At his family residence in Tangalle, Namal Rajapaksa, son of President Mahinda Rajapakasa and UPFA candidate for the Hambantota district , cut a busy figure amidst the seemingly endless stream of people congregating in his garden to seeking an audience with the man whose name is on the lips of many in his hometown.
Taking time to shed some light on his personal life, Namal says he is fun loving, caring, religious and takes his work seriously. He describes a typical day in his life in three words, “meetings, meetings and meetings.”
Born to a political family at a time of upheaval, in Sri Lanka, Namal recalls his early years as a time of turmoil and uncertainty.
“I was born in 1986 and until about 1993 or 1994 it was one of the darkest periods in Sri Lanka. We faced a lot of hardship during our childhood especially due to the politics of the JVP and the UNP at that time. Once this house was bombed and my second brother could not speak for about ten years,” says Namal, the oldest of three boys.
Following what he describes as a difficult childhood, things got brighter he says when he entered S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia. Playing Rugby for the college team, were some of the best years of his life says Namal.
“Playing for college, captaining the team, putting on the Sri Lanka under-19 jersey for the first time were some of the greatest moments. The most valuable and memorable lessons, more than the education per se were all about the friends I made. Some of the guys are still working for me.”
So his friends are dear to him but what about his political rivals? Many voters are excited at the prospect of a clash between the current President’s son and a former President’s son (UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa) in Hambantota.
“Sajith is a nice chap and we are on very good terms, we talk to each other about the campaign at least once a week. If a problem crops up we sort it out. It’s a friendly atmosphere between us,” he says.
Recalling his time studying in England he says it was then that he realised that Sri Lanka was the best place to live in. He said he travelled a lot meeting new people and studying different systems of politics.
“It is when one travels far away from home that you begin to appreciate one’s own country and realise home is the best place to live in. It’s a good place to earn money and a great place for entertainment but for me it wasn’t a place I wanted to live in.”
Namal says he never really had any childhood heroes but there was one person whom he had a lot of respect for. “I think it was my father because he’s a patient man and he has a vast knowledge. Before he gives a decision he studies it from all angles and gets everyone’s opinions as well. I believe he is too genuine sometimes people misuse this trait,” Namal says.
Namal says he is very close to his two brothers. Being a third generation political figure in his family, he says he will probably be the only one among the three boys to pick up the political mantle from his father. However, he says he would encourage his own children to enter the political arena.
“I think now is the time for open-minded, educated people to come into politics. But they should also have the common touch at the grass root level. They should be able to understand the pulse of the people. What you see in Colombo and what you see in the village are two different things. We should deliver what the people want and not what we can give,” he says.
Growing up first as a parliamentarian’s son later as a minister’s son and now as the President’s son, he says his life was never void of controversies, adding that while growing up in this atmosphere he has learnt to ignore what people say about him.
“People say a lot of things and I think the challenge is to prove to them who we are and not to counterattack it or answer various charges,” he says.
Apart from Rugby, Namal says his hobbies include collecting Buddha statues and reading up on Buddhist philosophy. Referring to himself as a religious man he says Sri Lanka has a unique culture and it is the responsibility of the people to protect it.
Commenting on his brief time in politics Namal says he has learnt a lot about how to work with people and he will continue to work for the country while staying true to his character. To the youth of this country Namal urges them to get involved in politics and development work.
“I think they should work towards the development of this country, irrespective of religion, caste or language they speak. They should do something for the country in any way they can. Every little effort matters,” he concludes.
Thaarunyata Hetak to
launch TV channel
Besides politics Namal is also the chairman of the Thaarunyata Hetak organization which is to launch a TV channel focussing on providing the rural youth with a platform to make presentations.
The channel which will be launched before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year will be available to Dialog TV and PEO TV viewers. “It’s like a media school, where they will get their practical lessons on this channel,” Namal says.
He says that there would be no cost involved in the project apart from corporate sponsorships.
Commenting on Thaarunyata Hetak, Namal said it was a non-political youth organization which focussed mainly on education, sports, infrastructure and religion.
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