[Published on The Sunday Times. 21.06.2026]
There are some men whose influence is measured not merely by the offices they held or the honours they received, but by the countless lives they touched, the institutions they strengthened, and the values they steadfastly upheld. Upali Ratnayake was such a man.
A distinguished management accountant and visionary leader, Upali was the pioneering force behind the establishment of the Sri Lanka Division of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK, which he served for many years. He, because of his contribution— rose in stature among the institute’s patrons in the UK. Through his foresight and commitment, he helped lay the foundations for an institution that has nurtured generations of business leaders and professionals and has become one of the country’s most respected professional bodies.
A proud Trinitian and former Trinity rugger player, he carried throughout his life the ideals and values that had been ingrained in him at Trinity College, Kandy. Those values – integrity, courage, loyalty, and service – were not merely words to him; they were principles by which he lived.
As President of the Trinity College Old Boys’ Association, Colombo Branch, and in numerous other capacities, Upali devoted much of his retirement to preserving and fostering the ethos and traditions of his beloved school. He was an unfailing source of wise counsel to many Principals of Trinity, including Professor Warren Breckenridge, and during the painful ethnic controversy that engulfed the College, he stood steadfastly beside Principal Rod Gilbert when he was unjustly wronged. His sense of justice and loyalty never wavered.
His love of education and service extended beyond Trinity. As Interim Principal of Wesley College, Colombo, he brought wisdom, stability, and compassion at a critical juncture in that institution’s history. He was also a passionate mentor and coach to young professionals, generously sharing his knowledge and experience and encouraging them to pursue excellence not merely in their careers, but in their lives.
A committed community activist, Upali believed deeply in giving back. He possessed a rare gift for bringing people together and inspiring others through example rather than exhortation. He stood up for what was right, regardless of convenience or consequence, earning the respect and affection of all who knew him.
Yet it was perhaps in the warmth of his friendships and the richness of his personality that one encountered the full measure of the man. A lover of the classics, literature, and history, he seldom delivered a speech or penned a letter without illuminating it with quotations from great writers and thinkers. He had a remarkable ability to blend wisdom with wit, seriousness with humour, and scholarship with humanity.
He was also a consummate host, a gifted entertainer, and an accomplished cook –and competed with Preethi his wife of 50+ years whose legendary fish dishes were as memorable as the fellowship they fostered. Around his table, friendships deepened, stories were exchanged, and laughter flowed freely. To be in his company was to experience generosity in its truest sense.
In every sphere of life, professional, educational, community, and personal, Upali Ratnayake left an indelible mark. He embodied the Trinitian spirit of Respice Finem – “Look to the End” – living a life of purpose, service, and unwavering principle.
One may fittingly borrow, with poetic licence, from Shakespeare’s immortal tribute to Brutus in Julius Caesar:
“His life was gentle, and the elements so mix’d in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, ‘This was a man!’”
And so, in remembering Upali Ratnayake, we may adapt those words and proclaim:
His life was gentle, and the elements were so mixed in him that we may say to all the world: Here was a true gentleman, an outstanding professional, and an exemplary community activist.
Such men are rare. Their legacy is not measured in monuments, but in the enduring values they leave behind, in the institutions they strengthen, and in the lives they inspire.
Upali Ratnayake belonged to that noble company. His was a life well lived, richly shared, and lovingly remembered.
May he rest in peace, and may his example continue to inspire generations yet to come.
M.V. Muhsin
