K.H.J.Wijayadasa- a distinguished Public servant and an admirable friend

by C. Narayanasuwami (Nam)

The history of the Ceylon Civil Service (CCS) is replete with honourable men who had dedicated their life and services to the development and prosperity of our country. Mr. Kandekumara Hapudoragamage Jothiyaratna Wijayadasa (K.H.J. Wijayadasa)–Wije as affectionately known to his colleagues and friends–will remain as one of them. When the history of the CCS is written one day, a lot of hitherto untouched developmental episodes will be unearthed and those would relate to agriculture and rural development, land reform and estate development, urban and industrial development, tea, rubber, coconut and agrarian research and a myriad of stories relating to ports, aviation, irrigation, highways and small -scale industrial growth.

Little is known about how eminent civil servants silently changed the face of the country’s development scenario, admittedly within the overall executive and legislative framework, supervised and coordinated by the elected representatives. The history of public administration demonstrates that the upliftment of the country after independence was a colossal task that devolved on charismatic political leaders and public service personalities, the names of whom are too numerous to mention here. Their commitment and dedication to achieving national goals helped propel development although in recent years a variety of factors have contributed to less than anticipated outcomes.

Mr. Wijayadasa’s career in the public service covered several sectors, including broadcasting, local government, highways and road development but his main contributions were in the areas of agricultural development, land reform and estate development, and environmental policy planning and development. As the Government Agent of Polonnaruwa, Kegalle and Ampara districts he left behind demonstrable successes in development planning and agricultural development.

As Chairman of the Land Reform Commission and Janata Estate Development Board he played a key role though these roles also had their controversial elements due to the nature of activities that they entailed. His contribution to environment policy planning is well documented in various laws and regulations. He had served as secretary to the Prime Minister and secretary to the President of our country for a period of ten years (1984-1994) with dignity, grace and efficiency.

His public service career was marked by a high sense of honesty, integrity, and discipline. He produced several books which displayed his multi-faceted ability and competence. Wijayadasa devoted his retirement to initiating work on restoration of Buddhist shrines, elucidating Buddhist scriptures and writing many spiritual articles on the central tenets of Buddhism.

Wijayadasa’s personality remained complex and comforting. His humour, wit and dedication to details, and candid interactions with diverse cultural groups displayed a sense of intellectual maturity that rose above race, religion and positions of individuals.

The description and analysis of Wijayadasa as a personal and family friend evoke sentimental and emotive reactions that are difficult to quantify or illustrate. Wijayadasa and I entered the University of Peradeniya at the same time and joined the civil service in 1960 together. Although we parted ways in the late 1970s, a result of my decision to pursue a career with the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank in that order, not a single year passed without our getting together in Colombo, Manila, London or New York and exchanging notes on public sector developments.

Many among our friends, including his wife Nimalka and children, were not aware until very much later, that Wije took it upon himself to be present at my wedding in Jaffna. Since then our friendship grew further and was cemented by our working colleagues such as Mahinda Silva, then secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, the charismatic Minister of Agriculture and lands, Mr. Hector Kobbekaduwa and several other colleagues in the ministry who worked as a team to deliver challenging programs.

I still remember Mr. Kobbekaduwa in one of his personal letters to me highlighting the respect and admiration he had for Mr. Mahinda Silva, Wijeyadasa and myself for the work done in the ministry during his tenure as Minister. In my view that was a golden period in the growth of agriculture with increased paddy production and expansion and production of subsidiary food crops which reached a peak at a time of scarcities.

This was in addition to the establishment of the then Agrarian Research and Training Institute (now Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute) which was done in double quick time to meet international and local program priorities. I could witness the elation and happiness in Wije’s face when he congratulated me for the job well done at the opening of the building by the then Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike who congratulated the management for the efficient and expeditious manner in which the Institute was established. That kind of partnership, devotion and commitment to delivery of anticipated outcomes is rare and hard to come by these days.

Wijayadasa was a close friend and an admirable associate with whom sharing of life’s day-to-day problems resulted in greater mutual respect and understanding of each other’s needs and aspirations. From the heydays of the 1970s life became different due to my family commitments and international work obligations. Nevertheless, our friendship never faltered and Wije offered his full support when I launched my book, ‘Managing Development: People, Policies and Institutions’ in Colombo. He not only reviewed the book but also participated as a guest speaker along with others such as Indrajit Coomaraswamy – the Chief Guest was the current president – Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Wije touched my heart when my wife passed away in 2021. Unsolicited, he wrote a tribute citing my wife’s impeccable characteristics – his presentation published in several papers captured the attention of many who wondered at his intimate knowledge of her attributes.

I have lost an invaluable friend who can never be replaced. I will miss him dearly. To his wonderful and courageous wife who stood by him in good and bad times and dutifully carried out all his wishes, and his children Charmalee, her adorable husband, Gihan, and Uditha who equally loved him to the hilt and did their best to give him the peace and solace he required all his life, I can assure them that he will continue to guide them even in death.

We salute you Wije for your dedication, commitment and standards of honesty and integrity you maintained in your public life. We had disagreements on issues of devolution of power, ethnic disharmony and discriminatory policies that had torn a nation apart but never held our individual opinions to distract or destroy our intimate liking and respect for each other. Their lies our great friendship which even in death binds us together. May your soul attain peace and achieve immortal rest until you are born again, if ever that happens.