Down memory lane

Simple man in exalted positions

By Roshan Peiris 

Bradman Robin Weerakoon has the unique record of having been Secretary to six of this country's Prime Ministers and also an advisory consultant to one. He occupied these exalted positions with no lofty ambition or overwhelming pride. 

"I came from a family of five. I was in the middle - there were two older and two younger than I," he says. 

" It was a kind of frugal experience since I was the recipient of 'hand-me downs', be they be sports equipment or clothes. It was all the same, a contented childhood," he recalls.

From the age of nine Bradman was at boarding school -S. Thomas', Gurutalawala during the war, and later at Mt. Lavinia. 

At boarding school he often experienced pangs of hunger, because of the war time scarcity. " We got used to eating Bajiri, an Indian corn made into porridge for breakfast, and cooked like rice for lunch. 

"We also ate manioc and pol sambol and waited eagerly for food parcels from home. 

"I was tolerably good at school and came first or second in class excelling in History and Geography," he said.

But he confesses with a smile, " I was punished for poaching on forbidden fruit, such as plucking persimmon which looked like an apple and had been brought here from Japan." 

"I still recall receiving a standing ovation with my beloved father who was in the pavilion after scoring 36 runs in the final and hitting a six against Gamini Goonasena -later to lead Sri Lanka at cricket," he said.

He also played tennis, hockey, swam and won prizes at sports as well as studies. 

The growing boy showed his remarkable skills by winning the Exhibition Grant for excellent work at the University Entrance Examination. "It was only four rupees a month," he laughs, but it was the prestige of winning an academic exhibition. 

At university, Bradman recalls he broke the little finger of his right hand trying to take a hard catch. The finger still remains crooked, a memento of his past. 

Young girls gathered to cheer Bradman when he played cricket and tennis for the University. One girl admitted, "even if I don't get my degree I feel fulfilled just watching Bradman play tennis, and his variable changes of expression !"

He is reticent but confessed to having many girl friends from Ladies' and Bishop's College. "They were charming and we all attended a lot of parties in each others' homes," he said.

Bradman chose to study for Economic Honours with Sociology as a special. He liked professor Bryce Ryan who "encouraged us to do research on stimulating subjects such as caste, village leaders and made us find out how they were exploited by officials and tradesmen." 

Most rewarding he says, is the experience of living in Polonnaruwa for two months with the colonists. "We developed close empathy with them in a short time and began to understand the many problems that they encountered, especially with unsympathetic officials." 

Bradman passed out with an upper second and left for the States on a Fulbright and Smith Mundt scholarship. "I enjoyed my stay there. 

"I had good friends from both sexes, with whom I have kept in touch through the years. It was altogether a rewarding experience, so that once I obtained my Masters, I wanted to stay on and do the PhD. 

"My father got me back to sit for the Civil Service exam. Had I stayed on I would have been too old to sit for it. The Civil Service was then considered the epitome of one's career."

Bradman came second, with only four chosen from among the 500 who sat. 

Bradman was secretary to Sir John Kotelawala for one and- a- half-years. Next came S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike whom he served for three- and a- half-years, from 1956-1959. 

Then there was the amiable Dudley Senanayake whom he served for five years. 

He also worked for Sirimavo Bandaranaike and then W. Dahanayake for a short time and finally Ranasinghe Premadasa. Walking down memory lane Bradman reminisced about these leaders. Of Sir John, he said, "I remember his open house and the hospitality at his lavish parties. But contrary to what people think, Sir John was a disciplined man, who believed in keeping appointments. This may have been due to his military training." 

Bradman was impressed by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike's oratorical skill. "His verbalising was worth listening to, in both fluent Sinhala and English. He disliked looking at official papers and files and putting pen to paper, preferring to give verbal orders. He also loved discussions.

"Dudley Senanayake was a gentle person and always appreciated the work we officials did and acknowledged our efforts with compliments in public. He was modest and led a simple life. He was also a lovable person. Once when a close friend died and the body was at Barney Raymonds, even though he was Prime Minister, he walked from his home at Woodlands to the parlour and walked with the cortege to the cemetery," he recalls. 

Of Sirimavo Bandaranaike he says, "my attitude to her was protective. She treated her close officials, like one in the family. She also trusted the people whom she could rely on.

"She was quick at making decisions on crucial issues and was attentive to detail." 

Of Ranasinghe Premadasa, Bradman says: "He was immersed in his work and would continue working without rest. He managed to co-ordinate several projects at the same time. It was amazing, since he had no formal training, but he was instinctively able to see the crucial aspect of any issue. 'Do it now' was his motto, 'no putting off things for tomorrow'."

"At Gam Udawa sites, he would not only improve the whole area but also conserve and renovate Buddha statues which had been neglected for years," he adds. 

One such damaged statue, Bradman recalls, was about 40 feet high and the chairman of the State Engineering Corporation was asked to set it right. The official complained that he could not fix the head since it was too tall. "Fix it," said Premadasa, "otherwise you will know whose head will be on the statue." The statue was completed in a week! Premadasa also loved music and used to sing well. He also drew pen sketches and wrote delightful stories for children. 

"Premadasa also would never accept he was inferior to anyone else. He also never thought of Sri Lanka as a small place. To him it was as important as any other country. He encouraged his Ambassadors and officials to adopt the same attitude. At SAARC meetings he left no doubt as to who was the leader. He also got on very well with Margaret Thatcher, they seemed to have the same behavioural attitudes." 

With nostalgia Bradman recalls the seven years from 1970-1977, he spent in the outstations, "leaving behind the hustle and the bustle of city life." 

"I was stationed at Amparai, Batticaloa, and finally Galle. It was wonderful." 

He earned the love and respect of the people for offering to help them and solve their problems. "Their hospitality was astounding, though some were poor," he said.

"In Amparai especially there were Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people, all living in harmony and co-operating with each other. If there is a proper environment there can be unity, peace and mutual friendship and brotherhood among the different communities. It is all a state of mind and one must learn to forgive and learn from one's mistakes," the seasoned government servant said. 

Bradman is married to the charming Damayanthi and has a son who is in the diplomatic service. "Damayanthi makes me happy. She used to give my mother all the bouquets she got at functions as a gesture of her love, " he recalls fondly. 

Bradman's latest project is to write a book on the leaders of modern Sri Lanka in the last 50 years. Despite his unique abilities he is self-effacing and simple with a charming candour.

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