‘I’ll take up the challenge’

Sudharshini Fernandopulle:

With the assassination of her husband Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, speculations were ripe whether his grieving wife Dr. Mrs. Sudharshini Fernandopulle would enter politics following the request from supporters and well-wishers and from President Mahinda Rajapaksa. In an exclusive interview with Sunday Observer, she reveals the private figure of the political colossus Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, a caring father, good husband and charming person.

Interviewed by Indeewara Thilakarathne

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Excerpts of the interview.

How do you describe your childhood, schooling and career as a Consultant Community Physician?

As Minister Fernandopulle, I am also from Kochchikade and I have only one sister. My parents were teachers and I was educated at Ave Maria Convent Negombo. But for the first three years of my childhood, until grade 3, I studied in Puttalam.

As my mother’s home town is Puttalam and she was teaching there. Therefore, I attended St. Anne’s Convent in Puttalam. I entered the Medical College from Ave Maria Convent. In school, I was the head girl and I would say I am an all-rounder. I was the 21st on the all island rank and passed out from the Medical College in 1984 with a Second Class. My ambition was to become a physician.

I married in 1986 and my husband wanted me to do my higher studies. So in 1988 I sat for part one in the General Medicine and got through it. Although I did my interns in Colombo, at the time, I was working in Negombo. Now, I am a Specialist in Public Health.

However, my desire was to become a visiting physician. Unfortunately due to political reasons, JVP insurrection, half way through, I went back to Negombo because, at that time, I was not in a good frame of mind to follow my post-graduate studies at Colombo.

I was also transferred out although I appealed for a one year extension to stay in Negombo but that was not granted. I was posted as MOH to Dankotuwa. There were political reasons for it. Then I took a liking to Public Health and continued my studies in Public Health and became a Consultant Community Physician. Now I am attached to the Family Health Bureau.

How did you meet Minister Fernandopulle?

Ours was a proposed marriage. He was also related to us. Although it was a proposed marriage, we got to know each other quite well after marriage. We had a very happy family life. My daughter was born five years after marriage followed by my son. When he was proposed to me he was a Lawyer practicing in Negombo and I was a doctor working at Negombo hospital. He was also the SLFP organiser for Katana.

When my father proposed him, I was not very keen because he was in politics.

Then my father said that once he gets married and has children he will get over it and he would quit politics. What happened was he did not quit politics but I supported him and I learnt politics through him. In 1989, he contested the election and we had a very tough time.

Though politics did not clash with family life, we had to sacrifice a lot. It was not like a normal family where the father would be involved in a lot of family activities, going out for dinner with children. Such things were not common because he was busy. Despite that we had a happy life. We used to holiday as a family overseas once in, at least, two years and then we enjoyed a lot.

Even the short time spent with us, he used to enjoy it with the family and we always kept the link through the phone with him. He was a very good father and a very good husband. He respected me and listened to me. Sometimes I criticised his policies and he altered them. He was open to criticism, very flexible and a very simple lovable human being.

Pre-monition of death

What can you say about his concern on his personal security?

He loved the people and believed the people. As he did a lot of community service, he believed that he will not be harmed. However, from January he did not go to Negombo. His routines changed. I think he had relaxed a bit. Just on Saturday I told him that you have gone back to your habit of travelling and you should be bit more careful.

He did not to respond to it. He attended the last one of a series of Bodhipuja.

During the last few months, he was very happy and he fulfilled lot of obligations and he visited old people and relatives who had served him and helped him.

He used discuss the future and how things have to be done. On 11th of January, he had completed the work of a temple named “Jaya-Shudharshanaramaya” in Bolawalana, a Kovil in Kataragama and a church in the District of Puttalam.

On the 11th of January, he was to hand over the church to the Bishop. But he could not hand over the church because Minister D. M. Dassanayake was assassinated. He was not happy about it. He said that he could not involve in a lot of religious practices as on other birthdays. He told me “I am not sure whether I be able to celebrate my next birthday”.

Did you accept to be the SLFP organiser for Katana?

Personally speaking I did not like it. But I used to help him and I am familiar with the constituency, people and organizing an election campaign. After an election campaign, I withdrew from the scene. I wanted to be a good wife, mother and Consultant. Now circumstances have made me to accept it.

Because my husband had a vision. He had started a lot of projects. I feel an obligation that I should continue his work and also his Excellency invited me.

Mahasangha sent a request to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to appoint me as SLFP organiser for Katana.

People who were not in favour of politics also, are requesting me to take up the challenge. I thought I will take up the challenge and go ahead.