Former Speaker K B Ratnayake - sportsman cum honest politician

Premasara EPASINGHE

A great son of Sri Lanka, an honest politician, one of the leading lights of North Central Province, the highly respected former Minister of Sports and the Speaker of Parliament, K B Ratnayake, passed away eight years ago, on April 30, 2004, at the age of 80. He was a fine gentleman, a man of honesty and integrity, a fine cricketer, soccerite, athlete, tennis player - a versatile sportsman and a thorough gentleman. Like his 'political guru', that fine son of Rajarata, great leader, Maithripala Senanayake, this son of 'Wevu Bandi Rata' - K B Ratnayake, served the innocent people.

He possessed a towering personality. The secret of his success was being a simple leader.

Roslyn Carter said "A leader takes the people where they want to go. A great leader takes them where they don't necessarily want to go, but where they ought to be". - K B R, followed these principles. He made the lives of the Rajarata people happy, by serving them genuinely.

He took to politics to serve the people, not to accumulate wealth for generations.

K B Ratnayake was born on February 23, 1924. He was educated at a leading school in Jaffna - Hartley College.

After completing his Education at Hartley, in the 1950s, he joined as a land officer to serve the villagers of N C P. He was like a 'Dasamahayodaya' of Great King Dutugemunu - a towering personality. He was more than a six footer who possessed a charming personality.

K B R was in reality, a multi-lingual, multi-cultural man. He was a fine speaker in all three languages. This great man never cared for caste, creed, colour or religion. He always stood for 'One Sri Lanka'.

Unassuming K B Ratnayake's commanding personality was mixed with the fragrance of the villagers of Vanniya - Rajarata. He moved with kings, but always remained an 'honourable simple villager'. He never forgot his roots.

I can proudly say, K B R ushered in the golden era of sports to Sri Lanka. National Sports Festival, I persume was his 'brainchild'.

I still remember the first day I met him. It was in 1960, when he played for parliamentarians in a cricket match and top scored with a half century, against the Municipality members' team. This left-hand batsman, scored a swashbuckling half a century.

In 1998, I invited him to be the chief guest at my book launch 'Ma dutu Cricket Lowa'. He kept the audience going with his brilliant speech. In his inimitable style, in good humour K B R said "Today cricketers, wear head-guard, thigh guard, shin guard, chest guard - all sorts of guards. People ask us whether these people are going to a war. During our time, we had only the box".

The entire audience erupted with laughter.

He was first elected from Anuradhapura on June 6, 1962. He served as the Minister of Sports, Parliamentary Affairs from May 31,1970 to May 22,1972 and subsequently the Minister of Sports. K B R served as Speaker from August 25,1994 to August18, 2000.

The demise of the great son of Sri Lanka, former Speaker K B Ratnayake was not only an irreparable loss to his family, but to the whole country - such honest, committed gentlemanly politicians are now a rare breed.

I wish the former Speaker K B Ratnayake Eternal Bliss of Nibbana.