From a long line of Senanayake family:

Vasantha Senanayake - today’s face in the political arena

Chamari Senanayake

In Sri Lanka certain names need no introductions, such as of the Senanayake, the pioneers in politics and independence. Coming from the Senanayake family, the fourth generation young politician Vasantha Senanyake has become the new face of an old family in this arena. Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister and the father of Independence Don Stephen Senanyake (DS) was his great- grandfather and Rukman Senanayake, his uncle.

Vasantha’s late father Ranjith Senanayake was one of the few in this family that was the least interested in politics or fame. He would rather concentrate on his business and preferred to live a quiet life with wife Suwanitha Senanayake, while doing so he did everything he could to discourage his only son from entering the world that his family was so famous for. But during the time Rukman Senanyake’s split from Jayewardene’s Government and was organizing a party of his own for a brief period, young Vasantha went to help his uncle with small tasks like putting up posters and helping with the ad campaigns.

Ranjith Senanayake did not object to his son helping his brother but never dreamt that would be the beginning of his son’s political interest.

Today, in his early thirties, Vasantha Naresh Senanayake, is one of the youngest Member’s of the Parliament, following on his great grandfather’s footsteps. One afternoon I met the young politician, who did not look much like one, but more like a University student. I encouraged him to start from the beginning.

‘Although I am originally from Meerigama and my mother was from Kandy, I grew up mostly in Colombo and went to S Thomas College and I think I was a normal child during school days. I of course did some extra curricular activities; I was in both in Sinhala and English debate teams. Did swimming and played chess. For my Advanced Level I did Art subjects such as Buddhist Civilization, English, Greek and Roman Civilization and Political Science then I went to England and did LLB degree.’

After coming back?

‘Once I briefly worked with Lanka Bell too. Got involved with some social and charity work in my village but later I got involved with political activities during the time of President Chandrika Bandaranaike and became a supporter of Mahinda Rajapaksa who then was the Opposition Leader during the General election to make him the PM’.

Were you a supporter of President Chandrika Kumaratunga?

Yes I was, she made me an advisor and also put me in charge of the Lotteries Board too. I was also the Chairman of two Government Boards, Water Resource Board and Janatha Fertilizers. Prior to that the whole time I was with the UNP, as you know my whole family was.

I had a great uncle, RG Senanayake who also crossed over to Bandaranaike side at that time. And later my Uncle Rukman who was also a long-term member of the UNP came to this side, so I am not actually the first Senanayake to join the SLFP.

But I diverted away from it only after Ranil Wickremesinge became the UNP leader. I did not like the stance he took on the terrorist issue, almost handing over our country to them and his unclear stance on the status of the state, to make it a unitary or a federal state, most of the times he made contradicting statements. His readiness all the time to accept foreign suggestions did not impress me either. The other main reason I left UNP was because of his attitude towards the paddy farming and ignorance of agricultural future of our country. Compared to these I think our President is such a charismatic man with a lot of personal appeal. Unfortunately, Wickremesinghe does not have those. ‘

Is that your view at the moment too?

‘Actually, after leaving UNP I now wish Ranil Wickremesinghe a long life in the UNP. I honestly do. I don’t know who will take over after him. Sajith and Rosy looks like bright people with the potential to take over and there is a few younger ones too.. but you never know with this kind of situations, do you? Remember what happened with Anura Bandaranaike, after his father’s death everyone thought he would be the next leader but it never happened.’

While you were in England as a student, you got a very rare opportunity to meet the Queen too.

‘Of course, I had that privilege twice. Once I met her as part of a commonwealth gathering, as one of the people from the Commonwealth countries at a tea party. Second time was when she came to my University. People said that she talked for a (comparatively) lengthy time with me. She remembered DS and Dudley well and mostly about Dudley Senanayake.

‘That was because as the PM of Sri Lanka at that time he was a Minister of hers during her reign while DS was a Minister of her father King George VI’s reign. She remembered everything about her Sri Lankan visits so well I was amazed by her memory. She said she stayed at ‘Kalawewa Rest House’ and climbed ‘Sigiriya’.

Completely forgetting the political side, tell me what you do at your free times?

I like Jazz music, I also like watching movies. I watched ‘The Tourist’ recently but I prefer movies based on true stories like the ‘Last King of Scotland, The Queen, Hotel Ruwanda’ .. I think they are far more interesting because they were real characters. I like Art and Architecture, I can paint and draw too.’

Your mother has that talent too I believe?

Yes she does, she still paints but I’d rather enjoy other people’s work nowadays.

Going a little further to your activities as a young person?

Oh yes, I do like R& B music, dancing and clubbing. I don’t want to lie to you.

I really do like going clubbing and dancing. I take a few drinks when having fun, I am not one of those politicians who pretends they do not. I hate dressing formally, like a Parliamentarian for meetings and all. I really do love fashion and I would prefer to dress in a T-shirt with a rude or fun message on it.

Tight T-shirts and different fashions. I like people around my age, at least people who are older but who can truly think young. I have pet fish at home, I used to have dogs but they died and I am now reluctant to have more because it would be very sad when they die’.

As your father discouraged you to become a politician, when you were very small, have you ever had any ambitions on a particular field?

‘I can’t remember myself thinking ‘someday I would be a doctor, an engineer or an academic’ or so. But I think I had a vague idea I would be going further in the field of law. Although I did my degree in it, I never practiced law. If I had not become a politician, I would be designing houses or hotels, because I like Art and Architecture and I do have a business background too.

Currently, apart from my political career, I am involved with my family businesses, my mother looked after most of them even when my father was alive, as a politician all I can say is that now I am concentrating on becoming a good politician, doing the best I can for people and my country.. yes, I will try my absolute best.’