'Narrow escape from death'
 

Can you remember when you were first punished at school?

I was quite headstrong and playful at school. I remember, when I was at Richmond College, Galle, we were required to do a model farm at college. We were provided with mammoties, crowbars and other equipment with a wheel barrow. We were allowed to use wheel barrows only for the purpose of collecting and transporting cowdung, soil, bricks and compost. We were thoroughly warned not to go on the wheel barrow. Our master-in-charge was very strict and when he imposed a rule, nobody was brave enough to go beyond his words. But naughty and adamant Hemakumara violated that norm and got on to the wheel barrow and got one of the boys to push.

The speed the boy was pushing the wheel barrow was extremely high so that he couldn't control it when the master-in-charge was coming towards us with a monstrous face. My friend stopped the wheel barrow on seeing the master-in-charge sizzling with fury and he smacked my face with the fullest strength. I had a rotating sensation for awhile. He groaned at me in a very high pitch so the other guys were held astonished the way he hit and scolded me.

But you're not supposed to be playful or naughty at school. Because Richmond maintains a very high standard of discipline than other schools?

Yes, I agree with you. Discipline takes the priority than studies at Richmond. Though I had been a bit playful and naughty. I'd been punished and caned at all that time. It doesn't mean that I'd been a bully at school. I was very much keen in studies as well. I still have great respect to all my teachers and the code of discipline at Richmond, without which I wouldn't have been moulded this way.

Can you remember how joyful those days were, when you used to walk up to school with your cousin?

I first attended Mihiripenna MV, Unawatuna, a village school. My house is situated at Metaramba area. I used to walk to school from Metaramba with my cousin. We used to wear caps and have a satchel across my shoulder and a water bottle across the other shoulder. We attended that school before we really attained our age of schooling.

I would have been around four then. That was a pre-grade 1. After that I entered Richmond college for kindergarten.

Before I entered pre-grade 1 at Mihiripenna MV ,I went to a nursery school which had been established by my mother, Irin Elizabeth Wijesekera who was a great social worker and an active member of Mahila Samithi at the village.

I was admitted to Richmond for the grade 1 and studied there up to O/Ls and entered Isipathana College, Colombo for my A/Ls.

Usually naughty fellows are sporty. How about your involvement in sports?

I played badminton at school. Although I was not a top player. I played for my house. I took part in several training camps for badminton. I also played cricket for my house at Richmond college.

I was also a good swimmer and was a member of school swimming club. During good old days we didn't have a swimming pool at school. We were taken to the third jetty of the old harbour in Galle.

Were you a prominent figure in any extra curricular activities?

I was a debator at school. I captained the Junior debating team of Richmond. I was a member of the Isipathana debating team as well.

I was a scout when I was at Richmond, and took part in several camps in Galle as well as outstation.

How did you get yourself qualified to Agriculture discipline after dropping out from school?

After I finished my A/Ls, I joined Acquinas College of Higher Studies to follow a Diploma in Agriculture. I got a Second Class Upper at the exam. Then I went to California State University to pursue BSc in Agriculture.

Did you get a job for your qualifications when you returned home?

I didn't apply for any job. I thought it would be ideal for me to start farming despite the fact that I was a graduate from California State University.

I found a land in Wellawaya to start a dryzone farm and my mother provided financial assistance for the task. I got one of my friends to help me. There I went through a fatal experience....!

What's that......?

I caught Hepatitis B. It became very severe and I was almost on the verge of death. The attack was so fatal that my liver had been enlarged and shrinked all of a sudden. Doctors had warned that I had only 10% chance of life. However, I was fortunate enough to have recovered due to proper treatment from doctors and dedication of my mother.

When I came home after recovery, I was advised by doctors to be absolutely relaxed but not to exert myself and it would help me to get back to normal. I was confined to my house for about a month.

Weren't you feeling lethargic to be idle at home?

Why not....I'm an active type of a person. I was very reluctant to stay at home doing nothing. During that time I came across an advertisement in Daily News calling for applications for PhD program at the Institute of Agriculture at the University of Peradeniya. There was another advertisement for scholarships for the above program offered by the 'National Science Council' I applied for both and got selected to the Institute of Agriculture' an was a recipient as well of that scholarship program. I received Rs. 965 as a scholarship.

So, you proceeded for further studies at the University of Peradeniya?

Yes.

How did you travel from Colombo to Kandy, by train?

If I used to travel by train it would have been easier and cheaper. But, I travelled on my bike from Colombo to Kandy. Just imagine how crazy I was to go on the bike such a long distance.

That means you travelled to Kandy on a daily basis?

No, no, I used to travel on my bike after I came to Colombo on vacation. I stayed at a boarding house at Watapuluwa.

You stayed at the boarding house alone?

No. I had a roommate. Since the owners of the house didn't have children we both were treated in a very good manner like their own children.

Your father Francis Nanayakkara was a proprietor, planter and a factory owner. Weren't you involved in your father's business?

No....our Financial Minister is involved in my father's business.

Financial Minister......?

We call our third brother, Padmakumara Nanayakkara Financial Minister. He runs and controls all our tea and rubber estates and tea factories. He gives our siblings dividend cheques at the end of every month. He is financially well disciplined. He somehow manages to give everyone of us a heavy cheque at the end of the month. Before everyone got married, he provided the financial support for us.

What did you do after you finished your studies at the University?

I finished my M. Phil in Agriculture and came back to Colombo and joined Aquinas College as a lecturer. While lecturing there ,I registered myself for the PhD in Agriculture. But fortunately or unfortunately I couldn't go further in my academic career since I made my foray into politics.

But after a long time, after you've become a minister, you are going for classes again?

I'm not going for classes though. Since it's a research program. Yes, you're correct. I never stop studying. You have to learn from womb to tomb. People think that when we are old, we are unable to study.

I'm 55 now and studying for PhD in organic Agriculture at the University of Peradeniya.

You were the eighth in a family of ten. Who are the other nine members?

The eldest in our family is Vasudeva Nanayakkara, married to Wasanthi Nanayakkara, a lawyer. They have three children, two sons and a daughter.

My second brother was a man with a talent and passion for Arts. He was a producer and a Film Director - Yasapalitha Nanayakkara. From his younger days he was attracted to Cultural and Artistic things. His two sons are married now.

The third in the family is Padmakumara Nanayakkara. He is the one who looks after our family business.

The eldest of girls is our Loku Akka, Swarna Sakunthala who worked at Cargills as an executive and vacated job after her first child was born. She has two children.

Loku Akka was like my second mother, when my younger brother Asanga was born, I was about two years and my mother spent a great deal of time with the newly born baby. But my Loku Akka never let me feel deprived of familial love.

She played mother's role on me such as feeding me, bathing me and singing lullabys till I fell asleep. My other sister Ranjani, got married before our Loku Akka.

Lanka Akka is the youngest of girls. She's a lawyer and she has two children.

I have two younger brothers. Asanga has three daughters. The youngest is Nilmini. His pet name is 'Singithi'. He is now around 49 but still we call him 'Singithi'. He too has a daughter and two sons.

Wasn't it difficult for your parents to look after the football team. Were they strict on you all?

We had a very close relationship among everyone of us. MY father was strict though kind. He had hardly hit us. But our mother used to hit us with whatever is around her.

Hmmm.....I'm moving to a charming question...

yes.....go...ahead...

How did you meet your princess charming?

Ahaaa....I don't think she's a princess.....she might have been charming.

Any way...is it your one and only love?

Let's say so to be on the safe side....

So, what's that charming story.....?

When I was going to Aquinas college I used to travel by 176 Nugegoda - Kotahena bus. I had a friend and we got on the bus at the 'Quinlon' theatre. The same crowd used to travel everyday. So we used to smile with and say hi to the familiar faces in crowd in the bus.

There was a coy girl who was going to Devi Balika Vidyalaya. Her name is Nedra Lakmali. Though I greet her in the morning she looks away and greets back. Not because she ignored my presence but merely out of shyness. However after some time I got her to look at me and speak. We became friends and later it turned into a romantic affection. But it took some time for me to get a word from her.

That time she was schooling. Once in a while we exchanged romantic letters. We met on a regular basis, since we used to travel by the same bus.

We dated for ten years before we got married.

After you'd set your affair in motion, you went to America for higher studies. Did you communicate with your fiancee?

We didn't have email or SMS facilities like these days. We often got in touch with each other through letters. So, I had to wait for days, perhaps weeks to receive a long detailed love letter, which was a nectar for me those days...

How did your parents get to know about the affair?

We informed our families. We were never caught red handed. After that, customarily there were two formal visits and both parties were given their parents' assent and scheduled the marriage.

My father was no more by that time. My mother and elder siblings took the full responsibility on their shoulder. Our horoscopes were matched and they fixed a date on an auspicious day for the marriage.

You're a pure vegetarian and teetotaller... It's quite a deviation from the common practice in today's society?

Yes of course! I'm very proud to announce that I'm a vegetarian and a teetotaller. My son and I are pure vegetarians. My wife and daughter take eggs occasionally.

How did you become a vegetarian?

When my eldest brother came up with the idea of becoming a vegetarian, he was 18-years-old. He emphasised that vegetarianism is very a good move to maintain sound mental and physical conditions. However, our parents never used to bring meat home. We used to have fish though. But with Loku Aiya's fancy for becoming a vegetarian, gradually my mother, my sisters and younger brothers and myself complied with the idea and ceased to eat meaty food. Everyone besides Hichchi Aiya (Yasapalitha) became vegetarian. Hichchi Aiya used to eat fish and eggs at home and when he went out he ate meat in a great deal. Vegetarianism has become an art and practice in our family. After marriage, my wife voluntarily gave up eating meat.

How about your research studies?

I'm preparing to do my PhD in 'Organic Agriculture.' I'm specialising in planting with 'Organic Fertilizers,' in other words agro-chemicals. I'm also working on a new subject called 'Bio dynamics.' That means applying auspicious concepts to agriculture. There are certain people draw least attention to the nation that there are particular times during the day the crops should be planted.

I'm also working on Agro-tronics which is to be implemented to repel pests. So that it's not needed to spray poisons on crops. It'll emit some unpleasant sounds which cannot be heard by human beings but are heard to other creatures. No harm is caused to the crop or the creatures. It's also echo-friendly.

It seems you're a multitasking person, doing many things simultaneously...

I don't know it's a sickness, problem or an ability. I do not know how you would describe it. I can engage in many tasks at the same time.

Is being a vegetarian, a religious approach?

It's more a humanitarian approach. And being a Buddhist I don't see any negative aspects of being a vegetarian.

Actually I feel vegetarianism helps a person to improve health. It boosts memory power tremendously. I'm a good example for that I can recall people's names easily without being embarrassed to be unable to remember someone's name. Even if I meet you after ten years, I will recall your name. I believe the reason for having such a good 'memory power' at the age of 55 is the power of being a vegetarian.

A vegetarian doesn't feel guilty. You know why I'm telling this? At the time of an animal's slaughter, the animal suffers a lot. Due to that bitter anguish and hatred, there are chemical reactions within the animal's body. Therefore whatever the flesh we eat, it has negative effects and may not be healthy.

Your family is very susceptible to heart diseases...?

Yes. We are hereditarily susceptible to heart diseases. My father died of a heart disease. My eldest brother Vasudeva has undergone a bypass though he is quite alright now. My second brother Yasapalitha died of a cancer. My third brother suffered from heart attack but was not very serious. With the blessings of the Triple Gem my sisters, my brother Asanga and I are alright. But my youngest brother has undergone an open heart surgery.

Are you a strong Buddhist? How about your trend for religious activities?

Yes certainly! But, it doesn't mean that I absolutely refrain from committing sins. They might happen unintentionally.

I have a separate shrine room at home. I engage in religious activities in the morning and before I retire to bed. On special poya days like Vesak, all of us at home observe Sil.

How's your ordinary routine?

I usually get up at 5.00 a.m. And then have a cup of tea, watching TV. I watch local and international news in the morning itself. 'Mul Pituwa' is my favourite morning program. I read daily papers and then have a wash. If all the family members are at home, I make it a point to have meals with them together. After breakfast, I go to the Ministry. If I don't have any functions in the evening, I go for a walk. I love swimming. I go to swimming club at my leisure time and also play badminton. Perhaps I visit my relatives and friends.

It cannot be a sickness... It's a marvellous capability...

I really don't know...

You know... I'm the President of both 'Mavubima Swayan Poshana Padanama' which is aiming at solving farmers' problems, and 'Jathika Urumaya.' At the same time being a Minister I should be at the Ministry and as an MP should serve people in my electorate.

I spent quality time with family. I visit my mother very often and I visit siblings and relatives too. I'm a member of the 'Temple Dayaka Sabha'.

Apart from that I'm doing a research for my higher studies.

I watch TV, movies, listen to music... I love Hindi films and songs.

So... What do you call me...? A multitasker.

Yes of course!

Fine... Fine...

You never miss a 'Peduru Party'. Isn't it?

Certainly. I love it...!

Then you should be a good singer...

Hmm..... others say that they can listen to my songs without being bored.

Is it true that it's very hard to take you away when you go for a Peduru Party?

Huh... Yes... I told you that I love Peduru Parties. And that's my way of relaxing. I sing with others, clap and dance and get others to do the same. I keep on doing it so that I hardly feel the time passing. I go on till 3, 4 in the morning... I'm very reluctant to end the Peduru Party once I've switch on to it.

Are you addicted to listen to music while travelling?

Yes. Very much. I feel bored to just travel. It ever I travel some where, I take CDs, especially Hindi songs and listen to them while travelling. That's when I'm on long journeys such as from Colombo to outstation. I'm a Hindi lover.

Tell us about your 'Hindi Club?'

I'm going to form a 'Hindi Club' for those who are interested in Hindi songs and movies. Anyone can take part in singing and dancing and collect information on Hindi movies, actors and songs and lot more exciting things are in store!