James Christopher Benjamin Mihindukulasuriya

QUEENSBURY * James Christopher Benjamin Mihindukulasuriya, 88, of Garrison Road, went into the loving arms of the Lord, on Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on Oct. 2, 1918, in Negombo, Sri Lanka, he was the son of the late Anthony and Mary Margaret Fernando.

James was a civil servant and retired at the age of 72 as chief administrative officer of Central Engineering Construction Bureau. Prior to that, he was deputy director of the Highways Department and deputy director of the Buildings Department in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

After 64 wonderful years of marriage to his wife, Florence Mihindukulasuriya, she passed away on April 16, 2004.

James formerly lived in Colombo, Sri Lanka and came to visit family in America in 2006 and was planning to return to Sri Lanka in October of this year.

He was a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. James was a devoted Catholic and a daily communicant. He was a loving, caring father who devoted his time and energy to his children and their education.

James was an excellent musician, who played for the Colombo Symphony Orchestra. From 2005 to 2006, he was a volunteer English teacher at Boys Town in Nawalapitiya, Sri Lanka.

Besides his parents and wife, he was predeceased by two brothers and four sisters.

He is survived by seven children: Virgil Mihindukulasuriya and his wife, Jacintha, of Sri Lanka, Yvonne Saparemadu and her husband, Aloy, of Sri Lanka, Dr. Joseph Mihindu and his wife, Elaine, of Queensbury, Father Tyrone S.J. of Sri Lanka, Marina Jayasinghe and her husband, Lakshman, of Los Angles, Calif., Sweenitha Fernando and her husband, Patricious, of Colombo, Sri Lanka and Mercia Perera and her husband, Lalith of Sri Lanka; 18 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 73/15 Sri Saranankankara Place, Dehiwala, Sri Lanka, under the direction of A.F. Raymonds Funeral Parlor, Columbo 8, Sri Lanka.

Memorial donations may be made to Mother Theresa Orphanage, Colombo 13, Sri Lanka.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main Street in Hudson Falls.