Tea with Wi-Ja-Mu

After a hard day's work, the Speaker gets personal:

by Lakmal Welabada

Friday, the September 7 was a very chaotic day for 'Wi-Ja-Mu' alias W.J.M. Lokubandara. After facing a turbulent climax in Parliament in the morning, passing five bills, here he was talking to us at his official residence. "His mood might not be light.

Hope your interview will be a success," said one of my colleagues when I was setting off from Lake House. "Yes, it would" I was positive though this was my first meeting with him. I was not wrong however as I didn't see a single sign of distress on his face. And so Mr.Speaker begins to talk.

Wijesinghe Jayaweera Mudiyanselage Lokubandara who was born in Haputale does not want to reveal his date of birth. "Hata panala kiyala liya ganna. Eya athi (write down I'm over 60 years. That's enough)," he says.

Out of the seven children 'Wi-Ja-Mu' seemed more special and precious to his parents, W.J.M.Gunesekara Bandara and R.M. Loku Manike. That was why he was given the name

‘I am a person who can conquer anger

“Women love little things to be done for them’

'Loku Bandara' by joining the two parts from the names of his parents - 'Loku' from 'Loku Manike' and 'Bandara' from 'Gunesekara Bandara'.... The Sinhala scholar who follows Munidasa Kumaratunga's school of thought prefers his initials to go as Wi-Ja-Mu instead W.J.M. though the English media has often used the English letters.

"Reading and meditation have become my greatest hobbies," he says. "Sharpening your tongue and brain since you were a kid would help you immensely, later in life. As it helped me.

When we were small Ape Appachchi (our father) never let us have dinner before chanting Pirith. So since we were small we learnt even 'Jina Panjaraya' and 'Seevali Dehena' by heart. 'Paanaduravaadaya' (the great religious debate raised over the teaching in Buddhism and Christianity in 1873) between Migettuwatte Gunananda Thero and Father Don Daniel, and the biography of 'Sir Don Baron Jayathilaka' were the two books that Appachchi forced us to follow.

I was about 11-12 years. I was the second in the family. Appachchi used to ask us to divide ourselves into two groups and debate as it happened at the 'Paanaduravadaya' contention. I was always the Buddhist priest as I didn't want to loose. So am I still," he raises his eye brows.

Amidst huge commotions in the Parliament House Wi-Ja-Mu tends never to loose his composure. "Hah, Hah, Ha!" he laughs.

"You know what I do to the tons of Greeting Cards I get from all over the island and the foreign delegates?" he asks making me wonder if he was trying to divert my attention.

"I have never thrown a single card away. Instead I use them to write different quotes and lines, especially such as those found in the 'Dhammapada' and 'Deega Nikaya' as they spring to my mind. (Wi-Ja-Mu remembers the 'Thripitakaya' almost by heart). Wherever I go, one or two of such cards would be in my diary, book or file.

When it becomes 'hot' in the House I would just pull one of the cards and read. When you 'cool' your mind off, naturally your body system also gets cool. Let the fighters fight! That is their passion and this is my way of handling things," he reveals with a smile.

Amidst heaty arguments at the Parliament which are sometimes full of character assassinations, 'verbal trash' and exchange of paper balls and paper rockets Mr.Speaker stays 'Cool' with his 'self' control! Hope the other Parliamentarians would follow.

"D.B.Jayathilaka became the idol in my life. I moulded my future according to him. He was a Barrister and a Scholar of the Thripitaka. So am I. He held a top position in the House. So do I. He was an uncrowned king under the British rule. And, here I am the third citizen of Sri Lanka," he points out.

Wi-Ja-Mu had his secondary education at Bandarawela Central College in the English medium, and then sat for the London College degree mastering in Sanskrit, He did a Sinhala special degree at the Peradeniya University. He joined the Law College and later sat for the L.L.B. degree and became an Advocate. How he joined politics was also interesting.

"The late Lalith Athulathmudali was my lecturer of 'Juris Prudence' at the Law College. I knew Gamini Dissanayaka also a bit by then. During this time President J.R.Jayewardene was looking for a candidate for the Haputale Seat, my village town.

Both Lalith and Gamini had recommended me to the President.

When I was given an appointment with the President, I went to meet him without much enthusiasm as politics was not taste at that time. But!," he pauses. But, soon politics did become his bowl of food.

"It was a miracle. I was mesmerised by the 'Nose' of J.R... Amazing!" he exclaims making us too, marvel at how a 'nose' of a leader has played such a role in politics; by enticing candidates, the own party members and may be the public too. "So I came to politics," he says serving us a plate of short-eats. After a chaotic session at the Parliament, Mr.Speaker was at ease at tea-time.

"I was a pure vegetarian before I got married. But, after I tied the knot with Malathi, I decided to sacrifice a bit as marriage is an act of compromise," points out the Speaker.

Yes, of course, on the other hand, marriage is a dangerous game, more difficult than politics. "So, I'm a vegetarian on Tuesdays and Fridays. And those are the days I recite 'Dhammachakkappavaththana Sutta' (the first sermon of The Buddha)," he says. "I have been reciting this Sutta since 1971. It has helped me stupendously. I feel the strength of it," he says.

Wi-Ja-Mu, though the Speaker to the nation, is a dear husband and the loving father to his three sons of 24, 23 and 13 in age. "Many men think women should be their doormats. That's wrong. We must respect them.

I do. And whenever possible you must show your wife that you do care for her. Women love little things to be done for them. Malathi waits until I put the mosquito net over the bed in the night. And I do it without a grumble.. People become little children before love and care," he smiles looking at Malathi.

"When my mother first saw Malathi, I still remember what she uttered in my ear. 'Putha, why don't you give your consent to this girl. Look, she has a perfect nose.' Adults like my mother believed a lot in body language," when Wi-Ja-Mu came out with this Malathi burst out in laughter. But did not object. The Speaker loves to play Checkers with his sons. Indoor games are in his favour, but he enjoys watching Cricket matches.

"I am a person who has done my duties to the needy from time to time as per the requirement. When my father died, my youngest sister was just three years old. Carrying my little sister before the coffin of my father, I promised to myself that I would not get married until every sibling in my family either found a stable income or is given in marriage.

That was why mine was a late marriage". If there is a place where a sacred sapling of Sri Maha Bodhiya, Anuradhapura and a holy sapling of the original Sri Maha Bodhiya of Bodgaya is found, it is at the Speaker's Residence. When Wi-Ja-Mu became the Speaker both sacred saplings were gifted to him with blessings.

Finally, asked whether he ever gets angry he says.

Well, I am a person who can conquer anger. What I believe is that one should not let anger make you a slave, but you would make anger your slave. There are times when you have to be stern, especially on administrative purposes. But always be in 'self control'.

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