Once there were politicians like N.M. Perera

I thought of writing a few words in connection with my experience with a veteran politician, an ex-minister of finance and a true leftist, Dr.N.M. Perera, during the early 1970s while I was Finance Officer /Western region of the Peoples’ Bank.

On a request made by NM,as the FM in Ms. Sirima Bandaranaike’s government, the then GM/ Peoples Bank, Donald Kannangara, appointed me, as recommended by the then AGM, S. Gunatillaka, to oversee the financial involvements in his electorate i.e. Yatiyantota. That was because he was not happy over the borrowings and spendings of funds in certain organisations like, the MPCS. JEDB and the LRC etc within his electorate.

I had to visit his house in Yatiyantota every Sunday to brief him on the progress. Once the JEDB advertised for an estate superintendent for one of the estates there and the Interview Board consisted of the undersigned,GM/JEDB and AGA. After having conducted the interviews we shortlisted some applicants and sought the approval of the Minister.

While discussing the applicants one by one, we saw that the first applicant had produced a letter from the then Minister of Education.P.B.G.Kalugalle and when mentioned that he was not suitable, NM turned it down. The second applicant had a letter from the PM and after discussions he rejected him as the applicant was not suitable. While the third applicant was under discussion we mentioned that he had presented a letter from the Finance Minister himself,but when he too was found unsuitable, NM said ‘throw it away’. And we appointed the most suitable applicant with no recommendations from any politician.

I am quoting this incident to show how the Minister acted impartially in selecting an officer, because he wanted the best for his electorate.

He was a great man, very straightforward with simple and good qualities compared to today’s politicians.