Felix Premawardhana

Felix and Indranie Premawardhana

At his 80th birthday party this January, my uncle Felix, in a speech laced with his characteristic humor said to his guests that he has only a few weeks to live. Expressing his readiness for the inevitable end, he exhorted his family and friends not to be afraid to talk about death, since it is indeed, a part of life. It was one of the more powerful testimonies I have heard about the power of hope over death. Uncle Felix died on Tuesday.

He was a prominent Baptist and Ecumenical leader in Sri Lanka. A renowned actor and director on stage he was also a movie star. As long-time director of Communications for the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka, his efforts resulted in an Arts Center that included a TV studio and an Arts garden in which artists of various sorts were welcome to rehearse. He was also an international movie critic with Inter-film. He is survived by his wife Indrani (Vice President, Baptist World Alliance), Kuvera (Physician, Cardiff, Wales) and Kuveni Wijeratne (Senior Executive, Sri Lankan Airlines)

I will officiate and preach at his funeral due to be held in Sri Lanka on Friday at 2:30 p.m. I will arrive in Sri Lanka following my meetings in Kazakhstan on the same day at 9:15 a.m. I will post more details following the funeral.