THE SUCCESS STORY OF DR.SURIYAPALA RAJAPAKSE
This success story is somewhat nostalgic; as it stems from the Land Settlement and Free Education policies of our first Prime Ministr — the Father of the Nation, the late D.S. Senanayake.
It is good for our youth to know that success was possible as far as that time because of the inherent wisdom of our very first Prime Minister.
Dr. Suriyapala and his wife were on vacation here from Queensland and I was privileged to meet and have an informal chat with them.
Q: How did you begin your journey on the ladder of success?
My father was a farmer in Arandara in the Kegalle area. I was just two-and-a-half-year old when we moved to Ampara. Through the land settlement policies of that time, we were given land and a house. I started my school life at Udayapura Vidyalaya there.
My interests were reading and writing. I must stress that I have always been fortunate in finding mentors — someone who took a special interest in me and helped at every stage of my life.
At my first school there was a teacher; I think I was in Grade four or five at the time who perhaps recognised that I had talent; he encouraged me by buying books in Colombo, to urge me to get ahead. This stirred my interest. He encouraged me to sit for a scholarship exam, through which I got a scholarship to Kekirawa Central College.”
Q: You were very young to go so far away from your family. Was it difficult to cope; to adapt to a new school away from home in strange surroundings and new school friends?
“That certainly was a tough period for me. I missed my home and parents. It was my first experience of hostel life. In those days, accommodation and food were also part of the scholarship package. But I soon settled down and made friends. I knew that I had to live up to what my parents expected of me. Although my mother couldn’t read or write, she wanted the best for me.
My favourite subjects were Maths, Physics and Chemistry, but I was forced to go into the Arts Stream, It was not my choice and out of my hands, but still it was a challenge which I took up and succeeded in the subjects I did were Politics, Economics, Buddhist Culture and Sinhala.
Out of seventy students I was selected for the University and went to Vidyodaya University in Gangodawila. I had done Economics, Accountancy, Banking and Statistics for my A/level, and wondered which was the best option for my degree. Here I struck luck again as my first teacher was Prof. Karunasena Kodituwakku, who was my mentor; we have remained friends and kept in touch ever since. He advised me to do statistics as I was good at Maths.
Q: It was Dr. Kodituwakku, who told me about you, and inspired this interview. I could see that he had followed your career with keen interest?
That was the beginning of my career in statistics, and I haven’t looked back since. I was just one of two, of our batch, to get a first class and chose to work at The University of Colombo as a lecturer, under Professor Indraratne. While there, I applied and got a scholarship, to Waterloo University, in Ontario, Canada, where I did my Masters.
There again I had a mentor, Professor Thirsk, who helped and encouraged me. I got a scholarship to La Trobe University, Australia, where I did my PH.D., followed by a fellowship at Monash University as a Research Fellow.
You have had a most remarkable career and been a shooting star in your particular field. I am surprised you found the time for love and marriage!i met my wife, Pelma, when we were both at Vidyodaya. She did Law and Business Law. We are both working in Queensland now; she is in Law and I am a lecturer in statistics.
Q: Do you miss Sri Lanka and your relatives here?
We keep in touch and come back every two years or so. This time, our holiday was to have a reception for my son and his bride, so that our relatives here could meet them. It is of course a much wider world outside; which makes it possible to have a wider experience of life and people; to have a broader perspective.
One learns to think as a citizen of the world, but one can never forget the land of one’s birth with such happy memories. The lessons learned in youth sink in deep and become part of one’s personality. We have a Sri Lankan Association
Suri’s story is one that should inspire others; that dedication, commitment and hard work can take us where we want to go. The first step undoubtedly was his father being given land in Ampara and the mentors he met, who helped him every step of the way.
in Queensland, where we have regular meetings and keep in touch with each other.
Suri strikes me as a gentle, thoughtful person; who doesn’t speak till he considers the effect of his words on another, taking care not to offend or hurt anyone.
Pelma glows with confidence, enthusiasm and one senses a firm belief in herself; that if she wanted anything badly enough, she would get it. Suri’s story is one that should inspire others; that dedication, commitment and hard work can take us where we want to go.
The first step undoubtedly was his father being given land in Ampara and the mentors he met, who helped him every step of the way.