Chamal Rajapaksa, the SPEAKER is a LEADER

Seventieth birthday today :

Vichithra Chinthaka Gunasekara

There are two categories of politicians. Those who become popular due to politics and those who popularize politics for the welfare of the masses with the intention of helping them. They are rare and unique. This is particularly true of Chamal Rajapaksa (Speaker of Parliament). ‘Position is temporary. But the humanity is eternal.’ That is his vision. This is the brief of his story.

Giruwapattu is situated in the South coast of Sri Lanka which was known as Ruhunu Magam Paththu or Rohana Puraya in the early days and even now. Kings of fame, such as, Gamunu Tissa and Wjayaba were born in Rohana Puraya. A land of diverse terrain comprising of rich farm land, hills, ravines, beaches, and bountiful of flora and marine life is paradise to most beings and beasts.

On October 30, 1942, a son was born to the chief occupant of Madamulana Mahagedara D.A.Rajapaksa and his loving wife Dandina Samarasinhe Dissanayake. It was their first born and was named Chamal Jayantha Rajapaksa. He saw first light at his maternal grandmother’s residence, the Dissanayaka Walawwa in Palatuwa, Matara.

Chamal was exemplary and a loving brother to eight younger siblings, namely, Jayanthi, Mahinda, Chandra, Gotabhaya, Basil, Dudley, Preethi and Gandhinie. Together with them he romped the fields, hills and ravines of Madamulana.

As a son of the soil, he observed and learned about the beasts and beings in his surroundings. He saw the ups and downs in the conditions of living of the different communities of Ruhuna. He felt the pulse of these people even at his young age.

This was when the voice of D.M. Rajapaksa, known as the ‘Lion of Ruhuna’ thundered and echoed in the House of Parliament against the oppression and hardships faced by the people of Ruhuna and specially of Giruwapaththu.

Political leaders

Following in his elder brother’s footsteps, Chamal’s loving father D.A. Rajapaksa was elected to Parliament by the people of Giruwapaththu and hence, Chamal was aware of the numerous problems faced by the people as he overheard and observed these topics being discussed at his home.

Little Chamal learnt ABCs’ at the KUSUM convent in Tangalle and at a convent in Matara.

In 1948, he was admitted to Richmond College, Galle. He passed his Ordinary Level Exam in 1960 and Secondary level examination in 1962 creditably.

From a very young age he was fortunate to be in the company of political leaders. Among them were D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kotalawala and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.

He gave straight answers to their questions. Since his childhood, he helped his father D.A. Rajapaksa in his election campaigns. Chamal used to place his hand on pieces of paper and draw around it with a piece of charcoal to get the image of the hand which was his father’s election symbol. Chamal saw how his father conducted the election campaigns. The experience he gained thereby was a guideline for his political future.

Higher education

Socialist party leader Minister Vasudewa Nanayakkra was a teacher at Richmond College at that time and Chamal was guided by him.

Chamal was instrumental in forming the Mahinda - Richmond Socialist Students Organization.

On completion of his higher education, Chamal joined the Police Force by entering the Sri Lanka Police Training College, Kalutara in 1963. He passed out as a Sub Inspector of Police in 1964 and took up duties at the Bandarawela Police station.

In a letter from his father he remembers the words saying ‘even though the bees build a hive on a bitter taste tree like Margosa (Kohomba) the honey produced does not taste bitter’, ‘like wise a child who grew up with a loving and caring family background will not change his good ways in whatever occupation he takes up and whoever he associates with’.

In 1972, he left the Police Force and joined the State Trading Cooperation (STC) as its Assistant General Manager.

During this period, he met Chandra Malani Wijewardane and got married on January 3, 1975. The happy couple were blessed with two sons.

Major irrigation projects

Present Uva Provice Chief Minister and Basnayaka Nillame of the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya, Shashindra Rajapaksa is the eldest son of Chamal and Chandra.

The second son, Shamindra Rajapaksa is a reputed engineer and administrator.

Chamal contested the Mulgirigala seat at the 1985 by election and lost. But he succeeded at the election held in 1989, in being elected to Parliament from the Tissamaharama electorate.

Through the years until today, he has held the portfolios of Deputy Minister of Agriculture (1998), Deputy Minister of Southern and Port Development (2000), Minister of Agriculture Development (2005), Minister of Irrigation and Water Management (2006), Minister of Port Aviation Irrigation and Water Management (2007) and was elected unanimously as the 19th Speaker of Seventh Parliament of Sri Lanka, a post he holds to date.

He took steps to develop the infrastructure and general living conditions of his constituents in every possible sphere.

The agriculture sector of the area was boosted by major irrigation projects like ‘Maw Ara’, Weheragala, Uma Oya, Walawe Left Bank and Kakiri Obada. He was instrumental in setting up a coconut research station at Middeniya. The ‘Bata Atha’ Technical Park of Agriculture, Mayurapura post harvest development unit at Waligatha Magampura.

The Fisheries sector was developed by providing boats, nets and other equipment at concessionary rates. The constructing of fish markets, rest rooms and ice plant at Hambantota and developing the Kirinda, Kudawalla, Welipatanvila and Kalamatiya fisheries harbours were historical. The Vocational Training Centre at Bandagiriya was also established at this time.

As the Hambantota District Development Committee chairman, he took measures to accelerate the development of Tissamaharama, Suriyawawa, Hambantota new town, Weerakaiya, Angunukola Pallssa, Ambalanthota and Wallasmulla towns. Hundreds of kilometres of road were carpeted as well.

Housing projects

The ‘Ran-Eliwata’ and ‘Kusum Niwasa’ are also two housing projects which have received his blessings.

The construction of the Tzu Chi National School in Hambantota, the Ruhunu Wijayaba College in Beliatta along with the ‘Sisura’ Educational Scholarship Scheme funded by the D.A. Rajapaksa Foundation are some of the educational development projects which received the guidance of Chamal Rajapaksa, for the betterment of the children’s education. The Hambantota District Hospital which had only four resident doctors at one time was upgraded to a Base Hospital, with the service of over 200 doctors and ultra modern equipment and facilities added. Rural hospitals in Kirinda, Debarawawa, Ambalanthota, Lunugamwehera, Suriyawawa, Beragama were modernized. More than 200 nurses pass out from the Hambantota Nurses Training College annually. These are some of projects initiated to uplift the health sector in the area.

Job opportunities

The new court complex in Hambantota, the oil refinery, garment factories in Weerawila and the Hambanthota Industrial Zone will come into operation in the near future, providing numerous benefits to the country and its people. The Hambantota Ports Development project being built at a cost of US $ 650 million is a landmark among other massive projects launched during Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa's tenure as Minister of Ports Development and Aviation.

The port would create over 300,000 direct and indirect job opportunities and help overcome poverty in Giruwapathuwa and the suburbs.

Another piece of pioneering work initiated by Chamal Rajapaksa is the construction of the second international airport at Mattala, which would promote the tourist industry in the South and also create an Investment Promotion Zone.

Profound author Leonard Woolf’s book ‘Baddegama’- ‘The village in the Jungle’ reveals a tale of woe where humans struggle for survival. But the land Leonard Woolfs saw is developed greener pastures now.

Hambantota will be a leading economic hub, not only in Sri Lanka, but, in the whole of the South East Asia, with the development of the Magampura Habour and Mathala international airport.

Chamal Rajapaksa who has been prominent in all these massive development projects, is a leader of our time, who has illuminated not only the Giruwa Pathuwa, but, the whole of Sri Lanka.

He is the 19th Speaker in the Seventh Parliament of Sri Lanka and has earned the trust and love of the people of Ruhunu Giruwaya.

In the shadows of his footsteps, his younger brother, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has received the guidance and support of Chamal in all his endeavours.

Dear Mr. Speaker, the true shadow of the President’, on this 70th birthday of yours, we wish you long life, good health and strength to see the people and country reaping the benefits of all these projects you have initiated.

Happy birthday!