Jeyaraj Fernandopulle:
A Tribute
Dr. T. C. Rajaratnam
I have ventured to write a synopsis of the achievements, vision, and
career of Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, as a person who was well
acquainted to him.
I was impressed by his deep thoughts and the seriousness with which
he took his duties to humanity. This is unusual for many who are in
power today.
The facts surrounding his service to the country are astounding. He
was a very busy and amazing gentleman. He lived by his conscience.
With amazing humility and strong religious convictions and belief in
God he made tremendous sacrifices.
Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle |
As so often happens with men of such force and talent, his quest to
serve the people and his desire to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of
others he had all the time for others and little time for himself.
Working long hours he was never tired inspiring those around him and
those who come into contact with him as a remarkable and perfect
gentleman that any person would like to know.
Fernandopulle was born on January 11, 1953 and had his primary and
secondary education at Ave Maria Convent and Maris Stella College,
Negombo respectively. His legal career commenced in 1977 and together
with his innate intelligence, rare combination of linguistic skills and
analytical thinking he became well-known for his fearless submissions in
Court in defending his clients. He is known as a fearless defender of
the rights of humanity in Parliament.
In 1983 he was appointed as the organiser for the Sri Lanka Freedom
Party for Katana.
He was elected to Parliament from the Gampaha district in 1989. In
1993, he was elected as a member of the politburo of the Sri Lanka
Freedom Party and was elected as the Assistant Secretary of the Party.
In 1994, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the second time
and was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Finance, Ethnic Affairs and
National Integration the same year. In 1997, he was appointed as the
Minister of Plan Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs.
In 2000, he was appointed as the Minister of Civil Aviation, Tourism
and Christian Religious Affairs. In 2001, he was re-elected as a Member
of Parliament for the fourth time. In 2002, he was appointed the
Chairman of the Committee of Public Enterprises (COPE) which dealt with
the scrutiny of Public Enterprises.
In 2002 he was also appointed as a member of the Parliamentary Select
Committee appointed to inquire into allegation made against the Chairman
of Bribery and Corruption Commission.
In 2004, he was appointed as the Minister of Trade, Commere and
Consumer Affairs and in addition was appointed to the most important
position in Parliament as the Chief Government Whip of Parliament. He
has held several Cabinet portfolios in Parliament and is reputed for his
spontaneous responses and skilled debating.
He has been helping the poor, improving the standard and quality of
lives in the villages providing education for the underprivileged
children.
The quality of Jeyaraj is best known when it is evident that all his
efforts were not for political gain because my personal acquaintance
with him has proved that he helped anyone and everyone regardless of
electoral jurisdictions or of political affiliations - in short Jeyaraj
was humane.
If a politician can get his message across in a three minute
interview or on an off-the-record briefing to the journalist - the
arguments that he set out had fermenting in his mind bottled up over a
period of time and as such the words that flowed were like vintage wine.
The crux of his successful oratory was the bond of empathy between
him and the audience. The greatest talent a politician can have is the
ability to convey sincerity. He has impressively displayed that left
over his fieriest critics unable to cast doubt on the strength of his
beliefs, his efficiency, capability and oratorical skills which none
could match in the present Parliament.
Great speeches need not be made by great leaders. Jeyaraj's speeches
were spontaneous, on the spur of the moment with chosen thoughts which
flowed as words most appropriate for the moment. Every word uttered by
him was powerful in its intellectual and moral force.
He manifested a deep concern for humanity. His intellectual
brilliance coupled with his dynamic linguistic skills enabled him to
become one of the most respected Members of Parliament. He was an asset
to the Nation. His demise is an irreparable loss to all communities in
the country. |