SriLanka, April 4 -- On 18th January, 2026 I bade Goodbye to one of my dearest friends -- Manel Eriyagama. Our friendship of over sixty years, begun as youthful undergraduates, ripened and progressed steadily through different stages and ages -- and finally moved gracefully into old age.

Until I settled in Colombo during the Covid days, we would meet often, although we had retired by then, as we both lived in Eriyagama, Peradeniya. Even after I moved to Colombo, our communication lines remained intact via telephone. She would call whenever she was troubled in mind, and we would discuss and dissect the vexing problem until we arrived at an acceptable explanation.

About a week prior to entering hospital for the last time, Manel called m...