Rusiripala Tennekoon travails long journey across time but not without facing life’s trials

RUSIRIPALA Tennekoon, ex-banker and trade union leader, released his autobiography titled ‘My journey: Across time and trials’ in Colombo last week.

- By W.A. Wijewardena

The event had been attended by his friends and well-wishers, including a galaxy of politicians. The autobiography is almost entirely on his working life as an adult and a senior citizen; his childhood travails and trials are confined only to seven printed pages.

He has qualified it in the preface as follows: “This book is the story of my journey — a journey that began in a small village in 1941 and has since crossed many paths of service, struggle, achievement, and surprise. I have worn many hats: banker, trade unionist, reformer, political worker, chairman, advisor, and above all, a student of life”. He has omitted here one important hat he had worn and is still wearing. That is, he is a writer and a columnist for Sri Lanka’s main business and economics daily, Daily FT, and the popular global website on national and international issues, Colombo Telegraph.

He further elaborates that he did not set out to write history, but to record the experiences, lessons, and values that shaped him. He says: “Along the way, I met extraordinary people, encountered unexpected opportunities, and at times, faced challenges that tested my courage.” His life had not always been a success. As he says, some doors had been opened, others had been closed. Yet, he had never fallen below the steady line of purpose that guided him through the hassles and struggles of the life of an ordinary person.