By Chandrasena Maliyadde The recent demise of Professor N.D. Samarawickrama – affectionately known as Samare to his Peradeniya friends – was sudden and shocking and caused enormous grief. He was hale and hearty; he advised us to keep safe from COVID-19. Alas! Ironically, he himself finally became a victim. Early days Professor Samarawickrama was born in 1943 at Mederipitiya, a beautiful village, bordering UNESCO heritage site – the “Sinharaja” rainforest. He was the “Loku Ayya” to his five brothers and four sisters born to R.D. Samarawickrama, village headman and Laura Senanayake. Samare was p…