An ANCL Publication : Janadasa Peiris' 'Chandrika; Dashakayaka Mathakaya' launched amidst large gathering
 

by Anjana Gamage

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has faced many challenges in the context of globalisation which were different from the challenges faced by her mother and father, said Prof. Gamini Samaranayake, the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the Rajarata University and the Dean of the Political Science faculty of Peradeniya University yesterday.

He was delivering the keynote address at the launch of the book "Chandrika: Dashakayaka Mathakaya" (Chandrika: Memories of a Decade) written by ANCL Chairman Janadasa Peiris. The event was held at the BMICH, Committee Room A.

"Re-uniting the community divided for many years and building a united country, developing the nation and achieving economic benefits to the country are some of the major challenges she faced," he said.

"Chandrika's political history begins in the 1960s when she was studying at a university in France. It was a period of rebellion against the post colonial system. University students of Europe, France, and USA held rallies against Vietnam. However, all these students movements and confrontations moulded her leadership qualities," he said.

She became much stronger with the defeat of the SLFP in 1977 and also with the abolition of civic rights of her Prime Minister mother Sirimavo Bandaranaike. She formed a new party in 1984 and returned to the SLFP in 1991 with a new leadership and appointed as the Chief Minister of the Western Province in 1994.

"The biggest challenge she faced in her role as a President is to present a permanent solution to the ethnic problem. Establishing peace in the country and stopping the war cannot be achieved overnight. To fulfil these wishes one should have firm regulations and true objectives. Even after facing a bomb attack she firmly believes that the ethnic problem should be solved through political negotiations and not by war," Prof. Samaranayake pointed out.

"A proper foreign policy is another landmark in her political career. At present, she is using a new philosophy based on unity through diversity in her adminstration," he added.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse addressing the gathering said that President's journey would not end until she fulfils all the expectations of the people. "The President's political journey is not over. Until she achieves all the hopes of the people, she has to go on this journey. She has enough time to do it," he said.

He also said that Janadasa Peiris is the most suitable person to author this kind of book on the President which features many political and personal details of her life.

Author Janadasa Peiris said the book was written in a very short period. "This book was printed on a request made by the organisers of the UPFA 10th anniversary in November last year held at Gampaha.

"Dashakayaka Mathakaya" is the second volume of the book "Chandrika Darshanaya" (Chandrika Philosophy) written in 1998. The book contains incidents after the Presidential election in 1999, the bomb attack, 2001-defeat and the victory in 2004 as well.

"There were many who encouraged me to write this book. Minister Mangala Samaraweera is one of them," he said.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wishva Warnapala also spoke and ANCL Editorial Director Karunaratne Paranavitana delivered the welcome speech.