Water sports, his hobby

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Neomal Perera is the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Here is an intimate interview with some of the exclusive snapshots of the deputy minister.

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Q: So, let’s start our chat beginning with your school days.......

A: Ok, I’ll tell you from my nursery days. I was born at Pamunugama in Ja Ela and when I was just four years, my parents admitted me to the nursery at Pamunugama church.

At the beginning it was a bit difficult for my parents to take me to St. Joseph’s College - Colombo due to the distance. I being a Catholic, admission to Grade one was no problem and I studied upto O/Ls.

Q: After O/Ls, didn’t you pursue your higher studies in Sri Lanka?

A: I only studied in Sri Lanka upto O/Ls. After that I got admission to KodaiKanal International School, India. I did my university studies too in India. I’m an MBA graduate. After I returned I followed the Diploma in Management at NIBM. I also followed a course in ‘Conflict Resolution’ in London.

Q: What are the sports you were involved in school?

A: I did swimming and diving at St. Joseph’s. Swimming was my favourite sport at school.... and even now. St. Joseph’s has an extended swimming pool. I used to swim at the school pool after school hours till about 5 p.m, but not regularly though. I came to school for swimming sessions during weekends,bringing my lunch on most Saturdays. No swimming on Sundays because of church. I played for school under 15 cricket team. I was also involved in athletics. I won many national awards in athletics.

When I was at KodaiKanal International School, I took part in many swimming tournaments. Though that school didn’t have a swimming pool,but because of my good training in Sri Lanka, I could win all swimming and diving tournaments.

I also played football and captained the KodaiKanal International School’s cricket team.

Since the school was American , they used to award best all-rounders annually. That was called the ‘American President’s Award’. I was awarded that for sports and studies.

Q: Ok.... back to your school life at St. Joseph’s College...

How did you travel from Pamunugama to Maradana?

A: I often travelled by bus. When I was in the primary my mother used to accompany me since I was too small to travel alone. She used to stay till the school was over. After grade 6, I gradually got used to travel alone form Pamunugama.

Q: Being the youngest and the only son in the family, you might have been thoroughly pampered.... So, have you been naughty at home?

A: Oh.... not at all! I was a very quiet and self-contained type of a boy... like now...! I never fought with my elder sisters. You’re correct, being the youngest and the only son, I received a great deal of love, care and attention from my parents and relatives. But my sisters were never jealous of me. They too loved me and pampered me.

Q: You mean that you’re a good boy in school as well?

A: Yes of course! I was very obedient and was very keen in studies.

You know, usually there are belligerent students at school. There were boys of that nature in my class. They tried to drag me into fights for insignificant reasons. I tried to evade the situation, but some boys, knowing that I’m a quiet boy who would never fight with anyone for any reason, tried to irritate me. Notwithstanding I never fought with them, nor even said a word which would rouse them.

Due to my tolerance against any uncomfortable situation, they often took me for rides thinking that I’m naive.

I was the most obedient student in the class. My teachers loved me a lot. I balanced my studies with sports and never got involved in unlawful activities in school or outside and was never punished for irresponsible behaviour.

Q: After O/Ls you went to India for higher studies. Was there any particular reason for your parents to send you there, whereas there were facilities in Sri Lanka for higher studies?

A: Yes, there was a reason behind that. At that time , in the 70s there wasn’t any opportunity for Sri Lankan students to study in the English medium. The only international school was the Overseas School, for those children who came from abroad and whose parents were working in embassies. The access to those English schools were made easy only for Sri Lankan Muslims or for Burgher students.

My parents wanted to provide me with a sound education in English. That’s why they sent me to an English school in India. In India, the expansion of International schools were less than 10. For which Sri Lankans had easy access.

Q: Did you have any Sri Lankan friends at the KodaiKanal International School?

A: No. I was the only Sri Lankan in my class. There were many foreign students than native students. There were students from around 36 countries in my class such as America, Japan, Canada, Brazil, China, Nicaragua etc. That was an American Missionary School and the children of those parents who worked in India were studying in that school.

Q: There had not been a single Sri Lankan student in your class. And you were also away from your home and loved ones. Naturally you would have felt home sick?

A: Yes! I was just sixteen when I went to India. It was a totally strange atmosphere for me. The culture of India, was different from that of Sri Lanka, which I was used to and also the diversity of the living styles of students from around 36 countries in my class as well as in the hostel. I was like a fish out of water for about a month. I was nostalgic during the first month. What I did was, I called home very often to get rid of that lonely feeling, ultimately, till I finished my money which my father gave me on his return after admitting me to school. So, he had to again come to India to give me money, since there were no money transfer facilities those days like now.

Q: How was the usual routine at the hostel?

A: I used to wake up about 4.30 a.m. and go for a bath in the morning. Till we were called for breakfast, I used to engage in studies.

When I returned to hostel after school, the procedure continues; we would go for a wash and then run to the dinning room for lunch. After lunch, we used to chat awhile with one another and then go to the playground. By 5 o’ clock, it’s compulsory for everyone to be in their respective rooms.

After that we had to go for the study session of one hour and then we have an informal ‘chatting session’ with friends from various countries. That session was very informative, funny and educative. Each one was required to do a small presentation on the culture, attire geography and history etc. of their country.

In order to do that we should have a thorough knowledge about our own country. When I came home on vacations, I used to buy a lot of books on various subjects on Sri Lanka.

In case we’re unable to answer questions on our country, it was embarrassing. So I would thoroughly go through those books and get myself well acquainted with the background of my country.

We used to keep a small notebook to take down important points from others’ presentations.

Q: When you’d chum up with your colleagues, it’s difficult for you to ignore them. Didn’t they ask you to join with them for outings?

A: Our school was on a plot of 600 acres. All the facilities were available for students in the school premises itself. Therefore there was no need for students to go out to fulfil their needs.

KodaiKanal International School is in a cold area like Nuwara Eliya. When our school was closed for seasonal holidays, many people came there on vacation. That city’s name - KodaiKanal was given to our school which started in 1901. That was a very famous and beautiful place. Our school hosted many functions, ceremonies and fairs etc. We never missed them.

We also had an opportunity to mingle with celebrities and many key political figures in India on such occasions. Though I rarely went on outings, I enjoyed my time with friends to the fullest at such special events held at school.

Q: Do you have any exciting and unforgettable experiences at school in India?

A: Exciting experiences..... mmm ...... there’re no such exciting experiences in my life as such.... I think that’s because I’m a very quiet and reserved type of a person. I do not say that my life had been a uniformity; there had been ups and downs in life which are negligible to mention.

Unforgettable experience are that when I met powerful Indian politicians face to face when I was schooling. Talking to political leaders in India inspired me to enter into politics. I have also met Mother Teresa and India’s great and popular actor Amitabh Bachchan when they visited our school.

Q: You’d been actively engaged in sports and academic activities in school. Were you not into the ‘aesthetic’ side?

A: No. I was not interested in the aesthetic side. I could recall when I was at KodaiKanal International School, we hostellers used to throw small parties on special occasions like birthdays or when someone received an award etc.

At such times we used to sing and dance while some students thumping on tables according to the rhythm. Believe me! I could neither sing, dance nor provide the beat. While others were dancing very well, I just shook my body to and fro, and clap for the sake of taking part in the occasion.

My friends used to joke “what men, you can’t at least shake your body to the beat?” I was embarrassed at such times but didn’t take those comments serious since they’re my very good pals.

Q: Do you still keep in touch with your friends at school?

A: Yes, I still get in touch with them. Many of my friends are today holding responsible positions in society. Some have become politicians like me.

Tell me frankly how many girl friends you had before you got married?

A:Why to be hesitant? I will give you a straightforward answer...! Zero... I didn’t have any fiancee before or after I met my girl friend.

Q: Very rare indeed!... don’t get me wrong... You seem(ed) to be not very romantic?

A: Mhhh! I’m not much into romance then or now!

Q: We would like to hear about your one and only love story? When I came home from India on vacation, I attended a fair with my sisters at the Holy Family Convent. There I saw a pretty young girl with some friends encompassing her.

I was hanging around that area for some time and finally was able to approach the prettiest of all at the fair! I however got around her and took her contact number. She was very anxious though coy to talk to me. Since I got a positive clue out of her gestures I was not hesitant to get in touch her over the phone.

Q: So, what was her response?

A: She was very demanding as every girl of that age. She was around 19 years then and I was around 20. When I spoke to her over the phone, her response was positive and she enjoyed talking to me, I didn’t at first tell her that I loved her.

After talking to her over the phone for several months, gradually I let her know that I’d already fallen in love with her and that I wanted to meet her. Though she didn’t give me a direct answer, she too let me know that she was ok with my proposal. It took several months to go out and be alone with her.

Q: How were those youthful romantic days?

A: That was my first love. I never had loved any girl prior to that. So, it was really an exciting experience for me...

Later, we want out for meals and movies. ‘Ganga Addara’ was one of my favourite movies among those we both watched together. We enjoyed our time together.

We did all these in camera. However, eventually our elders smelt the rat. So we had to tell our families that we had an affair and wanted to get married.

Q: Did you both receive the fullest support of your parents?

A: Not at first. Our parents were opposed to our affair.

Q: Reason?

A: Because we were too young. We were then in our early 20s. We were not mature enough to get into wedlock. Our parents’ view was that getting married and leading a family life is not as rosy as the bachelor’s life.

Moreover, I did not have a job at that time and my father wanted me to succeed our family business. Due to all these reasons they at first didn’t give their consent to our marriage. However after a 5 years affair we got married in 1990. I was 25 then.

Q: As a minister you must probably be a busy character. But when you have a leisure time what do you usually do?

A: I love water sports. If I have an extended holiday, I would go to Chilaw for diving or to Bolgoda lake for water jet racing. I also do pistol shooting. I’m a member of the Moratuwa Yatch Club.

I’m also a life time member of the Colombo Swimming Club. When I have free time I go there with my family and play badminton. Sometimes I spend the whole day swimming and playing badminton.

Even when I’m free, I rarely watch TV. But I love to listen to music. I often listen to music when I’m travelling.

Apart from that I update my face book, read magazines, papers, books etc.

Q: You said that you like to read books during your leisure time. What do you like to read on?

A:I like to read biographies on national and international political leaders.

Among biographies which interested me most was the biography of Saudi Arabian doctor called Anand Kashori. It is about international politics and how Saudi Arabia rose. It explicitly depicts how to maintain political and economic status of a country.

I also like to read books written by people who were attached to spy services such as FBI. Those stories are exciting and I’mcurious to read them.

Apart from biographies I’m also interested in reading psychology. I have read Sigmond Freud’s books but I haven’t gone deep into the subject. I think psychology is a very in depth subject and is not easily comprehensible.

Q: How often do you do exercise?

A: Whenever, I find time I go for a walk to keep myself fit.

Q: To keep yourself fit, it is not sufficient to do only exercises. You have to control your food intake too? So, are you choosy with foods?

A: Not that much. I like to eat sweets. I’m not that much choosy or fussy with foods; but I always try to avoid junk foods and to partake natural and healthy foods like fruits and vegetables as much as possible.

Q: Is that the reason behind your young look?

A: Do I look young?

Q: Why not?

A: I don’t think. I can see aging Neomal Perera when I stand in front of a mirror.

Q: Actually how old are you?

A: How old do I look? Keep guessing...

I’ll give you a clue.. I got married at the age of 25. Our elder son was born one year after we got married. He is now 17 years .

Ok... If you say that I look young and if you want to know the reason for that, I’ll tell you... I think that’s because of my simple way of living. I don’t keep burdens or problems on my head. I don’t have grudges or anger in me which wears a person out.

I always try to smile and be free of problems. I take everything in my life in a lighter way. I’m not carried away by emotions. Even if someone comes and scolds me on my face, I tolerate it. In short, I’m leading a very simple and happy life which I think is the secret of my so-called appearance!