{"id":178221,"date":"2017-06-02T06:15:13","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T00:45:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=178221"},"modified":"2017-06-05T12:00:47","modified_gmt":"2017-06-05T06:30:47","slug":"a-tribute-to-dr-michael-emil-joachim-a-man-who-was-absolutely-incorruptible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/a-tribute-to-dr-michael-emil-joachim-a-man-who-was-absolutely-incorruptible\/","title":{"rendered":"A Tribute To Dr. Michael Emil Joachim; A Man Who Was Absolutely Incorruptible"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sivaguru Ganesan<\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael passed away on the 28 Th of May after a brief illness, leaving his family, friends, fellow professionals and co- workers in deep sorrow. His father Dr. A.W.R. Joachim was a former Director of Agricultural Research under the Government. He grew up with his female siblings in a privileged family that imbued into him magnificent personal values to guide his life that we, his friends, professional colleagues and co workers saw in great abundance in our interactions with Michael over the last five decades.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Dr. Michael Emil Joachim<\/p><\/div>\n

After his graduation in civil engineering in 1963, he joined the National Housing Department and was later absorbed into the State Engineering Services. Early in his professional life, he secured a doctorate from the prestigious University of Edinburgh. That endowed him with advanced multidisciplinary skills. On his return to Sri Lanka, he served in a series of high level positions in the public sector: Superintending Engineer, Housing, Director of Programming, National Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Director, Urban Development Authority, and Head of the Department of Buildings being amongst these. He served several ministers of the state with great distinction, being recognised by them as being among the finest of our Engineers. He was a favorite of former Ministers Hon Pieter Keuneman, Hon Srisena Coorey, and Hon Prime Minister R. Premadasa who all called on him to carry out exacting tasks. His most admired character was that he was absolutely incorruptible in a system that was plagued by corruption at every level, a trait that would surely have flowed out from his early upbringing.<\/p>\n

On his retirement from the public sector around 2000, he put the skills he commanded into play in order to handle outstanding challenges in the private sector. He served as the Managing Director of Colombo Land Ltd, focusing on infrastructure planning and buildings. He thereafter set up his own Consultancy Firm, Project Management and Development, of which he was Chairman. This firm collaborated with Aitkin Spence and other investors on major tourism projects within and outside Sri Lanka. In 2015, Hon Sajith Premadasa appointed him as the Chairman, the State Engineering Corporation. At his demise, he was the Chairman, of the Construction Industry Development Authority.<\/p>\n

It is wonderful to know that Michael always did his best for his family, his loving wife Estelle, and two wonderful children, Janice and David. I recall that in the 1980s he was offered an attractive job with the Hong Kong Government, but he declined it in order to stay with his young family in Sri Lanka. In turn, his family gave him immense strength to overcome many problems he faced.
\nMichael will long be remembered by his friends and co-workers for his serious professionalism, his kindness, his deep concern for those around him, his eagerness to help others, and his somewhat aggressive yet endearing conversations with us. Michael will be deeply missed by his family and all those who came close to him.<\/p>\n

May his soul rest in peace.<\/p>\n

*Sivaguru Ganesan –\u00a0Professor( Retd), the University of Hong Kong<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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