Y.G. Pathmasiri - sole Sama Samajist to enter Parliament

by Jaliya WIJEYEKOON

The three koralas of Kegalle district consisting of Ruwanwella, Yatiyantota, Deraniyagala (formerly Dehiowita) electorates were supposed to be one of the strongholds of Lanka Sama Samaja Party during the bygone days when the former marxist socialist Economist Dr. N.M. Perera was the party leader. The area was therefore popularly known as the cradle of Lanka Sama Samaja Party of Sri Lanka.

From pre independent era upto 1977 this area was fully dominated by LSSP except for just three occasions when Ruwanwella electorate was won by Madam Sita Molamure during State council days and P.C. Imbulana in 1960 July and 1965 elections.

After the downfall of the united front government in 1977 the left movement in the area was relegated to political wilderness with the demise of Dr. N.M. Perera who represented the interests of the downtrodden masses of the district.

Dr. N.M. Perera Memorial hall at Yatiyantota, with a seating capacity of 1000.

Ruwanwella public playground, with a pavilion.

From His Budgetary Allocations:The longest suspension bridge in the island at Ruwanwella, across the kelani river.

The latter day LSSPers such as Athauda Seneviratne and H.R. Mithrapala crossed over to SLFP since they found it difficult to continue under LSSP banner and emerge victorious.

However young Y.G. Pathmasiri who started his political career as a student activist under the tutelage of Dr. N.M. Perera did not want to follow the foot steps of his senior members but remained committed to party ideology.

Neither any of the senior members have tried to influence him since they knew that this young man was very firm in his convictions.

The period between 1977 and 1988 witnessed the gradual downturn of the left movement, particularly after the demise of Dr. N.M. Perera and with the resurgence of J.V.P., brand of leftist politics.

However, determined to climb the slippery ladder of politics, Pathmasiri contested the first Provincial Council election held in 1988 under LSSP and was elected to office as a member of the coalition and held office continuously until he won the 2010 general elections.

He has set a record in the provincial council by contesting and winning at all five PC elections held since its inception in 1988.

At 2010 General elections he polled over 61 thousand votes and elected as a member of Parliament placing 4th in the list surpassing some of the senior sitting parliamentarians in the district.

Sunday Observer had a brief interview with Y.G. Pathmasiri, member elect and following are the excerpts of same.

Q: You are the only LSSP candidate to win a seat in Parliament having contested under UPFA umbrella. What have you got to say about your victory?

A: Well, I am proud of myself and of my voters in Kegalle district who have silently voted for me endorsing my party ideology and policies laid dawn by my late leader Dr. N. M. Perera.

Q: You mean to say that your main theme in your election campaign was the LSSP ideology?

A: Yes. My main theme during my election campaign was LSSP ideology and policies which are quite compatible with Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma. The policy frame work of Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma is identifically what the LSSP has formulated decades ago.

Q: Could you also explain briefly how you built up your political career?

A: Well, I had the rare fortune of working very closely with our late leader Dr. N. M. Perera because my father was a staunch supporter of his ideology. In 1965, I organised students movement of LSSP, “Lanka Shishya Sammelanaya” in all the leading schools in Kegalle district and eventually the movement turned out to be a force to be reckond with. As a young student I was deeply moved by the vision, political phylosopy, ideology and policies of Lanka Sama Samaja Party.

Q: At the 2010 general election you competed with senior parliamentarians in the district and managed to emerge victorious comfortably. In the run up to the election, did you expect that you will be placed 4th in the list surpassing some senior parliamentarians in the district?

A: I know why you ask me this question. My election campaign was not as aggressive as that of other candidates or some of them. I am the poorest candidate among all.

But I was fully confident of my victory because of what I have done during the last two and a half decades for the down trodden masses of Kegalle district. I know I had polled well over seventy thousand preferential votes, though it is 61,000 according to the final official figures.

I don’t like to point the finger at anybody and create chaos among ourselves.

I did not get ready for this election after the nominations were submitted. But from the day that they deprived me of my Ministerial portfolio at the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council after winning it for the 5th consecutive term.

Rather than remaining as a Provincial Chancellor I was determined to contest the 2010 general election and represent my beloved voters in Kegalle district.

Q: As a member and a Minister of SPC you have done a lot for the welfare of the general public of Kegalle district. In addition to supplying infrastructure facilities in education, health, sports, transport and estate, developments what are your significant major achievements sofar as a politician.

A: That’s a good question. What you stated above - all I have done in varying degrees. My most significant achievement is the Janasaba concept which is to be implemented shortly by the Government which I formulated as “Grama Sabha” in Sabaragamuwa Provincial council in the year 2000. Pre-school teachers charter is yet another concept that I introduced in the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council which is to be implemented as a National programme by the government. In addition to the above two major policy programs I also consider the construction of longest (555 ft) suspension bridge in the Island and the complete restoration of Levangama Tempita Raja Maha Vihara are also my achievements on which I am proud of.

Q: New cabinet will be formed soon and as the only LSSP member, do you think that you will get a Ministerial portfolio

A: That is left to the President to decide

Q: We hear that you had been working as a voluntary Dhamma School teacher until very recently. Do you hope to continue same in future too.

A: Of course yes. Even with my busy schedule of work I shall certainly find time to continue as a Dhamma School teacher at Morawatta Sri Dharmmathilaka Daham Pasala.