Welcome back Dullas

DULLAS Alahapperuma has filled the vacant national list seat in Parliament left by the tragic demise of a noble son of Sri Lanka, Lakshman Kadirgamar.

The seat was kept vacant for nearly four months. If Kadirgamar is looking from the heavens above he would be happy with the decision taken by his friend President Mahinda Rajapakse, firstly because he wanted Mahinda Rajapakse to win and secondly because Dullas is a honest and a decent man.

Alahapperuma would be an asset to the President and would help him achieve his goal of a New Sri Lanka, along with others.

Dullas started his career as a firebrand journalist. He entered active politics by contesting the 1993 Provincial Council elections from the Matara District under the People's Alliance.

In the General election that followed a year later Dullas secured the highest preference vote in the district which turned out to be the highest percentage in the preference votes. He served as Deputy Minister of Samurdhi and Cultural Affairs at different times.

We wouldn't know how many of our readers will remember that famous photograph in the Sunday Times where the photo showed a dejected Dullas Alahapperuma packing his belongings to leave the country and politics for good.

However, there was one person who did not forget his capabilities and Dullas was recalled to spearhead his Presidential Election campaign.

So, Dullas returned for a good cause. He surely made a difference during the campaign, rallying the support of a diverse section of the society.

Alahapperuma commenced Rajapakse's campaign with a poster which requested the UNP elephants to come clean because some sections of the UNP had started a mud slinging campaign by then.

The poster read Madin nethuwa godin enna (don't come through a muddy road but, along a clean road) It was welcomed by many gentlemanly UNP'ers and UNP Member of Parliament, Milinda Moragoda went out of his way to get a copy of the poster and display it in his office.

Though Dullas returned to Sri Lanka after many years he had not changed. He kept his appointments, found the time for everyone, specially his old journalist friends because Dullas was aware that the journalists knew the heartbeat of the people.

He reached out and many reached out to him in return. Dullas was also very firm in his dealings. He was determined to make a difference.

The man had no time to waste, no time for loose talk or for tale carriers. He wanted to help Mahinda Rajapakse usher a new Sri Lanka. Dullas requested his political friends to think big and out of the box.

He told few of them to find solutions rather than adding to problems. People did accept his words of advice with a smile because this man Dullas knew how to get the message across.

We are happy that President Rajapakse did not give up and fought the battle hard and straight to get the person of his choice and a worker at that to re-enter Parliament.

Carry on Dullas. Continue to build consensus, bridges of friendship. But, always remain a journalist at heart. It helps. (BJ)