Commemorating Pani Ilangakoon - MP:

Patriot from Ruhuna

Chamal Rajapaksa - Speaker

We have often heard about politicians being bloated with power. But in our country we have also had political leaders, who, having achieved power through the vote of the people, in turn serving the people.

Former Member of Parliament for Weligama, Pani Ilangakoon can be deservedly described as one of those benevolent prominent men of Sri Lanka. He is not among us today. Although he passed away 23 years ago, by virtue of his unassuming, affable, unostentacious and benevolent nature, his name and deeds reverberate and resonate in the hearts of the people in Ruhuna.

The late Ilangakoon, who held an affable and amiable alliance, both with the people and his friends, was known and called by them, often affectionately as Pani.

To commemorate such an amiable and benevolent son of the people, who departed from us on February 10, 1989, on his death anniversary is a deed and gift of gratitude.

Simple qualities

Pani Ilangakoon was the only son of Weligam Korale Mudliar, S. W. Ilangakoon and Lady Lilian Augasta Obesekare. Pani had inborn, kind and humane simple qualities, which he had inherited from his honourable parents. It was because he possessed a commanding, kind and pleasant personality that were necessary to move and associate with people that he was so loved and popular.

Ilangakoon's mother, who was the only own sister of the mother of late SWRD Bandaranaike, one of the distinguished political leaders of this country, had instilled into and bequeathed to her only son Pani, many a good and gentle endowment, her family entertained and maintained from generation to generation. Pani was born on November 26, 1919 at Weligama. He received his primary and secondary education at S. Thomas' College Mt. Lavinia. Thereafter he continued his education in Bangalore and United Kingdom, where he obtained his double degrees on Horticulture and Poultry Farming. Having returned to Sri Lanka, he entered into Sri Lankan politics, at the request of the to be Prime Minister, then, SWRD and without contest he was elected as an independent. Member of the Weligama Urban Council in 1947, which being elected was a very significant event in his political career.

He was an ardent anti-imperialist and a patriotic politician, who never, for a moment, thought of being segregated from the people. By reason of this Pani had very close connections and frequent association with Rajapaksa family of Ruhuna and specially with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, with whom he was in the Parliament in 1970 as well. They were close friends. Ilangakoon was the blood cousin of SWRD Bandaranaike, the Founder of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

National hero

He received the membership of the SLFP and contested the Weligama seat under the Party banner 1952 unsuccessfully. But in 1956, he was elected MP for Weligama. Although he was defeated in 1960 and 1965, he was again elected as the MP for Weligama in 1970 with an overwhelming majority. 1970-1977 was his glorious period in politics. For it was during this period that he got the Weligama public bus stand, Divisional Assistant Government Agent's Office, Agricultural Service Secretariat building built and opened.

He continued further in serving and nursing his electorate and got school buildings and roadways in the electorate improved. It was on account of his unrelenting and unsatiable desire and determination to serve his people that the Urban Council building at Weligama and the Mirissa Fisheries Harbour have been provided for the electorate.

Pani Ilangakoon was the fourth founder member of SLFP and contested the Weligama electorate under the party banner in 1952. But was unsuccessful. Then in 1956 he won the election and became the MP for Weligama. Although he was defeated in 1960 and 1965 elections, he again won the Weligama seat in 1970, defeating UNP giant Major Montague Jayawickrama, with an overwhelming majority of 6,472 votes.

They are two momentous services he rendered for the people. Ever since the establishment of these facilities for the Weligama inhabitants Pani's name echoes and re-echoes not only in the Weligama electorate, but also in the whole of Ruhunu Rata.

Fitting example

He helped the poor, the party supporters, the rich, friends and even foes and those who were not his supporters who voted against him, without discrimination.

This beautiful trait of his character as a politician is a fitting and glittering example to the fact that there need be no rivalry and antagonism in serving the public when it comes to politics. Pani never thought of betraying the trust, the people deposited in him, as their will-representing and will-sharing representative. In this fascinating endeavour he always tried to be true to himself. It was a delightful self-assurance based on his self-confidence which had a depth and which portrayed discerningly Pani's growth in being nourished with certain cherished principles by society. It is these characteristics that immortalized him in the Southern Province.

He patiently, sharingly and sympathetically listened and understood the problems of the people, who sought his assistance and Pani voiced their grievances even in the Parliament. Ilangakoon, the popular representative of the people, having won the hearts of the people and having united the progressives of the land passed away on February 10, 1989, depriving the Ruhuna of a patriotic son.

Today on his 23rd death anniversary, we pray that he be reborn among us, till, he attains Nibbana, the Supreme Bliss.