Remembering a politician of integrity

By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

Mr Chandrakumara Wijaya Gunawardena, former MP for Kamburupitiya, who breathed his last, a year ago on 9th, August 2020, was a politician of a rare breed; one with integrity. He stood for moral principles, irrespective of consequences. With the benefit of hindsight, most of us now wonder whether the passing of the 13th Amendment, to our constitution, in 1987, forced down our throats by our ‘big brother’, was a mistake, but he foresaw it. Resisting the mighty pressure by the all-powerful JRJ, who enforced a three-line whip, he abstained from voting. Though his conscience would have dictated voting against it, he opted for the compromise as he did not want to demonstrate indiscipline. A commentator, well in the know of politicians, described him as a gentleman to his fingertips; a rare compliment but well deserved!

Out of the huge crop of UNP MPs, in a government with a steam-roller five-sixths majority, only one other had the guts to join Chandrakumara; the member for his adjoining electorate Hakmana, who also entered Parliament with him, elected at the by-elections of 1983. Yes, it is non other than the present speaker of Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

In spite of 13A having sailed through, infuriated by the action of these puny MPs, JR decided to sack the two of them. Lawyer Chandrakumara, supported by his colleague, decided that the best option was legal action and filed a petition with the Supreme Court. Taken aback by this unexpected turn of events, JR called them and demanded an apology to lift the suspension but had to settle for an expression of regret. They were back in the fold and the petition was withdrawn! This episode, no doubt, more than justifies my branding him as a politician of integrity.

Till his death, Chandrakumara was an unwavering supporter of the UNP for six long decades, having joined to support the election campaign of my father, Justin Wijayawardhana, the first from the UNP to capture the Communist fortress of Matara, in March 1960. Though he lost in the 1960 July election, my father continued to nurse the electorate and was fairly certain of victory in the 1965 election but was forced to move to Kamburupitiya, in order to accommodate Mahanama Samaraweera as a candidate allied to the UNP, as he crossed over from the SLFP with C. P. de Silva. Though he was unsuccessful, my father paved the way for Chandrakumara, and after that for my brother, Ranjan, to represent the voters of Kamburupitiya.

Chandrkumara’s father and my father were best of friends, from childhood, both hailing from Godagama, a picturesque village, two miles from Matara town, comprising of islets of habitation, separated by swathes of green paddy fields then. The handsome Ayurvedic Physician Don Charles Gunawardena, impeccably dressed in white cloth, shirt and coat, was a frequent visitor to my father’s house as he too was in the group of dedicated, like-minded people in the Swastika movement, an association for social upliftment which my father started; the launch pad for his long career of social service. Another active member had been the younger of my father’s two nangis, Sophaya Eugene who progressively got attracted to the handsome ayurvedic physician resulting in their marriage in 1935. They had eight children, the first being Chandrakumara, born on 25th July 1936. I had a reverential attitude to ‘Chandrayya’ but had a closer association with his next two siblings ‘Chitranganieakka’ and Daya. Chithranganie died of ovarian cancer, in her youth, unfortunately.

Chandrakumara had his early education in Dharmaraja Vidyalaya, in the adjoining village of Hittetiya, and moved for secondary education to Rahula College, Matara. During his stay in Rahula, Chandrakumara displayed his talents by publishing a magazine called “Ran Tharu” which he co-edited with his life-long friend Dayapala Withanathantri. Fearing the corruptibility of university education, Chandrakumara was advised by his father to enter The Teacher’s Training college to become an English teacher but a fatal accident changed history. On his way home from the dispensary, in Matara Main Street, Gunawardena ‘Loku Vedamahattya’ sent Daya, who was travelling with him on the pillion of the cycle, to give a contribution for a ceremony at the village temple, and stayed on the main Matara-Akuressa road, leaning on his bicycle. A van, driven at high speed, struck him down, killing him instantaneously.

Though his father’s younger brother, D A Gunawardena ‘Peti Vedamahattaya’ took over the practice, helping the family financially, Chandrakumara was forced to assume the responsibility of looking after seven siblings. Realising that he could not do this as a teacher, guided by his other maternal uncle, D E Wijayawardhana, Chandrakumara decided to enter Law College, which he did in 1955. I too was helped to stand up to my father, who wanted me to enter the Ceylon Civil Service, by uncle D E W who got me the admission forms to Ananda College, Colombo, which facilitated my career. Whilst canvassing for my brother, Ranjan in the general Election of 1989, Bappa was killed by the JVP and one of the greatest regrets in our families is that his body was never found, preventing a fitting farewell to a guiding light.

Chandrakumara started as an Attorney-at-law in Matara, in 1960, and very soon developed a lucrative practice. He embarked on politics at the same time, joining the UNP and initially supporting my father. He was elected the Chairman of the Matara Urban Council in 1976 but gave up in 1983, when he was persuaded to contest the Kamburupitiya by-election. It was one of the few electorates the UNP lost at the infamous ‘pot referendum’ JR held to extend the life of the 1977 Parliament and Chandrakumara was able to regain Kamburupitiya for the UNP. Prime Minister R Premadasa, who recognised the talents of Chandrakumara, appointed him to head the Finance committee. Partly due to the frustration at the way he was treated in 1987, when he abstained from supporting the 13A, and partly because of the introduction of the district electoral system, he opted not to contest the 1989 election when Prime Minister Premadasa persuaded my brother Ranjan to contest, successfully. However, he continued in local politics, being the leader of the opposition of Matara Municipal council from 1991 to 1997.

Chandrakumara’s prolonged bachelorhood was ended by his friend Attorney-at-law Karunadasa, who invited him to meet Indrani and her brothers, Ariya and Buddhi Wickrama, at his residence in Mount Lavinia. Match-making by the lawyer-friend worked magic and they were soon married. Indrani, a teacher by profession, was of tremendous help to Chandrakumara in all aspects of his career, including his politics and his great devotion to the international Lions movement. He was very proud of his service and achievements through Lions International Movement and ended up being a District Governor. He supported many Buddhist Temples in the area and was the President of the Dayaka Sabha of many. He supported the Rohana Special School in Matara and was the treasurer for over 50 years. He was on the board of Hellabeem Sri Lanka Trust for 10 years from 2009.

Chnadrakumara and Indrani produced two daughters; Senani, a graduate teacher, who opted to be a housewife after her marriage to Kapila Liyanagamage, a lawyer, and Chandima, a lecturer, is married to Hetu Nanayakkara, an engineer. They and their children gave enormous comfort to Chandrakumara, during his last few months when he was incapacitated due to arthritis.

With the help of his friend, Dayapala Withanathanthri, Chandrakumara produced a short synopsis of his life and times titled “Avarjana” (Retrospection) and I am very grateful to my cousin Lal Wijayawardhana for getting me a copy of it. Reading it, I learned a lot about, not only Chandrakumara but also about my family. I never knew that my father started a Sinhala national newspaper, from Matara, titled “Sinhalaya” on 15 April 1940. I just do not know how long it survived!

May Chandrayya attain the supreme bless of Nibbana!