The Rajapaksas’ contribution to Lankan politics

Mahinda Pathirana and P H G Premasiri

It is a proven fact that the political traditions of the Rajapaksas, spanning 75 years from 1936, would continue to enrich the Sri Lankan political saga for many more years to come. It is of much topical interest to examine the uniqueness of these political traditions that have been wholeheartedly embraced by the people.

D M Rajapaksa was popularly elected as a member of the State Council to represent Hambantota on March 7,1936. The country was then ruled by the British.

All positions in the higher echelon of the government were invariably held by them. All local functionaries such as Mudali Muhandirams were directly placed under them. People were subjected to heavy taxes which they could hardly pay. The common people were being harassed by the local panjandrums of the British Raj.

Meanwhile, Malaria epidemic was taking a heavy toll on human lives. Almost all ancient tanks were utterly in a dilapidated state. An acute scarcity of food items was being experienced by the people.

D M Rajapaksa

D A Rajapaksa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa

Minister Basil Rajapaksa

This situation had still worsened by the shortage of essential drugs for the treatment of the malaria-affected people. The only redeeming feature being the fact that the leftist movement in the country was steadily forging ahead. Produce of the farmers was purchased at the lowest prices.

No proper road system

Womenfolk had to go about barebodied as the caste system was so oppressively prevalent during the period. D M Rajapaksa relentlessly struggled and championed the cause the common man against all odds. There was no proper road system at the time. Most of the roads were badly in need of rehabilitation. The privileged class used to ride on horseback, whilst the common man had to walk barefoot for miles or occasionally go by bullock cart.

The people in the Hambantota District were mostly farmers. Hence rice was their staple food. But occasionally they would partake of Kurakkan which symbolically represents the colour of the D M Rajapaksa’s scarf. By and by he won the hearts of the people and they chose him as their representative. D M Rajapaksa involved himself in the emerging struggle against the British rulers. He identified himself with liberation movement forging close ties with the leftists. He was greatly inspired in his onward march by his close kinsman and leftist leader Dr S A Wickremasinghe. He thus emerged as a political figure at the national level. He also eloquently addressed the State Council in the English language.

He was popularly called the ‘Lion of the Ruhunu’ ( Ruhune Sinhaya ). His was the voice of the people in the State Council and he held office for over nine years. He breathed his last on May 18, 1945 while he was addressing the assembly. The struggle he waged on behalf of the people and his heroic deeds are still the talking points among those in the Ruhuna. Such stories have now assumed the level of folklore in the Southern Province.

Next comes the second phase of the saga which represents the advent of D A Rajapaksa, the brother of D M Rajapaksa. D A Rajapaksa was elected uncontested as member of the State Council for Hambantota to fill the vacancy caused by the demise of his elder brother.

He represented the people from 1945 except for a brief span upto the fifth Parliament until his passing away in 1969.

Significant contribution

In the State Council and subsequently in Parliament he frequently spoke of issues that affected the farmers in Hambantota and sorted out the issues of concern to the farming community in a constant dialogue with them. He made a significant contribution to the establishment of Sri Lanka Freedom Party which was a watershed in the country’s political development. His going into politics after the passing away of his elder brother and his resigning from the then ruling party along with late S W R D Bandaranaike were indeed sagacious decisions he made in his political career. He lent his fullest cooperation to Late S W R D Bandaranaike in the formation of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. During his political career he held many responsible positions such as Deputy Speaker, Deputy Minister and Minister. Being friendly, down-to-earth and unassuming he was an embodiment of all qualities of a populist political leader. He demonstrably proved that a political leader should have a genuine desire to serve the people and if not he is not at all qualified to go into politics. It is to be appreciated that he had introduced to the national politics a team of children who are capable of dedicating their lives to the service of the people in order to continue his unfinished mission.

Next comes the political saga of second generation of the Rajapaksa family. When D M Rajapaksa passed away his eldest son named Lakshman Rajapaksa had not met the age requirement to qualify for election to the State Council. However, he successfully contested the 1947 General Election for Hambantota Electorate for the first Parliament. He was elected to Parliament as an independent member. During this period D A Rajapaksa was also present in Parliament representing Beliatte seat.

Workers’ struggle

Lakshman Rajapaksa passed away in 1981. In between these periods he had represented Hambantota, Tissamaharama as well as Mulkirigala in Parliament. He had successfully contested the elections as an independent candidate and as a candidate of the MEP and also of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. He had fought for the rights of the farmers as well as rights of the working class at national level. He even underwent imprisonment in championing the cause of the people. He had his own independent views and sometimes acted in furtherance of such views and beliefs.

His was a straight forward character and he embodied traditional values as well as revolutionary spirit befitting the modern era. He closely identified himself with the Leftist movement in the country and gave leadership to the workers’ struggle at national level. D.M. Rajapaksa and Lakshman Rajapaksa were both held in high esteem by the people of the Southern Province. People of Ruhuna Giruwaye and Magampattu had woven stories around his heroic deeds and they are still the talking points among the people. Leftist leader Philip Gunawardena’s character has had a deep impact upon Lakshman’s political life. They are the undying political personalities of a by-gone era.

George Rajapaksa was born in 1926. He was a dynamic personality of the second generation of the Rajapaksas. He was aged 50 when he died in 1976. He was a lawyer by profession. His elder brother Lakshman Rajapaksa was schooling at Wesley College, Colombo whilst George was attending Royal College. During this period their father D M Rajapaksa was a well known political figure in the country, having identified himself closely with the Leftist movement and Sooriyamal Campaign launched by the Left - oriented parties. Lakshman and George would have been inspired by the leftism. George Rajapaksa made his mark as an outstanding student both at Royal College and the Law College.

Family background

His family background too would have had a salutary effect on his performance to a certain extent. Within a short period he became well known as a lawyer not only in the Southern Province but also throughout the country. He successfully contested the General Election in March 1960 and was elected a Member of Parliament for Mulkirikala. He was returned as a Member of Parliament for the same electorate at the General Elections held in 1960, 1965 and 1970. He had emerged as a most popular and accomplished Parliamentarian during this period.

As a parliamentarian he had held several portfolios. He was sometimes called upon to handle several portfolios at one and the same time. Leaders of political parties at the time highly acknowledged his capabilities and he had even chaired international conferences representing Sri Lanka. He gave up his lucrative practice as a highly successful lawyer and went into politics with the sole objective of serving the people. He was one of the best bilingual orators in Sri Lanka at the time and an address made by him in Parliament in about 1960 ranks as one of the best historical speeches ever delivered by a politician in the annals of Sri Lankan Parliament.

He was a champion of the rights of the local peasantry focusing on their poverty and consistently discussing the ways and means of successfully tackling their problems. He spoke in Parliament emphatically stating that he came into politics with an enormous fund of goodwill created by his father through people's struggles. He flaunted the Kurakkan - coloured scarf worn by him which is symbolic of many battles his father had fought against the then minor local functionaries such as Muadali Muhandrams and village headmen who were the remnants of feudalism in the country. His statement made in Parliament speaks volumes for the political sagacity of Rajapaksas.

Of the two political figures who originated the said leading political tradition in the country, those of younger brother's (D A Rajapaksa) second generation came into politics in 1970. Mahinda Rajapaksa, then youngest Member of Parliament in the seventh Parliament began his long political career. A striking feature discernible in his political career is his consistent espousal of the cause of the people both in and out of Parliament. Even as the youngest Member of Parliament he made his mark as a popular figure in the country's political field. As a young parliamentarian he fought for the human rights of the youth even in the height of 1971 insurrection despite the fact that he happened to be a member of the then ruling party against which the youth revolted.

He took the lead in championing the rights of the youth both at national and international fora. He fearlessly represented the youth who were subjected to oppression in and around 1989 and went on to focus the attention of the world's human rights organizations on the blatant injustice caused to them. He had the courage of conviction and the guts to fight for their human rights, particularly in an age when the law of the jungle reigned supreme in the country.

He continued his fight for the rights of the workers, farmers and students throughout the country. He was thus one of the best street fighters ever born in Sri Lanka. The experience and knowledge so acquired by him would have moulded his whole life paving the way for the emergence of a new vision. All great thinkers and statesmen in the world had attained maturity in their respective fields through experience acquired over the years. With his 40 years' experience in the political field enriched by the age-old traditions of his family he has been striving hard to turn the country in a new direction. He had represented his electorate for a long period of time from 1970 to 2005 except for a brief spell.

During this period he had been a Member of a Parliament and also held numerous portfolios as well as office of the Leader of the Opposition and Prime Minister. In every role he was destined to play in his eventful political career he had made a lasting contribution. He has made history as one of the few politicians who had been in Parliament continuously for the longest period.

Of the Rajapaksas, only Mahinda Rajapaksa was privileged to be elected President of the country which is the highest office any Sri Lankan could aspire to. This was not achieved overnight. It was the reward of a long and arduous journey full of sacrifices. From the national level he rose to the international level by his stewardship of the country. Many are deeply appreciative of his role but there are those who are either critical of him or out to denigrate his achievements. He is a well-balanced, dynamic and magnetic personality. He had to grapple with two of the worst crises of an unprecedented proportion; one was the tsunami disaster that struck the coastal belt of Sri Lanka and the other being the horrendous terrorism that threatened whole country.

He grappled with these twin problem skilfully by adopting better management techniques. He will, therefore, go down in the history as the greatest political manager this country has produced in the recent times. It can, thus, be safely assumed that Mahinda Rajapaksa would continue to play his role in the country's political field for many more years to come.

Chamal Rajapaksa began his political career as the second member of the second generation of the Rajapaksa family. He was elected a Member of Parliament for Hambantota District at the General Election held in 1989. Since then he has represented Hambantota District in Parliament for nearly 22 years. He had handled all responsibilities assigned to him as Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister and Minister at the highest level. An admirable trait noticeable in his well - balanced character is his approach to any given assignment on a planned basis. The poise, unassuming nature and willingness to listen to anyone that were the hallmark of D A Rajapaksa's character are found in abundance in Chamal Rajapaksa too. Before he could embark on any ventures it is customary on his part to get ready in advance with all facts and figures, indeed an example worthy of emulation. He has an innate ability in handling matters related to agriculture and water management. Being always occupied with work and sustaining a continuing dialogue with the people are some of the admirable qualities to be found in any successful politician. Chamal Rajapaksa has cultivated these traits in abundant measure. Election as a Member of Parliament and subsequent appointment as a minister are landmark events in a politician's life. Even though they are rare events in the life of an individual they are common events in Parliament. However, the election as speaker of Parliament is an extremely rare event even in Parliament. Only a handful has held the office of Speaker in our country. It is, indeed, a privilege to have the opportunity of holding office as a speaker of Parliament. His election as Speaker could, therefore, be amply justified as a well-deserved appointment.

D A Rajapaksa's eldest son has been historically accorded the opportunity to be the Speaker of Parliament in order to complete the unfinished mission of his father who was once a Deputy Speaker of Parliament. This has added lustre to the distinguished political tradition of Rajapaksa family.

Basil Rajapaksa was appointed a Member of Parliament on the national list in 2007. Since then, he has been playing a pivotal role as a Minister of Economic Development. He contested the General Election held in 2010 from the Gampaha District and was elected with a record majority of votes as the district leader. He has taken over the major part of the responsibility of developing the country in his role as the Minister of Economic Development. He is now going ahead with the implementation of the programmes designed to achieve the set targets. He is also tasked with the implementation of the development programmes of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. He introduced the novel development concepts of Negenahira Navodhaya (Eastern Revival) and Uthuru Vasanthya (Northern Spring). He has also put in place several developments programmes aimed at speeding up the development work under 'Gamaneguma', 'Maganeguma', 'Gamidiriya', 'Divineguma' etc. He has succeeded in mobilizing all sectors for the said purpose. Being superbly efficient and highly competent, he has been the invisible master strategist of the political path of the President. He had demonstrably proved his political organizing ability in ample measure. He could thus be safely called the mastermind of the Rajapaksa's family. He has acquired expertise in the field, having successfully handled all General Elections and Presidential Elections held since 1970. His horizontal and vertical knowledge of matters related to diverse fields of activity may be the secret behind his successful operations. It is commonly believed that his approach to any given assignment would eventually prove perfectly successful. To build up such an image is by no means an easy task.

People of the country will remain ever appreciative of the manner in which he closely worked with the commander-in-chief and President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who is truly a patriot who masterminded the successful humanitarian operation in order to root out terrorism in the country. In a sense, this close alliance of the brothers cleared the path for the liberation of the whole nation from the clutches of terrorism. This brothers' alliance is reminiscent of the close linkage between brothers of Sinhala kings as reflected in the country's ancient history.

In the meantime, the third generation of Rajapaksa comes into politics. Firstly, Mrs Nerupama Rajapaksa, daughter of late George Rajapaksa was elected a member of Southern Provincial Council in 1994. The same year she was also appointed as a Member of a Parliament for the Hambantota District. Since then, she has been a Deputy Minister and her brother named Shiyamalal Rajapaksa entered political arena as a member of the Southern Provincial Council in 1999. Shasheendra Rajapaksa, son of Chamal Rajapaksa, Speaker of Parliament, embarks on his political career as Chief Minister of the Uva Provincial Councils in 2009. This represents the first ever popular victory in a district outside the Hambantota. The second occasion being the victory of Basil Rajapaksa at the General Election for Gampaha district in 2010.

In furtherance of the political tradition of Rajapaksas Namal Rajapaksa, a newcomer from third generation enters Parliament as a Member for Hambantota district on being elected at the General Election in 2010.

He is a youth who had his schooling at S. Thomas' College and is a law graduate of the University of London. Having built up the Tharunyayata Hetak organization with the support of the youth, he works inspired by a new vision. He could be called a leader who understood the heartbeat of the community.

Political traditions develop from time to time; So is the onward march from the politics of colonial era to that of the era of democracy. Equally important is the fact that this political tradition represents a stream that continues to flow ahead non-stop. There are good omens for its continuance. This is not a highly revolutionary tradition; It is not a comprador capitalistic tradition either. This is a political stream that is identified with the heartbeat of the masses.

People are so fond of the left oriented humanistic quality and patriotic development process which is found encapsulated in this stream. On the other hand, this is a political tradition with a difference, disciplined by the Buddhist doctrine and fashioned by the indigenous vision, bereft of any violence.

This tradition is meant to help others and also makes allowance for revolt whenever it is found necessary to do so or otherwise remaining silent but encourage the tolerant of dissent. It is crystal clear that this political tradition has been developed and moulded by the people themselves, enriched by their ancient culture. The Rajapaksas have thus succeeded in building this great political tradition Sri Lanka has ever created.