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Birthday Tribute
to Douglas Devananda (10th November2008)
Douglas Devananda's journey from the valley
of militancy to the haven of democracy : The most powerful Tamil Politician
in Sri Lanka.
By Dr.Tellipallai.C.Rajaratnam
The naughty schoolboy transformed into one of the most dangerous Tamil
militants of our times. The winds of change transformed the militant
to a Politician and a Leader of a Political Party. Douglas Devananda
stands as one of the most disciplined Politicians in Sri Lanka - those
Tamils around him have a lot to learn from him of the intricacies of
democracy, discipline, human dignity and good conscience.
Douglas Devananda hails from an aristocratic family. He has that touch
of class. But like all other leaders, his attempt to strive hard to
discipline others to respect fellow human beings and inculcate the norms
of democracy and human dignity -whether he has succeeded in doing so
or whether he will succeed only time can reveal. This may not always
be successful as there is a Tamil proverb which the Jaffna Tamil man
believes such as "Kulathalave aagumam kunam" (The general
disposition of a person reflects his caste/breed).
Douglas' father Kathiravel, his paternal Uncle Nithiyananda were good
friends and associates of my father, Wanam Rajaratnam. Douglas' father
and Uncle were very proud of the achievements of Douglas.
Douglas was born on November 10, 1957. His mother Maheswary died when
he was six years of age. It is noteworthy to mention that his Legal
Advisor Maheswary assumed the role of a mother to him and influenced
his transformation and spiritual life. Her assassination was a loss
to Douglas and his Ministry. It was like losing a Mother again. Douglas
leads a life of an ascetic. Very little is known of his meditating skills
although it is trite learning that he meditates regularly. Over the
years he has transformed into a very fine gentleman with very sober
habits, excellent disposition and dignified manners. Douglas has only
one meal a day and leads a very simple life. He has no belongings, no
earthly possessions except the love and affection of the numerous people
from various ethnic groups.
If a series of questions could be asked such as - How many Tamil Members
of Parliament represent the North and the East? Where are they? What
have they contributed to society? What have they contributed to the
Tamil people of the North and the East? What have the people of the
North and the East experienced in the recent past? Who amongst these
representatives, sends food, clothing, medicines and other essential
items to the North? Who amongst these representatives holds a file and
seeks all the basic necessities for the people of the North and the
East through the government? Who amongst these representatives takes
care of the people of the North and East? Who amongst these representatives
gives a hearing and grants an audience to those who have grievances
and heals their emotional wounds and takes care of their day to day
necessities? Who amongst these representatives has sacrificed his personal
life and other luxuries which he could enjoy? Who amongst these representatives
is always clad in white in hand spun clothing and wears sandals and
eats only one meal a day? Who amongst these representatives could be
contacted any time of the day and night by any person in distress? Who
amongst these representatives wakes up at 3 a.m. in the morning and
retires to bed past midnight? Who amongst these representatives sleeps
on a wooden bench? On whom can the Tamils of the North and East count
on?
If all these questions could be answered in the affirmative, then there
is none other than one man who fits the description as the sole representative
of the Tamils of the North and the East. Who is this man? He is none
other than, Kathiravelu Nithiyananda Devananda better known as 'Douglas
Devananda!'
Mahinda Chintana - the concept of His Excellency President Rajapakse
is the grund norm of the development projects of the Ministry of Social
Services and Social Welfare. These development Projects are being implemented
through the Department of Social services, Secretariat for older Persons,
Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities, National Institute of Social
Development and Sri Lanka Social Security Board. Ever since Minister
Douglas Devananda assumed office as the Minister of Social Services
& Social Welfare, the Ministry of Social Services & Social Welfare
has rapidly progressed and helped numerous citizens throughout the island.
Minister Douglas Devananda has stated that the Ministry of Social Services
and Social Welfare is striving to provide Social services to the deprived
segments such as elders, persons with disabilities, single parent families,
people affected by mental problems and street people and initiating
programs aimed at improving their living standard. He gives priority
to develop their personality by harnessing their innate potentials to
make them as equal partners in development activities through social
workers in this field. He has initiated programs to improve the living
standard of the under privileged people and engaged in rehabilitation
and social integration programs for the drug addicts, for the prisoner's
families and for the victims of prisoners.
In recognition of the outstanding services to humanity and his commitment
towards the cause of persons with disabilities, The United Nations Economic
& Social Commission for the Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) accorded
Minister Douglas Devananda with the highest order of honour. Minister
Devananda was the Minister of Development , Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
of the North during a previous Government. The Ministry helped the resettlement
of internally displaced persons on state land in the Vavuniya and Mannar
districts, the rehabilitation of place of worship, rehabilitation of
community buildings, rehabilitation of roads and infrastructures, the
revival of closed industries in the North, educational development in
schools and imparting vocational training to thousands of youth in the
North and East. It was during his period that the IT information Park,
commonly known as the IT Park which is the gateway to the world knowledge
through internet was established with the provision of more than a hundred
computers in the Jaffna town.
In recognition of his outstanding service to the Nation, President
Mahinda Rajapakse appointed him as the Chairman of the Special Task
Force for the Development and Rehabilitation of the North.
A generous tribute to personal worth - it is also a garland of honor
laid by one to another; a recognition that new conditions are opening
an era radically different in many things from the one before it, and
as he accepts the wishes of the thousands, will do so not for himself
alone, but as a representative of the people. His political success
commanded a larger share than he hoped for in the beginning, for one
of the truest and best things to be said of him is that his ambition
has never proved stronger than his hold on duty, and no one can find
where he has forgotten principles for the sake of personal gain. But
in the development of character his pure and honorable life has not
overstepped its aim, for he set out with a high ideal, and has lived
up to it, and this, too, in conspicuous and dangerous places and amid
surroundings that too often break and destroy. Another fact enters into
this great public recognition. Those who have been with him during the
tenure of crisis of the past do not hold him in higher honor than those
who have been against him. His friends give him no greater credit for
than do his foes. The honesty and blunt courage that have inflicted
sharp blows in the past are forgiven in /on of the purpose that lay
behind them. His first step in the line of personal politics came upon
him after the Indo Sri Lanka Peace Accord.
We learnt that however much we strive for peace, we need a strong defense
capability where a peaceful approach fails. Whatever the dangers of
the action we take, the dangers of inaction are far greater. Laws will
have to be changed not to deny the basic liberties but to prevent their
abuse and protect the most basic liberty of all; freedom from terror.
The people are terrorized by certain vested interests in their vile
pursuits for power committing crimes and targeting a reflex scenario
as if the Government was responsible.
Douglas Devananda will soon present to the Cabinet this week the Voluntary
Social Services Bill which is one of the finest bills in Sri Lanka.
This new law would be the masterpiece of Douglas Devananda who has been
involved in deep research in the comparative study and analytical survey
of similar laws in other countries.
*[ Dr. Tellipallai. 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
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