In the forefront of ushering in a modern society

I met Paul Perera 35 years ago. That was the time I was entering the legal profession as a junior lawyer. The memory of how I was introduced to him at the chambers of H.W. Jayewardene Q.C. remains as if it happened yesterday. Thereafter I got the opportunity of working on several cases with him under H.W. Jayewardene and M. Thiruchelvam, QC.

Then leader of the United National Party J.R. Jayewardene gave us both the opportunity to join the Party's working committee in 1973. Since we worked closely in the legal field, we could also work together in the political arena. I received immense support from him during the period I entered active politics both as the organizer for Kelaniya and later the candidate for Biyagama. He had a broader political vision as a result of the experience and maturity that he had inherited as a lawyer and gained in the Administrative Service.

His ability and sharpness in finding solutions for problems and his great organizational capacity was not limited to the legal field, but also extended to the political field. This talent was of use to J.R. Jayewardene, the United National Party and the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya.

Mr. Perera was an outstanding member of the team that was instrumental in the historic victory of J.R. Jayewardene in 1977. The other members of this team were my father Esmond Wickremesinghe, Sirisoma Ranasinghe, N.G.P. Panditharatne, H.W. Jayewardene, J.W. Subasinghe, G.V.P. Samarasinghe and W.M.P.B. Menikdiwela.

Mr. Perera together with Mr. Jayewardene and the Party fearlessly dealt with situations such as the attempted arrest of J.R. Jayewardene by the then Government, when a Parliamentary Select Committee was appointed against Mr. Jayewardene, when emergency regulations were imposed to prevent satyagraha campaigns and when loud speakers were banned for UNP meetings.
During the 1977 election, even people of the calibre of Anandatissa de Alwis who was working in the political office of the Party entered active politics. While all of us were engaged in the field, the person who organized the Party's office work was Paul Perera.

He was a proud member of the 1977 UNP victory. After that victory, J.R. Jayewardene started the process of bringing about a revolutionary socio-economic change in this country. Upali Wijewardene was appointed Director General of the Greater Colombo Economic Commission and the Deputy Director General was Paul Perera.

Mr. Wijewardene focused on investment promotion and avenue for investment, while Paul Perera was tasked with the building of Free Trade Zones and infrastructure development. The decision to build the first Free Trade Zone next to the Katunayake International Airport was on the basis of convenience of air transport of the export products.

Not even one year after establishing the GCEC, several acres of coconut land were made into a gigantic Industrial Zone as a result of his organizing capacity. After Katunayake, President Jayewardene wanted to build a Free Trade Zone in Biyagama with the intention of serving the electorate that was the stepping stone of his own political career.

At the time, Biyagama was the least developed ward of the Gampaha District. There were not even proper roadways. It was not practical to build a Free Trade Zone in such a locality. I as the MP of the electorate discussed this with Mr. Perera. The development plan for the area was submitted to him. By this time the election pledge made by M. D. H. Jayawardane (then MP for Kaduwela and Minister) and myself to build a bridge connecting Kaduwela and Biyagama was becoming a reality.

Under the development plan of Sri Jayewardenepura presided over by R. Premadasa it had been decided to build "Raja Mawatha" from Colombo up to Parliament as the first step. Mr. Perera and I forwarded a fresh proposal to extend "Raja Mawatha" from Parliament to Kaduwela and up to Balummahara over the newly constructed bridge. This is how we could overcome the difficulty in developing the roadways around Biyagama to build the Free Trade Zone.

The Biyagama Free Trade Zone became a reality in the end. Perhaps the reason why Mr. Perera got the opportunity to fill the vacancy of the Kaduwela electorate due to the illness of Mr. M.D.H. Jayawardane, was due to his immense contribution to the Kaduwela area in building roadways and the bridge.

Because of his legal, political and administrative background, he contributed tremendously as a Member of Parliament. He became accustomed to the ethics and traditions of Parliament in no time. He also earned a reputation as a strong personality in politics. He successfully contested the Parliamentary election from the Gampaha District as the organizer for Attanagalle in 1989. He was also made a Minister.

He served the people as a bureaucrat, Member of Parliament and Minister from 1977 to 1994. He worked for the party with the same vigour even after the UNP went into Opposition. He did not rest when it came to helping the UNP even at a time he was unwell. He worked for the party at all times.

What began in 1977 was the revolution to usher in a modern society in this country. The revolution was to introduce speedy economic growth. A colossal socio-economic development programme was in place within two years as a result of this revolution. Projects such as the Free Trade Zone, the Mahaweli, industries, housing and a massive awakening extended to benefit the youth, women, education and health.

This was the awakening of a modern society. Today we tread on the path of modern development that began then. Paul Perera was in the forefront of the visionary leaders who were responsible for this new beginning. That is the reason for us to remember him with reverence today with each step we take along this path.