D.A. Rajapaksa:

Champion of the people of Ruhuna

By Prof G.L. Peiris

I consider it a privilege to pay tribute to the late D.A. Rajapaksa on the occasion of his 44th death anniversary.

There are two outstanding qualities that the late Don Alwin (D.A.) Rajapaksa possessed. One was his courage to act according to his convictions and the other was his utter simplicity.

When his elder brother D.M. Rajapaksa passed away at an early age in 1945 and he was called upon to contest the vacant seat of Hambantota, he declined and said he preferred to continue his farming and other agricultural pursuits. He had to be motivated, persuaded to the ultimate conviction that it was his duty by his brother, family and more so the people of Ruhuna. Eventually the people of the area had to go down to the paddy field where he was ploughing and obtain his signature on the nomination paper which he did, having washed the mud off his hands simply for this purpose.

This was a clear demonstration of his affinity to the land which produced bountiful harvests, to keep hunger at bay from the people in his village. He preferred to lead the life of a simple farmer from Hambantota and wanted to shy away from the limelight. But his family had for generations played the role of village leaders known as Vidana Arachchis and he could not evade the call to ‘champion the cause of the people of Ruhuna’. The Kurakkan Satakaya that he and his sons wear I am told is a constant reminder to them of their bond with the people of the Ruhuna.

The other significant incident in the life of the late D.A. Rajapaksa was on July 12, 1951, when he became the only Member of Parliament to cross the floor with S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and join ranks in the Opposition. Together they altered the political history of the country. The creation of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party saw the emergence of a two party system. At that time when Parliamentary Democracy was still in a fledgling state, a crossover was a journey from the known to the unknown, one from the comforts of office into a future clouded with uncertainty. But D.A. had the courage to take that decision based firmly on his convictions to get the best for his people.

‘Reluctant politician’

The late D.A. Rajapaksa has on some occasions been referred to as a ‘reluctant politician’. This is not an apt description of the man. He may have been reluctant to enter the murky world of politics.

At the launch of an irrigation project

But once he was literally thrown into the political waters he took the plunge and became a deeply committed politician who worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people of Ruhuna and for agricultural development in our country. He was responsible for the restoration of the four large irrigation works in the district: the Kirini ganga left bank scheme, Kirama and Urubokka schemes and Walawe ganga right bank scheme.

He initiated the multipurpose agricultural development scheme under the Walawe ganga development project which benefited the people in and around Embilipitiya and the small tank development Muruthawela reservoir scheme.

D.A. played a key role in the establishment of the paper factory in Embilipitiya.

He was also actively involved in reviving the handloom textile industry and traditional crafts as well as the establishment of ayurvedic dispensaries and hospitals in the Hambantota district. During the 20 years that the late D.A. Rajapaksa was in active politics his tangible achievements in improving the livelihood of his constituents are considerable.

He was deeply pragmatic in his approach and viewed political office as a means to make a change in the lives of his people.

He never sought power as an end in itself, and it is for this reason that he remains a much loved and revered figure among the people of Ruhuna.

There was an occasion in July 1960 recorded in Hansard, when D.A. took cudgels against the then Finance Minister, over a decision to cut the rice ration and threatened to vote against the budget of his own party in government unless the decision was withdrawn. D.A. made ‘the backward people of Ruhuna his own cause’ and worked tirelessly for their rights. The late D.A. Rajapaksa never allowed the various political offices he held to become an excuse for distancing himself from the people of Hambantota.

He always remained up to the end of his life closely in touch with his people and took their concerns to the legislature and to the Ministry of Agriculture where he served as Minister.

This tribute to the late D.A.Rajapaksa on his 44th death anniversary is based on his recorded achievements.

In his case there is no necessity to invent virtues as anecdotes in his life continue to be told and retold by the people of Ruhuna with great affection. D.A. hailed from a family that had given leadership to the grievances and aspirations of the people of Ruhuna. D.A.’s father Don David Rajapaksa was the ‘Vidanaarachchi’ in Ihala Valikada Korale, Giruvapattuva in the Hambantota district. His elder brother D.M. in 1936 became the first representative of Hambantota to be elected to the State Council. D.A. served as Minister of Agriculture from 1959-1960 and from 1960-1965 as Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of the Committees. Today his children Chamal, Mahinda and Basil have taken to politics with great finesse and continue to give leadership to the people of Ruhuna and the entire country. It is clear that their prowess in the political arena has been a legacy passed down by D.A., and is evident from the manner in which his political culture has been transmitted to his sons.

When one tries to sum up the life and political career of D.A. what emerges is that of a simple unostentatious person rooted in village values, passionately interested in agriculture and the economic upliftment of his people. His achievements as a Member of Parliament have endeared him and his children to the people of Ruhuna.

While D.A. focused on strengthening the traditional industries and agriculture, his sons have been committed to modernising Hambantota and connecting the hamlets of the district with the rest of the world.

The Magampura Port, airport, cricket stadium and new road network and highways, seek to blur the distinction between village and city and strengthening connectivity between Hambantota and the rest of the country.

This ambitious program is slowly, but surely bringing Hambantota from the rural outpost it once was to a rapidly developing region of our country. Such mega development has pervaded the entire country, which President Mahinda Rajapaksa could count as a success in his tenure.

There is no doubt that the sons of D.A.have nobly lived up to the ideals of their father and that the Rajapaksa family has remained faithful to the people of Ruhuna, and in spite of their personal successes they have not lost the common touch.