Appreciation: Rienzie Wijetilleke is no more but his name remains in our hearts forever

THE iconic banker Rienzie Wijetilleke has left us forever. Naturally, his departure leaves a lot of sorrowful feelings in our hearts. Yet his gentlemanly disposition and professionalism to the letter leaves us with awe and admiration. I have already penned his contribution to the banking industry in a previous article in this series. This appreciation draws heavily on that article.

- By W.A. Wijewardena

Banker, The Man, The Legend' aptly describing him. Savithri's biography was a continuation of Rosayro's work and titled 'Rienzie Wijetilleke Revisited'. The latter work is more of a penetration into his intellectual professional wisdom rather than a run-through of his personal life. I also have followed Savithri in appreciating this legendary banker.

During my long attachment to the Central Bank, I had a close association with Rienzie. He had started his banking career in the Bank of Ceylon but later joined the fledgling Hatton National Bank or HNB. He rose progressively at HNB to occupy its highest managerial position as the Managing Director. After retirement, he was made its chairman.

When he started a novel banking arm for the rural sector of the country, Gemi Pubuduwa or Rural Awakening, I was the Director of Rural Credit of the Central Bank, and we had to refinance his agricultural loans under the scheme. Then, in late 1990s, when the Central Bank introduced the forward purchase scheme for farm products to ensure an assured market and a guaranteed price for farmers, HNB under Rienzie's leadership was a leading partner of the scheme.

When I was the Chairman of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka and when we sought to get its qualifications accredited by the reputed Chartered Institute of Bankers or CIB, London, Rienzie extended his full support to the initiative as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Banks Association. This was not because he himself was a lifetime achievement awardee of that prestigious professional body but because of his firm belief that Sri Lankan bankers deserved opportunities for quality banking education.

Rienzie's support to banking industry