Captain Elmo Jayawardena’s life story spans both the lofty heights of aviation and the grounded realities of humanitarian service. Renowned not only for his piloting prowess but also for his literary contributions, Jayawardena’s journey illuminates the boundless possibilities of passion, perseverance, and purpose.
Born into humble beginnings, Captain Elmo’s path to the skies was not easy. Faced with academic challenges, including failing his OL exams twice, he set out on a journey marked by resilience and determination, overcoming setbacks and difficulties. He sought opportunities to learn and grow, eventually finding his calling in aviation.
“I actually failed the OL exam twice. Passed the third time with great difficulty. I went to St. Sebastian’s College in Moratuwa and I am very good at sports. I even got the opportunity to become the indoor sports champion. After passing the third time exam, I wanted to do some jobs and learn more while helping our family. I never lost my desire to learn.”
Despite his initial struggles, Jayawardena’s indomitable spirit propelled him forward. Starting with clerical jobs that barely sustained him, he seized the chance to pursue his passion for flying when an opportunity arose at Air Ceylon. Fueled by mentors who selflessly supported his aspirations, he earned his pilot’s license through perseverance and dedication.
“The first job I got was a clerical job at Brown’s. From that, I received a daily salary of 2.14 rupees. That was the year 1965. I was 17 years old. While doing this job, I got a clerical position at Carson’s Cumberbatch Company. That gave me a fixed salary of 215 rupees per month. While doing this job, I saw an advertisement in the newspaper asking for stewards of Air Ceylon. I applied for that too. Got that job too. I think I was lucky to get that. Its salary is 415 rupees. Now instead of 215 salary, I got 415 rupees. Later, I worked at Ratmalana Airport, where there were private pilot training schools. While staying there, I developed a desire to fly aeroplanes.”
“At that time, we received basic training in flight training school. We had two types of planes to train in. One was 35 rupees per flight hour. The other is 45 rupees per hour. 45 rupees was a big amount those days. My monthly salary was only 415 rupees. I had to save for home necessities as well. So, instead of the 45 rupees plane, I practice in the cheap one.”
“One day, one of my mentors, Mr. Levy, who is a great gentleman though very strict, asked me why I always used the cheaper plane instead of the better one. I told him even if I would like to use the good plane it was too expensive for me. From then on, Mr. Levy being the gentleman he is let me drive the good plane for 35 rupees. I think it was a great sacrifice he made.”
Captain Jayawardena, seeking new horizons abroad, later joined Singapore Airlines as an instructor flight captain. Over nearly two decades, he honed his expertise while imparting knowledge to future aviators. Yet, his heart remained tethered to his homeland, inspiring him to channel his success towards uplifting his compatriots.
In 1995, Jayawardena and his wife, Dilrukshi, embarked on a philanthropic endeavour that would illuminate countless lives across Sri Lanka. Through Candle Aid, they provided vital assistance to marginalized communities, supporting cancer and kidney patients, establishing libraries, and aiding families facing economic hardship.
“CandleAid is the most important thing I did in my life. The organization helps people in need, irrespective of what race they belong to and which God they worship. We may not have moved mountains, but we did level a few anthills through the years. There were many Starfish we picked from the beach and threw back into the sea. Do think about it. You, too, may be able to save a Starfish or two.”
Innovating beyond conventional boundaries, Captain Elmo’s commitment to education extended to a WhatsApp English class. When he could not speak a word of English during the early days of his career, Captain Elmo understood the importance of learning and teaching the English language, which prompted him to start this innovative class system. Through structured guidance and group collaboration, he empowered students from diverse backgrounds to overcome linguistic barriers and master the language.
“One of them is a young man living in Embilipitiya and studying law at Jaffna University, ‘I used not to be able to speak a word of English. I joined Captain Elmo sir’s class. It is a group activity through WhatsApp. There are leaders in this class. They give us several assignments a week. Accordingly, we must learn 25 new English words weekly and write an essay. Also, one chapter of an English book should be read in a week. In addition, we are provided with English-speaking colleagues. They are called Talk Mates. They voluntarily talk to us in a very friendly manner. At least 41 minutes of conversation per week with these people should be done in English. When we talk to them, our fear of English disappears automatically; with some of them, we talk for about 200 minutes a week. In any case, discipline is very important in this WhatsApp English course. The group project should be done on time. The relevant assignments must be completed on time. When we worked like this, our English language ability automatically improved.'”
Apart from his excellent career and philanthropic work, Captain Elmo is a renowned writer, although his main career is as a pilot. He is the author of the books, “Kakyan” won the National Literary Award, and “Sam’s Story” won the Gratiaen Prize, proving his incredible talents that reign both in land and sky.
Today, Captain Jayawardena’s days are a testament to his unwavering dedication to physical fitness and humanitarian service. Balancing morning runs, boating on the Bolgoda River, and basketball with the youth of Moratuwa, he remains deeply engaged in initiatives aimed at bettering society.
“I run about seven kilometres every morning. If I feel like it, I go to the river and ride a boat. Sometimes, I go to Moratuwa and play basketball with the youth there. The rest of the time, I spent researching the work we are doing for the sake of less fortunate people in this country while also looking into the newly started English classes. I still teach the pilots about the aircraft technique when needed. It is easy to open a sky machine, but it is not as easy as you think to do something for the people living in poverty in this country. That is how my usual daily life is, always growing, learning, teaching and giving back to the people.”
Captain Elmo Jayawardena’s journey shows the transformative power of resilience, integrity, and altruism. From soaring through the skies to grounding himself in community upliftment, he continues to inspire generations with his unwavering commitment to making the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.
-Sachinthani Ketakumbura
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