We meet Minister Iriyagolla
 THEATRE: As I said earlier, Mr. I.M.R.A. Iriyagolla was the
Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs. On being told over the
phone that my play had been rejected by the Censor Board, I went to the
Parliament [at that time at Galle Face] hoping to meet the Minster and
explain matters.
But he had sent back my note saying he was unable to see me. What
could we do? Chula and I looked around to see if we could find some
kindred soul who could take us to the Minister.
There was one chap smiling from ear to ear. I recognized him as a
chap called Wijeratne who had taken our Hunuwataya to Galle and played
us out without paying our money. He too must have come to meet a
Minister or some such person. I did not speak to him about his fraud.
I just let it ride. A friend of ours K de S. Dayananda, the man who
had spent for the production of Apata Puthe, joined us. He had heard
about our predicament. He said he knew Hema Dabare - an influential man
in political circles at that time. He had to go to the Taprobane bar to
fetch him.
Hema Dabare arrived and through some contacts took us upstairs. It
was nearly twelve noon-time for the lunch recess in parliament. Chula
and I stood near the entrance from which parliamentarians emerged for
lunch. It is unlikely that the Minister himself would have read the
play.
I am not surprised that the old cronies of the Censor Board had
decided to recommend a ban to the Minister. They would have pretended
that they were doing a FAVOUR to the Minister. Ministers, however
judicious they are, fall prey to sycophants and hangers-on, when they
come into power. I believe that is a malady all over the world.
I had NOT criticized the Minister or the Government. I had taken the
entire period from 1948 to 1968 and tried to look back where we had
erred. That is why I had submitted my play to the Censor Board without
any qualms. How should I talk to the Minister when he emerges from the
door? In Sinhala or in English? Better speak in Sinhala.
I have a better command of the language. I could use ALL my
persuasive powers in Sinhala. Only, I should be careful NOT to talk too
much. I have that nasty habit once I get going. Must talk to the point
and sparingly. Must not show any fear and cringe. Just put your head up
and talk!
No objection
The Minister saw me just as he emerged from the door. I went up to
him and saluted him oriental fashion. “Everybody was against it Jaysena.
What can I do? I can’t go against their decision!” The Minister was
saying.
“You have destroyed ALL the work we have done over all these years!”
We were coming down the stairs. I did not talk much. I only said that
SOME members of the Censor Board had no objection to my play.
I mentioned the names of Sumana Saparamadu, Hemasiri Premawardhana,
Austin Jaywardhana, H.H. Bandara and L.O. de Silva. “Only Sumana came
for the meeting!” said an angry Minister.
“Sir when they arrived the meeting was over. They had been under the
impression that the meeting was at 10 a.m.” I explained what I had been
made to understand. “All these fellows are rogues. They are all avoiding
me !” Said a very annoyed Minister.. I keep quiet. He has just called
his Censor Board “rogues”! What more do I want!
We are now downstairs near the exit. Chula and Dayananda have faded
away to a corner and are watching the proceedings. Some fellow is
grinning at me. Perhaps he wants to find out if I am a close friend of
the Minister. I also grin back and don’t give him any signal. “Come at 4
o’clock.” says the Minister. “I will consult my officers and give you a
word.” We go away.
From the parliament premises we make one beeline to the Automobile
Association bar. They say this is the only Automobile Association in the
world which runs a Liquor Bar! And still they say we are not
INDEPENDENT! Chula and I share a beer I don’t want to be smelling of
arrack when I meet the Minister.
Daya has his usual brandy. I can’t imagine how this chap gulps down
brandy at twelve-thirty in the noon! I see a lot of familiar faces .
This is their lunch time water hole Politicians, Govt. Servants, a few
Mercantile men they are a jolly mix. I even see a politician who was
later to become the Speaker of our parliament!.
Sharp at four I am near the door upstairs in Parliament. The Minister
is coming. “This cannot be done, Jayasena. I can’t lift the ban.
Everybody is against it!” He says even before he comes near us.
“Sir, I am not asking you to lift the ban I am only asking you to
come and see my play and then decide whether it is against you or the
Govt. I am making this appeal to you as you are the final authority to
whom I can appeal.” I have opened the sluice gates.
Excursion
Good heavens, I see Dr. Sarachchandra has come to see parliament with
his cast of “Mahasara”. He seems to be enjoying the excursion as much as
the boys and girls. He peers at everything with great glee. He raises
his head to ask me why I am here. I lower my head and indicate “I’ll
tell you later”.
Now the Minister has moved away from us. He has had his say to me and
is engaged in some other conversation. Two or three people come near me
and talk to me sympathetically. We are seated in a couple of comfortable
chairs in the lounge. I make up my mind and approach the Minister once
again.
‘Sir, I don’t want to make an issue out of this. I want to save the
embarrassment for both of us. At least ask the people who like my play.’
I plead with him. “Where are they? They are not to be found.
Austin has run away to Sigiriya. Premawardhana is not there.” The
Minister is annoyed. “Sir, you can ask L.O. De Silva. I spoke to him
this afternoon. I dial L.O. de Silva’s number, get him and give the
phone to the Minister.
“I am Minister Iriyagolla. About this Jayasena play” L.O. de Silva
says something from that end. The Minister listens, but his face is
dark. And he bursts out. “So you think we can let the newspapers run
this country? I am not afraid of newspapers. No, no, there’s nothing to
be done.
We can’t let newspapers dictate to us!” He bangs the receiver.
Mutters something under his breath. “You go to the newspapers. Arrange
the scenario and then come here for a solutioin!” He thunders. “Please
Sir, don’t accuse me on that count.” I use all the powers of the actor
in me.
“I have not uttered a word to the newspapers. Many wanted me to. But
I told them I am awaiting the final decision of the Minister. I have not
uttered ONE WORD to the newspapers!” “I am appealing to you to come and
see my play.” I added. “Jayasena how can I come.
Not today, not even tomorrow. Tonight I have a dinner and tomorrow”
He is coming back to the middle of the corridor and we follow like
obedient kitten.
“What can I do?” he says in genuine desperation. [If it were now, and
if it were any other Minister he would have made short shrift of me and
not taken so much of his precious time to deal with a “podiyen” like me!
But Iriyagolla was made of different stuff. He WAS a man of the people!]
Junior Minister
I think hard. Something clicks in my mind. Gamani Jayasuriya ! Deputy
Minister! [or, rather Junior Minister, those days] I have heard he is a
good man. A just person. “Sir, if you cannot come why not ask the Junior
Minister to come. At least then. “I say, that’s a good idea! I will ask
Gamani immediately.”
He dials Gamini from the corridor phone. He presents our suggestion
to him. We watch on breathlessly. Supposing he too has a dinner!
“Tomorrow ? Fine Gamani. Then you go and see this thing tomorrow
evening. I am greatly relieved. I feel sorry for Jayasena, that’s why.”
Tomorrow! Tomorrow is 17th. We are scheduled to go on the boards on
the 18th. And he is coming at 8 p.m. Good lord if he says no! We’ll be
sunk! Anyway the war of nerves is over. At least for now. The Minister
puckers his lips and looks at me. “Jayasena, why did you not tell ME ? I
mean not as Minister, but as Iriyagolla? You could have come to me,
surely ?” Ah, here is a good opportunity for me.
To impress upon the Minister what a nice chap I am! I grab the
opportunity with both hands. “Sir, I have never asked you for a PERSONAL
favour. I have not even visited you in your home. You have helped us a
lot. You helped our “Nalu Nili Sangamaya” with a grant.
You ordered that some of my books be purchased by the Education Dept.
I am grateful for all that. But I have never asked you for a personal
favour. I am not used to that kind of thing, Sir. There is a Censor
Board. I submitted my play to them.
They banned it. It is only then that I came to you. Forgive me if I
have hurt you, Sir.” That was a long speech. Not wholly untrue either.
“I appreciate your honesty Jayasena, But you could have approached me
not as Minister, but as Iriyagolla.”
I do not wish to press any further. I leave it at that. At least my
honesty is not in question now. I just add “I am not used to meeting
Ministers for favours, Sir.” I thank him silently for giving me this
opportunity. It is true I have NOT asked for favours from Ministers. But
I like to say it out loud! That I am a good man, an honest man! One
could use sincerity in your favour too!
The conversation goes on a little bit more. It’s past 4.30 now and
most people are leaving the premises. “I say it’s past 4.30. Let’s have
a cup of tea.” Suggests the Minister. He takes the lead and Chula and I
follow like obedient kittens. We are taken to the Parliamentary canteen.
I have never been here.
Thought of the week
I must take up cudgels with Rupavahini for their callous disregard of
simple TV ethics. Surely they should do better in their 25th year of
existence. The other night they were to screen Mani Ratnam’s latest film
“GURU” and the event was given a lot of pre-publicity. So a lot of Mani
Ratnam fans as well as others who appreciate good films had an early
dinner, finished all their work and gathered around the TV to see Mani
Ratnam’s film at 10.30.
Came 10.30 and it was a Press Interview with the President, some of
his Ministers and Secretaries and of course the Press present. The
viewers watched the interview [or chat or whatever you would like to
call it] thinking that it was one of those half-hour interruptions, to
which they have got quite used to.
They were still hoping to see the film. NO ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE THAT
THE FILM WAS EITHER POSTPONED, CANCELLED OR WOULD BE TELECAST AT A LATER
TIME. The President MUST speak that is his prerogative. If the issue is
of National Importance then it would be even more expedient. There is no
quarrel about that.
But if a much publicized regular program is cancelled to accommodate
some other more important program, then it MUST BE ANNOUNCED. At least
there should be a runner announcing the change.
On the other hand if Rupavahini was aiming at a “CAPTIVE” audience by
deliberately hiding the fact, that indeed is poor and sorry strategy.
Even “unproductive”, I should say.
The present Chairman of Rupavahini Dr. Ariyaratne Atugala is a
veteran tele drama producer and a very knowledgable person. So its
Director General Sisira Kotelawala be a veteran and experienced TV man.
Surely they should not play this kind of mean trick on the audience? At
least not in their Silver Jubillee!
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