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| Sunday, 31 July 2005 |
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Bennet Cooray - 40 years in politics by M. P. Muttiah
Nawalage Bennet Cooray entered politics in 1964 as a member of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna and joined the SLFP in 1970. He was the Chairman of Kottikkawatte Pradeshiya Sabha in 1991. Elected to Western Provincial Council in 1994, he successfully contested the Parliamentary Elections held in the same year. He was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways in 1999. Cooray was popular among the people in Kolonnawa for his social service. "I began my social work when I was the senior Prefect at Rajasingha Maha Vidyalaya in Angoda. Since then I have been engaged in various social and political activities for the benefit of my people," he said. His main concentration was the education of children. He has many friends in Japan and with their help he started Kato Iku Montessori School which has 125 children, a Day Care Centre and Pubhudu Sports Club. He also established montessories in Angoda, Kottikawatte and other towns in the Kolonnawa electorate. Sri Lanka-Japan Friendship Hall, Nishimoto Masako Memorial Library, Ayurvedic medical centres in Ambatale and Kottikawatte, Gothatuwa Hansa Library, Gothatuwa Tagasishi Montessori and Dharmasalawa were established with the efforts of Cooray. "In 1995, I established the Hansa Foundation to provide free books and writing materials to poor children. I utilised my parliamentary salary to provide 3,000 scholarships to the poor children," he said. After the Tsunami disaster, President Kumaratunga appointed him to the Joint Organisation of National Disaster Service. Cooray sought the assistance of his friends in Japan, New Zealand and England and built 30 houses in a village near Habaraduwa. "I have arranged scholarships for 50 orphans with the assistance of Shin Ishimotto, a Japanese philanthropist. They will be provided with funds until they complete their higher studies," Cooray said. He recalled that Ibb Holley, a Danish, provided 300 beds, each worth 40,000 Rupees, 15,000 spectacles and 150 wheelchairs to government hospitals. Cooray said that he was able to establish two national schools in Kolonnawa and Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra Vidyalaya in Himbutana in 1999. "It is not so easy to be a social worker. I had to face many challenges. I was taken to the CID 8 times regarding the funds provided by my Japanese friends and later I was freed," Cooray said. Bennet Cooray was the President of the SLFP trade union at the State Engineering Corporation when Presidential Election was held in 1982, in which Hector Kobbekaduwa had been one of the candidates. Cooray was one of the 15 workers who were interdicted after the election. Except Cooray and Leslie Devendra all the others were reinstated. After 9 years , in 1991, the Appeal Court re-instated him. Cooray has two novels to his credit. A collection of short stories and a biography of the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike are to be published soon. He said that it is necessary for all the parties to join hands on a national policy to develop the country. He welcomed the P-TOMS saying it was very important and should be based on mutual trust.Referring to his future plans, Cooray said that he wanted to transform Kolonnawa into a cutlural city. There would be a theatre, housing facilities for artistes, trade complex, Mahajana Pola, library and a swimming pool. "I have already succeeded in establishing branches of People's Bank and the Bank of Ceylon," he said. He said the felicitation ceremony for his four decades of service would be different. 200 persons who stood with him from 1964 would be honoured. "I would not have succeeded without their assistance. Therefore, I have decided to honour them," Cooray said. A felicitation ceremony was held yesterday at Rajasingha Maha Vidyalaya, in which Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest. |
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"My life was full of challenges and struggles. I would not have succeeded
if I did not get the support of my electorate," said Sri Lanka Export Credit
Insurance Corporation's Chairman and Managing Director Nawalage Bennet
Cooray, who completed 40 years as a social worker and a politician.