Prathap Perera standing up for SL in Canada

Bandula JAYASEKARA

Prathap Perera is no cub. He is a little lion I met in New York when I was serving as the Consul General in Toronto. Prathap who inspired the right thinking among Sri Lankan and Canadian youths in Toronto and other parts of Canada was a student at the York University then. Sadly, the York University students union was a den full of brainwashed youths of Canadian Tamils. They did not allow even the right thinking anti terrorist Tamil Canadian youths to operate freely or even give reason to their thoughts. But, Prathap stood tall among all of them.

Prathap Perera and his family members meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa in New York.

There were several senior and older members of the Sri Lankan community who had taken the lead for many years fighting the Tiger terror, their lobbyists, extortionists and propagandists.

They were looking for youths to join them and to clear misconceptions about their Motherland- Sri Lanka. Young Prathap Perera who hails from Negombo moved to Canada when he was nine and led the way. His parents Manel and Keerthi were fully behind Prathap and inspired him. Though, they feared for Prathap’s life and safety in Canada they stood by him and his band of friends. Prathap is also a shining example of how a Sri Lankan/Canadian should be. He gives the highest respect to his adopted country Canada and making an honourable contribution as a public servant.

At his young age, Prathap became the Secretary of the Sri Lanka United Association of Canada (SLUNA). He continues to do yeomen service in Canada especially against the propaganda machinery of the LTTE rump. They also continue to do charity in Sri Lanka with the support and help of its members and well-wishers. Prathap and his family were even instrumental in organising a memorial service for the late minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle in Canada, when he was brutally assassinated by the LTTE. Prathap and co managed to bring Sri Lankans together to a church in Toronto and pay tribute to Jeyaraj. That is where I first met Jeyaraj’s close relative Nilkamal Fernandopulle.

Prathap never forgot me. He with another group of Sri Lankans led by eighty five year old Daya Hettiarachchi, Prathap’s young colleagues Kamalesh, Sasha and their mother Menaka better known in the patriotic circles in Canada as Vihara Maha Devi drove all the way to meet with President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was in New York last month. It was an unforgettable moment for them when they met the President and posed for photographs with him. I could see emotions written all over their faces and Prathap’s. It was a very proud moment for the young son of Sri Lanka though he lives far away.

Prathap got engaged to his long time sweetheart yesterday. From St Mary’s Dehiwela and then at Mount Lavinia hotel.

I was at the Mount Lavinia Hotel to share a special moment of this young man’s life.

They were happy to see me and I was happy to be a part of it. But, what struck me most was young Prathap’s passion and love for this country displayed even at the engagement party. In his speech he thanked his wife to be and her parents for having the engagement in Sri Lanka, his land of birth.

Sri Lanka was special to him even on his special day. We need more Prathap Perera’s both here and there and everywhere.