National People's Party presidential candidate Mahesh Senanayake talks to one of his former teachers and journalist Afreeha Jawad
Mahesh Senanayake, a pint sized mischievous imp whom I taught at Ananda, running about in a pair of sh.orts is today’s presidential aspirant. I wonder whether he ever went home for I could see him cadetting long past school hours and that he excelled in it, is to say the least. Yes, he was my student is no licence to present glorification nor condemnation for whatever future omissions and commissions in store should he be the president of this country. Yet, his stepping in is most opportune at a time when an apolitical third force is non-existent and found most wanting. Given the deteriorating standards in the Sri Lankan social whole, even the inner circle with whom Mahesh will have to work, however honest he may be, would not be that easy considering the high standards he is looking for in a highly morally depleted social whole.
Understandably, the doubting Thomas in me becomes operational for space is there when he could soil his credentials in this fast deteriorating societal membership, nor could I disown his success when he would inspire the morally incongruent and steer this country out of the grim abyss of ruin — a legacy we have shared for 70 long years.
Mahesh has all the right to the hot seat which hopefully will get him there provided logical thinking prevails and irrationality would argue his claim into it. He has not robbed national wealth, nor lived an ostentatious life on tax payers’ money while rendering the ‘jaathiya aagama’ cry nor has he got blood- stained hands. His parents too don’t suffer the same guilt. They were modest people of simple, unsullied background.
As I sat with him last week for a chat, I reminisced a role change after nearly 40 years, for, this time it was my turn to take down copious notes.
Triggering off straightaway Mahesh said,” What we have in this country today is labelled Buddhism — practising Buddhists being few and far between,” —his face turning salted lime. “The very same hands that venerate the Buddha, offer ata pirikara to the priests and water the Bo tree have the audacity to murder and rob. Is this Buddhism?” he asked. “Siyalu satwayo niduk wewa they say and continue to murder and rob the people. What sort of Buddhism is that,’’ he questioned indignantly.
Responding to a question on the much promised and not even the least implemented sovereignty of the people, he endorsed in no uncertain terms that when the judiciary, executive and legislative are politicised, people’s wishes are severely undermined.
“I assure these institutions will not be politicised. They will remain independent to serve the people with their sovereignty in mind. I am an apolitical figure. I do not work within the framework of religion, caste, creed, ethnicity, relations, family, friend, club and other accessories. I am not a Buddhist but I am a practising Buddhist. To me the Tamils and Muslims are equally near and dear as the Sinhalese. I will protect the minorities in the same way as I would the Sinhalese. We as a nation are one family and I will not under any circumstance come to power on the ‘jatiya aagama’ or ethnocentric cry. We have had enough of this stupid nonsense for 70 long years and it has got us no where. The only thing we see is politicians have robbed, murdered and amassed wealth for even the generations unborn. The people are all the more poorer. No way. I shall see an end to this,’’ said an angry Mahesh.
A value-based education system is uppermost in his mind for he sees the futility of a star studded professional with no values and character.
The writer was reminded of Colvin R. de Siva who outshone all others in legal brilliance but drafted the heavily biased majority centered 1972 constitution and JR that plummed the pudding giving all the power to one single man in the 1978 executive presidency. If the Sinhala only bill was a discriminatory endeavour against all ethnic groups, these two constitutional demons were certainly not in nat i o n a l i n t e rest. SWRD Bandaranaike’s Sinhala stand saw his children to higher seats of learning abroad while closing the doors on the underprivileged for international exposure.
Having had enough of this racist cry, Mahesh will opt for greater racial mix in schools that suffer the ethno/religious mindset. His dream – a Sri Lankan identity where he will annihilate what segregates and build on commonalities, moving on from there to a universal plane that has done so much for social development in other countries.
Asked whether territorial integrity is effaced when minorities are discriminated because the insistence on separation comes as a result of such discrimination, he said , “I fully agree. Majority domination and unequal distribution of resources leads to frustration. It’s a fact. I will see to it that no one is discriminated. When minorities are discriminated territorial integrity is at stake.’’
Mahesh shared my view that minority discrimination and family bandyism are twin elements apart from politicisation, murder, and corruption that have plagued this country over 70 years.
“On family bandyism, politicians say, ‘ so what, if the people want’, so be it.
“Family bandyism is not what the people want. Society has been brainwashed into thinking so. That’s the sign of dictatorship. People no longer identify what is right and wrong. They have no reasoning power. They simply follow the herd. And have accepted family rule. People have been bought over. Many in the media have been bought over.
“The judiciary executive and public service are filled with party henchman. Crowd control into gaining power is the order of the day. All political parties do this to gain power and fill their pockets.
These are a set of shameless fellows. They have no right to talk of patriotism. If they truly loved this country would they resort to all this? Winning the war is no passport to murder and robbing. Nor is winning the war a green lighting into anarchy – the total absence of rule of law when kissing goes by favour. Nor is the housing programme started decades ago a license for corruption and murder.
At that time bodies went afloat in the Kelani, they were burnt in Badagamuwa what with ‘gonibillas’ at every police station.
“The likes of N. M Perera and Dudley Senanayake are no more. They had moral eminence and brilliance in them. Who do we have today in parliament — hooligans, thugs, drug dealers, racketeers not worth a pinch of salt. They should be flushed down the commode. Even that place, I fear, would get further polluted,’’ exclaimed Mahesh.
When asked if he had been aware of the Easter Sunday attacks, “yes I was and I informed in writing the security council, the then IGP, the defence secretary. My first letter to arrest Zaharan was in 2017 and again in 2018. There were so many meetings.”
Getting top priority in Mahesh’s governance will be national interest, an all inclusive goal. Females being 51 per cent, of this 64 per cent are into higher studies and 34 per cent are employed, which percentage will be increased to maximum with shift work like in Thailand.
Skilled development centres in schools will have facilitators, not teachers into soft skills. Housemaids will be a past occurrence as these women with enhanced skills will move out as teachers, nurses, care givers and so on.
Smiling from ear to ear Mahesh concluded, “I will bring in a new political culture where blue and green will cease to exist.”
“One last question Mahesh, will you give up on presidential luxuries if you become president or live the austere, simple yet elegant lifestyle of Joseph Muzica, president of Uruguay who lived in a farm house and rode in his ramshackle Volkswagen beetle. When the BBC reporter went to interview him, Muzica was seen hanging his washing on the line.”
“Well it will be a dwelling with social acceptance,’’ he said, to which, I as his former guru, responded, “Mahesh forget social acceptance when you are working towards a higher goal.’’