Tribute

Mallika Lakshmi de Mel

She was the lady behind the success of her husband. As private secretary to the then Minister of Finance and Planning 1977-1989, she was apart from many other things, responsible for giving jobs to many a youth in South in general and Devinuwara in particular.

It is often remarked these recipients made so good, moved into city, built houses, shifted their bases and had never gone back even periodically, to at least exercise their franchise in elections. Her husband acclaimed to be the best Finance Minister of Post Independent. Sri Lanka has, kept so far an unbroken record of 11 years in office, Ronnie de Mel.

The late 1993 saw Mallika in the thick of D.U.N.F. politics. That year was a watershed in the Sri Lankan political scene.

The 2nd Executive President of the UNP had been installed in power in 1989 in the thick of chaos created by J.V.P. This was after a spell of 12 years 1978,1989, 2 terms of 6 years each by the 1st Executive President J.R. Jayewardene, under his own fashion and styled creation, of a new Constitution of 1978.

The so-called De Gaullist Constitution. Things had gone sour, 10 to 11 M.P.s led by Lalith Athulathmudali while being in the party and Cabinet had initiated an impeachment motion against the then President R. Premadasa.

They were expelled made to resign from Cabinet, expelled from the party and Parliament had to seek refuge in the Supreme Court under Article 99 13(a) of the Constitution. They launched an islandwide campaign against the so-called dictatorial policies of the President and took the issues to the country and public at large. It was just before that we saw protest from, opposition in the country outside Parliament even from the formal opposition party in office, the SLFP.

The present President Mahinda Rajapaksa launched his opposition in the form of now famous Pada Yatra, a massive rally traversing from Colombo all the way down to the Deep South, which was forcibly joined by Chandrika Kumaratunga who had just returned to the island after many a year abroad, having fled, the country after her husband’s assassination.

Mallika was in the thick of D.U.N.F. activities. She joined hands with Lalith A., Gamini D and Dr. Sarath Amunugama a new entrant to politics, after an illustrious public service career, being in the last batch of Civil Servants to be recruited in to Public Services in 1962. Dr. Sarath Amunugama should get the credit of settling the leadership tussle in the D.U.N.F. between Lalith A and Gamini D having suggested, the rotation of leadership, Lalith A getting the first innings, on the eve of Provincial Council elections.

Whoever writes a History of DUNF, which was a springboard for many successful budding politician, who today occupy Cabinet rank, should devote few pages to Mallika.

She was ably deputizing for her husband who was forced to be out of the island due to the hostile attitude of the Government in power. In fact during a brief appearance in Sri Lanka he barely escaped being hurt at a shooting incident in Bulathsinhala, supposed to be instigated by Government in power.

She was MP for Devinuwara from SLFP 2001 to 2003 was offered a 2nd term which she would have easily won having won the first election with highest/record number of preferential votes in Matara district, on account of health reasons. She was sought out by both major political parties, for UNP offered her the organizership and the seat of Panadura (She being a native of Panadura) in year 2003. Writer feels that Panadura’s loss was Devinuwara’s gain.

The writer was fortunate of being associated with her as a Director of her Dakshina Lanka Sahana Padanama of which she was the Chairman, with German collaboration engaged in many a social cultural and charitable activity in the Matara district. The Padanama ran many a training institute in handicrafts, cloth making and host of other activities, which enabled many a trainee to find a job. She was the benefactor of many a temple in Kalutara and Matara. She treated me as a brother of hers and wanted me to be more proactive and take to active politics.

Generous to a fault, she was warm hearted and could light up the heart and face and make that person happy and contented, with whomsoever she interacted with, both rich, more so the poor.

She was very much a family person, always looking after the needs of her husband (She confessed to me that she should predecease him) and extremely fond of 3 daughters Sunalini, Tara and Renuka.

Inspite of her busy schedule as a politician, wife of a politician and a indefatigable social worker, she found time to spend a holiday with 2 of her daughters domiciled abroad, Sunalini in UK and Tara in America every year.

It was a wish that her funeral rites be done in the South Devinuwara perhaps a 2nd home to her.

Her journey in Sansara will be short and may she attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.

Methsiri Cooray