Popular Banker and Cricketer Shanti Jayasekera passes away in London – By Ivan Corea
Shanti Jayasekera, former banker with the Midland Bank in London, recently passed away in the United Kingdom. A moving funeral service was held in a packed St. Paul’s Church in Ruislip in the UK. Shanti was a hugely popular member of the Sri Lankan Community in London.
I first met Shanti and his parents, Brighty and Sirima Jayasekera, at community events organised by the Association of Sri Lankans held in London in the 1970s. Shanti’s father was Manager of the Bank of Ceylon in the UK.
The Jayasekera family were fully involved in community events and I remember Shanti’s Mum, Sirima being a real “live wire” in London. She was involved in some incredible charity work in Sri Lanka through a charity she set up called the Brighty Jayaskera Endowment Fund and was in the forefront of reconciliation efforts between communities. Sirima also combined two of her passions – Motherhood and Music and organised concerts in London, under the heading: “Symphony for a Child,” to raise funds in order to create facilities needed to lift up children in need. Shanti fully supported these charitable efforts.
Shanti’s aunt, Ethelinda, worked at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London and another aunt Trixie was married to the late, great, Neville Jayaweera, former Chairman and Director-General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Family was so very important to Shanti.
Shanti’s siblings were Sudantha, Keshani and Arundani. Whenever I met Shanti I so enjoyed the banter with him and cracking jokes, he always had a twinkle in his eye. He was a kind, caring, compassionate and generous human being who had a deep and abiding faith in God. His faith in Jesus Christ was non-negotiable. At the time of his death, Shanti was fully involved in the church and was appointed Lay Reader of St Paul’s Church Ruislip in Middlesex. He preached the word of God regularly to a large congregation.
Shanti wrote on the St.Paul’s Church Ruislip website: ” I was born in Sri Lanka, on 4th March 1954 and came to England with my parents in 1968. In 1971 at the age of 17, l went into banking and served in various Financial Institutions. I am married to Gita and we have been blessed to have two sons, Jehan and Chanaka. They attended school at St. John’s, Stanmore and Bishop Ramsey, Ruislip. My youngest son, Chanaka, is married to Katie and we have two granddaughters named Freya and Erin and a grandson named Theo.
My calling to become a Licensed Lay Minister came a few years back, through God’s calling, and much encouragement from various members of clergy, parishioners & family, culminated in me going to theological college at St. Mellitus, London to study and qualify. I am delighted and look forward to serving this Parish and community in Ruislip Manor, to enrich the lives of many of God’s love for each other through my ministry and prayer.”
Shanti was passionate about music and cricket. His sister recalled his stints as a DJ at parties in London. Shanti was an old boy of St. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. I believe he left in 1968 when his parents moved to London, after his father joined the Bank of Ceylon in the UK. While he was at St. Thomas’ College Shanti played a leading role in the Chapel Choir and was chosen as a soloist in the Thomian Carol Service.
After he moved to the UK, Shanti took a keen interest (as many Sri Lankans do) in cricket. He was an accomplished and dashing cricketer and was hugely popular as Captain of the Second XI cricket team at Winchmore Hill Cricket Club. His generosity and his kindness really came through at his funeral service in Ruislip with tales of Shanti making sure that his team at Winchmore Hill and the visiting cricket sides were always looked after in terms of hospitality and jugs of beer! I’m convinced that Shanti would have also had Sri Lankan food there – he was a great cook.
And so we say farewell to Shanti Jayasekera on earth, but we will meet in heaven. He has gone home. Shanti leaves behind his wife Gita, sons Jehan, Chanaka and wife Katie and their children, Freya, Erin and Theo.
May he rest in peace, in the arms of Jesus.
Photo: Shanti Jayasekera
