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For once a House not divided as Mangala is remembered
View(s):Both the government and opposition came together in a rare show of unity on Friday (11) as Parliament moved the Vote of Condolence on late Minister and ex-MP Mangala Samaraweera. MPs from both sides paid emotional tributes to their former Parliamentary colleague, who passed away due to complications from COVID-19.
Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa led the tributes to his former colleague and long-time friend
Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa led the tributes to his former colleague and long-time friend who had been in active politics for 31 years since first being elected to Parliament in 1989 as a Matara district MP from Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).
Mr Samaraweera was someone who steadfastly stood for a unique political vision till his death, the PM said. He recalled that Mr Samaraweera formed the “Mother’s Front” against the lawlessness and injustices that prevailed in the 1988-89 “reign of terror” and that he (PM) was also a co-convener of this front. Mr Rajapaksa highlighted that during the 88-89 period, Mr Samaraweera gave steadfast support to ensure success of the Paada Yathras organised by the SLFP calling for the safeguarding of justice and democracy in the country.
“He always placed his trust in reconciliation and was a creative politician. He did not change his position in the face of challenges and constantly stood by his ideology,” Mr Rajapaksa said. He also recalled that when he contested for the presidency in 2005 and faced many challenges, Mr Samaraweera sacrificed much to ensure his victory.
“While we represented rival political camps later on, Mangala remained my personal friend until his death. He made sure to separate his personal and political lives and was never so narrow-minded as to bring an end to personal friendships due to political differences,” the PM said.
Mr Samaraweera never changed his principles, whatever challenges he faced, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said. “He was not someone who relied on positions. He never stayed in a position if he saw that the work did not agree with his principles and political ideology. He always acted according to his conscience and we must respect that quality.”
This steadfastness endeared him to the public and even those who did not agree with his principles and ideology still respected him for it, the Opposition Leader added.
Mr Samaraweera never attacked or tried to oppress those who criticised him. In some instances, he did not hesitate to adjust his behaviour in the face of such criticism, Mr Premadasa recalled. While he and Mr Samaraweera did not initially enjoy a cordial friendship, that changed with time and a mutual trust developed between them.
Mr Premadasa recalled with gratitude how Mr Samaraweera, as Finance Minister, fully supported his housing programme while he was Minister of Housing and also organised the second public rally to support his nomination for the presidency.
Mr Samaraweera had a reputation for being a creative politician and a “kingmaker,” Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando stated, adding that he was “an asset to any political camp.” He also said the government was eternally grateful to Mr Samaraweera for making an appeal to his contacts within the US government to secure COVID vaccines to Sri Lanka.
Whenever political parties that Mr Samaraweera represented gravitated towards extremism to gain political advantages, he fearlessly proclaimed that Sri Lanka belonged to all communities, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella stressed. “He always held a positive view regarding devolution of powers. That is why no resolution was passed against our country during his time as Foreign Minister. He knew how to work with the international community and always held a sympathetic view towards minorities.”
Mangala Samaraweera’s ability to “swim against the current” was the quality that he remembered most vividly about him, Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris told the House. “Throughout his political life, this was a capability that he demonstrated to the fullest measure. When he decided on a course of action, he did not consider the element of popularity. In fact, many of the things he did cost him a great deal in political terms and he knew that would happen,” the Minister said. “He acted upon his conscience and his conscience was his guide.”
United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe recalled that he spoke with Mangala Samaraweera over the phone on the evening of August 23 last year while the latter was receiving treatment for COVID-19. “At the time, I told Mangala that he would have to suffer this for a few more days and that we could continue our discussions when he left. But none of us expected that he would pass away the following morning.”
Mr Samaraweera rejected non-alignment because he felt it was a concept that came in the Cold War, and with the disappearance of the Soviet Union, you could no longer take that view, Mr Wickremesinghe said, adding he had discussions with the late minister regarding the policy the government was going to take. There were things they agreed with and others they did not agree with on this. He also stressed that Mr Samaraweera was completely against the LTTE and he had gone to Geneva as Foreign Minister with the aim of securing a United Nations Human Rights Resolution favourable to Sri Lanka keeping in line with the joint statement by the then UN Secretary General and the President after the end of the war.
The greatest tribute the House could pay to the late MP is to set aside the old way of politics and come together to discuss reports on the critical financial crisis facing the country and arrive at a preliminary agreement on how to proceed, the former PM said.
Mangala was a go-to politician when there was a crisis and was an astute strategist at mobilising people, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem said. “He was a kingmaker though never a Head of State or Prime Minister. But he had all the hallmarks, credentials and qualities that should have even catapulted him to such positions. But when he died, the tributes that poured in from all corners of the world and every section of Sri Lanka society is replete with the honour and dignity with which he had been held,” Mr Hakeem asserted.
Mangala Samaraweera’s insistence that the Sri Lankan military should not be exposed to an international inquiry and that it should be limited to a domestic inquiry was not something he could agree with, Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) Leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam said, adding that he had criticised Mr Samaraweera for this. However, after leaving mainstream politics, Mr Samaraweera expressed a vision for Sri Lanka that Mr Ponnambalam said he felt he could share with a member of the majority community.
“In a House and a country that is so divided, I think it’s remarkable that you can have a man that creates such positive impressions. It is a quality that unfortunately, I don’t see in anyone in this House. It is a quality that this country is sadly missing. It is the only quality in my view that can save this country,” he concluded.
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