The genuine politician who spurned racism
(On the occasion of his 70th birthday on February 15)
A certain era in Sri Lankan politics stands stamped with the mark of Anura Bandaranaike, only son of a politician couple who achieved international fame, the late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world’s first woman Prime Minister. All attention focused on the young Anura growing up amidst the abundant affection of his parents, as everyone expected him to be the leader of Sri Lanka, one day. But fate decided otherwise. Perhaps this turn of events was due to the fact that Anura never indulged in the politics of deceit and opportunism. It was also perhaps brought about by false friends who surrounded him. As things turned out the leadership of the country eluded him while it was almost within his grasp.
Racism or religious bigotry was never manifest in Anura Bandaranaike’s political life. That stands out when his speeches in Parliament, political speeches elsewhere and his scholarly addresses are perused. He was a true humanist. He had affection for men and women of all races. He respected all religions.
Anura Bandaranaike even distributed among the domestic aides of Horagolla several acres of commercially valuable land from his ancestral property, along the Colombo-Kandy road.
Anura wrote his own speeches. He edited them himself. I have seen manuscripts of his speeches, in his beautiful handwriting. Usually he would end with a poem or passage from a famous writer, blending it excellently with the theme of his speech. He was quite at home with Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot and other greats of western literature. Dr. Sarath Amunugama told me once that he was a fan of classic foreign films. Dr. Amunugama said he still has with him notes that Anura had written to him in his own hand. He had that habit of sending handwritten letters and messages to his friends.
Although Anura was brought up in a busy and even tumultuous environment, he always found time to read, savour poetry and the novel and view classic cinema. His father was also an avid reader. Even amidst the most serious problems, he managed to face the world with a smile. As I had the opportunity to associate with him closely I was able to observe that he had a wide and deep knowledge on diverse subjects. Only a handful of people equalled him in Parliament, in his knowledge of history, literature, political science and economics.
Anura Bandaranaike had his early education at Royal College and thereafter gained a First Class honours degree in history at the London University. He declined an offer to be a lecturer there and came home to take up his family heritage of political leadership. Thereafter he reorganized and strengthened the SLFP from the party branch right up to the national level, giving them guidance and leadership. While the party suffered an ignominious defeat in 1977, young Anura succeeded in entering Parliament from Nuwara Eliya collecting over 49,000 votes, after only six days of campaigning. He became the 2nd MP for Nuwara EliyaMaskeliya, relegating the senior politician Thondaman to third place.
In the Nuwara Eliya-Maskeliya electorate with its preponderant Tamil estate worker population, the SLFP was never again able to poll such a high percentage. Anura’s popularity, his organizing skill and his oratory made the difference. In the 1977 general elections Anura addressed meetings right round the country in every electorate. It was Anura who brought back the SLFP from the abyss. When in 1977 the UNP won with its 5/6th majority, it was Anura leading the eight MPs of the SLFP who gave them a fight using his oratory to good effect. He kept the Government at bay with his eloquence, so much so that it was said that Prime Minister Premadasa used to walk out of the chamber whenever Anura got on his feet. His argument was sharp and logical.
Anura took action after 1977 to raise the SLFP gradually from the depths to which it had fallen. He went round the country building up branch organizations and holding seminars. He thus rebuilt the party. When he served as the Leader of the Opposition, he was the youngest to hold that post in the Commonwealth. He devoted his office for public welfare and for democracy. When he later came to ascend to the chair of the Speaker of the House of Parliament, he served with distinction, maintaining the dignity and prestige of that office.
The absence of such an eloquent and imposing personality is a great loss to politics in Sri Lanka.
Gamini Gunasekera