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| Sunday, 12 October 2003 |
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John's Silver Jubilee by E. Weerapperuma
Christian Affairs and Interior Minister John Antony Emmanuel Amaratunga celebrates the Silver Jubilee of his active political life on October 19, this year. A series of civic and religious functions commenced on October 9 to felicitate Minister Amaratunga. On Sunday, October 19,the ceremonies will end with a massive rally at the Navaloka Grounds, Welisara, Wattala. John Amaratunga created history by entering the portals of the House of Representatives as the very first Appointed Member under the 1978 Democratic Socialist Republican Constitution, which saw the Executive Presidential System of Government operating in the country with the promulgation of the New Constitution. He was nominated by the UNP hierarchy to fill the vacancy created by the sudden death of Mr. D. Shelton Jayasinghe, the then Post and Telecommunication Minister who was also the very first MP elected at the 1960 March 22 General Election to represent the newly created Wattala Electorate. Wattala was part of the Jaela electorate until 1960 and was represented under the old system by both the UNP and the SLFP. The voters at Wattala wanted the UNP Chief Organiser Lawrence Madiwela to fill the vacancy created by the death of Minister Jayasinghe. There was a massive campaign in his favour. But the UNP leadership had decided to appoint Mr. Amaratunga. Mr. Madiwela accepted the decision of the Party and persuaded his supporters to abide by the Party decision. It was something similar to what happened in Jaela with the sudden death of Mr. Paris Perera when the UNP was in Opposition in the 1970s. Michael not John was given the UNP ticket and in Wattala it was John and not Lawrence who got the UNP ticket to enter Parliament. Both men brought up in Catholic milieu had the humility to accept the decision of the Party and created no scene nor allowed others to run riot against the decision. In fact Lawrence introduced John, the new MP to voters of Wattala at a welcome party held at his residence. Born on June 21, 1940 to the Amaratunga family at Kandana, John had his early education at De Mazenod College, Kandana and at St. Joseph's College, Maradana. He did his higher studies at the Aquinas College, Borella and in 1962 entered Sri Lanka Law College to be an Attorney-at-Law. During his youth late Rev. Fr. Nicholas Perera who introduced `Obamaramagau'- type Passion Play at Wattala, was the Parish Priest of St. Sebastian Church, Kandana. John worked in close association with him and helped Fr. Perera to stage a drama based on St. Sebastian. He also played the role of St. Sebastian, bringing out his latent talent onto the stage. Joining the UNP as a youth in 1956, he faithfully followed the foot-steps of the gentlemen politician, former Jaela MP Paris Perera, his political mentor. In 1998,a ceremony was held at the Wattala Town Hall to felicitate John Amaratunga who completed 20 years in politics. He was then only a Member of the Opposition. What was noteworthy of this ceremony was that there were Ministers of the PA Government representing Gampaha District to felicitate him. Gampaha district MP Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, an outstanding Minister and a very strong man of the PA, Deputy Minister of Power and Energy Felix Perera and Deputy Minister of Labour Neil Rupasinghe were among those present and it was proof of the good relationship John maintained with the Opposition Members and it was good example set by them as leaders of the community. Today Minister Amaratunga is at the receiving end of sharp criticism against him as Interior Minister and the Minister of Christian Affairs. He returned to Sri Lanka on October 5 after representing the Government at the Geneva Human Rights Commission, which had received a number of complains against the Government over Human Rights Violation. There was a no-confidence motion against him in the present Parliament but many MPs in the Opposition who knew the sincerity and integrity of the Minister made no contribution to validate the motion. On his part the Minister had the nerve to face it welcoming such no-confidence motions for he contended such motions exposed the intentions underneath and helped commit oneself more fully to the job assigned. Mr. Amaratunga, a man of vision has served the country as Deputy Minister and Minister in the previous UNP regime and served as the Chairman of the COPE while in Opposition giving vistas to a new political culture. Today he is very much committed to maintain Law and Order in the country as a Minister of the UNF Government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. He has done much to upgrade the Institutions and Departments coming under his two Ministries and has given a new look by adding IT facilities to suit the needs of the times at the same time give a qualitative service to the public. In respect of Wattala Electorate and the Gampaha district he represents, he works in collaboration with the Gampaha District UNP Chief Organiser Power and Energy Minister Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya and with all the MPs to make the district a better and a safe place to live in. He is committed to help raise the living standards of the people in his electorate by introducing schemes to provide good drinking water to the residents of Uswetakeiyawa, Delathura and Pamunuwa. He also has added a number of Housing Schemes to answer the growing need for houses in the area and for the fishing community. He was also responsible in creating Muthurajawela Development Project putting the marshy land to good use. The New Telecommunication Centre, Provincial Secretariat building, the Oliyamulla Navaloka Housing project give credence to his 25 year service as a politician. He has also taken steps to provide new schools. The Hekitta Christ the King College stands as a living monument to his dedication to provide more education facilities to children. Being a very good practising Catholic he is available discounting differences of nationality,caste or creed. He lavishly helps churches, temples and kovils within his electorate and Gampaha district. |
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