He dreamed a dream for Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans

16th death anniversary of President Ranasinghe Premadasa:

B. Sirisena COORAY Chairman, The Premadasa Centre

President Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated by the LTTE on the International Workers Day. Time has not dimmed the pain or lessened the loss of his untimely death, to me personally and to the country as a whole.

He was a leader who caused great changes in our lives. Therefore, when I got the statue of President Premadasa built, it was not only as a silent memorial to a dead leader but also as a living example for future generations.

I decided to locate the statue in Colombo Central, because that was where he was born, where he lived and where he died. Time has not blunted the memory of his works and his statue is a living reminder to the millions who pass by a leader who dedicated his life for the betterment of Sri Lankans.

President Premadasa continues to live through his ideas, strategies, programs and perhaps most of all, his example. His dedicated efforts to ensure a better life for all Sri Lankans, irrespective of the differences that divide us, are still relevant today and will continue to be so in the future.

There were and are those who would like to deny or belittle his achievements. These efforts are doomed to failure because history will record the true achievements of President Premadasa. Indeed, some of those who ridiculed him or ignored his contributions are upholding his example and praising his works today.

These include even his one time enemies. The phrase `As efficient as Premadasa’ has entered our political lexicon and is used across the political divide today. This is a tribute to his commitment to the country and the people.

President Premadasa wanted the ordinary people of this country to become self-reliant, to stand on their own feet dependent on none, not even the state. His programmes were aimed at achieving this end. He had supreme confidence in the humanity and the labour of ordinary masses.

He trusted them and wanted the best for them. He not only wanted to live amongst them; he also wanted to be an example to them and to give voice to their hopes. The people trusted him in return and stood by him until the end.

President Premadasa looked for his friends in the far off rural villages and in the slums and shanties of the cities. That is why despite the obvious threats to his life he lived in Colombo Central and travelled right round the country.

He ignored the warnings of security officials. He did not want any barriers between himself and his people. In the end he was killed while he was celebrating the International Workers Day with his old constituents of Colombo Central.

With the people and for the people

President Premadasa was assassinated while he was engaged in the task which was the prime objective of his life - to lead the people from their midst. President Premadasa was assassinated when he got down from his jeep to direct the floods of people celebrating International Workers Day. The manner of his death symbolised the way he lived - with the people and for the people.

He never hesitated to face a challenge. An important characteristic of his life was his ability to face challenges and overcome them. He was equally able at overcoming verbal challenges, he was undefeated in debate and almost invisible in the political arena. His steely strength became most manifest during the impeachment crisis.

The calm and composed manner in which he faced the verbal onslaught of the entire parliamentary opposition and the speech he made on that day were achievements to be proud of. That day he exhibited to the entire country the strength of his will, determination and commitment. The way he faced the opposition was symbolic of his leadership qualities.

Only a handful of human beings would have faced the obstacles he faced and achieved what he did. There was very little his opponent did not do to undermine him. In the last year of his life he often said that the only thing they did not attempt was murder. He was ready to face even that ultimate threat. He was ready to die but he did not want his character to be besmirched. In his final speech, made on the day before he died, he said so explicitly, `Kill me, but do not kill my character’.

When the history of our times is written by future generations, President Premadasa will be mentioned as a great leader who saved this country from an unprecedented peril. He assumed the leadership of this country at a moment of supreme uncertainty. During the time of the JVP insurgency none of us knew what would happen the next day, the next hour. It was a time of hopelessness, a time when the future seemed bleak and full of danger. The people of this country left for work in the morning uncertain whether they would be able to return to their families in the evening. Even something natural and normal as going to school became a dangerous enterprise, every time parents sent their children to school they lived in an agony of uncertainty about their safety. It was at a time like this Mr. Premadasa became the president.

No other leader faced so much uncertainty, such instability such a crisis upon assuming office. His main aim was to save the country from this abyss. He dedicated his life to this task. By the time he was killed he had achieved remarkable success in this endeavour. He had managed to turn this dark hopeless future into a bright hopeful one. He gave people the ability to look ahead with confidence. He restored the rule of law and normalcy. he gave the ordinary people of this country a chance to live their normal lives without fear. He put an end to the time when a piece of paper could regulate our lives, when a chit delivered by a youngster would decide whether we went to work or not whether we could go out of our houses or not, even whether we could switch on the lights at night or watch television. He turned schools from breeding grounds of terrorism into centres of education.

He gave shelter to the homeless and a helping hand to the havenots through Janasaviya. He took industrial development into neglected villages. He gave a free uniform and a free midday meal to students. He provided opportunities to artists. With all this he saved the country from a yawning abyss. He prevented it from imploding and led it into a new era of prosperity. The ordinary people of this country will always remember his achievements they will never forget him.

From a very young age Ranasinghe Premadasa devoted his time and effort to the betterment of his fellow men.

He was a perfectionist, always on the lookout for better, more efficient ways of overcoming challenges and achieving goals.

He idealised justice. His attitude towards religion is an example we should not ignore in this time of growing religious disharmony. Though a Buddhist by birth and practice, he also studied other religions, learnt from them and respected them. He tried to establish a meritocracy, ignoring ethnicity, religion, caste and class. He was a warm hearted human being who did his best for Sri Lanka and all Sri Lankans.

He dreamt of a better life for all of us. He made tireless efforts to translate that dream into reality. But he did not live to see the fulfilment of his dream. His death was a tragedy that will haunt and mark this country for decades to come.

(This is an updated version of the speech made on the occasion of the unveiling of the Premadasa statue at Hulftsdorp, Colombo Central, on the first anniversary of the assassination of President Premadasa.)