A Pioneer in many development projects

by Vichithra Chinthaka Gunasekara

There are two categories of politicians. Those who become popular due to politics belong to the first category and the second are those who popularise politics for the welfare of the masses with the intention of helping them.

They are rare and unique.

This is particularly true of Chamal Rajapaksa. 'Position is temporary. But humanity is permanent'. That is his vision. This is the brief of his story.

Giruwapattu is situated in the south coast of Sri Lanka which was known as Ruhunu Magam Paththu or Rohana Pura in the early days and even now.

Kings of fame such as Gamunu Tissa and Wijayaba were born in Rohana Puraya.

A land of diverse terrain comprising rich farm land, hills, ravines, beaches, and bountiful of flora and marine life is paradise to most beings and beasts.

On October 30 in the year of 1942 a son was born to the chief occupant of Madamulana Mahagedara D.A. Rajapaksa and his loving wife Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake. He was their first born and was named Chamal Jayantha Rajapaksa. He saw first light at his maternal grandmother's residence the Dissanayaka Walawwa in Palutuwa, Matara.

Chamal was exemplary and a loving brother to eight younger siblings namely Jayanthi, Mahinda, Chandra, Gotabaya, Basil, Dudley, Preethi and Gandhinie. Together with them he romped the field hills and ravines of Madamulana.

As a son of the soil, he observed and learned about the beasts and beings in his surroundings. He saw the ups and downs in the conditions of living of the different communities of Ruhuna. He felt the pulse of these people even at his young age.

This was when the voice of D.M. Rajapaksa known as the 'Lion of Ruhuna' thundered and echoed in the house of parliament against the oppression and hardships faced by the people of Ruhuna and specially of Giruwapaththu.

Following his elder brother's footsteps, Chamal's loving father D.A. Rajapaksa was elected to parliament by the people of Giruwapaththu, and hence Chamal was aware of the numerous problems faced by the people as he overheard and observed these topics being discussed at his home.

Little Chamal learnt the ABCs at the Kusum Convent in Tangalle and later at the convent in Matara.

In 1948 he was admitted to Richmond College, Galle. He passed his Ordinary Level Exam in 1960 and Secondary Level examination in 1962 creditably.

From a very young age he was fortunate to be in the company of political leaders. Among them were D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kotalawala and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. From his childhood he helped his father D.A. Rajapaksa in his election campaigns. Chamal used to place his hand on pieces of paper and draw around it with a piece of charcoal to get the image of the hand which was his father's election symbol. Chamal saw how his father conducted the election campaign. The experience he gained thereby was a guideline for his political future.

The socialist party leader Minister Vasudewa Nanayakkara was a teacher at Richmond College at that time and Chamal was guided by him.

Chamal was instrumental in forming the Mahinda - Richmond Socialist Students' Organisation.

On completion of his advanced education Chamal joined the police force by entering the Sri Lanka police training college Kalutara in 1963. He passed out as a sub inspector of police in 1964 and took up duties at the Bandarawela police station.

In a letter from his father he remembers the words saying 'even though the bees build a hive on a bitter taste tree like Margosa (Kohomba) the honey produced does not taste bitter', 'Likewise a child who grew up with a loving and caring family background will not change his good ways in whatever occupation he takes up and whoever he associates with'.

In 1972, he left the police force and joined the State Trading Corporation (STC) as its Assistant General Manager.

During this period he met Chandra Malani Wijewardane and on January third 1975, they got married. The happy couple were blessed with two sons. The present chief minister of the Uva Province and Basnayaka Nilame of the Ruhuna Kataragama Maha Devalaya, Shashindra Rajapaksa is the eldest son of Chamal and Chandra.

The second son, Shamindra Rajapaksa is a reputed engineer and administrator.

Chamal contested the Mulkirigala seat at the 1985s by-election and lost. But at the election held in 1989 he succeeded in being elected to parliament from the Tissamaharama electorate in 1994.

Through the years until today, he held positions as Deputy Minister of Agriculture (1998), Deputy Minister of Southern and Port Development (2000), Minister of Agriculture Development (2005), Minister of Irrigation and Water Management (2006), Minister of Port, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management (2007) and elected unanimously as the 19th honourable Speaker of the Seventh Parliament of Sri Lanka and holding the post up to date.

He took steps to develop the infrastructure and general living conditions of his constituents in every possible sphere. The agriculture of the area was boosted by major irrigation projects like "Maw Ara', Weheragala, Uma Oya, Walawe left bank and Kakiri Obada.

He was instrumental in setting up a coconut research station at Middeniya. The 'Bata Atha' Technical Park of Agriculture, Mayurapura post harvest development unit at Waligatha Magampura.

Fisheries were developed by providing boats, nets and other equipment at concessionary rates. Also constructing the fish market, rest rooms and ice plant in Hambantota, and developing the Kirinda, Kudawella, Welipatanvila and Kalamatiya fisheries harbours were historical. The vocational training centre at Bandagiriya was also established at this time.

As the Chairman of the District Development Committee of Hambantota he took steps to accelerate the development of Tissamaharama, Suriyawewa, Hambantota new town, Weerakatiya, Angunukola Pelessa, Ambalantota and Walasmulla towns. The hundreds of kilometres of roads were carpeted as well.

The 'Ran-Eliwata' and 'Kusum Niwasa' are also two housing projects which have received his blessings. The construction of the Tzu chi National School in Hambantota, the Ruhunu Wijayba College in Beliatta along with the 'Sisura' educational scholarship scheme funded by the D.A. Rajapaksa Foundation are some of the educational development projects which received the guidance of Chamal Rajapaksa for the betterment of the children's education.

The Hambantota District Hospital which had only four resident doctors at one time was upgraded to a Base Hospital, with the service of more than 200 doctors and ultra modern equipment and facilities.

Rural hospitals in Kirinda, Debarawawa, Ambalanthota, Lunugamwehera, Suriyawewa, Beragama were modernised. More than 200 nurses pass out from the Nurses Training College annually which was opened in Hambantota are some of the projects initiated to uplift the health sector in the area.

The new court complex in Hambatota, the oil refinery, the garment factories in Weerawila, and the Industrial Zone in Hambantota will come into operation in the near future providing benefits to the country and its people.

The Hambatota Ports Development Project being built at a cost of US $ 650 million is a landmark among other massive projects launched during his tenure as Minister of Ports Development and Aviation for the well-being of the entire country.

The port would create over 300,000 job opportunities direct and indirect and help overcome poverty in Giruwapathuwa and the suburbs.

Another pioneering work initiated by Chamal Rajapaksa is the construction of the second international airport at Mattala, which would promote the tourist industry in the south and also create an investment promotion Zone.

The profound author Leonard Woolf's book 'Beddegama' (village in the jungle) reveals the tale of woe where humans struggle for survival. But the land which Leonard Woolf saw is developed into a greener pasture now.

Hambantota will be a leading economic hub, not only to Sri Lanka but to the whole of the South East Asia with the development of the Magampura Harbour and airport at Maththala.

Chamal Rajapaksa who has been prominent in all these development manoeuvres is a leader of our time who has illuminated not only the Giruwapathuwa but the whole of Sri Lanka.

He is the 19th Speaker of the Seventh parliament of Sri Lanka and has earned the trust and love of the people of Ruhunu Giruwaya.