iSurprise Sugathadasa

Fort resident, former accountant and retired librarian; Mr Sugathadasa Abeywickrama

I like how quiet the Fort is; at night it’s almost silent. There are good people all around in Fort. Everyone is a friend.
— Sugathadasa Abeywickrama


The Fort connection

My wife and I moved to the Fort in 1977. She taught at Southlands Collage and so knew lots of people already. The house was previously occupied by government servants – mainly Jaffna Tamils who came to work in Galle as engineers and doctors because there was a shortage of qualified staff.


Rampart rambles

I enjoy doing a quarter of a mile walk along the ramparts. On the way back home, I stop at the temple for about an hour and speak with the priest. Once a month, I take food to the monks. I like how quiet the Fort is; at night it’s almost silent. A vehicle comes through only once every few hours.


Zest for life

I was the Fort librarian from 2011-2016. During that time, I improved the place and organised the shelves. I would have stayed on but I was advised to rest. When I finally retired, I was 90! Even now, I still go for all the committee meetings. My favourite books date from the British period. Some were printed as far back as the early 1800s; they describe the living conditions of Sri Lankans at the time.

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