CV - faithful servant of the people

M. Nimal Perera

The 9th death anniversary of Industrial Development Minister C. V. Gooneratne who was killed in a terrorist suicide bomb explosion fell last Saturday (June 7).

Popularly known as CV by all and sundry C. V. Gooneratne was 65 years at the time of his death. He had his debut in active politics following the death of his father Maj. L. V. Gooneratne the first Mayor of the Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council.

In his capacity as Industrial Development Minister in the PA government he rendered a yeoman service to industrialists by providing necessary infrastructure facilities, as well as credit facilities and various tax concessions.

He knew that in the face of globalisation the market for our products depended on quality and price structure. He was determined to provide a qualitative renaissance to local industries as demanded by the changing world and the services rendered by him are still gratefully remembered by local industrialists.

Personality, fluency in different languages, a stentorian voice and clarity of expression all rolled in one is a rare quality among politicians. CV had all these which endeared him to the people.

Today the internal conflict which caused CVs death has been eradicated and a united Sri Lanka has been ushered. Gooneratne who understood the causes for this conflict was never a communalist. He opposed war and always promoted peace. He catered to the welfare of war heroes injured and disabled in defending the nation. He believed that a war mentality should be created among the people in the South too if we were to end this conflict.

A born Catholic he loved to visit places of worship belonging to all religions. As a trade union leader he rendered tremendous service towards the welfare of the working class. He sported a red handkerchief in his attire as a mark of respect to the working class.

CV who resisted nepotism kept his two sons and daughter away from politics. He planned his family in such a way that it could stand on its own without depending on others. As a politician who was above board he had an unblemished character.

CV who overcame all challenges in life could not escape the terrorist bomb which took the lives of 26 people including his wife Shyami. As mentioned in his Parliamentary speech on March 23, 1989 he was a true and faithful servant of the people and his loss is felt today more than ever before.

The writer is Administrative Secretary, SLFP Youth Organisation and former Co-ordinating Secretary to late C. V. Gooneratne