{"id":38525,"date":"2015-02-14T06:43:37","date_gmt":"2015-02-14T11:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=38525"},"modified":"2015-02-14T06:49:38","modified_gmt":"2015-02-14T11:49:38","slug":"kalyana-ranasinghe-way-new-york-city-street-renamed-after-sri-lankan-american-hero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=38525","title":{"rendered":"“Kalyana Ranasinghe Way”: New York City street renamed after Sri Lankan American hero"},"content":{"rendered":"

via US Embassy, Colombo, Sri Lanka<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

F<\/strong>or the first time in history, a road in the United States has been named after a person from Sri Lanka. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently named a street \u2018Kalyana Ranasinghe Way\u2019 to honor Mr. Kalyana Ranasinghe, a Sri Lankan American who died on duty working for the New York City Traffic Police last November. He was memorialized by the Police Commissioner in a touching tribute<\/p>\n

\"Kalyana<\/a>

Kalyana Ranasinghe<\/p><\/div>
\n
\nNews Report from NY Day News – Nov 2013:<\/em><\/p>\n

NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly eulogizes traffic agent Kalyanarat Ranasinghe at funeral<\/p>\n

\"Police<\/a>

Police pallbearers carry the coffin of Kalyanarat Ranasinghe, 71, an NYPD traffic enforcement agent killed on the job-pic: MICHAEL SCHWARTZ -courtesy: NY Daily News<\/p><\/div>\n

The 71-year-old Sri Lankan had a calming effect on everyone who met him, Kelly said.<\/p>\n

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly eulogized a traffic enforcement agent Saturday killed on the job as a calm presence amid the tumult of the city\u2019s endless gridlock.<\/p>\n

Friends, family and dozens of traffic agents mourned the death of Kalyanarat Ranasinghe, 71, who was run over by an industrial vacuum truck on Nov. 30 as it pulled out of a parking space in MIdtown Manhattan. The driver was not charged.<\/p>\n

Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio attended the two-hour funeral service at Ortiz Funeral Home in the Parkchester section of the Bronx. Mayor Bloomberg was scheduled to appear at the services but was a no-show.<\/p>\n

“He was very well respected and people said he had sort of an inner calm, which is at the core of the Buddhist religion,” Kelly said after the ceremony.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe came to this country to help his daughter with her education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ranasinghe, a Sri Lankan immigrant, was a telecommunications engineer in his native country before moving to the United States with his wife and daughter in August, 2001.<\/p>\n

As his casket draped with an NYPD flag was loaded into a hearse NYPD trumpeters played \u201cTaps\u201d and a police helicopter flew low over the mourners lined up in the bitter cold.<\/p>\n

NYPD Inspector Thomas Byrnes folded the flag and presented it to Ranasinghe\u2019s wife Dammika, 67, who, along with her 40-year-old daughter, Dimuthu, broke down in tears.<\/p>\n

Kelly said Ranasinghe, a six-year traffic enforcement agent, had a calming effect on everyone he encountered.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis peaceful temperament helped him to succeed in a challenging job that can be difficult, demanding and dangerous,\u201d Kelly said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m told he was very proud of the fact that the people he issued summonses to never yelled or cursed at him. Some even thanked him for the ticket!\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelly added that Ranasinghe \u201chad the stamina of traffic enforcement agents half his age,\u201d and that after only 18 months on the job he was promoted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe public doesn’t always hear about the fine work of our traffic enforcement agents, but they feel the effect of that work every day,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cIt’s what enables 8.4 million people to travel through the city safely and peacefully. \u201c<\/p>\n

A Bloomberg spokesman did not respond to an inquiry regarding the reason for his absence.<\/p>\n

With Annie Karni | ebadia@nydailynews.com <\/p>\n

\"Kalyanarat<\/a>

Kalyanarat Ranasinghe’s wife, Dammika, broke down in tears as she received the NYPD flag that had been draped over his casket. Ranasinghe’s daughter, Dimuthu, grieved at her side-pic by: MICHAEL SCHWARTZ – courtesy: NY Daily News<\/p><\/div>\n

The following is the full text of Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly’s eulogy for traffic enforcement agent Kalyanarat Ranasinghe, delivered at Ortiz Funeral Home at 2121 Westchester Ave. in the Bronx.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To Kalyana\u2019s wife, Damika; to his daughter, Dimuthu; to the many friends and family members gathered here today and to his fellow traffic enforcement agents, on behalf of the New York City Police Department, I extend my deepest condolences to you.<\/p>\n

The Buddhist master Atisha observed that \u201cThe greatest achievement is selflessness; the greatest patience is humility; and the greatest quality is seeking to serve others.\u201d These are the tenants by which Kalyana lived his life. Talk to anyone who worked with him, and they will tell you, he was helpful, kind, and compassionate. Above all, he was completely devoted to his family.<\/p>\n

He came to this country with his wife in 2001 to be with their daughter and to support her education. The three of them did everything together. Whether it was worshiping at the temple, attending Damika\u2019s art exhibitions, or traveling the globe, they were inseparable.<\/p>\n

To better provide for them, Kalyana joined the Police Department as a traffic enforcement agent in 2006. Right away, he impressed his supervisors with his energy, drive and work ethic. Every morning, he commuted by subway to his base in Manhattan. He never arrived late and rarely called in sick. Within 18 months of his appointment, he was promoted to Traffic Enforcement Agent Level II. And, a few weeks ago, he took the test to become a supervisor and did extremely well.<\/p>\n

At 71 years old, Kalyana had the stamina of traffic enforcement agents half his age, even volunteering to work overtime on his days off. His peaceful temperament helped him to succeed in a challenging job that can be difficult, demanding and dangerous. On the hottest days of summer and the coldest days of winter, he patrolled midtown Manhattan, issuing summonses for the kind of dangerous infractions that impede the flow of traffic: double-parked cars, blocked traffic lanes, and bus stops. When called upon, he also helped to direct vehicles through busy intersections.<\/p>\n

Like, all traffic agents, he often had to deal with individuals who were angry and reluctant to cooperate. But Kalyana had a knack for dealing with people. He treated them with respect and he was repaid in kind. I\u2019m told he was very proud of the fact that the people he issued summonses to never yelled or cursed at him. Some even thanked him for the ticket!<\/p>\n

The public doesn\u2019t always hear about the fine work of our traffic enforcement agents, but they feel the effect of that work every day. It\u2019s what enables 8.4 million people to travel through the city safely and peacefully.<\/p>\n

The fact is Kalyana was part of an outstanding team that has driven traffic fatalities to their lowest levels since 1910, an astounding, historic achievement. New York City would not be all the things we celebrate: safe, prosperous, and dynamic twenty-four hours a day, without the contributions of our traffic enforcement agents. Kalyana will always be remembered as a tremendously valued member of this team. But most of all, I believe, he will be remembered for his kindness and humility.<\/p>\n

Let us give thanks for the numerous acts by which Kalyana made our world a better, safer place. Our hearts go out today to his family. On behalf of the New York City Police Department, we express our deepest sympathy to you and our gratitude for sharing Kalyana with us. May he live on in the hearts and good deeds of all who knew him. (Courtesy: NY DailyNews)<\/em><\/p>\n

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via US Embassy, Colombo, Sri Lanka For the first time in history, a road in the United States has been named after a person from Sri Lanka. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently named a street \u2018Kalyana Ranasinghe Way\u2019 to honor Mr. Kalyana Ranasinghe, a Sri Lankan American who died on duty working …<\/p>\n

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