Intimate Chat room

Jayasekera Pathirennahalage Dayasiri Padmakumara Jayasekera, LLB, Attorney-at-Law, Member of Parliament (UNP) - Kurunegala District. Below is the exclusive interview the former model and the actor had with the Sunday Observer.

Schools attended?

My first school was Hettipola Kanishtta Vidyalaya - a village school where I studied up to grade 5. After that I was at Harischandra Vidyalaya, Negombo and due to my inobedient and arbitrary behaviour with the lack of interest for studies, my parents decided to change my school.

When I was at Harischandra Vidyalaya I used to hang out with my friends most of the times. I was about eleven or twelve years then. Without going home after school, I used to go to the sea in my school uniform itself with friends.

We would keep our bags on the beach, remove our shoes and play at the sea shore. After a while we would come out and bask in the sun till our clothes get dried and on our way home we would buy sweets and snacks.

I rarely had lunch after going home because I was full eating sweets, snacks and this and that.

I went to school from my elder brother's house. My brother complained about my behaviour to our parents and then they decided to admit me to a hostel in order to control me.

Thus I was sent to Mayurapada Vidyalaya, Narammala and studied there upto the A/Ls.

I stayed at the hostel of Mayurapada Vidyalaya upto O/Ls and after that I stayed at my uncle's place at the heart of Narammala.

I sat for my A/Ls in the arts stream and got entered to the Faculty of Law - University of Colombo.

Your parents' intention was to control your arbitrary behaviour by admitting you to a hostel. Was their purpose served by doing so or you continued to be adamant and naughty?

There's a popular belief in society that when children were admitted to hostels they have to abide by and comply with the terms and conditions of the hostel.

And thus they become controllable.

My parents too had that belief. Yes, I think admitting me to the hostel served their purpose.

I could no longer continue to be mischievous, since I was obliged to work according to a time table.

The administration had allocated time for meals, study, play, bathing and sleep. Since the prefects and the administration were strict, gradually my mischievousness was reduced and I became an obedient and studious boy.

During the first year at the hostel, I didn't like that strict environment much. Every other week my parents used to take me home.

But my brother, Kithsiri Jayasekera enjoyed his time with his friends at the hostel.

I got myself accustomed to the hostel atmosphere with the assistance of my brother.

After my first year at the hostel I used to go home less often and my brother and I went home together.

We used to save some money received from parents to buy on our way home, toy guns and toy pistols.

We would go home and play with them till we got tired of them. Because those toys were not allowed in the hostel.

Did you engage in any sports activities at school?

Yes. I was a sporty boy. I engaged in almost in every sport at school, such as running, jevelling throw, putt shot and discus throw. I played for the school football, volleyball and cricket teams.

So the sporty boy's sports career ended up after dropping out from school?

No. I captained the cricket team of the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo. I also won the first place in discus throw in the Inter-University Athletic Meet.

Was the handsome and sporty boy able to evade from being ragged during the first year at the university?

I had to undergo a severe 'ragging' period. I was asked to sing at most times. When someone would ask me to sing, another one would ask me to stop.

Then the person who asked me to sing would smack my face and say "who the deuce asked you to stop...? keep on singing." Then the second would come and slap on the other side of the face and say," I asked you bugger to stop."

So this poor guy had to constantly be severely slapped while singing till the face became reddish and no more able to sing.

After sometime when they came to know that I was very good at singing, they used to call me near the canteen in most evenings. Seniors used to encircle me and listen to my songs.

I had to sing till they became contented and also till my throat got hoarse.

Though I was very coy to sing before a huge gathering, I had no option but to sing. I think that's what helped me to built up my confidence in public speaking.

Did you follow the tradition of ragging when you entered the second year?

When we entered the second year, we automatically get the power to rag 'freshers.' Instead of following that not so healthy traditional method

I, with a few of my colleagues raised a voice against brutal and inhumane ways of ragging.

At the same time we were able to form a forum against social injustice. That was the first forum formed at the University of Colombo after the scary "Bheeshana" period. It was a democratic forum where anyone could air their views. Champika Ranawaka of the University of Moratuwa used to come and deliver lectures to the members of the forum.

Through our 'students movement', we were able to provide solutions for some burning issues such as the hostel problem.

Apart from political activities at the university, were you not interested in aesthetic activities?

Why not. I did a one man musical show called 'Purvika'. There was a musical show held annually at the university called 'Vindana' in which I was the recipient of several awards including the Best Singer's award.

I also assisted my brother Kithsiri's music band. We both used to go to the university during the day and perform at musical shows at night those days, somehow managing to balance studies with every extra curricular activity.

My friends used to call me 'Naluwa' (handsome actor). They always emphasised that I have the charming appearance of an actor and encouraged me for modelling and acting.

Since I had a passion for modelling I started modelling under Senaka de Silva for a couple of years. During that time I modelled at several ramp modelling shows.

I fulfilled my desire to be an actor by acting in the tele drama series called 'Sathsara Rangana' telecast on ITN.I studied dancing under Channa Wijeywardene, who later became my brother-in-law.

How did it happen?

What?

Channa Wijeywardene becoming your brother-in-law?

Ah... When I was learning dancing under Channa Wijeywardene, Upuli's younger sister - Jayawanthi used to come and watch us dancing when she came to Sri Lanka on vacation.

She was then studying 'Manipuri' dancing at the 'Shanthi Nikethan', India. When she returned home Upuli used to accompany her to the university where Upuli was conducting dancing classes.

Then I had an opportunity of meeting her and share things with her. Our friendship turned into a romance later. I often used to drop her home in trishaws from the university.

After the university, how and where did you both meet as lovers?

On my passing out, I was appointed as the Coordinating Secretary of Prof. G. L. Peiris. She got a job at the Tourist Board.

I often had to go to the Tourist Board with Prof. G. L. Peiris for press briefings. We made it a point to meet and talk to each other. We as lovers had a very nice time.

Is that your first love?

Ah... noooo. You wanna know?

Why... you don't like to tell?

Can I pass that question?

Up to you...

Ok... I had many affairs... from my school time to meeting Jayawanthi - my wife. My calf love started when I was doing my O/Ls at Mayurapada MMV. She was studying at a parallel class. Our affair ended up with my leaving the school.

After that I had a couple of affairs, but they were minor ones. Another serious affair started when I was at the university. It lasted seven years and broke off due to some disputes between us.

Your elder sisters and brothers say that you're a 'fighting cock' at home?

Yeah, I often used to fight with them. I, being the youngest in a family of seven was able to grab the attention, care and love more than others from my parents. So the elder ones were very jealous of that and often grumbled that they were discriminated.

I was thoroughly pampered by my parents and whatever mischief I did, my parents used to justify it saying, "Little naughty fellow, too little to punish."

I abused that freedom and knowing that my parents wouldn't punish me I, by force, with no reason or hardly any significant reason often used to hit my elder siblings, tear their books and break their belongings.

How did the 'seven' enjoyed leisure time, I mean apart from fights? In spite of those constant pet fights, I must say that we were very much attached to our family. We still have that commitment towards our family.

We used to gather in the verandah and sing. Some one would beat the drum and others would sing.

My parents often sang duets during small functions at home. Everyone at home had a talent for singing. But only my brother Kithsiri Jayasekera became a famous singer.

Heard that you too are going to be a famous singer?

Ah... yeah... how do you know?

Despite my busy schedule I have already done four songs for CD which I am planning to release in the near future. I was selected to sing the 'SAARC' theme song this year.

Are you a book fan?

Yes. I am addicted to reading. When a new good book is released, I somehow buy and read it. I never travel without a book in hand.

Even when I'm at the parliament, I'm used to read. I read a lot at home.

What are your favourite books?

I like to read on politics and economics. I like Hitler's and J. R. Jayewardene's biographies. Those books are very influential.

Do you have a 'hero' in life whom you like to follow?

There's no particular 'hero' in my life but I respect some heroic characters such as Mahathma Gandhi , J. R. Jayewardene.... I like Che as a person but not his philosophy.

I admire Hitler's attempt to come up as a politician and his dedication.

What are your favourite destinations?

I love to stay in Switzerland. The spacious city Washington is also among one of my favourite destinations. I like the climate in New Delhi.

In Sri Lanka, I like to go on vacation to Kandy and ancient cities like Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.