Intimate Chat Room

I was the best Student

By Panchamee Hewavissenti

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Duminda Dissanayake is the youngest Minister in Sri Lanka who holds the responsible position as the Minister of Petroleum Resources. Youthful Minister still in his twenties had an exclusive chat with the ‘Sunday Observer’ . Below are the excerpts from the intimate talk.

Q: What do you think of the youth in Sri Lanka?

A: I would comment on that negatively. Sri Lankan youth do not extend their due responsibility for the country. They always fight for their rights but hardly consider their responsibility.

If they try to fulfil their due responsibility for the country, without waiting for someone else to do it, the situation of the country could be improved. They also should take the responsibility of their education more, instead of doing it for the sake of doing. And also they should not involve in unnecessary activities which lead to many social problems.

Youngsters should utilise their energy and knowledge in such a way that it would benefit the whole community.

Q: What inspiration have you received from your father?

A: I entered politics because of Thaththi, of course, he was my inspiration. I was brought up in a political background.

I saw Thaththi helping people sacrificing his family life. We missed him most of the time since he often used to come to Colombo and we were in Anuradhapura. Even a little time we had with Thaththi those days we enjoyed a lot.

Thaththi was very concerned on our education and proper behaviour. He often encouraged me to achieve targets in life. The liking for serving people sprouted in my mind on seeing how Thaththi engaged in social service.

Q: How do you recall your school life? Were you naughty?

A: I was admitted to Hathareswela Vidyalaya, Anuradhapura at the age of four. That school is special for me because my father was the first student there and my mother served as the mathematics teacher at the same school.

I sat for the Year Five Scholarship examination at Walisinghe Harischandra Vidyalaya, Anuradhapura. I got through the scholarship examination and entered Anuradhapura Central College. I entered Royal College, Colombo to do my A/Ls.

I did A/Ls in Bio Science stream. My parents wanted me to become a doctor. But I couldn’t excel in Bio Science. Chemistry was difficult for me. Without sitting for the A/Ls in 1997 I left Sri Lanka for Australia to pursue higher studies in Information Technology. I studied at Holmesglen College in Australia.

I returned to Sri Lanka in 2007 and again did A/Ls in Arts stream and obtained 4Cs. My parents wanted me to study Law when I returned to Sri Lanka. That’s why I again did A/Ls in the Arts stream because A/Ls is required to enter Law College in Sri lanka.

Though my intention was to enter Law College, I couldn’t carry my higher studies since I contested in the election in 2000. That was a request from the former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the people in Anuradhapura, because they wanted someone from Chief Minister’s family to contest for the election.

Though I had a passion for politics, I never thought of entering politics at such an early age. It happened by chance.

You asked me whether I’m naughty at school. Believe me I was not at all naughty. I was the best student at school.

Since Thaththi was a politician, I was brought up in a very responsible manner. I was taught that politicians’ children should behave in such a manner that they could set an example to others. If a child of a politician does a mischievous thing, it is highlighted.

It was emphasised by family when I was schooling. So I was not mischievous. I never took my father’s political powers to the school. Though I enjoyed my school time as other schoolboys, I was a quiet and self contained type of a person, I mean I was the best student in every way.

Q: Do you show particular interest in fashions? What attire do you like to wear?

A: Yes. I like fashions very much. I like denim and T-shirts. But according to my profession, I can’t wear denim and T- shirts every time. I like to clad in white.

Q: What do you think of the latest trends in fashion in Sri Lanka?

A: It’s quite a difficult question to answer. Although I think it’s no wrong as long as the youth indulge in fashion without harming the proud culture of the country and preserving its identity. It doesn’t mean that they should always clad in the national dress code, but similar attire would be better.

The latest trend is that whatever comes from the West, youth embrace it without giving it a second thought. They should adjust whatever fashion they indulge in according to the culture without embracing it as it is.

Q: Tell us a little bit of your family?

A: I am the eldest of the family of four boys. My second brother is reading for a degree in the UK, next one is planning to go there for the Barrister exams and the youngest is a final year student at the Law College in Sri Lanka.

Q: How did you meet your soulmate?

A: Her brother and my brother are very good friends. They used to visit each other. I got to know her through her brother. At the beginning, we communicated over the phone. We couldn’t hide it from our parents and they helped us to get married.

We started the affair after I returned to Sri Lanka from Australia, I think in year 2000.

Q: What made you like her?

A: She has pleasant qualities. She is very altruistic.

Another thing is that living with a politician needs patience and lot more understanding. Since she is from a political background, she has that understanding. She has experienced it from her father, Minister D. M. Jayaratne so that politics is familiar with her. If I were to marry a woman from no political background it would have been difficult to manage my political life and the personal life.

Q: How often do you hang out with friends?

A: I have not much time to devote for friends like earlier. But as time permits, I enjoy friends’ company. I meet various people everyday and they come to me with thousands of problems. When I am in the company of friends it is a relief for me.

Q: What is your favourite destination?

A: I like to travel to countries where I haven’t been. Then I could learn new things. Apart from that I like to go to Maldives on a leisure trip. Also I like to go to African countries. I haven’t been there yet.

My favourite destination in Sri Lanka is Nuwara Eliya.

Q: What do you do at your leisure time?

A; I hardly find free time these days. When I am free, I like to watch old Sinhala movies. I like to listen to music, any good songs. I like songs by new artistes.In the past, I was involved in sports. I played Billiard and pool. Now there is hardly any free time for sports activities.

Q: What is you favourite food and drink?

A: Red rice and coconut sambola. I don’t like rich food at all. I don’t like to eat from five-star hotels. I like village food and also crabs. My favourite drink is passion fruit drink.

Q: What is your favourite book?

A: I like to read biographies of Sri Lankan and world politicians. I can learn a lot from them.

Q: When is your birth day?

A: 1979 March 28.

Q: How do you start your day?

A: I get up at 5.00 a.m. and go to gym in the morning. It depends on time I went to bed the previous night. If I get up early I can stay fresh the whole day.

Q: Are you satisfied with what you have achieved in life?

A: Yes of course. I’m 100% satisfied of what I am today. I hope to continue my service to the youth in the country.