enthusiastically joined the RAF as a squadron leader. His journey really highlights his strong dedication and heartfelt passion for service.
We haven’t been in touch since we met this January in Colombo. About five years ago, I happily came across a Situnayake on Facebook and gently asked if his father was Mahendra. He kindly confirmed and graciously connected me with Mahendra.
Since then, Mahendra and I have conversed on WhatsApp, rekindling our friendship.
He arrived in Colombo on January 4th this year, excited to catch up with all his relatives and friends he hadn’t seen in a long time.
He stayed at the Cinnamon Lakeside in Colombo, and I arranged to meet him on January 6th.
He was at the bar enjoying a Coke, looking around quite anxiously. I was there with my nephew, Sugeewa, and my niece, Michelle, sharing the moment.
I called him from the lobby and noticed a fellow answering his phone. That’s when I saw him, and the meeting turned out to be truly exciting and joy-filled.
We had a lot to talk about, and our conversations always began with ‘do you remember so and so and so on,’ which always made our chats feel warm and nostalgic.
My nephew and niece instantly bonded with Mahendra, sharing a wonderful, lengthy chat. Sugeewa, a former student of Dharmaraja, truly helped foster a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Several of his other friends joined us that night, and we all had a truly wonderful evening together.
Parting with handshakes and a few hugs felt really sad, and it crossed my mind that I might never see him again.
By Harold Gunatillake
