Journalist revives Election memories of 1989:

Mahinda's crowning success two decades ago

Mny are the articles that have been written from various angles on President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The piece published today is on his second entry into politics in the wake of UNP and JVP terror 22 years ago. Having won a parliamentary seat for the first time in 1970 and after being defeated in 1977 Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to Parliament in 1989. Here senior journalist, Dharman Wickremaratne revives his memories of his experiences in working with the President during the general election of 1989.

I remember Mahinda Rajapaksa visiting our home in the early 1970s. It was due to the connection he had with my father Gunapala Wickremaratne, who was then Deputy Director General of Education. When I joined the Divaina in 1984 these memories were revived and the relationship was further strengthened.

Going through my old diary I came across the date March 4, 1988. Place: IRED Institute, Horton Place, Colombo 7. The convenor of the event was Sunimal Fernando. There is no doubt that the discussions there laid the seeds of all the victories of the present President.

President Rajapaksa in a jovial mood, with his brother Basil

The participants were K.H.A. Godawatte, Amarasinghe, T. Jayasinghe, Dr. Willie Gamage, Dharman Wickremaratne, S.S. Sahabandu, Justin Dissanayake, K.D. Peiris and the brothers, Chamal, Mahinda and Basil. All plans were prepared for the 1989 General Election. It was Basil Rajapaksa who predicted that some day a President will emerge from the South. Basil was the brains behind all the strategies.

We met every week and worked out the plans. Discussions were held sometimes in 'Carlton', Tangalle, Basil Rajapaksa's residence at Jubilee Post and Mahinda Rajapaksa's residence at Dehiwala. The outcome of these meetings was the Human Rights and Legal Aid Centre at 'Carlton,' human rights activities and protest demonstrations.

The JVP called for the boycott of the Presidential Election. The terror they and the government unleashed intensified. It was under these circumstances that Ranasinghe Premadasa was able to win the Presidential Election of December 19, 1988. After his victory he decided to hold the General Election on February 15, 1989. We decided to meet the new situation with renewed strength. All of us camped at 'Carlton', Tangalle a month before the General Election. Gotabaya Rajapaksa regularly gave advice from abroad. Chamal Rajapaksa worked from 'Medamulana'. But the joint election campaign centre was at 'Carlton'.

Willie Gamage handled the coordination and administration, and I directed the field operations. Promotional work was the responsibility of Ari Weeraratne, Padmasiri Rajapaksa, Disa, Keerthi Disanayaka and many others.

Among those who campaigned for Mahinda Rajapaksa in 1989 were some of those who had worked for him in 1970 and 1977. They included Willie Gamage, Justin Dissanayake, A. Weeraratne, Wimalaratne, Sinha Abeygunawardena and Henry. We used to wake up at 6.00 a.m., start work at 7.30 a.m. and continue till 7.00 p.m. Due to Army orders in response to JVP terror, we could not work after 7.00 p.m. though we used to engage in discussions and exchange experiences till 12 midnight. Willie used to recall his days with Mahinda Rajapaksa MP at Anderson Flats in the 1970s. At 'Carlton', Tangalle there were nearly 200 people in addition to our group to work for the campaign. All of them were the second generation of staunch supporters of the Rajapaksas.

They were Mahinda's closest associates. In fact most of them were 'political refugees' because the JVP had threatened to kill them. To make matters worse the UNP government ironically branded them JVP members and was trying to hunt them down. Although they were a good 'political investment' for the SLFP, Mahinda was totally opposed to treating them in such a way. Consequently he had to bear the responsibility for their safety.

Amazingly he could remember the names of all of them and their family backgrounds. It was he who proposed that all these village youth should be insured. For this purpose we met Insurance Agent, Getamanne Weerakoon, who lived near 'Carlton', according to my diary. His clerk was Sarath Amaraweera. It showed Mahinda's gratitude towards his comrades.

Facing the terror of 1989 Mahinda went ahead with election campaigning and met people at weekly and daily village fairs in Vitharandeniya, Rathnawadiya, Ranna, Getamanna, Beliatta and Tangalle. At all these places, farmers and traders extended to him their maximum support. The man who went in front making announcements was Abeygunawardena alias Kiwi Abey.

It was amazing the way he met people in fisheries villages after reaching them via Moraketiara from Mawella through the terror-ridden Kudawella in Beliatta. Although Nalagama and Vitharandeniya in the Tangalle and Beliatta seats and Ridiyagama in the Tissa-Ambalantota seat were the 'fortresses' of the then President Premadasa, Ari and were succeeded in building pro-Mahinda strongholds there.

The most number of villagers who at the time supported Mahinda were from Dammulla, Pallattara, Beligalla and Getamanna among a few others. We who engaged in election campaigning sometimes used to bathe in the anicut near the paddy fields of Kahawatte alongside the Beliatta-Walasmulla and the Tangalle-Weeraketiya Roads. During breaks Mahinda made it a routine to visit the homes of friends nearby. He never suspected them and criticised them for their shortcomings. But he never harboured any grudges and forgot the incidents thereafter.

Election Day dawned on February 15, 1989. The auspicious time for leaving home was 6.07 a.m.

The wellknown astrologer from Maharagama who decided on the time, said that it was a very powerful neketha and that the colours for the occasion should be blue, yellow, red, white and green. According to him, blue symbolized the ocean, red symbolized the people, white symbolized harmony and justice and green the land.

As we stepped out of the house Shiranthi Rajapaksa met us carrying a glass of water as the traditional good omen.

The JVP had warned that they would kill the first 12 persons who cast their vote. The party had declared an unofficial curfew from 13th to 16th February Islandwide. Overcoming all these obstacles Mahinda Rajapaksa met villagers in Tangalla, Vitharandeniya and Puwakdandawa from the early hours of that day. People were busy as bees at the voting centres at the Technical College, schools and other places. By daytime it was the same in all the villages of the district. Although there were no mobile phones at the time we had some walkie-talkies by which were able to communicate between a distance of three and four kilometers. As soon as election results were announced we went to the Government Agent's Office in Hambantota.

I was one of Mahinda's chief agents at the counting centre. The results delayed due to the prevailing tense atmosphere, were finally released 11.30 a.m. Mahinda and Chamal Rajapaksa had both won and their victory was unique in the sense that they succeeded in spite of all obstacles.

We returned to 'Carlton'. Villagers who had heard that Mahinda had won shouted and danced with joy. Everywhere we went we heard only Jaya wewa. Crowds flocked to Medamulana to celebrate victory. Mahinda joined the villagers of Giruwapattuwa in the celebration.

That was the strength and support he needed take a thousand more steps to reach the peak of success. Today it is nearly 22 years since all these events became part of our political history.

The writer is an environmental journalist