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During my time on Laxapana, I climbed Adam's Peak 14 times. During the season my house was full of guests, mainly tourists whom I had picked up at Dalhousie. No, not the hippies and they did not smoke joints! They were young and attractive. There were some local starlets too. They were wined and dined and treated with respect. Read More
I started my planting career as a ‘creeper’ on Gouravilla Estate, Maskeliya in 1955 with Mr.H. S. ’Billy‘ Hawkes. It was my first visit to a Tea estate & spent 6 months learning all about life on a tea plantation, the labourers, staff & the language, as I had never spoken Tamil before. In my first week I was taken to the Maskeliya Club & introduced to some planters in the district. Read More
When I was on Holyrood, Talawakelle, I was transferred to Pansalatanne, Ukuwela to cover up the duties of the permanent SD who was hospitalized following a Motor Cycle accident. Having moved over to Pansalatenne on 01st December 1978, I was shocked to find the condition of my Bungalow which did not have even the basic requirements of furniture. Read More
I started life as a young SD on Glenugie Division of Gouravilla Group, Upcot, having ''crept'' under the then Senior SD, John Drieberg. My PD was Peter Easteal whom I never met whilst I was a Creeper. Eventually, I got my appointment as Junior SD on the same property. The estate belonged to The Standard Tea Company, UK. Read More
Geoff Middleton had fallen seriously ill and was to be sent to England for treatment, rest and recuperation. I was therefore appointed Acting Superintendent of Alton in 1961. Peter Easteal a reputed Planter who was on Gouravilla overlooked the “rookie” Acting Superintendent. Peter and his wife Marjorie Read More
I was on my first posting as a PD in 1963 on Mincing Lane, Upcot between Fairlawn, Eddie Jayawardene and Alton, Geoff Middleton..............although during part of that period Ian “Guna” Gardner was acting on Alton and we became good friends as I did with Eddie on Fairlawn. Chris Bean was on Stockholm and we had already established our friendship through Rugby. Read More
Imboolpittia Estate, Nawalapitiya was owned by a sterling company and managed by Ms Backwoods Estates & Agencies Limited in the late 1915 and Mr Leslie Dunuwille took over the property from Sidney Hall, an Englishman. Thus Mr.Dunuwille became the first Sri Lankan to manage Imboolpittia Estate. Read More
Derek Samarasingha made an outstanding contribution to our country as a pioneer Sri Lankan tea planter, shareholding director of John Keells Ltd., a leading estate management company and later as the CEO/Managing Director of two privatised plantation companies. Those Sri Lankans who worked with him gained from him invaluable knowledge and experience. Read More
