Fourth death anniversary falls today:

Gamini Fonseka: A Man of the Troops

A perspective - Prasad Gunewardene

Today marks the fourth death anniversary of Actor turned Politician, former Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Governor of the North Eastern Province, Gamini Fonseka. He was a man who stood for the rights and privileges of the Troops battling the LTTE to liberate the country.

Gamini Fonseka

As we mark the Gamini’s fourth death anniversary today, a heart breaking story unfolds from Dickwella in the South, about the fate that befell the remains of a soldier who sacrificed his life in the ongoing military effort, to liberate the LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi, from the clutches of terrorism.

If Gamini Fonseka was alive, he would have certainly driven to Dickwella to get hold of those ‘dirty’ politicians who attempted to prevent the memorial plaque being placed on the grave of that late soldier. Gamini Fonseka was elected to Parliament in 1989 from the Matara District and he represented all people in that district.

Gamini Fonseka as Deputy Speaker in the 1989-1994 Parliament always stressed that the Troops were not battling to save any political party nor they represented any political party.

He reiterated that the Troops were fighting to save the people and the nation from a gang of ruthless terrorists. He personally visited Forward Defence Lines and Bunkers to witness the difficulties of the battling Troops. The film ‘Nomiyena Minissu’ was a testimony of his respect and concern for the battling Troops.

Let us now refer to the incident at Dickwella. The villagers of Dickwella had erected a memorial plaque in memory of the soldier who sacrificed his life in the ongoing in Kilinochchi. The Dickwella Pradeshiya Sabha authorities have claimed that no memorial plaques would be allowed in that Cemetery.

The authorities at the Pradeshiya Sabha, Dickwella seems to be ignorant of the fact that the dead soldier did not represent any political party nor did he fight to protect the colour of any political party in power. Southern politicians at grassroots level need to be taught what patriotism and nationalism means.

Mahinda Rajapaksa (1989 Parliament)	Lakshman Jayakody (1989 Parliament)
Both Mahinda Rajapaksa and LakshmanJayakody commended Gamini Fonseka for his fearless and forthright views about the truthful situation that prevailed in the war front. Rajapaksa told Deputy Chairman of Committees, Rauff Hakeem in the Chair that a war must be fought as a war and, it was the duty of the Government to look into the welfare of battling troops as sought by the Deputy Speaker.

Late Deputy Speaker Gamini Fonseka was a man who braved to speak the truth about the battling Troops in Parliament during the Premadasa regime, a time most Government feared to speak the truth on the war situation that then prevailed.

All Members of the UNP Government looked scared with the late Gen. Ranjan Wijeratne occupying the Office of Deputy Defence Minister. During an Emergency Debate, Gamini broke silence to lambast his own Government for ignoring the needs of the Troops entrenched in bunkers and those in the Forward Defence Lines.

The Government ranks looked perturbed as the truth was coming out from none other than the Deputy Speaker, who himself was a Government member. As Gamini Fonseka stunned the Government by his speech, Opposition member Mahinda Rajapaksa backed him alongside a former Deputy Defence Minister, Lakshman Jayakody.

Both Mahinda Rajapaksa and Jayakody commended Gamini Fonseka for his fearless and forthright views about the truthful situation that prevailed in the war front. Rajapaksa told Deputy Chairman of Committees, Rauff Hakeem in the Chair that a war must be fought as a war and, it was the duty of the Government to look into the welfare of battling troops as sought by the Deputy Speaker.

As Gamini Fonseka wound up his, Deputy Defence Minister, Ranjan Wijeratne walked up to him to congratulate him for his brave speech that unfolded the truth.

During Minister Wijeratne’s winding up speech, he assured the House that he (Wijeratne) would personally look into the areas mentioned by the Deputy Speaker. Immediately after the Vote was taken, the Premadasa loyalists led by Weerasinghe Mallimarachchi ran to the telephone in the Lobby to sneak to President Premadasa about Gamini’s speech which Premadasa loyalists described as being anti-government.

Thereafter, Premadasa loyalists in groups were heard criticizing Gamini Fonseka for letting the Government side down during a debate like the Emergency, mentioning how Mahinda Rajapaksa and Lakshman Jayakody praised Gamini, thumping the desk all the time. But, Gamini Fonseka was unmoved by pressures from the Premadasa loyalists as he too was a Premadasa loyalist.

Much to the dismay of the Premadasa men, President Premadasa who was apprised of Gamini’s contribution by a ‘top’ Premadasa loyalist in that Parliament summed up the controversy in this manner-”So what?.. Gamini has told the truth and we must now remedy that situation”. The same night President Premadasa telephoned Gamini at the latter’s residence in Ja-ela and requested him to highlight more incidents of that nature in Parliament to enable Minister Wijeratne to visit those areas to find remedies.

Gamini Fonseka who took up the position of Governor, North Eastern Province at the risk of his life during the war period once came under attack from the LTTE. Very few knew the reason behind that plan of the LTTE. When the LTTE ‘baby brigade’ infiltrated the jungles in Weli-Oya, it was Gamini Fonseka who tipped off the Army of a possible attack. The Army immediately moved into action, surrounded that jungle area and launched a fierce attack on the LTTE ‘baby brigade’ and the senior Tiger cadres following them.

Despite being threatened by the LTTE, Gamini Fonseka did not give up. Instead he lived at his Trincomalee official residence for long than before. Finally, he resigned as he was not given the right to exercise powers vested in him by the Kumaratunga Government of that day.

Also, there was a man, described as a ‘lap dog’ by Gamini, who carried tales to the Palace Guard being jealous of the success of the North East Governor in the spheres of Politics and the Silver Screen. Having given up the Office of Governor, the legendary film actor decided to retire from politics to confine himself to his Ja-Ela residence to spend the twilight of his life in peace.

Whenever, political parties fell in crisis or election time came, politicians from all parties called at his residence to urge Gamini to return to politics. He offered them breakfast, lunch, evening tea and dinner and listened to them.

Before they left he said-”You see, Gamini Fonseka cannot be fooled all the time, enough is enough, good bye”. If Gamini Fonseka made a mistake in life, it was taking to politics. His political career that spanned nearly a decade, made him lose much in the film industry and, the film industry too lost a lot due to the absence of this legend of the cinema.

After retiring from politics, Gamini confined himself to the precincts of his house at Ja-Ela. Very few would visit him. Those who hanged around him in his early days and reaped the best, forgot him. He spent his time speaking to his dear ones over the phone, reading books, writing poems and playing with his two dogs. Gamini was never prejudiced nor could be influenced by any person.

In his last days of life, I had the privilege of spending most of my weekends with this legendary actor who was my uncle.

He was quiet but looked much depressed. “At times I feel I was born in the wrong country to do the right thing”, he lamented. Once I told him that this country was too small for his talents. He shot back, “You are wrong, the Rulers of this country think that I am too small for it”.

Gamini Fonseka always had praise for his colleagues like Joe Abeywickreme, Tony Ranasinghe, Malini Fonseka, Neeta Fernando and a few seniors of his era. To him. Joe Abeywickreme was the Best Actor and not him.

He described Tony Ranasinghe as the best ‘character based’ actor with enormous potential, unparalleled even in the Indian cinema. His silver screen partner, Malini was the most intelligent actress with Sandya Kumari being described as the most beautiful actress.

I asked him the difference of beauty between Malini and Sandya Kumari. He described -”You take Sandhya Kumari in any angle. She is beautiful, glamorous and photogenic.

Malini is attractive and sharp in features and I wouldn’t say she is not beautiful. She is more attractive in the eye”.- Gamini Fonseka was a unique creation by nature. He saw beauty to his eyes in the correct angle and that could not be disputed. Because, he was also a good Cameraman commended by David Lean when Gamini was a Technical Assistant in the film, “Bridge on the River Kwai”.

Gamini Fonseka, quite rightly believed when alive, that we all live in a society with short memories. I once told him that he would be ever remembered and his name written in golden letters for his contribution to the cinema and the country at large, this unique man cracked,-” You have not read our society well. We have short memories. I’ll be forgotten even by my colleagues with the passage of time.

History will only record that there lived a man called Gamini Fonseka and nothing more”. True to his belief, today who speaks of this legendary actor or recalls his contribution at Film Festivals or Award ceremonies? Gamini Fonseka is forgotten by many within a brief period of four years! Gamini knew it would happen even before his silent death. That was why he claimed we are a society with short memories.

He was a man with a vast knowledge not only on the film industry but also on life and society. During my final meeting with him, a week before his sudden death, we discussed issues that covered the wide spectrum of life.

I was keen to know the criteria to be a good actor. I asked him whether one should perform natural to be a good actor. Gamini cracked into laughter and asked, “If it is natural, how could it be acting?” and added that the criteria to be a good actor was ‘controlled acting’ of a character.

If the present generation in the film industry got closer to him, there was much left in him for them to learn. Because, there is a difference between those who paid to become actors, and, those who were duly paid as actors for their talent, as described by the legend Gamini Fonseka.

The morning of September 30, 2004 was as usual to Gamini. He got up as usual, set upon his weight lifting exercises even at that age of 68. He had his customary morning shower though he suffered from a severe cold.

Then he had his breakfast. Set out to the verandah to play with the two dogs. He sent his confidante Aide, Jayalath to bring the morning newspapers. Jayalath carried them upstairs as Gamini climbed the steps for his usual after breakfast nap.

The newspapers were left on the stool near his bed by Jayalath who said,’Sir, the papers are here’. Gamini responded ‘hmmm’ and sent Jayalath to check the carburetor in the jeep.

Jayalath returned to tell his Master about the carburator. His Master was fast asleep. The newspapers still lay on the stool. Gamini who reads the newspapers before the nap had chosen to do otherwise that morning. Jayalath left the room.

Gamini was late for lunch though it was ready on the table on time.Yet, Jayalath and his daughter, Kaushalya awaited him. There was no sign of the Master coming down to lunch. They both ran upstairs to wake him. He was yet sleeping in the same way Jayalath saw him a few hours back.

They tried to wake him. But there was no response. Jayalath felt his Master’s toes. It was cold. He immediately called Gamini’s son Damith who rushed the emergency medical aid van from a private hospital. All that was too late. The legend of the Sinhala Silver Screen had entered eternal glory in his sleep. That was the silent departure of legendary film star and politician, Gamini Fonseka, four years ago.