"From behind 'Adisham' ( a monastery situated on the hills of Haputale, Sri Lanka) there is a range of hills called the "Sleeping Warrior'. It is fantastic but brought tears to my eyes because the clear, sharp features reminded me of my Thaththa (Father) and my husband lying in their coffins. Adisham is now a monastery belonging to the Benedictine Monks of Kandy. It's a memorable holiday I've had in years."

"Make me a member of your library. Include the book I'm sending you. If it's a lending-library you must charge a small fee and impose a fine for not returning on the due date and for spoiling books as some people do. With that money you can buy more new books. Get your parents to help you. Categorise the books, bulid up an inventory and give the members a copy each of the 'Rules & Regulations'. Allocate a responsibility to Thami (Younger brother). Pay him pocket money for his work."

"Reading is a good habit but do not let it keep you out of out-door games. A healthy mind lives in a healthy body."

"You must improve your eating habits also.Ask Amma (Mother) for food with a lot of protein for your body to grow - starch & sugar (Carbohydrates) for energy - fruits for vitamins - potato & yams for minerals. You need a lot of milk, cheese & eggs during your growing years."

"I'm happy that you are looking forward to your Exams and studying hard. You must try to get maximum marks for all the subjects. Asians are naturally very clever. Sri Lankans who are in various countries do very well in whatever work they do. It is because we are a talented nation and we are blessed by our ancestors."

"You are an artist indeed. But when you put in a lot of curles and tendrils to your writing, they become hard to decipher. What do your teachers say about your writing ? May be that they ignore it for the time being, because you are on a process of growth and you are trying to discover and stabilize your identity as a person and build up your personality too. This is a phase of growth. When I was young, I too imitated all the teachers one after the other. But finally settled down to my own peculiar and particular way of doing things. May be, you too will arrive at that stage in a few years time."

"Nothing in life is bad, if we take them positively. I hope you are a totally positive-thinking guy, who has shed for ever, out of your life and vocabulary all negative words such as "no", "never", "why me", "can't", "won't" and many other ways of complaining and revolting".

"Through the Haputale Gap, you could see Hambantota. the Salt-Erns and at times, when the mist moves away, even the shimmering sea. All four seasons are available in this little island-country within a few hours drive. See, the land that you will someday inherit is surely a Paradise. So, prepare yourself from now itself to work for her and make her a better land for people to live contendtedly. You must learn her language too."

"Both of you are too energetic for my declining age but I can cope with you all the same. As the two of you grow-up, I can see a big difference between the two brothers. Each one is a different person, I know. Yet both must try to keep the accepted norms of society. Being free and doing as you like during the vacation is pardonable only in the place where you live, but when you go out to other people's houses you have to conduct yourselves as perfect gentlemen. People do love you. Let them also admire you for your good manners and gentle ways."

"I have come across a good number of rich and educated adults who are misfits in society merely because they are always dissatisfied. You are still in your formative age and with the help of your parents you can become better. You must learn to be happy."

"The big heart you had drawn with a little cross on top of it and long rays of light going out of it, speaks a lot about your feelings. You are a wonderful boy."

"Thank you for your very affectionate letter and the Vase of Flowers. They become real blooms, when I accept the fact that they are an expression of love. Thank you once again."

"Putting one's things away neatly in their proper places after use, is a habit that forms character. When you grow-up in such a habit, you never waste time looking for things - your mind is never upset - you have peace and quiet within yourself - you keep a good balance with your environment - you are helpful to others around you. See, you achieve all this, simply by learning order and method as a child. How wonderful !!!"