Dr. Rajasingham Narendran, one of our columnists and an active commentator in Colombo Telegraph comments section has passed away peacefully on 2nd September 2017 in Colombo.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran was a Veterinarian who holds a Ph.D from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada in Applied Physiology and Endocrinology. Has served as an Assistant Lecturer and Lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, Research Associate at the University of Guelph and Associate Professor at the King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, he has served for many years as a Senior Executive in the food industry in Saudi Arabia.
He is a son of Late Canagaratnam Rajasingham and Late Florence Ariamalar,
Beloved Husband of Vasanthi (Sri Lanka),
Loving Father of Balamurali (USA), Hari Muhunthan (Canada), Jegan Mayan (Sri Lanka), Mithila (Sri Lanka),
Loving Father-in-Law of Late Michele, Kim (Canada), Monika (Sri Lanka),
Devoted Grandfather of Makai (Canada), Kailan (Canada),
Loving Brother of Easamanohari (Canada), Late Manoharan, Selvi (UK), Neela (India), Jayadevan (UK) and Gowri (UK).
Remains lie at his home and cottage leaves at 3 pm Monday for cremation. Address: 66/20, Fortune Terrace, Kalalgoda road, Battaramulla.
Burning Issue / September 3, 2017
Rest in peace Dr RN; enjoyed exchanging views with you.
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Ben Hurling / September 4, 2017
I never had the privilege of associating you in real life. But, your goodness, uprightness, decency, integrity, sense of justice, innocence and nobility shone through countless times in these columns. Through your comments you enriched my life, made me more tolerant. You may have been an old man, but through your humble words, you represented the very future most Sri Lankans so desperately seek. May our beautiful country be blessed with many more citizens of your nature. May you rest in peace.
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Buramphisincho / September 4, 2017
Shocked hearing the news. Rest in peace Dr. RN.
I really enjoyed your thoughts – passed on to CT posts. I thought you were very unbiased and a balanced views you had about the lanken society.
Your s has been a great loss :(
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Native Vedda / September 4, 2017
My thoughts are with his family and friends.
May he attain Nibbana.
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Sri-Krish / September 3, 2017
My heartfelt condolences.
I always enjoyed reading his well articulated and fearless comments.
It is a great loss to all readers of Colombo Telegraph
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Jimsofty / September 3, 2017
People are making every move thinking that this day would never come for them.
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Tamil from the north / September 3, 2017
Idiot Jim Shitty, we are all hoping that day will come for you soon and when you go, take your hoodlum racist friends like KA Sumanaya, Eusense, Low level army bugger Reginald Shemale Perera and similar hoodlums with you. Who needs garbage like you on this earth?
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shankar / September 3, 2017
quite a shock.i thought he was in good health.He was so concerned about the tamils.Poor man.Thorough gentlemen from his writings i felt.RIP.
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ramona therese fernando / September 3, 2017
So sad to hear. May the good doctor Rest in Peace. Will miss his impartial and unprejudiced writings. Condolences to his family.
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Anpu / September 3, 2017
RIP Dr RN
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Tamil from the north / September 3, 2017
RIP Dr. Narendran. We will certainly miss you and your comments.
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Srilal / September 3, 2017
My Deepest condolence , Dr RN rest in peace !
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Rajash / September 3, 2017
Sad and shocked to hear. will miss him in CT. RIP.
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Sinhala_Man / September 3, 2017
I used to enjoy reading his comments, but hadn’t cottoned on to the actual articles that he’s written. I’ve just seen them now, by clicking on his name highlighted in blue.
His comments were wonderful, and I think I got to know him as a warm and caring human being. I’m sure he led a very full life, and I hope that realisation comforts his family at this time of loss.
Panini Edirisinhe
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Ajith / September 3, 2017
My heartfelt condolences! It is a great loss for CT community.
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thrishu / September 4, 2017
Saddened to read this news about this well balanced popular columnist. Rest in Peace Sir, and hope that you continue to provide good advice to those up there. My heartfelt condolences to the family.
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Agnos / September 4, 2017
My condolences to Dr. RN’s family.
As expatriates, many of us relied on his comments on CT to understand the real situation in North-East; it seemed even in ill-health he traveled throughout the length and breadth of the country, especially the North and the East, and made his observations available to CT readers.
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Ken robert / September 4, 2017
Dr RN
Our discussion on genetic study ( Lanka Ranaweera et al ) showed your intellectual depth in analysing a complex topic.
I remember your contributions in CT, reconciliating differing parties not to get personal but to remain objective and relevent to topic.
Above all, I believe you were one the giants shouldering the responsibility of mantaining the sanctity of “truth is a process” in CT.
RIP Dr Naren!
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nimal fernando / September 4, 2017
RIP Dr. Rajasingham Narendran.
We will surely miss your comments/contributions/views.
We don’t always agree but that’s the nature of the beast.
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K A Sumanasekera / September 4, 2017
My Deepest condolences to Rajasingham Family……
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Ratnam Nadarajah / September 4, 2017
So sorry to hear the demise of Dr. R.N
It is a great loss and I for one will miss his comments on a host of matters.
My heartfelt condolences to Dr. R.N family
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Kannthan / September 4, 2017
From the CT articles and comments, it was obvious RN always had a balanced and pragmatic approach and deeply cared for his people and all people. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.
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soma / September 4, 2017
So sad to hear. The only gentleman on this column for whom I had great respect. Alleviation of 30 years of suffering was his greater concern over making a political capital out of it. Heartfelt condolences to the family.
Soma
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Lionel Bopage / September 4, 2017
Dr Rajasingham Narendran was one of the constructive commentators we have seen. Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends!
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Laksiri Fernando / September 4, 2017
Our heartfelt condolences to his wife and family. My wife Winitha also has been reading his articles and comments with much appreciation. He was one of the most enlightened persons who contributed immensely to issues and debates in the columns of the Colombo Telegraph. It is difficult to write more. May he rest in peace.
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Rajan Hoole / September 4, 2017
I have never met Narendran although I knew the family quite well. His uncle, mother’s brother, was the late Rev. Donald Kanagaratnam, former head of the Pilimatalawa Seminary who later worked on bringing the communities together in Vavuniya in the 1980s (Oppuravu Illam if I remember correctly). His place was raided about late 1982 or early 1983 when the security forces wrongly suspected him of involvement with the Tamil militancy.
We were tragically aware when Donald’s sister Florence (Narendran’s mother), in Navatkuli (not far from where I stay), was killed when the IPKF moved in during October or November 1987. Narendran too has in his contributions related his experience in Kandy during the 1977 communal violence.
Narendran came from a family that was very much aware of the adversities faced by their community and carried their Tamilness with pride and honour, conscious of the urgent need for reconciliation and disavowing popular, but largely hypocritical, extremism. He is the kind of person we badly need at this time, and many of us, his readers, would bear his loss with sorrow and gratitude for his life.
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Champa / September 4, 2017
My heartfelt condolences to Dr. Rajasingham Narendran’s family for their irreparable loss.
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maalumiris / September 4, 2017
Rest In Peace Dr. Narendran. Thank you for your insight and views
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R. Varathan / September 4, 2017
An irreparable loss to the Sri Lankan Tamil community – both within the island and the diaspora.
He and the immediate family suffered much during the “War” and more specifically during the IPKF
presence in Jaffna. But he bore no prejudice against any community. The depth of his learning taught him
no Lankan, from all communities, was spared the deep pains by the senseless conflict. He worked hard
to bring peace and reconciliation between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. He was hard on extremists on both sides and passionately believed all communities may soon regain their hitherto racial equilibrium. As far as I am aware, he lived a useful post-retirement life utilising the advantages of his professional qualifications to benefit the immediate community. I believe he was lately involved in a substantial Animal Husbandry project in the EP. Every Tamil will be proud having gentlemen like him in the community and the country.
I send my deep condolences and prayers to his family as the versatile Dr. Rajasingham Narendran gains eternal bless in Sivapatham.
R. Varathan
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Amarasiri / September 4, 2017
Dr Rajasingham Narendran,
May your heart and soul find peace and comfort. We are saddened to hear of your passing away.
My deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
Thank you for your articles and constructive comments, to make Sri Lanka a better place for all. . We all will miss your intellect and the differing points of views expressed.
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sinhalese buddhist / September 4, 2017
Truly sad to hear of his passing. He was one of the few on CT, perhaps in Sri Lanka, who could authentically speak of inter-ethnic unity. He was always trying to build bridges between Tamils and Sinhalese, be it with respect to ancient history, language, commerce or our shared future.
A rare gem.
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old codger / September 4, 2017
A truly educated man. His comments were were always free of animosity. May he rest in peace.
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Sivakumaran / September 4, 2017
Honesty and intellectual integrity are two terms I would like to use to describe Naren anna. An open mind and insatiable curiosity were his hallmarks. His presence in this forum, and elsewhere will be missed very much. Naren anna made a lasting impression on those of us who had the good fortune to interact with him. I still remember the long discussions we had while travelling from Jaffna to Colombo a few years ago, and the topics ranging from Tamil Buddhist in Kantharodai to hybrid vigour in inter-racial offspring! Though he suffered much in the way of personal losses, he was always a true and patriotic Lankan, and Lanka has lost a worthy son. May you rest in peace Naren anna.
Kumar
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Uthungan / September 4, 2017
I had always appreciated and read Dr. Rajasingham Naredran’s views and comments in CT and sometimes the opportunity to contest or condone and think the latter could predominate the former.
I feel very sorry to not have had the opportunity to meet him in person.
He was indeed a true patriot with an unquenchable thirst for equality, justice, dignity and fairness and believed in a destiny
for the country.
Truly sad to know about his demise.
I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
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Mahesan Niranjan / September 4, 2017
Very saddened to note this. His sensible comments in these pages, his values and strength of feeling as a peace-loving Sri Lankan he shared with us will be remembered with affection.
“I cannot yet forgive those who stole the valuable library that was collected over time by my grandfather, father and added to by me, while I can forgive those who vandalised my house subsequently to sell parts thereof to feed themselves and their families during the hard times in Jaffna.” — RN’s comment beneath the piece: https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-story-of-olive-and-palm-trees-across-the-fence/
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Lone Wolf / September 4, 2017
Dr RN,
I will miss you.
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