The four decade journey of a charismatic leader:

Mahinda Rajapaksa: A great humanist and political Titan

Prasad Pujitha Gunewardene

Inspired by the call of his legendary father, the late Don Alwin Rajapaksa who was popularly known in politics as the 'Brave Son of Ruhuna', and also the co-founder of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), young Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa walked the 'Well' of the historic old Parliament in Colombo Fort exactly forty years ago today (June 7) to be sworn-in as the youngest Member of Parliament in that House after being elected on May 27, 1970.

Political history

The fair, lanky lad with hair combed sideways from Beliatte, with a thin moustache was the cynosure of all eyes on that day in a Parliament that had heavyweights like Prime Minister Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Dr. N M Perera, Dr. Colvin R.de Silva, Dr. S A Wickremesinghe, Peiter Kueneman,Felix Dias Bandaranaike and Lakshman Jayakody in the ruling party with Dudley Senanayake, JR Jayewardene and R. Premadasa in the front benches in the then Opposition, if I may distinctly recall a few great names to memory.

In that long walk from 1970 which now spans forty years, the charismatic Mahinda Rajapaksa's Political history is remarkable. It had its twists and turns, its backward and forward movements which often took many by surprise. The late D.A. Rajapaksa and incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa joins the elite band of fathers and sons in politics who earned the respect and love of the Governments, Opposition and the people of the post Independence era.

Among the others in the lead were the DS-Dudley and SWRD-Anura combinations. He pursued the political philosophy he believed with courage and determination. In him was a man who preferred his father's footsteps and not the shoes of the Nicholas'. His unswerving loyalty to his political party, love for his Motherland and respect for true leaders cleared all and many obstacles that were placed in his pathway by opponents within and outside.

Success story

The first political leader who foresaw a bright future for the young Mahinda Rajapaksa was none other than the first Executive President of Sri Lanka, Junius Richard Jayewardene who was then an Opposition MP when the late Dudley Senanayake was Opposition Leader. Admiring the presence of the youngest MP Mahinda Rajapaksa in the House, JR Jayewardene while walking on the corridors in Parliament to lunch, stopped to inquire from Felix Dias Bandaranaike whether Mahinda was the eldest son of JR's friend D.A. Rajapaksa. Felix replied, "No Sir, the small chap is the second of DA".

Snapped JRJ, "I can observe that the young chap looks to be heading towards a long and successful journey in politics". True to JR's prediction, Mahinda Rajapaksa has travelled a long way to occupy the highest office in the land created by JR Jayewardene in 1978.

The success story of Mahinda Rajapaksa's political journey beings to mind a noteworthy quotation from A. Huxley who said -"All authority belongs to the people"-. A lawyer by profession, President Rajapaksa from the time he was a young politician fought against any injustice caused to mankind. Even as a school boy Mahinda Rajapaksa was ever popular for his bravery and forthright conduct.

But, he possessed a character of patience and understanding. He was never ambitious. He waited for his turn while those who wore 'Nicholas' shoes' within the ranks attempted to suppress his rise in the party.

Golden era

I could distinctly remember as a Parliamentary Lobby Correspondent for The Island newspaper covering the 1989 Parliament. In a period that terror reigned in both the North and South, Mahinda Rajapaksa rose from the Opposition benches to quote Henry Clay to remind that a Government was only a Trust and the Officers of the Government were only Trustees and that both the Trust and the Trustees have been created for the benefit of the people.

The well read late ACS Hameed, the then Foreign Minister responded in the following manner - "Yes Hon. Rajapaksa, I fully endorse and agree with your fine quotation from Henry Clay but the Rulers have failed to realize the value of those great saying made 160 years ago".

Mahinda Rajapaksa always led his political life in the belief that all authority belonged to the people as in the words of Huxley. Though he hailed from a moderate 'Walauwwa' in the Deep South, he moved and mixed with the common man. His rise to the Presidency is far from the famous story of the Long Cabin to the White House.

Though he hailed from an affluent family in the South, Mahinda Rajapaksa never boasted about his progeny and clan which had a band of reputed politicians with his father being a Deputy Speaker of Parliament in the golden era of post Independence politics. In contrast, he displayed quality in thought, word and deed. It was these vibrant qualities that helped him to free this nation from the blight of terrorist violence after three decades that brought dark clouds over the nation.

The experience he gained in a long political journey which completes forty years today, made him a strong leader and a President loved and admired by all citizens. Today, a victorious Executive President has demonstrated the manner to command the respect as a Head of State and Government of a nation.

His style of governance is transparent. He does not fear the impossible. Challenges give him added strength. Courage gives him confidence. President Rajapaksa is a strong leader with a mild heart. He has inherited a mellifluous smile that could even turn the enemy into a friend. But he does not fear to tread on paths where even Angels fear to tread. The victory over LTTE terrorism is ample testimony to that effect. Unholy elements could never stand in his way.

Gentle qualities

Mahinda Rajapaksa the astute politician, leader and President has inherited noble and gentle qualities from his late father D.A. Rajapaksa and is well a ware of his Clio metrics in all types of political ideologies to meet and clobber any challenge. He has already proved his leadership qualities to the nation and the people. Today, he stands as the only leader in the world who eliminated the menace of terrorism from the land that he rules. The President who completes forty years in politics and public life has displayed that he is a unique leader of the people.

His contribution to democracy, peace, development and stability to the nation is a blessing not only to our nation but also the region in which we are located. President Mahinda Rajapaksa who toiled and sweated in politics for four decades, has today offered a - 'Better life for all'-.

The nation salutes a People's President who completes forty years in politics today. History will record in time to come, President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a great Humanist and a political Titan in the annals of post independence politics of the island nation Sri Lanka known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.