He is so much a part of us that I feel his presence – not in the ashes buried here – but in each of us – in Amma who spent a lifetime with him and each of the seven and their spouses and in each grandchild he loved. : How blessed we are in that we had an earthly father - Earle Ebenezer Coke Abayasekara, - who epitomized the love our heavenly Father has for us. Much has been said and will be said about the qualities that made him who he was, but as a daughter, it’s the love he bore for Amma, for me and for each of my brothers and sisters, that made him unique. I marvel as to how he and Amma made each of us seven feel special – not only as children or teenagers, but even as adults. When I called him from New Jersey, he was so interested in my work, how I was coping with my patients and staff, how I was taking care of my health. "Dhu, you HAVE to find the time to exercise," he would always say.

One last thing I want to mention was coming home for his funeral on August 22nd, 2005,

I knew I was facing this last goodbye that I didn’t ever want to make. But what I found was an unexpected blessing, because it was such an amazing experience to be among all the extended family and feel the oneness that bound us, the love and togetherness engendered by Thatha’s and Amma’s marriage.

And there were also all the many people who came from all walks of life, sharing with us stories of how Thatha had impacted on each of their lives in different ways.

I know his presence will be with us as long as we live. The letter written to all seven of us several years before he died, and found by Amma after his death, was another unforgettable example of the kind of father he was. The love and affirmation expressed in it was a final gift that only he could give.

(Rohan): His life was an inspiration to us. The values he lived by are the cornerstone of our lives.

All fathers influence their children in quite fundamental ways. Thatha provided us with more than the fundamentals.

From an early age we learnt from him the importance of family, that there is no substitute for integrity and honesty and human decency, that we all belong to one human family irrespective of race, caste, class, colour, religion or language …….I could go on an on.

We will always miss him. We will miss his wise counsel and his steadfast love. But one thing we know: as we move forward in life we are well equipped to meet whatever challenges may come to us, thanks in large measure to this wonderful man.

(Ranjan): Thatha touched the lives of so many people. During the last four years we have met people in diverse places whose lives have been enriched by Thatha and Amma.

Something that often struck me was how a discussion with Thatha might commence wih a personality or an event, but as it continued, the subject would be converted into an idea, which would then entail a more meaningful exchange of views.

Thinking of him, I am reminded of the saying - "Small minds discuss people, average minds discuss events, great minds discuss ideas."

He must be looking down on us and wondering why we are gathered here where his ashes are buried. His cremation symbolizes that all the elements which mixed so well in him have been released into the entire world, even the universe, so that wherever we are – in Sri Lanka or Australia or America or wherever – we feel his presence He is not tied down to a plot of earth or a mausoleum.

I have only to walk out of my home in Whyalla and look up at the night sky and when I see the Belt of Orion clearly visible, I am transported back in time to my childhood with him.

He was a father for all seasons and his legacy was many things.

"The most important things in life", he once told me, "are loving human relationships."

I should have already known that, seeing the way he lived his life – he helped countless people, he was a faithful friend, a devoted husband and a dedicated father.

His mind was always active, improving systems at his workplace, reading philosophical books, debating ideas and asking the "Whys" of life.

He was not much for public speaking, but his whole life was a sermon for us. He had an `attitude of gratitude’ to God for the blessings he enjoyed and that’s why I chose to sing "My Tribute" by Andre Crouch in response to Amma’s request.

Now he is gone, but that’s only the physical. Now he is with us wherever we are, -for his spirit has been set free to be near or afar. ,

When I think of Thatha, the word "Integrity" immediately comes to mind. Another special quality he had was the ability to come down to the level of a child. I remember happy times on the beach at Mount Lavinia where we covered him with sand; I remember the stories he told us, not the usual ones from story books, but stories he made up as he went along, like a series about one "Inspector Dilip."

I recall how readily he helped me with my Geography scrap books.

He spent so much time with all of us despite the heavy demands of his work, and he treated each one as "special".

In my teen years I was somewhat "adventurous" and yet Thatha handled me gently and never made me feel "small".

I am filled with gratitude to God for Thatha.

(Ranil): Thatha’s style of leadership was to encourage the best in others, while he himself took a back seat.

He had a selflessness that went hand in hand with his concern for, and discernment of others’ needs. Those who were the recipients of this concern extended well beyond his children & grandchildren to the wider circle of relatives, friends and neighbours, as well as the stranger, the deprived, and the powerless.

We are grateful for the privilege of being called his children. (Anusha) My earliest recollection of Thatha is of his carrying me and calming me down when I had woken up screaming from a nightmare at about 1 a.m. when I was two or three years old. He was always there for us, at whatever age we were. A facet of him that impressed me was his keen appreciation of beauty in Nature, his love of all creatures great and small.

He was fascinated by the sight of a long line of ants or a spider spinning a web..

I remember many joyful pillow fights with a father who was never too old or too busy to play with his children.

He taught me the names of the various constellations in the night sky. I remember so well the many walks along the beach that he and I did together.

His influence on my life has been rich and deep and profound. I can truly say that Thatha was such a wonderfully caring earthly father to all of us that he gave us a glimpse of what God, our loving heavenly Father, is like.