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| Thursday, 1 May 2003 |
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Features | |
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10th death anniversary of President Ranasinghe Premadasa : The lost decade by B. Sirisena Cooray, Chairman, The Premadasa Centre
The sound of the explosion which killed President Premadasa on May 1st 1993 heralded not just the death of one man but of an entire nation. On April 30th 1993 Sri Lanka was a land of promise, not just for a handful of powerful and well connected but mainly for the absolute majority of the people, people neglected and marginalized for centuries because of birth and economic conditions. In the Premadasa years the have-nots had something, not just economic benefits and opportunities, but a sense of dignity and hope for the future. 10 years later Sri Lanka is a dying land dying of inefficiency, of inconsideration, of inaction on the part of the rulers and despair on the part of the ruled. The only way forward for this country is the continuation of the Premadasa policies and programmes, especially in the sphere of development. But his path was abandoned by his successors even before his mortal remains were cremated and never reclaimed to this day. Is it surprising that Sri Lanka lost its way? A sense of disquiet about the state of our country has been my constant companion since the death of my leader and friend Ranasinghe Premadasa. It was when I re-visited the Maligawatte hospital which was built by Mr. Premadasa in the late 1960s I realized the magnitude of the defeat our country has suffered in the decade since the assassination of President Premadasa. For the last 10 years this hospital which is situated in the heart of Colombo and in the most populous electorate in the country, was neglected and its urgent appeals for help mostly ignored. Its plight was symbolic of the rut Sri Lanka has fallen into since the death of President Premadasa, of the lack of concern about the fate of the country and the lives of the people displayed by the leaders who succeeded him. Adjacent to the hospital was a community centre built by Mr. Premadasa. The PA government pulled it down supposedly to build a kidney transplant facility funded by the President's Fund. Today that land lies bare except for some debris, another casualty of the abandoned war against poverty, hunger and disease. I decided that the 10th death anniversary of President Premadasa should be commemorated in a Premadasaist way - by doing something for the people he loved, the people he worked for all his life. And by proving, as he did throughout his life that where there is a will there is a way; that financial problems need not be an obstacle to development work if leaders are committed, innovative and efficient. What better place for that than Maligawatte, the city he caused to be created out of a mire, the location of the first Premadasa development miracle. We began the reconstruction and the renovation of the Maligawatte hospital on February 14th. And we gave ourselves a deadline, that everything would be completed by May 1st. The cooperation of all concerned, the politicians, the bureaucrats, the hospital staff, the members, friends and well-wishers of the Premadasa Centre and the people of the area, has enabled us to fulfil that task. The dedication and commitment to work I witnessed in the implementation of this project prove that the critical ingredient that is missing is leadership - the kind of innovative, motivating leadership provided by Mr. Premadasa all his life. The problem is not the lack of resources. It is the lack of ideas, of a vision of commitment. We were able to have a development miracle under President Premadasa, despite the enormous damage caused to the country and the economy by the JVP and despite the war because President Premadasa had a clear vision about what should be done and an iron will to implement it notwithstanding the obstacles. No government can do what has to be done if it has no idea as to what should be done; if it lacks the correct priorities; if there is an absence of commitment. Some years ago, the Premadasa Centre prepared a detailed national plan for the country, dealing with the main problems and offering concrete solutions. Today there is an even greater need for such a plan. Use the Pradesheeya Sabhas and the Provincial Councils as the basic unit. Identify the problems and identify the resources at these two levels. Then identify ways in which the resources can be utilized to address the problems. At the end of it there will be a comprehensive national plan capable of dealing with some of the urgent issues of the country and the people. This was what we planned to do through the Mihintale Gam Udawa in 1993. Mihintale as we know is located in the agricultural heartland of this country. Our plan was to turn the facilities we put up for the Gam Udawa into a fully equipped storage centre for the agricultural produce of the area, from paddy to vegetables. That way we could have guaranteed the farmers a decent price for their products and avoided the sudden upheavals in the prices of agricultural products by releasing them to the market in a planned manner, thus avoiding both shortages and gluts. But the assassination of President Premadasa killed that project, just as it killed the entire development effort of the country. Whenever I read and hear about seasonal upheavals in prices of agricultural products, of farmers who give up farming because they cannot earn a living from it, I remember that plan of ours which could not be implemented. As I said the problem is not the lack of resources but the lack of ideas, of commitment. Advertisements are not ideas. Speeches do not denote commitment. And you can fool the people with neither. Because they know, they feel, every time they try to make ends meet, every time they use a public facility. And their patience is wearing thin, especially when they see how the politicians of all parties pamper themselves and their kith and kin at the expense of the country. When they see that the money that is not available for the continuation of President Premadasa's free school uniforms programme is available to import luxury vehicles for all the parliamentarians. Or when they see the growing gap between the haves and the have-nots. Such a situation cannot continue. It is fertile breeding ground for hatred and violence. If we do not move now, the South will once again be turned into a killing field. It is doubtful whether our country and our democratic system can survive yet another social upheaval. That is why I think Mr. Premadasa would have appreciated the method we chose to commemorate his 10th death anniversary. For the last 10 years the Premadasa Centre waged a lonely struggle to honour the memory of President Premadasa. That was a time when his own party abandoned his name and his legacy. The PA and the JVP uttered a million lies to denigrate his memory. In June 1997 I was even imprisoned unfairly, on trumped-up charges to prevent the commemoration of the birth anniversary of the late President. I remember with gratitude all those who stood with us during those long years. And I am happy that the Government has at last decided that Ranasinghe Premadasa, the second executive President of Sri Lanka, deserves to be commemorated with a State ceremony. But the best way of honouring Ranasinghe Premadasa is to reclaim his abandoned legacy. Today the South is being neglected in the name of peace. History shows us that an upheaval in the South can wreak more havoc than the war in the North. That is why time is of essence. After 7 years of inefficiency and bungling by the PA the people of this country voted for the UNP expecting some relief from the immense economic burdens imposed on them by a Government which did not concern itself with the well-being of the people. That hope is no more. More and more we hear the refrain, sometimes in anger and more often in despair - they are all alike. That is because the one year of UNF administration has brought no relief to the masses. In fact the economic burdens on the people increased during this time and the indications are that this trend will continue. The cessation of the war is certainly a positive development. But there is a growing sense of fear that this Government is mishandling the peace just as the previous Government mishandled the war. And unfortunately the Government has not succeeded in addressing these growing anxieties of the masses. This is dangerous since these anxieties can be used by various extremist elements to create disturbances in the South and divide our society even further along racial and religious lines. The Government has staked everything on peace. There are no fall-back options, no development project, no pro-people programmes. If the peace process fails, the Government will fail since that is the only thing the Government has going for it. The South is yet to see even a glimpse of the much talked about 'peace dividend'. Instead of the expected dynamism we see stagnation. The country is at a standstill with no economic progress, no improvement in the living conditions of the masses. No wonder people are losing hope. There is only one way out - the policies and programmes of Ranasinghe Premadasa. He demonstrated how a poor, war-torn country can achieve economic growth without placing burdens on the already overburdened people and without selling every single national asset for short-term gain. That is because he believed that "development in any sense should help people live" and knew that only such a development can strengthen the democratic system. Reclaiming the Premadasa legacy and with it our future as a just and prospering nation would be the best way of honouring this great leader who dedicated his life for the advancement of his country and his people. ########### A tribute to President Premadasa Ten years ago, Sri Lanka lost a very great son of the state Punctuality was the keynote during his time Industries flourished the country prospered Do or get out, was a reality in force An impeachment there was the opposition's at any cost - Vinitha Karunaratne. ########### 10th death anniversary of President Ranasinghe Premadasa President Ranasinghe Premadasa - My Minister by Prasanna Gunawardena As I write to commemorate the 10th death anniversary of the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa, what comes to my mind first are unfortunately the words he spoke in what was to be his last public address - "Assassinate me if you want to, but do not assassinate my character which I have protected and safeguarded since my childhood". Great leaders are men of character and President Premadasa was amongst the greatest men to have led our country. His leadership was based on a clear vision, purpose and an unwavering commitment. Having worked in the Urban Development Authority under which many of President Premadasa's important programs were carried out, I was privileged to witness first hand President Premadasa's dedication towards the goal of developing the country and uplifting the living standards of the poor. Before I had experienced Mr. Premadasa's leadership, I had thought that a City Planner is one who by definition is rarely gifted with the privilege of experiencing the fruits of his work during his lifetime. At that time I had no experience of Singapore, Shanghai or KL, which fully transformed in a single generation. There was Paris, London and many others, which changed with additions and interventions through centuries, and also the metropolises of the third world in which no City Planner harboured hope of quick fixes to come out of the deep quagmire. I soon found that such stereotype would not apply to Colombo under (Prime) Minister Premadasa. Colombo was always cosmopolitan, though it did not have the ingredients of a big time city. It was in most part clean and orderly - leisurely and not quite vibrant - a garden city in which citizens lived and worked in harmony. That was the picture, until later in President Premadasa's machinery of change the wider realities of another part of Colombo - poorer, undeserved and underprivileged unfolded, with its stark realities that really mattered only to one person, President Ranasinghe's Premadasa. His vision for change in Colombo went beyond what most of his contemporaries in Cabinet had envisioned - transforming Colombo into a modern City - which as the Minister in Charge he ensured was achieved by his "machine". But clearly the Premadasa vigor and passion was in pushing through his own programs to remove the squalor and stop decay in the "other" Colombo, which after him unfortunately stands unmatched in either vision or sense of purpose. Prime Minister Premadasa ensured that priority programs of the Government as had been assigned to his Ministry were carried out properly and with due priority by the relevant Departments, Boards and Corporations under his charge. The first phase of the development of Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte with the successful completion of the Parliament building and large road and infrastructure systems were completed. Colombo's new business centre was strategically implemented at Echelon Square. The Colombo Hilton and other luxury hotels were enabled and their establishment carried forward to successful completion. The Superior Courts Complex was built. Private sector property development such as that of George Stuarts in the Beira Lake area were enabled and actively encouraged. Colombo's skyline was changed. At the same time he vigorously carried out other programs according to his "big picture" to improve the lives and living conditions of the poor. In Colombo he carried forward a program for the construction of flats he had pioneered during his first tenure of ministerial office at Maligawatte which as is widely acknowledged was the largest ever to have been carried out in the City. Concurrently and systematically, President Premadasa promoted vigorously private sector home building, as a result of which banners and advertisements offering housing opportunities particularly to the middle class appeared for the first time in Colombo and surroundings in the mid eighties. His involvement and highly successful programs for improving the living conditions in Colombo's slums and shanties gave almost instant redress and hope to a large section of underprivileged who had been until then (and after him) existing by and large without due recognition of their needs, marginalized from Colombo's mainstream concerns. President Premadasa was the greatest of our leaders who patronized the local artists and arts. He pursued their cause relentlessly through programs to revive the traditions of the Tower Hall by the restoration of the landmark building and providing additional facilities at the re-developed Elphinston Theatre and the new Sarasavipaya adjacent to it. Numerous impoverished artists who had contributed a lifetime of service to the development of arts in the City, were beneficiaries of his programs, including dedicated housing to alleviate their hardships. Colombo, before the Premadasa touch, could not have by any means been considered a venue for regional and international sporting events as it is today if it had not been for President Premadasa's foresight and strong will to equip the City with suitable sporting venues in the redeveloped Sugathadasa Stadium, the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium and the flood-lit Kettarama Stadium in a sequential drive of tremendous momentum. President Premadasa as a devout Buddhist did his part for the religion as the country has always expected from its rulers. In Colombo he dedicated large number of sites for the development of religious places of worship - including facilitating the Chaithya next to the Colombo Hilton, which as a prominent landmark in the City, reminds visitors at arrival in Colombo that ours is a country steeped in the traditions of Buddhism. He pursued the revival of ancient sites of Buddhist worship restoring edifices which had been left untouched as impossible tasks with greatest care and personal supervision - the re-erection of the Maligawila Buddha statue being one of such feats. His passion to revitalize sacred areas saw them emerging from oblivion, attracting throngs of devotees year round from all parts of the country. The Sacred Area of Kandy was developed, embellished with the addition of a golden canopy for the Sacred Dalada Maligawa, done with utmost care for details under President Premadasa's cautious supervision to add to the serenity of one of the most pious treasures of Sri Lanka and world heritage. The Kataragama Sacred Area was systematically transformed into what probably is one of world's best religious park environments. President Premadasa was an exceptional leader who fully and completely understood the tremendous resource in the poor and underprivileged for (self) improvement and targeted and harnessed such resources to achieve qualitative and quantitative advancement of society. His Janasaviya was all about that. It was such understanding that gave him the drive to later harness the latent energies of small businesses and local entrepreneurship to promote local industry and achieve high level of economic activity in spite of civil unrest and ongoing war situation at the time. President Premadasa's strategies were derived from his rich and varied experiences as a committed social worker, a hardened politician, and an astute strategist and most of all from being a self-made man through a lifetime of disciplined hard work. They were based on the deep understanding of strengths of society, the nature of machinery of government, virtues of disciplined and hard work and the strength of his leadership. As (Prime) Minister and President, he was unmistakably and every moment the "Commander in-Chief". Every poor and underprivileged community "touched" by President Premadasa started liberating inherent energies, identifying and harnessing hidden and hitherto unidentified resources. They were awakened into community action for self-improvement with minimal but meaningful outside inputs. Communities in slums and shanties in Colombo and other towns and landless village communities all over the country were vexed into action to improve and or build their homes harnessing their meager financial resources and supplementing them with their energies and limited though critical resources of the government. Donor interests not excluding contributions of philanthropists and private sector enterprises, all inspired into and organised under President Premadasa's drive and leadership helped. He gave confidence to the broad segments of the economy and provided hope and encouragement for the poor, under privileged and a wide assortment of interest groups in the country through innumerable programs he innovated, created, developed and fostered always responding to widely different needs, situations and conditions. President Premadasa was always spick and span, well groomed and as a rule in immaculate attire. His ways were regimented. Everything around him was in line with him, nothing out of place. He had neither whims nor fancies - only the real thing. There was no make belief - only the real truth. What he would say, want, and do, was always to be expected. There were no surprises from him - only surprises of one's own miscalculations! His was a precise world. It was a world that ticked to his time with there being always ample time. There was always a beginning and an end with substance in between - nothing abrupt, nothing unfinished. The path to achieve was clearly mapped. There was always a way - his way, which anyone could follow only if ready to strive, work hard and achieve. President Premadasa maximized the use of government machinery by minimizing opportunities for lethargy and inaction. Under him, the only obligation of the bureaucracy was to serve the people. Loyalty to the master was not counted upon. The bureaucracy operated well synchronized in hierarchic harmony dedicated only to achievement. President Premadasa did not depend on mere talent, but used talent. For him abilities mattered over qualifications and performance over experience with plenty of quality tasks all the time for every one. There was no talk - no nonsense - no way that he could be fooled, at least not for long. He was a respecter of rules and regulations. He knew them all by-heart and was also apt in identifying and using opportunities for action inherent in them. For him the machinery of government was for running of government and not to be left to idle. His was a regime of constant innovation of ways and means of getting a job done - of kick starting the machinery and keeping it ruining - even after the job is done! The methods Mr. Premadasa adopted were down to earth and based on home truths - devoid of dogma. They were simple and easily understood by those who needed to and cared to understand them. Wide segments of the population did care. The methods were always people-centred, directed towards harnessing resources of the people to provide the drive for group and community action for self-improvement. His was an inclusive world. It was a world in which everyone mattered with no exclusions. There were neither doers nor recipients. Everyone was a stakeholder, a beneficiary, collectively liberating in community action latent energies with abundance of effervescence. It was the melting pot of processes of unprecedented accelerated socio-economic progress. President Premadasa cared for his country and his peoples every moment of his eventful life, which was taken away in what was to the millions that were touched by such care the shock of a lifetime. As we commemorate him on his 10th death anniversary, let us dedicate ourselves to care for one another and thus strengthen the ongoing peace process. May President Premadasa attain Nibbana!(The writer is Mayor of Colombo.) ########### 10th death anniversary of President Ranasinghe Premadasa : Remembrance of an era in political prosperity by Miran Perera We have problems, daunting problems. There are still a few residual pockets of conflict and violence. Also as an immediate result of the steps we have taken fundamentally to re-structure our economy the cost of living is rising. How true our late President Premadasa's words sound today. He was of the view that our resources have to be spread very thinly because of the demands of re-habilitation and reconstruction. During his time Premadasa explained that the potential for social unrest and conflict is still very much with us and what we have been able to put together at such great cost is still very fragile. According to President Premadasa it is easy to be moralistic and judgemental, yet it is much more difficult to understand. In Sri Lanka the ethnic groups who comprise it, its leaders and politicians, have been partly the helpless victims of a history and of a global economic system over which they have no control. Premadasa further stated when others judge us from outside, let them take a larger historical and global perspective. Then perhaps condemnation may turn to understanding, and sympathy. President Premadasa always espoused that then prevalent system should change. He said we are always prepared to change our policies and programmes to suit the needs of the era. From year to year we find new paths which can take us to progress. We are living in an ever changing world. But we have several basic principles of policy which prevails unchanged. Thereafter President Premadasa says with clarity: we remain steadfastly dedicated to safeguard our sovereignty, the territorial integrity of our country, the unitary state of our land, the franchise of the people and their right to elect their own representatives to rule them democratically. He further elaborates, provided these principles or policies remain safeguarded. We are prepared to change to suit the needs of any particular time taking into account the changes that take place around us and in the world. President Premadasa strictly adhered to the principles of democracy and this quality made him reveal that his understanding of democracy is more than merely holding elections as required under the Constitution. Democracy is more than that. For democracy to really work we must provide the maximum opportunities for the largest possible number of people to participate in the making of decisions that affect their lives. Democracy is about people. People must have access to the institutions that shape and implement policies. Democracy has gained greater strength by this representation and presence of an alternative party resulting in criticism. That is why if there is an opposition to government it should be an alternative party offering an alternative policy and we ought to be happy about the presence of such an alternative party. Commenting on the political party system prevalent in our country he said that this was evolved not to create conflicts and set man against man but to obtain alternative solutions. The parties can confine their difference to party principles. Due to political party differences conflicts arise and even good measures are opposed. Sometimes even bad acts are being supported. If such division and conflicts takes place because of political parties then we are using the party system not for development but for our own destruction. Human rights were a crucial issue in our country during President Premadasa's tenure of office but he speaks with honesty and transparency when questioned about human rights during that time. The people must have the right to speak any language, practice any custom, wear any dress, uphold any political philosophy and to support any political party they prefer. We must not infringe on any basic right of the people of this nature, if we understand the importance of this policy and follow it we would be able to make this country a much more happy and a much better place to live in, than we found it when we assumed power. By human rights I understand the rights of all human beings, to those opportunities for a full life, referred to in the UN Declaration on Human Rights. These rights have to be guaranteed firstly by the State. But the state along cannot guarantee them. They have also to be guaranteed by society as a whole. Likewise they can be threatened not only by the State. Segments of society also threaten them. Normally we think of the threat to human rights as coming only from the State. In this instance, human rights were being denied and trampled upon systematically by certain political groups who adopted violence and terror as an ideology. There were strong criticism of my government for failing to suppress these groups. Various political parties accused me of inaction, of inability to govern and of being afraid. Some even said that I was supporting some of these political groups. The international community spoke of the breakdown of government. I was told by some members of other parties govern or get out. They asked me why I was not using emergency powers. The violation of human rights by certain political groups said the former President reached such proportions that not only was the survival of my government at stake but the survival of the State itself and the very survival of society was seriously in question. It was under these circumstances that I reimposed a state of emergency and asked the law enforcement agencies to act. I did so reluctantly because I abhor violence. I believe in discussion, compromise and consensus. President Premadasa commenting about his party is of the view: Do not think that if we mete out favourable treatment to persons merely because they are considered party supporters and discriminate against others our party would be any the stronger. He explained that will never do good to our party. If that practice continues all sorts of people, relatives and friends of party people and even men of other parties, perhaps induced by bribery will be posed as party supporters. This can only lead to corruption. That will do more harm than good to the party. President Premadasa also emphasised the rights of the individual even when giving employment. He requested to strictly adhere to the basis of qualifications and other factors which make people eligible for selection. Then this just and fair policy of the party might impel more and more people to support the party. Even if that does not happen we must stick to that policy because it is a birthright of any person to be treated on a just human right basis by the government of this country. How does the ethnic problem viewed in the south? President Premadasa had a clear answer. I believe that among the vast majority of the Sinhala villages there never was an ethnic question. I do not think Premadasa says that our villagers ever thought of the minorities in a discriminatory way. For instance, for centuries, Sinhala and Tamil people have lived amicably in the Purana Villages of Vavuniya, Trincomalee and the Eastern Province. Moslem people have lived for centuries among the Kandyans without conflict. The ethnic question came up, partly because of the feelings of alienation among the vast majority of the Sinhala people. Sinhala villagers felt Premadasa says increasingly shut out from power and privilege which continued to be enjoyed by the few. These feelings of being denied access to a better life took on an ethnic character, when some of our leaders found it expedient to divert their emotions along ethnic lines. This caused untold damage and suffering to the whole nation. Premadasa continues: I think there is a wide spread realisation among the Sinhala people that their country belongs to all of the people who comprise Sri Lankan society. I think they realise that unless they are prepared to live in harmony with others who inhabit this land, their own existence is endangered. The rights of any section of the people should not be reduced because they are in a minority. Rights should be enjoyed by all on the basis of humanity. Whatever race, religion or party one belonged to one should enjoy the same human rights as others. It is in recognition of these policies that the UNP always got the support of the people whatever obstacles that are placed in its paths to progress. President Premadasa was someone who believed in the necessity to have a good character. He expounds his belief thus when he said: We very often have observed that some children though clever at learning begin to display weaknesses in their moral sense as they advance to youth. He says that is because they had not derived the strength that they could have derived from moral teachings in their young days. That is an essential foundation for a strong character. Even a minor incident of misfortune would be sufficient to excite and to unnerve a weak charactered person; make him forget the real aims of life and go astray. We are in a sense like trees that grow on the earth surface. A strong wind easily up roots trees which do not have roots sent sufficiently deep in to the soil, where as trees that have such roots stand firm, successfully facing up to it. We, therefore says Premadasa must be careful to provide our children with the moral fertilizer which is essential for them to develop strong moral roots. Good advice says Premadasa constitute the main components of this moral fertilizer which we could provide them with President Premadasa said: While we all deplore the violence there is no point in being moralistic and judgemental, of one side or of the other. Rather it is for us the living to understand the causes, the underlying causes and work towards their removal. It is not for us to point fingers or to score cheap debating points. Rather he says it is for us to see that we pull together to eliminate for all time the political, the social, the economic, the cultural, and indeed the spiritual roots that brought forth the terror. Premadasa continues, let them not forget that the dead and the living have been alike, often the helpless victims of forces far beyond their capacity to control. Premadasa said: We are now well and truly embarked on a great endeavour of reconstruction. The road is long and steep. But given a few years free from pettiness and sectarianism we will get there. As the famous English poet Christopher Marlowe stated it could be recalled of our late President R. Premadasa: It lies not in our power to love or hate, ########### HDFC
goal is to make Premadasa vision by A. Kandappa The Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) is pleased to associate itself with this tribute to former President Ranasinghe Premadasa on this 10th anniversary of his death. The late President laid great emphasis in the matter of housing and particularly housing for the poor. Coming as he does from the densely populated Colombo Central electorate, he knew of the dreams of the poor for decent shelter. He loved the poor and worked hard to enhance the physical quality of life of the less privileged. In this regard, he considered housing as a top priority area. This is evident from the high profile programmes he initiated "The million houses programme" and "Shelter for all". The HDFC too is an institution formed by him to provide finance for housing development especially focused on the low income groups. HDFC after incorporating in 1984 commenced commercial operations in 1985 and since then has successfully adhered to its core objective of serving the less privileged with housing finance. "The figures in the table provides evidence for our commitment towards the Low income group". He also said that the HDFC was successful in utilising 83 per cent of Rs. 976mn. of the total funding available under ADB Urban Development Low Income Housing Programme during the year 2002. HDFC General Manager Mr. C.A. Sarathchandra said that todate HDFC has provided 39,932 low interest bearing loans worth Rs. 5 billion. Whereas commercial banks have an inclination towards larger loans providing a greater interest factor, the HDFC concentrates on the Lower Income Groups where the margins are smaller. It is to be noted that the HDFC whilst serving the less privileged in large numbers at low rates of interest has been able to manage a fair return on capital invested progressively over the years. "Higher employee productivity" is one major factor which has contributed to its profitability and financial strength" Sarathchandra said. For example net profit after tax increased during the year 2002 to Rs. 141.6 mn. from Rs. 125 mn. in the previous year recording an increase of 13%. The above information reflects a proper balance between the social responsibility and the profitability of the Organization. Operating profit of the HDFC increased to Rs. 305 mn. by 18% in the year 2002 compared to that of in 2001. The Corporation's operating expenses continued to be well managed and increased by only 13%. This was mainly due to low funding costs and the enhanced employee productivity and the application of information technology. HDFC which started operations with only Rs. 50 mn. capital has today increased its shareholder funds to Rs. 841 mn. after distributing dividends. Further this growth has been ensured with financial stability by financing its loan portfolios from funds with corresponding maturities. The HDFC dedicates itself to the memory of the late President Premadasa by pooling its entire resources to achieve the goals in the housing area which was so dear to his heart - a house for everyone in the country. (The writer is the Chairman, Housing Development Finance Corporation of Sri Lanka.) ########### Ranasinghe
Premadasa - by D. M. Swaminathan "Man's Prime duty is to help mankind to survive" Deshamanya Ranasinghe Premadasa, the humanitarian politician, who made this statement with overwhelming love for mankind, was the fifth leader of the United National Party, the eight Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and its second Executive President. In a country where selection of leaders was traditionally based on caste, lineage and wealth, it is no exaggeration to state that Hon'ble Ranasinghe Premadasa was the only leader who was exalted to that position by his fellow countrymen. Hon'ble Premadasa was born on June 23, 1924 at Keselwatte, Hulftsdorp and his parents were Mr and Mrs. Richard de Silva Ranasinghe. He was educated at St. Joseph's College, Maradana. the religious education and training, which he simultaneously received at the Daham School at Mihindu Mawatha, had its bearings on his future. From adolescence he dedicated himself to social service, founded the "Sucharitha Movement" and thereby involuntarily made his way into social service and politics. Hon. Premadasa entered the political arena through the Labour Party led by Sri Lanka's first Labour Leader A. E. Goonesinha. He became a member of the United National Party consequent to the Labour Party being amalgamated with the U.N.P.. In 1949 he was elected to the St. Bastian seat of the Colombo Urban Council and managed to hold this seat till about 1960. In 1956 he was the U.N.P. candidate who contested the Ruwanwella seat along with Dr. N. M. Perera. At an interim election held in 1961 he won the Cinnamon Gardens seat in the Colombo Municipal Council and before long was appointed to the post of Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Council. At the Parliamentary Election held in March 1960 he won the seat of the third MP for Colombo, but lost this seat at a subsequent election held in July in the same year. Yet another Parliamentary Election was held in 1965 and while he won the seat of the second. MP for the electorate of Colombo Central, he was appointed to the Posts of Deputy Minister of Local Government and Deputy Minister of Broadcasting and Information of the National Government led by the United National Party, which came into power at this election. In 1968 he was sworn in as the Minister of Local Government. Although the UNP fell from power at the General Election held in 1970, Hon Premadasa managed to get himself elected as the first MP of the electorate of Colombo Central. From then for seven years he held the post of Chief Opposition Whip. In the UNP Government which came into power after the landslide victory at the General Election held in 1977, Hon. Premadasa war appointed the Leader of the House and Minister of Local Government, Housing and Construction. When Prime Minister Hon. J. R. Jayewardene was appointed Executive President on 04.02.1978, Premadasa was appointed to fill the post of Prime Minister which had fallen vacant. On 14.02.1980, in addition to the above posts he was placed in charge of the Ministry of Highways. Then on 20.12.1984, he was sworn in as Minister of Emergency Administration. In addition to the posts of Prime Minister, Leader of the House and five other Ministries which he held simultaneously, he was also made the Deputy Minister of Buddhist Affairs. At the Presidential Election held in 1989 he was elected the second Executive President of Sri Lanka and consequently became the fifth leader of the United National Party. Hon. Premadasa did not confine his philosophy that "Man's prime duty is to help mankind to survive" to words alone, but launched a number of projects to "help mankind to survive". Each time he visited a foreign country Hon. Premadasa made it a point to make note of some new experience which would benefit his own country. This is how he introduced "pre-fabricated bridges" and "pre-fabricated houses" to Sri Lanka. At an Annual General Meeting of the United Nations, due to the efforts of Hon. Premadasa the year 1987 was declared "International Housing Year" and in order to uphold this concept declared a target of 1.5 million houses for Sri Lanka. The Sevana lottery, the National Housing Development Authority, Janasaviya, the Sevena-Saran Foster Parents' Scheme, 15,000 Villages Project, 200 Garment Factories Project, the National Stadium at Keththarama, the Tower Hall Foundation, Sarasavipaya, the Pension Scheme for aged actors and singers, supply of free school uniforms to school children, providing robes for student bikkus are a few of the significant projects launched by Hon. Premadasa. It is only through a book of several hundred pages that one could describe the efforts of this humanitarian to "help mankind to survive". In a nutshell, he was a politician who served the public. Nevertheless, he too had enemies. On May 1,1993 while directing the May Day rally of the United National Party, his life ended suddenly as a result of a bomb blast. (The writer is Chairman National Savings Bank) |
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