Deva next CM of the Northern Province ?

Rights of Reply

By Dr.T C Rajaratnam

(February 15, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) I write to reiterate that Douglas Devananda would be elected the Chief Minister of the Northern Province. He is already the de facto Chief Minister. The people of Jaffna including the clergy are flocking around him, supporting him and seeking his assistance in every conceivable aspect.

Although this may not be acknowledged personally and individually there is tremendous support for Douglas Devananda and he is even now considered as the only legitimate Leader of the Northern Province. Whilst, the TNA have become frustrated by their own miscalculations, there are reports that various Tamil parties are rallying around Douglas Devananda and have already acknowledged him as the Chief Minister of the Northern Province.

I had the rare opportunity of interacting with Douglas Devananda for a short period and I was impressed by his love for the people of the Northern Province. I also saw for myself various people from all walks of life came to him for his assistance but the moment they got out of the door they commenced slandering him. What I was most disappointed was when a retired lady Teacher who sought his assistance to get employment for her and a member of her family was slandering him whilst still working for him. Due to my Ill health and my period of absence from the usual working schedule , this lady misinterpreted that together with the likes of some dressed in divine clothing to distort facts to suit them for reasons best known to them. To join their conspiracy are some in the network now domiciled contributors with a tinge of my style of writing to make insinuations that it originated from me. The distortion of facts by writers like Ranjit Surendran and Roshanthi Arasakularatne on the one side and Mohan Gunaratnam on the other. This is the sorry state of affairs of the Tamils.

I have written several articles in defence of Douglas Devananda not because I am an admirer of the EPDP but because I was impressed with Douglas Devananda in whom the Government was confident of as a representative of the Tamils.

The pathetic situation is that whilst a handful of Tamils attack Douglas Devananda under various names and on private visits, they themselves have personally created a close relationship as they know that he is the only representative of the Tamils.

Some holding high office visit Douglas Devananda in private and attack him in Colombo owing to conflict within their synagogues. They also get their network of men around the world to attack Douglas Devananda in various names to air their frustrations whilst being avaricious to maintain a cordial relationship with real identities.

I edited a book on “Selected Essays & Tributes of Douglas Devananda” not because Douglas Devananda asked me to do it. But because I have had the privilege of meeting several Tamils who visited him to compile a book of articles written by me, Dr.Dayan Jayatillake, Sarath Wijesinghe and M.K.P.Chandralal. The books are available at Lake House Bookshop and Vijitha Yapa Bookshop and can be purchased on line from Vijitha Yapa Bookshop.

It is time that Douglas Devananda educates and appraise his colleagues in the TNA to be more conscious of their duty towards those who elected them. Let us forget the fact that the election was rigged by fraudulent casting of votes to bring them to Parliament. It is trite learning that Douglas Devananda is too smart to be pushed around. Minister Devananda has a duty by the Tamils to continue his good work. It is his duty to purify and unify the system in the North and only he can do it. He must counter the statements made against him by his opponents in the best interests of the Nation.

Douglas Devananda strode into our midst at a time when the Tamils needed him most. Sri Lanka has been through a period of national malaise bereft of any sense of moral direction. Through it all, throughout the fastest moving years in memory, he was unflappable and unyielding. This is the time Douglas Devananda should have a Media Conference and express his concerns and policies

Douglas Devananda brushed off the jibes and jabs of his jealous critics. With that charismatic smile and that easy homespun style, which never changed, he brought a new assurance to the Tamils. He is not only Sri Lanka's Senior Cabinet Minister important as that is, he is the legitimate Leader of the Tamils, yet not recognized - a great leader. In a time of average men, he stood taller than anyone else physically and literally. It is time he makes statements to the Public in the electronic media.

With a toughness unseen for a long time, Douglas Devananda stood face-to-face with successive Governments. And, with an unexpected diplomacy which confused his foes and even some of his friends in successive Governments, he reached out to that hierarchy, perhaps no longer evil, but still formidable. He met its leaders on their turf, but on his terms. He should to continue to fight injustice and strive for human dignity and for the freedom of the Tamil people.

In a time of Politicians, he proved himself a Statesman. And that leadership, that faith in freedom and enterprise brought about a renewal of ethnic harmony. It was not only that he was the Great Communicator and he was the greatest but that he had a message to communicate - the message that he has guided this nation,the essence of good governance is to blend the wisdom of the ages with the circumstances of contemporary times - that is what he has done. Not since Chelvanayagam, has there been a Leader who has so understood the power of words to uplift and to inspire. It is time he invited S.C.Chandrahasan, the son of S.J.V.Chelvanayagam to enter the Parliament on the National List. Tom, Dick and Harry from the Tamil communities cannot legitimately represent the Tamil people. Chandrahasan, who now lives in self imposed exile, an able lawyer has contributed immensely to the Tamil community. His presence in Parliament will make the difference. The cream of the Tamil community must join hands- we must before it is too late. We have had so much tears, misery and disasters. Douglas Devananda has reached beyond partisanship to principles, beyond his own self to our very souls. He has reached for and touched, as S.J.V. Chelvanayagam - who was known as the Father of the Tamils. The Tamil community throughout the world has proclaimed that Pirabaharan is the Warrior and Saviour of the Tamils. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle has often said that deep within the hearts of most Tamils, there is consensus to this belief as the Tamils feel humiliated by the 1983 riots. I am conveying what Jeyaraj openly declared. But alas Jeyaraj was a victim to the traits of those whom he praised. Without conflict of ideas and ideologies the Tamils would agree that Douglas Devananda is the Leader of the Tamils. He must continue his good work and publicity is of paramount importance.

Leadership is more than budgets and balance sheets. More than the policy of public measures, it is a matter of moral purpose. And that moral realm is reached by that insight and rhetoric of which only the truly great are capable. Devananda has reached the highest Office any Tamil can aspire. He is desirous of sacrificing his Cabinet portfolio to become the Chief Minister to serve his people.

The political instinct of truth, conviction and patriotism began only after Douglas Devananda embraced the democratic mainstream after the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord. Devananda should influence those around him to follow suit. Devananda should convince the Government that they should win the confidence of the Tamil people by giving him more powers for the effective administration and governance in the North.

Devananda has made so many speeches, some prophetic, some humorous, but all with a vision, all which inspired. The Tamil people could identify with each and every one. More than anyone else, Devananda knew peoples' desire to be attached to some cause greater. So, instead of inundating the Tamil people with the torrent of projections and percentages, he speaks of the voluntary spirit of community and charity.

When others speak of the fear of war, Devananda speaks of the need for peace through strength. When others bewailed the failure of big government to provide for the collective good, he speaks of self-reliance, of personal responsibility, of individual pride and integrity. When others demanded compromise -- when others demanded compromise, Devananda, professes conviction.

It does not do good to anybody to join in destroying those who play leading roles in rebuilding this nation, persons who devote their lives to the service of their fellow men, those who do great things and live great lives.

I didn't know Douglas Devananda well, but, like many, I came to him when I needed help like others. From his outfit, those around him will carry tales to distance others for reasons best known to them but I do not write or commend him under a mask of another name. How many Tamils will write fearlessly about him? I trust he would appreciate the sincerity of my convictions and direct those around him not to humiliate any one. It is trite learning that whilst lip service is done for democracy some hands still clench the butt of a gun. Devananda is duty bound to discipline those around him. This is where class, caste and creed come into play. For when the spirit is broken, everything is lost and can never be the same.

*Dr. T.C.Rajaratnam LL.B(SL)., LL.M(Lond)., Ph.D(Lond)., was the Co-ordinating Secretary to the Chief Government Whip of Parliament, Late Jeyaraj Fernandopulle; The Member in charge of the English Media of the Media Observation Unit founded by Late Jeyaraj Fernandopulle for the Presidential Election Campaign of President Mahinda Rajapakse in 2005; Candidate for the Colombo District for SLFP-PA in the 1994 Parliamentary General Elections; Author; Orator; Member of the World Lawyers & Poets Society ; International Legal Consultant; CEO of the Chambers of Academic & Professional Studies] E mail: tcrajaratnam@gmail.com.

-Sri Lanka Guardian