A leader par excellence
 

BY MAHINDA Rajapakse

A tribute to outgoing President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga by the President-elect, published in the felicitation volume "The Visionary Leadership of Sri Lanka" released recently to mark her completion of 11 years as President.

THIS is a very fitting occasion for me to write about her entry into national level politics. That was a time when Sri Lanka was undergoing innumerable difficulties and in fact the country was at cross roads.

In 1994, when Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga became the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and then after a short period of three months became the President of Sri Lanka, the country was drifting towards instability, both economically and socially. Her advent into national level politics prevented the country going into a deep abyss.

President Kumaratunga's advent into politics has a very solid background. When her father, the late Premier S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike founded the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in the early 50s, Chandrika Bandaranaike, as a young child, would have grown in a home environment of national level politics.

With the historic transformation of Sri Lank's political theatre in 1956, Sri Lanka Freedom Party established itself as the party of the common man.

President Kumaratunga's mother, the late Premier Sirimavo Bandaranaike, after the demise of her husband, furthered the policies of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and set in motion a series of activities for the welfare of the common man.

Obviously, young Chandrika Bandaranaike was much influenced by her illustrious parents and benefitted immensely out of their ability to sense the problems of the average man.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga herself underwent obstacles, problems and innumerable hurdles, which in the contemporary political history of Sri Lank are unique.

She, however, overcame many of these. She lost her father when she was a young girl and had to be by her mother's side throughout the mother's tenure of premiership.

Then, she lost her husband, my good friend Vijaya Kumaratunga, who very sincerely dedicated himself to help Sri Lank out of its abysmal situation.

He volunteered on behalf of the Sri Lankan nation to talk to various groups which called for Sri Lanka's division. In that struggle Vijaya was even jailed by the then Government.

Chandrika Kumaratunga was always by his side supporting him in his political ideology. President Kumaratunga was deeply involved in resolving the ethnic issue long before her advent into active politics. She travelled to Jaffna with Vijaya to engage in a discourse with militant groups.

The year 1993 was a significant year in Sri Lanka's political scene. That was when Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga decided to throw her weight behind the Sri Lank Freedom Party and give leadership to topple the long reigning UNP Government.

She led from the front of the People's Alliance to gain power in the Southern, Western and North Western Provincial Councils.

Sri Lank's population heaved a sigh of relief because they had at last been relieved of human right violations, lack of freedom of association and lack of freedom of speech. Her victory at the 1993 Provincial Council elections polling over 400,000 votes signified the people's faith in her leadership.

When she became the fourth President of Sri Lanka with a thumping endorsement of the people polling 62.2 per cent, it created a record, so far unparalleled.

Since then, during the last 11 years, her leadership had won almost every election at national and sub-national levels with record victories. Also during the last 11 years, she had brought about very salutary changes in the whole political scene as well as social welfare of our people.

Particularly, working towards restoration of peace in our country was the hallmark of her 11 year long tenure as President.

Another unique feature of her tenure is that she was able to bring about the best of open economy initiatives, but also not forgetting the indigenous knowledge, culture and practices which her parents so carefully nurtured and looked after.

President Kumaratunga's commitment towards establishing Sri Lanka's peace and freedom for the people has been held in high esteem not only by Sri Lankans, but also by the international community.

In this process, she led from the front and gave her personal commitment and created an environment in her Governments to make it a reality.

She has always eschewed chauvinistic policies and proved to Sri Lankans as well as the international community that she stood for equality, equity and fair treatment of all, irrespective of caste, creed or ethnicity.

It is a well-known fact that despite death threats of various terrorist groups, she was fearless in her march towards peace and progress.

Even after losing one of her eyes when she was campaigning for her second term, she has not stopped working towards establishing peace and enhancing the quality of life of our people.

Therefore, when she celebrates 11 years of office in the Office of the President of Sri Lanka, people of this country should remember with gratitude her unparalleled contributions towards the development of our Motherland.

She has not only been a leader par excellence, but also has proved to be the matriarch of Sri Lankan politics.

She would undoubtedly carry forward all progressive policies of her father, the late Premier, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and unique activities launched by her mother, the late Premier, Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has contributed immensely to the body politics in our country but continues to do so to put Sri Lanka firmly on the path to prosperity and welfare of the people.

By way of sincere felicitations, I take this opportunity to send my best wishes and wish her safety, fortitude and good health and many more years of dedicated public service.