A true son of Ruhuna

by Vichithra CHINTHAKA GUNASEKARA

Giruwa Paththu is situated in the south of Sri Lanka which was known as Rohanapura or Ruhunupura in the early days and even now. Kings as famous as Gemunu and Wijayaba were born in Rohanapura, a land of diverse terrain comprising rich farm land, hills, ravines, beaches and bountiful of flora and marine life.

On the 30th day of October in the year 1942, a son born to the chief occupant of Medamulana Walawwa, D. A. Rajapaksa and his loving wife Dandina Samarasingha Dissanayake. It was their first born and was named Chamal Jayantha Rajapaksa. He saw first light at his maternal grand mother's residence the Dissanayake Walawwa in Palatuwa, Matara. Chamal was an exemplary and a loving brother to eight younger siblings, Jayanthi, Mahinda, Chandra, Gotabaya, Basil, Preethi, Ghandini and Duddly. Together with them he romped the field hills and ravines of Medamulana. As a son of the soil he observed and learned about the beasts and beings in his surroundings. He saw the ups and downs 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 especially of Giruwa Paththu. Following his elder brother's footsteps Chamal's father D. A. Rajapaksa was elected to Parliament by the people of Giruwa Paththu, and hence Chamal was aware of the numerous problems faced by the people as he overheard and observed these topics being discussed in his home.

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

In 1948 he was admitted to Richmond College Galle from where he passed his GCE Ordinary Level examination in 1960 and the GCE Advanced Level examination in 1962 creditably.

Present day Socialist Party leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara was a teacher at Richmond College at that time who guided him. Chamal was also 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 in 1963. He passed out as a Sub Inspector in 1964 and took up duties at the Bandarawela Police station. A letter from his father which he remembers saying "even though the bees build a hive on a bitter-tasting 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 Development and Construction Corporation as its Assistant General Manager. The appointment of Dr. S. A. Wickramasinghe to the Walasmulla Hospital around this time, was a boon to Chamal's political career.

During this period he met Chandra Malani Wijewardana and on the third of January 1975 they were marred. The happy couple were blessed with two sons.

The present Chief Minister of the Uva Province and Basnayake Nilame of the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya, Shashindra Rajapaksa is the eldest son of Chamal and Chandra.

The second son Shamindra is an engineer by profession.

Chamal contested the Mulkirigala seat at the 1985 by election and lost, but the elections in 1989 he was successful. He was re-elected to Parliament from the Tissamaharama electorate in 1994.

The agriculture in the area was boosted by major irrigation projects of the likes of "Maw Ara", Weheragala, Uma Oya, Walawe left bund and Kekiri Obada. He was instrumental in setting up a coconut research station at Middeniya, the Bata Aththa Agricultural Development Park, Mayurapura Post Harvest Development Unit and the Rural Agricultural Development and Research Unit at Weligama, Magampura.

Fisheries were developed by providing boats, nets and other equipments at concessionary rates. Construction of fish market, rest rooms and ice plant in Hambantota, development of the Kirinda, Kudawella, Welipatanwila and Kalamatiya fisheries harbours and the Vocational Training Center at Bandagiriya were his achievements.

As Chairman of the district development Committee of Hambantota, he took steps to accelerate the development of Tissamaharama, Suriyawewa, Hambantota New Town, Weerakatiya, Angunukolapalassa, Ambalantota and Walasmulla towns. The hundreds of kilometres of carpeted roads speak for itself.

The Ran-Eliweta and Kusum Nivasa are two housing projects which have received his blessings.

The construction of the Tzu Chi National School in Hambantota, the Ruhunu Wijeyaba College in Beliatta together with Sisura Education 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 children's education.

Rural hospitals in Kirinda, Debarawewa, Ambalantota, Lunugamwehera, Suriyawewa and Beragama were modernized. The 200 odd nurses who pass out from the Training College opened in Hambantota are some of the projects initiated to uplift the health sector in the area.

The new courts complex in Hambantota, 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 people of the area.

Hambantota will be a leading economic hub not only in Sri Lanka but in the entire South East Asia, with the development of the Magampura harbour and the Airport at Mattala.

Chamal Rajapaksa who has been prominent in all these development feats is a leader of our times who has illuminated not only the Giruwa Paththuwa but the whole of Sri Lanka.

Chamal Rajapaksa is the 19th Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and has earned the trust and love of the people of Ruhuna Giruwaya.