HUMBLE BEGINNINGS OF PRESIDENT ELECT ANURA KUMARA DISSANAYAKE WITH DESIRE TO UPLIFT THE DIRE LIVING VALUES OF DESTITUTE – By Sunil Thenabadu
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One of the most influential articulated persons in the political arena today is undeniably Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Anura Kumara Dissanayake who was born on 24th November 1968 as the second child to the surveying labourer father Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Ranbanda and mother Seelawathie who has a solitary elder daughter. The humble family unit had dwelled in Galewela when Anura was born in a maternity home in the village of Makulgaswewa. In the year 1972 the family had moved from village Dewahuwa Wewa in Galewela to the village Andiagala close to Kekirawa at which time Anura had been only four years old which village belonged to the Thambuththegama Mahaweli H region. The first school of young Anura was the Thambuththegama Gamini Vidyalaya a national school where he had studied up to grade ten The students in this class had been the last batch of students in the GCE ordinary level class then.
After his triumph in the GCE O/L for his advanced level Anura had entered the newly constructed Thambuthtegama Madhya Maha Vidyalaya. At this school Anura had joined the initial mathematics stream class in the school. In the year 1988 had sat for the advanced level examination, had gained admission the university to follow a degree in physical science also as the first student from the school. This instance is reminisced still as the first student to achieve this feat. During this period the family had lived in the small town Nallaththiya close to the railway line popularly called near to the railway line the ‘single signal sign’ towards Colombo.. The rent paid had been monthly rupees ten sans electricity. Anura recollects that it was the Post office building was the most spacious building in the village. The upstairs was not occupied to which Anura and colleagues had call on to study as electricity was freely accessible At a recent meeting organized in his Nallaththiya village with his former colleagues and teachers Anura reminisced with what exertions and energies they had navigated over many constraints. Some teachers owing to the deficiency with lack of tutorial staff were used to teach all four subjects. It was revealed that some teachers after teaching used to study the subjects after school as they were not conversant in, with the pure intention of preparing the students for the examinations. This was sans an additional compensation which was revealed by Anura, that if not for them many would not be in their present positions today.
From his younger days Anura had been in the habit of lending a helping hand to the agricultural work his family tangled in. Also during the school holiday period with his friends Anura was involved in a minor business of selling vegetables in moving trains In this period his residence was located very close to the railway station. Anura with his friends had been used to ride push cycles to the towns of Thambuttegama and Bulnewa to watch films. One other interest Anura and friends were used to jump into lakes and swim the length and breadth of them. Also has had a knack to the badminton sport. It is learnt that in year1982 Anura had been accompanied by his mother’s brother who had come from Galewela Dewahuwa wewa village to attend to a JVP meeting held in the Thambuththegama town. Anura had been fourteen years old then incidentally this meeting had been organized by one of Anura’s teachers.The JVP team had been led by the then leader of the JVP Rohana Wijeweera. Anura recalls that was the first and last time he had seen the JVP leader. This had been said by Anura at many dialogs he had participated in.
During his school tenure he and his colleague students had been subjected to many fractional incidents which had hindered their educational progress. When there was a dearth of teachers in school Anura with his classmates had made protests before the Anuradhapura education office requesting the authorities to recruit teachers to fill the voids. In year 1987 during the Indo-Lanka conflict Anura too had become a member of the JVP. This was with the influence of a JVP stalwart by name Sampath who used to visit his dwelling regularly. In year 1989 in Anuradhapura Galkiriya stalwart Sampath had been made the student leader of the party while Anura had served as the general secretary. Anura had been named as Bandara a pseudo name among all colleagues for security motives.
. During the mid year 1989 during the altitude of the insurrection epoch while returning home from a committee discussion in the Eppawela ,Mawathawewa division one of Anura’s close relatives Premasiri and a friend Damantha had been shot dead by the police under the government commands as they were adamantly resolute to eradicate the JVP. Altogether eleven students had been killed by the police then concurrently had burnt down Anura’s dwelling to ashes. During this period many members of the JVP party had fled to the jungles for safety measures while Anura’s parental duo had moved to a relatives dwelling in Andiagala. In year 1990 to 1993 Anura had been appointed as a charitable maths teacher at Andiagala Maha Vidyalaya. Anura had also taught maths at Negombo western Palangethurai within a community hall also in Kandy Nugewela Neiyapala temple premises at which he had helped in the studies of many ordinary level students. Also had helped university entrance students too conducting revision classes. During this era in pursuit of meeting domestic expenses to derive an income had cultivated chillies also had sold other vegetables in the village pola.In 1991 through with Anura’s results in the advanced level stream had been admitted to the engineering unit of the Peradeniya university , but owing to conflicts in politics the university had been closed tentatively for three months owing to threats. After a pause Anura had gained admission to the Kelaniya university to follow a course in physical science. In 1993 the tension that existed had defused to unprecedented tall altitudes when his parental duo had returned to Nallaththiya in Thambuththegama after construction of a small room with a Cadjan roof. At this tenure Anura was called as Aravinda a pseudo name had been involved full sincerely with the activities of the JVP. In the year 1994 Anura’s father had passed away. It was at this time the JVP party had begun to widely nurture again. It was the prime wish of them was to develop the socialism opinions possessed among all members. It was led by Somawansa Amerasinghe’s leadership as the Sri Lanka Pregathasheela Peramuna party under the symbol ‘flower tray’. During the election campaign Anura had made his first political speech on a stage in Anguruwella in the Kegalle district. While continuing his political career in year 1995 despite his lofty involvement in politics Anura had passed out from the Kelaniya university with a Bachelor’s science degree in physical science.
Owing to the unpredictability in result a job, also as his intention was to promote socialism Anura opted to remain in the Pragathasheela Peramuna party with the sole intention of giving the citizens a better life by coming to power one day. In year 1997 Anura was appointed the national organizer of the socialist organization a ‘students association’. It was during this tenure that Anura was appointed to the central committee of the JVP. In year 1998 Anura was included the political board of the JVP. Though he contested for the north central province chief minister post in the election of 1998 he was not elected. In the general election of year 2000 Anura was entered to parliament from the national list of the JVP. He had been overwhelmingly impressed for his views and speeches hence he was recognised to tall elevations by many people from all parts of the country. Owing to some conflicts in politics in the country another general election was held in year 2001.In this election JVP was able to win sixteen parliamentary seats. This time too Anura was appointed as a national list member of parliament. In year 2004 general election Anura who contested from the Kurunegala district under the JVP ticket in which he won to gain a parliamentary seat . A probationary government was formed which was against the UNP and the LTTE who insisted on a ceasefire to the ongoing war headed by Ranil Wickremasinghe. The coalition government that was formed in which the joint party had won with sweeping victories in most of the seats. Anura who contested from the Kurunegala seat polled a record 153868 votes had headed the list of preferential votes in the district. After which several ministerial portfolios were awarded to the JVP members. Anura was awarded the ministries of land, agriculture, irrigation and livestock. Anura had commenced work on April 28th in year 2004.Under the agriculture an undertaking was taken to develop one thousand lakes under the concept ‘goviya surakeema’. Also under his portfolio of the livestock had commenced the program ‘Deye Kiri Suwanda’ forming many dairy farms. The Milco organization which hitherto had been a loss making entity he was able to transform it a profit making establishment.
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Anura during his tenure had refused the use of luxury vehicles for his travelling have deployed such expenses for the transportation of the corporation employees. During a short time, he was able to obtain the highest paddy harvest during only a brief passage. After a short period of fourteen months all members elected as Ministers had left their ministerial portfolios and from the coalition party. The reason was the disagreement of the Chandrika government who had signed a secret controversial agreement Tsunami relief board with the LTTE ,also Chandrika had reiterated that LTTE should be entered to the mainstream of politics to build a national amity. In year 2014 on 2nd February Anura had been elected as the party leader of the JVP after the demise of Somawansa Amerasinghe .He was the fifth leader of the party at the seventh party convention concurrently he is the leader of the JVP NPP to date. He had been the main opposition. Anura has been against corruption, waste, nepotism, discrimination from then onwards, to date to which endeavours have been made to shield these activities. Against such activities Anura had been indisputably the foremost orator in the opposition of the parliament. Anura had been instrumental in bringing a referendum against the Rajapaksa regime. After been elected to the parliament from the general election Anura from 3rd September 2015 to 18thDecember 2018 had been the main opposition whip in the parliament. Anura had been classified as the most dynamic member of the parliament from several fonts continuously during a tenure of five years during which time Anura and party had teamed up with the Sarath Fonseka’s People’s Democratic Party.
In year 2015 the Anura led the ‘Jathika Jana Bala Vegaya’ was initiated by the JVPNPP was further strengthened with the adding of twenty eight vivid parties and associations with the sole intention of bringing the politics in Sri Lanka to the correct trail having bestowed the responsibility on him. At the NPP rally held on 18th August 2019 patronized by a vast record number of supporters at the Galle Face green Anura ‘s name was unanimously chosen to be the presidential candidate under the ‘Malimawa’ symbol. At this election Anura could poll only a paltry 418553 votes which was only 3 percent of the total valid voted polled. After which a former university colleague had called him to gracefully leave politics which Anura never heeded to. But continued to strengthen the party utilizing many traits Anura has been in the habit of joining his university colleagues participating in pleasure trips at least once a year. Anura was very much interested in art used to read many books watch a film or a drama whenever time permitted as an attentive viewer. Anura believes participating, following sports and art is essential for all human beings for the progress of any country
Anura does not believe in combining his family socialising with politics. For all politicians involved in pity politics focussing predominantly on corruption, waste and nepotism the principal challenger is undoubtedly Anura. He believes that it is a dauting task to curb or eradicate the adverse acts of politicians but at many illustrations he had brought to light boldly at a risk of course but Anura continues with his utterings which all citizens and politicians are well aware. The speeches made by Anura in parliament and at meetings have been spellbound enthralling all audiences. Having known his vision as the leader of the NPP Anura was invited in the recent past to many countries like India, China, Japan, USA, UK ,Canada,Sweden etc where meetings were held to capacity audiences filled by staunch NPP supporters all of which were extremely fruitful indeed. It is learnt that Anura was invited by the Indian and Chinese governments while all other overseas visits were sponsored by the NPP bodies in the respective countries to absolute precision which is ample evidence of their involvement in the NPP policies expected to be implemented. Anura is an incredible speaker who could go on and on speaking facts sans looking at any draft .He commences his dialog on stages asking how much time the audience could apportion him. Anura never blames other parties but often speaks about the dire needs of the impoverished people who needs a face lift as they too are entitled to have a contented stress free life which they have been deprived to date. Anura is in the strong belief that all need a life to be happy and contented not struggling to live as hitherto accustomed to.Anura had emphasised several times that it is the duty of governments to keep people contented .pleased and contented not allow them to brawl to live
Electoral history of Anura Kumara Dissanayaka Election Constituency Party Alliance Votes Result 2004 parliamentary election Kurunegala District JVPUPFA 153,868 Elected 2015 parliamentary Colombo district JVP 65,966 Elected 2019 presidential Sri Lanka JVPNPP 418,553 Lost2020 parliamentary Colombo DistrictJVPNPP49,814
