Dr. N.M. Perera’s death anniversary today:

Colossus among political leaders

Premasara EPASINGHE

Thirty years ago, on August 14, 1979, Dr. N.M. Perera passed away. This great leader was meticulous, methodical, organized and flawless in whatever he did.

I was a member of Nondescript Cricket Club (NCC), in late 1960 and early 1970’s. Whenever, the time permits, I play a game of Tennis in the evenings at the NCC courts. Dr. N.M. Perera was a regular Tennis playing member. Very often he plays a set of singles with NCC Tennis Coach, former Josephian cricketer, Benjamin Lenidas. Dr. N.M. Perera was a versatile sportsman. He was a cricketer, National Leader, honest politician and a fine human being. On few occasions, I had the rare opportunity to play a game of Tennis with this great leader.

Political leaders

For nearly four and half decades, N.M. was a colossus among political leaders. His contribution as a Member of Parliament, Leader of the Opposition, Mayor of Colombo, Minister of Finance was outstanding.

There was a belief among the public, especially among the educated class, that N.M. Colvin, Bernard, Pieter, Philip, Robert, Dr. Wicks the learned leftists should invariably be in Parliament.

Out of all these great leaders, the charismatic leader Dr. N.M. Perera, stood above others. These great leaders were ornaments in the Parliament. They were great debaters, who stood for a cause.

The year was 1977. Under the leadership of J.R. Jayewardene, the United National Party came into power with a steam-roller majority. The result of the Yatiyantota electorate was a shock to everyone. The leader of the L.S.S.P. Dr. N.M. Perera lost his seat Yatiyantota by 2000 votes to Vincent Perera. Even J.R. would not be expected this result.

The result of Yatiyantota electorate was announced at about 1.00 p.m., the day after the election day. In the evening I went to NCC for a game of Tennis, I could not believe my own eyes, when I saw Dr. N.M. Perera playing Tennis with Leonidas. What a great shock and disappointment would assail a candidate who had suddenly lost the seat who represented for more than 40 years.

This great man, without any disappointment was playing Tennis, as if nothing had happened.

“Sir, I am sorry about your unbelievable defeat, I am sure, the general public are sadden in hearing the result”, I said.

“Premasara, you must always respect the wishes of the people. That is what Democracy means. We must learn to take, both victory and defeat. This I learned in the playing field. I captained Ananda in 1925, and lost to Nalanda”.

N.M. Perera was born on June 6, 1906. He had his early education at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavenia, under the famous Warden Stone.

Later, he joined Ananda College, Colombo. He entered University College. He was one of the brightest products of the University College, Colombo. He was a versatile student. My late father who was employed in the University College told me not only that he was a very bright student, a fine cricketer and also a dramatist. He played the lead role in the Sinhala play titled ‘Nagarayen Ketata’ written by Dr. D.H. De S. Wijesekera.

After obtaining an Honours Degree in Economics, he served the University College as a lecturer and later proceeded to England for his Doctorate. He obtained two Doctorates PhD and DSC, which was a rare achievement. During this period he studied Marxism and together with some outstanding Asian students, particularly from India, he became a Freedom Fighter.

His guru Harold Laski, once stated “Out of my students, N.M. was outstanding. He was brilliant, if he was born in England most probably he may have been a Finance Minister or even a Prime Minister of a Labour Government”.

After returning to Sri Lanka, as a Marxist politician, in 1935, he formed the Lanka Samasamaja Party. He led the people against the Imperialists and Capitalists and fought for the rights of the down trodden. As a result, he and his comrades Philip, Colvin, Edmund, Leslie, Vivienne were all imprisoned.

Great escape

The escape of N.M., Colvin, Edmund, Philip, Vivienne and company from the prison was like a Alfred Hitchcock thriller. The man behind their great escape was none other than Robert Gunawardena. Later, N.M. and some of his comrades fled to India. N.M. served as a Bank Clark in India.

In 1936, N.M. was elected to State Council from Ruwanwella electorate. During the Malaria epidemic in the 1930s he went from house to house and distributed Parippu to the poor people. People rallied round him. For the great service rendered, Dr. N.M. Perera was affectionately known as Parippu Mahattaya.

The general slogan of the left oriented public in the 1930s was ‘Awissawellata Philippuwa’, ‘Ratnapurayata Kuruppuwa’, ‘Ruwanwellata Parippuwa’.

The great leader Dr. N.M. Perera became the first opposition leader of the first Parliament in 1947. In 1970s served the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Government as the Finance Minister. The Gem Corporation was his brain-child. N.M. showed his brilliance when he was elected as the Mayor of Colombo. Still people say that it was the Golden Age of Colombo Municipal Council.

International Cricket

N.M. was a great sportsman. He played Tennis and Cricket for NCC. His first love was Cricket. I must mention here that he did yeoman service to his Club NCC. He was the President of NCC and later became the President of BCCSL. He took steps to promote the game of cricket in the rural areas.

Many people are not aware that Dr. N.M. Perera was totally responsible in preparing the ground work for Sri Lanka to gain test status, he was the man who first held discussions for Sri Lanka’s entry to International Cricket Council in England.

The present Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana, who opened batting for Ananda College in 1953, told me, how his uncle attended some of ICC meetings, in London to prepare the groundwork for Sri Lanka’s admission to the ICC.

As the President of the Board of Control for Cricket, he never ever politicized the Cricket Board. He was a fine gentleman and a cricketer. The life of the great gentleman could be summed up in the work of the Great Bard.

“His life was gentle and the elements so is mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to the world this was a Man”.