A young man finds his true calling

Dressed as a sailor for fancy dress parade; today his dream has come true:

Manjula FERNANDO

YO'S DREAM: From his small days, he dreamt of traversing the seas. Today, he has taken the first step towards realising that dream. That is not all. He will be defending his Motherland every step of the way, as a proud new entrant to the Sri Lanka Navy. There is a long future ahead of him.

He is Yoshitha Rajapaksa, second son of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa. His entry to the Navy made the front pages simply because it is almost unprecedented in recent memory for any politician, leave alone the President, to have given his/her son to the Armed Forces.

The general opinion, as expressed in reams of newsprint, was that only the ordinary masses, especially from rural areas, were giving their children to the Forces. However, Yoshitha proved to be an exception.

We spoke to Yoshitha's affectionate mother, First Lady Rajapaksa, on her second son Yoshitha's joining the Sri Lanka Navy.

"Yo's dream was to become a sailor. At first we took it lightly, but as he grew up and never stopped talking about it, we knew we will ultimately have to give him our blessings," the mother turned the pages of a family album evoking her memory on the son's enthusiasm to reach his goal.

In the album there was an array of photographs of the son clad in a smart naval uniform from as young as three years attending a fancy dress parade of the mother's nursery school - Carlton pre-school in Tangalle - to photos taken on his birthday as a grown-up kid.

His determination blossomed first into a childhood fantasy to dress in the ceremonial Navy uniform in fancy dress competitions and the birthday cake often took the shape of a ship.

This determination was inspired and nurtured by his grandfather; a Naval officer who conquered the endless blue ocean. Although he never saw his role model in real life he was pining to follow his grandfather's footsteps.

"Grandfather died before the all three sons were born. He passed away soon after his retirement from the Navy, one week before elder son Namal's birth," the mother recalled.

Grandfather held the rank of the Commander at the time of retirement and had been the third or fourth in the line to the highest rank.

Grandfather's ceremonial sword and Naval cap are Yoshitha's treasures. "He took possession of those outsmarting his two brothers. The treasures are neatly locked in his almirah".

The grandfather and the grandson shared many common traits.

"His grandfather E.P. Wickremasinghe was an old Thomian, a prominent hockey player. He joined the Navy at the age of 18. The grandson too captained the school Hockey team, the Rugger team and was a school prefect and now wants to be a sailor at the age of 18," pride registered in mother's face when she reminiscenced her son's many achievements.

"It is not very much known that he is a good rifleshooter as well."

He won the first place in the category Standard division - civilian at the National Rifle Championship in 2004 organised by the National Rifle Association of Sri Lanka. And also the first place under Standard Division Civilian category at the Golden Eagle Action Challenge Cup 2004 organised by the Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Council.

In 2005 he emerged the junior champion at the Ultimate Rifle Championship organised by the Army Small Arms Association.

"He has set many records in the motor racing field as well. But he was not so keen to show his colours since motor racing was forbidden for him by father. He had once been severely reprimanded for taking part in the Southern Motor Cross where he emerged the winner."

The son voiced his wish before the parents when the mother announced that he had been selected to follow higher studies at the London Kingston College pending his Advanced Level results. He sat the Advanced Level examination last August.

"I was not surprised or hesitant to learn his wish that he wants to join the Navy soon after the GCE Advanced Level results are released," the mother says.

"First he asked me whether I had applied for the College for him. I said yes I had to look after him just like I did for Aiya." The son's belief was that he can always do his higher studies in the Navy. "That is what he always wanted," the mother recalled affectionately.

Later, a call from the elder son Namal from London sealed the deal. Expressing his blessings for the younger brother's wish he was of the view that the parents should let him do as he wishes. The wind was blowing in his favour.

The son will join the Navy as a Cadet Officer and after the training period he will be commissioned as an Acting Sub Lieutenant. "My son wanted to join the Navy not for its glory or because he has a mind of a fighter. He merely wanted to follow his grandfather's footsteps and the path his uncles have taken. It was as if to keep a family tradition alive," the mother explains.

"I do not wish to think there is a war in the country. We don't have a war," the mother said.

The universe always conspires to help the dreamer. The sky is clear for him to go to the sea and join the elite squad guarding Lanka's territorial waters.