Loving Memory from his Friend

I have known Prem Anna for some time, Prem Anna always speak to everyone politely and kindly. One thing I like in him is that he has a good sense of Humour, when he speaks he never used the word “I, and Mine” always used “We and Us” that makes him a true gentleman.

When the Shri Kanagathurkkai Amman Temple Trust (S K T A T) was started it was originally started with two members and then formed the Trust with nine trustees and Prem Anna was one of them. Prem Anna always thinks how we all should live, how can we help the others specially those affected by the war in Sri Lanka. He initiated the orphanage in a small village call Badualai in the Tea Plantation area of Sri Lanka with the help from SKTAT and helped them.

In Mannar he imitated the computer centre to help, to increase the computer knowledge and for the Job prospect. This helped for the surrounding villages in that area where there was students with poverty, and the young generation with hardship. This was achieved with the help from SKTAT and Mannar district Temples in 2004.

In 2004 the SKTAT Executive Committee published the members list and called the election for the period (2005-2007) as per the constitution of the Trust. At that time few members of the Trust claimed that there was errors in the members list and the committee members during that period do not have the rights to sand for the election. Consequence of this a case was filed in the High court, during that period Prem Anna was the Chairman of the Trust. I cannot forget that Prem Anna himself issued his personal cheque to defend case on behalf of the Trust at the high court. At the end of the case it was noted by the Judge and Tomblin order was issued to correct the mistakes in the constitution and an election should be held. Prem Anna tried very hard to correct and make the changes but could not succeed.

During the period I was the secretary of the Trust (2014-2016), on request from the Chairman Mr R D Ratnasingham we carried out the trust daily activities jointly with the Trustees. I will not forget those two years where we jointly carried out various activities raised funds (£340K) to help those in need in Sri Lanka. During that period I was very close with Prem Anna and he helped me a lot and I learned a lot from him which was noticed by everyone. We the Executive committee and the Trustees jointly carried out various activities and during that period we worked very hard to review the Trust Constitution and went through line by line to correct whatever the correction required in line with the charity commission guide lines sometimes meeting will go until 2:00AM. Prem Anna worked very hard took various initiatives to correct the Constitution, sometimes myself and Prem Anna had heated discussions and disagreements however he never shown any emotion neither kept in his hart at next day he will tap on my shoulder and encourage me. That shows who the true gentleman was.

Prem Anna’s mind was always about helping the people in need, those who affected by the war. Especially in Vanni those who are under privileged, students with no facilities or those people who has no means to support the family for the daily food. His mid was thinking about how to help, what can we do to help to those suffered after the War.

Prem Anna initiated via SKTAT to help those lost their legs during the war or for other reasons by supporting to get legs and encourage them with three wheelers. He supported them to find their way in to the community to set up a small business and carry out their daily activities. Not only in Vanni, he looked at the people in need in the Eastern province where the underprivileged people struggled with transport.

A small village called Kanchi kudicharu about 20 KM from the main road people were struggling to get for water, he initiated with the help from SKTAT to support those people with a common well. Also he found that the people were struggling with transport facility he initiated and provided an AUTO for the community to ensure that they don’t struggle in future.

Prem Anna and his wife Killy Accca both are actively involved in voluntary services, both of them have been involved in various voluntary services using their own money and we cannot count what they have done. One of the support involves Killi acca’s office known as Spring Global Delivery Solution who provided the warm clothes for those in need in the plantation areas (Up countries), jackets, Pens and educational equipment’s totalling 30 Boxes were shipped using their own money and distributed them. Likewise I can talk about the services Prem Anna and his wife has contributed and done for the people in need and writ on endless pages.

In Shri Kanagathurkkai Amman Temple one thing for sure if we ask our general public that we are supporting a good cause in Sri Lanka and we need your support. On that basis our people never let us down, they will contribute generously. If we look back to see and what SKTAT has achieved over the years, they have spent £2. 4 million pounds, where have they spent we cannot point our figure and show our achievements. For that alone Prem Anna thought we must do something to show our generation what we have achieved and the general public contributed for. Prem Anna tool so many initiatives one of them was he put forward a proposal to buy a land in Vanni and initiate something in the name of SKTAT, the proposal was unanimously agreed in the committee meeting. After a while there was a 2 Acre land came in for sale in Vanni and he submitted the details and encourage that we should buy. Prem Anna’s experience in the Joint committee was unforgettable therefor he decided to purchase the land on his own money rather than wait for the approval which might take months. Prem Anna purchased the land and submitted the deed to the committee and our good cooperation never allowed to purchase it on the name of SKTAT.

Prem Anna’s voluntary services cannot be forgotten by any of us his service during festival especially on the days before the Chariot festival he will be much occupied with some voluntary workers to organise the Park. Arrange the tents for the local community to have small shops, to have family gathering and fun fare stile event while we celebrate the Chariot with Amman. He will work hard to ensure that all the people (30, 000) who come to the chariot festival never go home with empty stomach. At the end of the day our community never leaves everything tidy and clean, he himself and the encouragement to succeed with the help of others will tidy up the area pick the rubbish and sweep the floor to ensure that the council don’t get complains from the local community.

Due to one or few individuals misunderstanding the Trustees blamed me and took action against me, Prem Anna was defending me and argued for me. Prem Anna explained that it was not my problem and several occasions he defended me in the Trustees meetings. Because Prem Anna was arguing for me and tried to explain that the action was wrong, Mr Saba Abayalingam and other fellow members banned Prem Anna from participating in the meetings relating to my issues. I was really heart and cannot accept the action Trustees chairman Mr Saba Abayalingam took against Prem Anna.

“Immature people always want to win an argument even at the cost of a relationship.”
“Mature people understand that it’s always better to lose an argument and win a relationship.”

Prem Anna spoke to me on the day of the Theertham on various issues including organizing a fund raising program for Vanni and the Last words I will not forget was that “He was going for a minor surgery on Wednesday and he will speak to me on Friday” those words are in my mind all the time and I will not forget.

He transformed the land he purchased in Vanni in to a COMPUTER CENTRE and created a Charity called SAIVA NERRY KOODAM with his friends and left with us.
I promise that as long as I live I will support SAIVA NERRY KOODAM and help and the people in need in Sri Lanka.

Prem Anna You may be gone from my sight but you are never gone from my heart.