Rukman Senanayake – the last link in gentlemanly politics

Rukman Senanayake was respected by all as the last link in gentlemanly politics in this country. He was born on 21st June 1948 and passed away on 24th August 2024. Robert Senanayake and Swarna Neela Senanayake were his parents. Swarna and Robert were relatives. Robert’s father was D.S. Senanayake, and Swarna’s was F.R. Senanayake. They were a prominent family which held the leadership of Sri Lanka after independence.

D.S. and F.R. were both Rukman’s grandfathers. D.S. Senanayake, Rukman’s father’s father, was the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, while his mother’s father, F.R. Senanayake, was a prominent leader of Sri Lanka’s independence movement. 

Rukman’s father’s elder brother, Dudley, was a distinguished leader who held the premiership during the 1952–53 period for the first time. He held that position thrice. Rukman’s mother’s brother, R.G. Senanayake, was appointed to the portfolio of Trade and Commerce in the Cabinet of S.W.R.D. Bandaranayake during the 1956-60 period. His father, Robert Senanayake, was chairman of Freudenberg (Ceylon) Ltd.

Rukman had two elder brothers, Devinda and Ranjith, and two sisters, Ranjanie and Yasmine. Rukman belonged to the distinguished Botale family of Meerigama. He was educated at St Thomas’s College, Mount Lavinia, and was a graduate in computer science at a foreign university.

Rukman was a young man of 25 years when he entered Parliament in 1973, having won a by-election at Dedigama. This by-election was occasioned by the death of his uncle Dudley, who held that seat earlier. He won that by-election with ease. 

He was at that time the most popular youth leader of the UNP. He was so popular that he was carried shoulder-high to the stage at a Mount Lavinia UNP meeting presided over by J.R. Jayawardana while J.R. was on the stage, with the people carrying him shouting, “Hail, the future leader.” J.R. was so disturbed and perturbed by this incident that he ruled that in future all speakers must be on the stage by the time he addressed a meeting.

Due to Rukman’s extreme popularity, Mr J.R. Jayawardane summoned an emergency convention of the UNP Youth League and, employing his stooges, got a resolution passed expelling Rukman from the youth league in a very disgraceful manner. It is necessary to mention that this attempt to thwart the political advancement of Rukman was most unseemly.

However, when J.R. was in retirement, Rukman often went to look him up. On these visits J.R. had frequently remarked to Rukman that a certain person whom he elevated to high office was an ungrateful person who did not come to see him even once. Rukman has told me that J.R. in his last days was deeply regretful of the injustice he had caused Rukman.

Rukman was indeed a modest, unassuming leader. He was careful always never to hurt a person with an unkind word. He treated everyone who came to him – big or small – with equal respect. He gave them whatever assistance he could give.

Rukman was a keen environmentalist. He loved nature and fauna and flora. He was also an accomplished cameraman. He had a good collection of wildlife photography. Whenever he had the opportunity, he toured wildlife parks like Yala, by himself, armed with his camera.

Hon. Rukman Senanayake sold the property he inherited while engaged with politics. He has given away many of his lands to many poor people. But he did not do any of that by beating drums. Mr Anura Bandaranaike also did the same. 

At that time, Hon. Sarath Amunugama and I went to his Woodland house and engaged in discussions until about 11-12 at night. Hon. Sarath Amunugama and Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena are good friends of Hon. Rukman Senanayake. Hon. Amunugama and Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena told me that we would soon organise a memorial lecture for him. It should be recalled that arrangements will be made to hold it in the near future.

Gamini Gunasekara,
President,
Education Friendship Guild.