Against the Tide:

How Enthusiasm Built a Legacy

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

This timeless quote echoed deeply in the heart of Don Lewis Jayawardane, a man whose life was a testament to its truth. Lewis often found solace in these words, as they mirrored his journey — a journey marked by boundless dreams and relentless determination, yet weighed down by the heavy responsibilities fate had placed upon his shoulders. He could see the vast ocean of his ambitions stretching before him, but the tides of his family’s needs, especially his younger siblings’ modest dreams and struggles, often threatened to pull him under. Still, Lewis carried on, driven by a quiet but unyielding enthusiasm for a better future.

Lewis was a visionary, and his determination was unwavering like that of all visionaries. His achievements were extraordinary for a young man growing up in early 1900s colonial Ceylon. He studied at the only teacher training college in Colombo, the island’s sole university under British rule. Lewis stood out among the select group of fifteen students admitted from across the country. He had defied his father, Cornelis, a farmer who expected him to follow in his footsteps, and instead chose a path of education and enlightenment. His brilliance shone brightly — he topped the island-wide examination, which left his peers in awe and perhaps a little envious. Yet, Lewis remained humble, always focusing on lifting others alongside him.

In his village of Kadawatha, Lewis’s qualification as a teacher was celebrated as a monumental achievement. He was the first in the town to wear long pants and suits to work, a small but significant symbol of his rise above the ordinary. His dedication soon led him to become the principal of the local school, where his leadership inspired students to achieve remarkable success. The community and government took notice, and his school became a beacon of hope and progress. Meanwhile, his father, Cornelis, continued to till the land, and his younger siblings — Simeon, Anna, Agida, and Francis — remained tied to the rhythms of rural life. Lewis never forgot his roots; his heart always remained with his family.

A lifelong learner, Lewis was the only one in his family who could converse and write in English. This skill opened doors to opportunities typically reserved for the elite in colonial Ceylon. His thirst for knowledge extended beyond the classroom; he studied property laws and used his understanding to reclaim lost family lands for his siblings and cousins, ensuring their futures were secure. But perhaps the most profound testament to his character came later in life when tragedy struck. His youngest brother, Francis, passed away at just twenty-seven, leaving behind a young widow and two orphaned children. Without hesitation, Lewis opened his heart and home to them, providing shelter, love, stability, and a chance for a brighter tomorrow.

Lewis’s life was a tapestry woven with threads of ambition, resilience, and compassion. He achieved greatness not for himself, but for those he loved. His enthusiasm for learning, his dedication to his family, and his unwavering sense of duty were the guiding lights that illuminated his path. Through his actions, he proved that personal accolades do not measure true greatness, but by the lives we touch and the love we share. And in doing so, he embodied the very essence of the quote that had inspired him all along: Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

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