107 and still counting

Encounters with Yakadaya

By Shanika Sriyananda

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A commotion! An old man with silver hair, clad in a clean white national suit was shouting, someone should open the gate. He was trying to storm into the house when I got down from the three wheeler after an assignment. A big cloth bag and some shopping bags were on the ground. The neighbours were trying to comfort him until 'Mahaththaya' came. But the old man who was stubborn and restless wanted to get in.

Recognising me, "Ane Nona mee Kella Geettuwa arrinnene ne. (This girl does not open the gate) he said. My young domestic aide had not opened the gate in fear of the old man whose 'struggle' had broken the peaceful environment in my neighbourhood. Some had offered tea and even food. But strongly believing in witchcraft he had refused them.

You may wonder who this stubborn old man is. He is not an ordinary elder but one whose name sent a chill down the spine of many. A looter.... and a murderer he is the ' Maradankadawela Yakadaya'.

It was more than two years back that Yakadaya came to our house after taking part in a live radio discussion compered by my husband. With no where to sleep and no place to call home the old man came to us. I was eagerly waiting to see the man who I had seen in paper clippings and heard about in the stories told by my father who was in the police.

Though I knew well that he was a hard core criminal, I was proud that the 'Maradankadawela Yakadaya' was going to spend the night at our house. I called almost all my friends and relatives - to spread the 'news' that he was with us. Being a 'hardcore vegetarian' he was so careful about his meals. Saying no to everything that we offered at last he shared the food that I cooked for my little son. The only 'luxuries' for him were a glass of milk and 'kiri Hodda'.

The haramitiya, not wooden but an iron stick was his identity to show that he was the Yakadaya (the Iron man) . An ordinary old person of his age could not imagine lifting that iron stick. His whole 'sesatha' (property ) was his two or three bags in which he had a small faded map, a small note book and paper clippings written about him.

The long silver beard gave him a charming and dignified look. We had a sleepless night listening to his tales - some were humble stories, some were heroic but the rest were about crime.

Maradankadawela Yakadaya according to him, (for he does not have a birth certificate or an Identity card) was born in Irriyagama, Peradeniya in 1902.

His eyes became bright when he went down memory lane about his 'innocent' village life where he wanted to study English. Ending his schooling after an unfortunate clash with the school teacher, Sanchi Arachchilage Jinadasa became 'Yakadaya' when he was just a teenager where he bent an iron railway track bar around a supervisor's neck. A case was filed against him in 1918. At the hearing the judge asked Jinadasa's father how many children he had in the family who can bend thick iron bars.

The birth of a notorious criminal was marked with that incident and from there he committed several offenses and was charged for stealing money and gold, assaulting prison officials and murder.

Serving long jail terms he was in Welikada, Bogambara and Jaffna prisons. He served a life imprisonment plus ten years rigorous imprisonment for murder of the Maradankadawela Post Master.

Recalling his dramatic past he said he did everything for the 'betterment of the poor' who were deprived of many rights in the hands of the rich. According to an article written by J. N. N. Jordan, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Prisons ''A 'bad hat' not amenable to discipline, he had served several years with a long stint in the Jaffna Prison where he was found to be heavily involved in trafficking prohibited articles, and acting virtually as a 'tobacco baron' in the prison'.

But, this criminal who never tied the knot had a dream girl 'Soma', who was brutally killed by some Black soldiers with padlocked lips deployed during the Second World War. When he talked about his 'love affair' with the village beauty his eyes glittered with tears. But sparkled with anger when reminded of the 'Kaberi'.

This local Robinhood killed 96 Black African soldiers and a British Captain to take revenge over the death of his Marian'. Yakadaya said that she guided him throughout his life and they meet each other in his dreams. The old man is still in love with Soma. He has not cut his hair and beard since her death.

He said that lots of accusations against him were fabricated complaints by the Police. Jinadasa was in Bogambara Prison and later transferred to the Welikada Prison where he was listed to be hanged. The date to 'squeeze his neck' was fixed but four or five days before the hanging he miraculously escaped death with the order of the then Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. He was freed from the gallows and was ordered to be released within a year on his good conduct. But his fate kept him for more than 15 years without pardon as the Prime Minister was assassinated.

He had mastered the art of telling stories. One can listen to his 'heroic' stories for hours even though his voice is shaky.

From the day he joined the radio discussion the infamous Yakadaya became a frequent visitor at our place. The first day after the program he stayed with us for a few days. He became friendly with my little son who called him 'malakada seeya' he advised me on raising children. We took care of him for two days and on the third day he told us that he would like to stay with us for some years.

Imagine .... sheltering, a once notorious criminal! Reluctant to ask that feeble old man to leave us, though we knew he was becoming a problem, we took care of him for another day. The next day we were able to keep him with my parents. He happily stayed there but our hopes were shattered the moment he came to know my father was a retired police officer.

He was right at our door step on the following morning and I am still puzzled about his memory on how he found his way home from my parents' house. Then with no solution, we sort the help of a temple and he was dropped at the Maharagama Temple but came back to us after he fought with the Chief -incumbant of the temple.

Then we phoned each and every one who had showed a willingness to keep Yakadaya during the radio program. Some were kind enough to offer him shelter. He was dropped from one place to another but he returned back to us claiming some sort of a problem or another.

Unable to bare any more we dropped him at the Fort Bus Stand giving him enough money to go back to Anuradhapura.

We breathed a sigh but were happy that we had treated the old villain - Yakadaya once who terrorized the villages of Anuradhapura.

After two months, one morning, we woke up with a thundering bang on our gate. It was Yakadaya. Believe me this time he came with all his belongings packed in three bags. We had to pay the young three wheel driver who did not know anything about Yakadaya. In the past Yakadaya had rides free of charge as the drivers were amazed to see the famous Yakadaya was travelling in their tuk tuks.

"Ane mahaththaya mata inna denna. Mama gebalagena innam'' (Please let me stay with you. I will look after the house). He was pleading with us while we were pleading with him to leave.

He was in Colombo on his way to meet the President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was not given entry. His quest to talk to former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge was not fruitful either. Then he embarked on a mission to meet the LTTE Leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran but ended as the military turned him away and admitted him to the Mahiyangana Base Hospital.

Yakadaya, who wanted to become a crusader of peace said he can meet Prabhakaran and he would welcome him warmly. He wanted Prabhakaran to abandon his demand for a separate land. Yakadaya said that this land belonged to all - Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims.

Never abandoning his dream to meet the leader of the country, when he was not given access he stormed the media institutions and requested them to publish his plea.

This time too he was able to stay with us for two days. Later we dropped him at the Fort Bus Stand pleading with him not to travel back to Colombo as it was risky for his age.

We breathed a sigh.

But... but... it lasted only for another month or two. Suddenly one morning while we were busy getting ready to take our son to the pre-school Yakadaya 'stormed' into the house. This time he was very feeble than on the previous occasions. He demanded us to admit him to a hospital. He refused to entre a government hospital saying that he was poisoned by the doctors some years back. He wanted to be admitted to the Nawaloka Hospital.

He still believed that somebody had poisoned him and as a result now he is down with diabetes.

Finding fault with my husband for bringing him home after the live program, I was afraid about his health and agreed to take him to the Nawaloka Hospital. The lady doctor checked him carefully and ordered an EEG. Yakadaya saying that he was very healthy but weak as he had avoided taking meals for a few days, vehemently refused to do the check ups.

We bought vitamins and tablets prescribed by the doctor and dropped him at the Fort Bus Stand and not pleaded but this time demanded not to come to us again. Keeping the promise he has never visited us since then.

The villain has achieved one of his dreams after years of difficult attempts.

He was given a special meeting by President Rajapaksa where Yakadaya met the leader of the country at the Temple Trees last week.

Now 107-years-old, Yakadaya who strongly believes that he would live another 30 years has another dream - to meet the LTTE leader, Prabhakaran soon. Hope his dream comes true!