{"id":148870,"date":"2025-02-10T12:12:08","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T12:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=148870"},"modified":"2025-02-10T12:12:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T12:12:08","slug":"victor-melder-sri-lanka-library-by-beverley-pinder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/victor-melder-sri-lanka-library-by-beverley-pinder\/","title":{"rendered":"HISTORY, BOOK ENDED BY TWO NONAGENARIANS\u00a0 \u00a0&#8211; By Beverley Pinder OAM"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>HISTORY, BOOK ENDED BY TWO NONAGENARIANS\u00a0 \u00a0&#8211; <\/strong><strong>By Beverley Pinder OAM<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Take one bright and sunny Sunday afternoon in Melbourne; add two stalwarts who have given the best part of their lives preserving Ceylon and Sri Lanka culture for readers and those with a fervent thirst for matters antiquarian including the tomes that captured the periods from the pre-colonial days &#8211; from the Portuguese to the Dutch to the British and beyond &#8211;\u00a0 and you have a great afternoon of acknowledgement and dignified celebration for Victor Melder and Hugh Karunanayake.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">At a lunch to acknowledge the gentlemen, the Acting Consul General for Sri Lanka in Melbourne said in a most captivating scenario: \u201c\u2026did they share a pre-planned friendship; were they rivals; or, was it simply a coincidence\u2026that they became such ardent keepers of the island nation\u2019s history in their adopted land?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Mr Aruna Devendra captured our hearts and our minds as he painted a picture of two soon-to-be-nonagenarians as they each approach a birthday this year where they reach a milestone of years and accumulated wealth with a willingness to share their knowledge in a community service that seems unmatchable. For 50 years Victor has been at it, while Hugh has equally given it a good going. As Victor commented \u201cWe are batting on a Sticky Wicket (the famed restaurant owned by David and Kathy Cruse) \u2013 while the Aussies are scoring centuries in Galle, we are heading for our centuries at home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">The pair have shared a common interest in books and, as Acting CG Devendra said: \u201cThese two voices are carried in Melbourne, about a distant land in Sri Lanka.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">The Victor Melder Sri Lanka Library which, from its inception, was based in Broadmeadows, has now been relocated to a new community space at1234 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham (a south-eastern suburb of Melbourne) and Hugh\u2019s amazing collection is a treasure trove that also has found a new owner in Camberwell.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">With the help of the Friends of Victor Melder Library Group (FVMLG), Victor is rest assured that his collection for the community is in good hands at a new location donated by La Moneta Foundation and the Aultun Group, where administrative tasks will also be handled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Victor has called for the donation of books to continue: \u201cMy hope is that this legacy continues and generations to come will oversee the maintenance and the richness of such a collection dating back to the three eras of occupation from the 15<sup>th<\/sup> Century and comprising a vast anthology of Lanka, Taprobane, Serendib, Ceylon and contemporary Sri Lanka publications. So, if you wish to research, review background, or simply be enchanted by history then make an appointment and drop by.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">The FVMLG has spent three months organising the relocation from Broadmeadows to Cheltenham \u2013 including packing, transporting, building shelves, restacking the books and other publications. More work is required to catalogue the collection, and judging by the interest at the lunch we are assured of securing some new volunteers including Chris Drieberg, Jeremy de Lima and Yasmin Wijekulasuriya.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Philanthropist Beverley Pinder OAM said: \u201cWith funding required to purchase shelving, cataloguing and a website publishing of a searchable catalogue of these priceless contents, donations at any time will be greatly appreciated, particularly leading into the end of the tax year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Hosted by Hugh\u2019s son, Sumal, the afternoon\u2019s most poignant quote came from his father, the \u00a0former Chair of the Ceylon Society:\u00a0 \u201cYou can\u2019t deal with the future without understanding your past.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">All tax deductible donations can be sent to:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">La Moneta Foundation,<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Ref: VMSLL<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">BSB: 083166 Account No: 204678470<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">La Moneta Foundation Ltd is auspicing the receipt of funds and providing tax deductibility for such precious preservation of history.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Further information and visits to the Victor Melder Sri Lanka Library, please contact Hemal Gurusinghe on 0427 725 740 or email \u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"mailto:hemguru@hotmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hemguru@hotmail.com<\/a>. All volunteers, visitors and book donors are always welcome at any convenient time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vmsl-library.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.vmsl-library.com<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-148871 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Victor-Melder-and-Hugh-Karunanayake-honoured-for-their-lifetime-work-in-preserving-histor-1-e1739188568707.jpg\" alt=\"\u00a0Victor Melder and Hugh Karunanayake honoured for their lifetime work in preserving history - By Beverley Pinde\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><strong>High Karunanayake with grandsons Jamie (left) and Miles (right).<\/strong><\/span><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-148878 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Victor-Melder-and-Hugh-Karunanayake-honoured-for-their-lifetime-work-in-preserving-histor-8-e1739188754912.jpg\" alt=\"\u00a0Victor Melder and Hugh Karunanayake honoured for their lifetime work in preserving history - By Beverley Pinde\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Hugh with Dr Srilal Fernando \u2013 a combined love of antiquarian books<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-148877 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Victor-Melder-and-Hugh-Karunanayake-honoured-for-their-lifetime-work-in-preserving-histor-7-e1739188741188.jpg\" alt=\"\u00a0Victor Melder and Hugh Karunanayake honoured for their lifetime work in preserving history - By Beverley Pinde\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Drumming up volunteer support: Beverley Pinder OAM with Yasmin Vitekulasuriya and Jeremy Di Lima<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-148876 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Victor-Melder-and-Hugh-Karunanayake-honoured-for-their-lifetime-work-in-preserving-histor-6-e1739188727737.jpg\" alt=\"\u00a0Victor Melder and Hugh Karunanayake honoured for their lifetime work in preserving history - By Beverley Pinde\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Hemal Gurusinghe and Chris Drieberg talk through priorities with the relocated \u00a0Victor Melder Library<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-148875 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Victor-Melder-and-Hugh-Karunanayake-honoured-for-their-lifetime-work-in-preserving-histor-5-e1739188714861.jpg\" alt=\"\u00a0Victor Melder and Hugh Karunanayake honoured for their lifetime work in preserving history - By Beverley Pinde\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Claremont de la Zilva with Hugh Karunanayake<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-148874 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Victor-Melder-and-Hugh-Karunanayake-honoured-for-their-lifetime-work-in-preserving-histor-4-e1739188700214.jpg\" alt=\"\u00a0Victor Melder and Hugh Karunanayake honoured for their lifetime work in preserving history - By Beverley Pinde\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Acting Consul General Aruna Devendra paints a vivid picture for guests of the of the possible meeting of two great bibliophiles<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-148872 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Victor-Melder-and-Hugh-Karunanayake-honoured-for-their-lifetime-work-in-preserving-histor-2-e1739188584626.jpg\" alt=\"\u00a0Victor Melder and Hugh Karunanayake honoured for their lifetime work in preserving history - By Beverley Pinde\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-148873 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Victor-Melder-and-Hugh-Karunanayake-honoured-for-their-lifetime-work-in-preserving-histor-3-e1739188683974.jpg\" alt=\"\u00a0Victor Melder and Hugh Karunanayake honoured for their lifetime work in preserving history - By Beverley Pinde\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\">Victor Melder \u2013 honoured and filled with humility \u2013 50 years of collecting the history of Ceylon and Sri Lanka and its people \u2013 a rare feat and a big show to being community-minded.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-148880 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/OLD-LIBRARY-AND-NEW-LIBRARY-1-scaled-e1739189296876.jpg\" alt=\"OLD LIBRARY AND NEW LIBRARY\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\">OLD LIBRARY\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-148879 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/OLD-LIBRARY-AND-NEW-LIBRARY-2-scaled-e1739189245869.jpg\" alt=\"OLD LIBRARY AND NEW LIBRARY\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\">NEW LIBRARY\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><em><a style=\"color: #800000;\" href=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/elanka-newsletter-sign-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly\u00a0to\u00a0your\u00a0inbox!<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HISTORY, BOOK ENDED BY TWO NONAGENARIANS\u00a0 \u00a0&#8211; By Beverley Pinder OAM Take one bright and sunny Sunday afternoon in Melbourne; add two stalwarts who have given the best part of their lives preserving Ceylon and Sri Lanka culture for readers and those with a fervent thirst for matters antiquarian including the tomes that captured the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":148879,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[76786,76789,76784,76788,68866,76791,76785,76787,76790,1396],"class_list":{"0":"post-148870","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-aside","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"tag-ceylon-cultural-preservation","9":"tag-ceylon-society-melbourne","10":"tag-hugh-karunanayake-history-collection","11":"tag-sri-lankan-book-donations","12":"tag-sri-lankan-community-melbourne","13":"tag-sri-lankan-historical-publications","14":"tag-sri-lankan-history-melbourne","15":"tag-sri-lankan-library-cheltenham","16":"tag-victor-melder-library-relocation","17":"tag-victor-melder-sri-lanka-library","18":"post_format-post-format-aside"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Victor Melder Sri Lanka Library - By Beverley Pinder<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"HISTORY, BOOK ENDED BY TWO NONAGENARIANS By Beverley Pinder OAMTake one bright and sunny Sunday afternoon in Melbourne; 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