by Prematilaka Mapitigama
JR was referred to as "Lokka" by party men and others. I do not know whether he was aware of all this, but if he did he never showed it.

He was really a "Lokka" - a "leader". He knew how to lead and held a tight rein over those whom he led, especially those in the party and the government. Once during Mrs. Bandaranaike’s regime there were ugly drunken scenes by government MPs in Parliament. Mrs. Bandaranaike went on record to say she was helpless but JR taking the cue from Mrs. B said that he knew how to control his men if they come drunk to Parliament and he kept to his word. No MP inside or outside the Parliament was "caught" drunk.

J.R. had once invited some press boys to the restaurant room of the old Parliament by the sea to have tea with him. They were seated around him at the cafe. After tea, he called for a pack of cigarettes. He drew one from the paeck and handed the rest to the press boys smiling.

"This is my quota for the day".

The late Sarath Muttetuwegama was sipping tea a few tables away, a mixture of levity and Marxist philosophy was struck by J.R.’s gesture.

"Such a disciplined man, why is he not Prime Minister yet?" In the House Sarath was a back bencher representing the Communist Party.

JR the Leader of the Opposition sat next to Dudley Senanayake. Around that time there was a minor dispute between JR and Dudley in the party but it was somewhat volatile. Dudley promptly called the Press for a briefing at ‘Woodlands’ to explain the matter. After that in the Parliament Sarath teased JR "How are you with your neighbour?"

JR at the time was talking to Dudley. Both the stalwarts of the UNP ignored Sarath’s comment.

As JR assumed the Premiership and sat in Parliament there was a question on the Order Paper in the name of Dr. P. M. B. Cyril from Tissamaharama. Normally such questions are answered by the Minister or his deputy concerned and very rarely are the matters dealt with promptly.

Dr. Cyril’s question concerned some anomalies in the RMP service. It was not a question that concerned the office of the Prime Minister but as the question was raised and the Health Minister was not in sight JR promptly assured Tissamaharama MP that the anomaly will be corrected immediately. Those in the Press Box were surprised at the urgent response of the new Prime Minister.

JR as Prime Minister who was always present in Parliament to listen to the complaints of MPs made through questions for oral answers in the Order Paper - was hard on government members of the go’ ornament who did not take such questions seriously.

Questions for oral answers are printed on the Order Paper in the names of MPs asking them and the Speaker, takes them. If the MP who asks the question is absent the chamber it is passed on for the second round. On the second round any other member can ask the question if the relevant member who had asked the question was absent.

There was a time when a government MP who had asked the question was not present in Parliament even during the second round. The Speaker asked Premier J.R. whether he would ask the question and JR who seemed peeved, promptly said, "No". Members who ask the question must be present in Parliament to ask them. The question concerned went down the Order Paper and I am sure the Government Whip would have not only reprimanded the MP concerned but conveyed to him the Prime Minister’s annoyance.

JR was not only a superlative disciplinarian in and out of Parliament but also one who never missed parliament except perhaps for some urgent reason. Even when he was the Leader of the Opposition he took Parliamentary affairs very seriously. He listened to all speeches and made pithy remarks or comments when such was appropriate. He has a tremendous respect for Parliamentary procedure, and always abided by them.

Once when Stanley Tillakaratne was speaker JR had a minor brush

with the Chair and perhaps losing his cool called the Speaker "Mad Man". Speaker Stanley Tillakaratne was more hurt than angry. He reminded the House that members should respect the Chair whoever occupied it. Promptly JR got up and apologised to the Speaker profusely. The Speaker thereupon asked other members to emulate the great gesture of our very senior parliamentarian.

Once the Constitutional Court presided over by Justice T. S. Fernando was sitting in a room in the upper floor of the Parliament building and hearing numerous petitions made before it by individuals and organisations challenging the proposed new Constitution of the Bandaranaike government. JR too had challenged it and his petition was argued before the Court by his brother late H. W. Jayewardene, Q.C.

Once when the Court was in session upstairs, in the down stairs chamber JR Leader of the Opposition rising to a point of Order protested to the Speaker "there was a stranger in the House" that was how JR took his parliamentary affairs very seriously. No matter who was involved, JR wanted Parliament to observe very strictly its rules and procedures. In Parliament JR was always alert. Nothing missed him, even a casual remark.

At a time when Ronni de Mel was a back bencher in the SLFP government there was a cross talk between him and the opposition benchers. Ronnie de Mel from the government side shouted that all rats were leaving the sinking ship of the opposition. JR like lightning shot up and cried "there were only democrats not "rats" on this side.

When the Press Take-over Bill to nationalise the Lake House was rejected by the Supreme Court and its judgement was read to the House by the Speaker Dr. N. M. Perera, the then Finance Minister, rose to protest against the ruling though the Court order was a fait accompli.

Dr. N. M. Perera remained on his feet despite the protests of Prime Minister Mrs. Bandaranaike and the Speaker calling him (Dr. Perera) to order. JR was quick to seize the opportunity. In his usual sang-froid manner JR almost tongue-in-cheek asked whether the position of the Finance Minister was also the position of the government.

In parliament JR and Felix Dias Bandaranaike sat almost facing each other and often traded remarks which were inaudible most of the time but in strict conformity with parliamentary procedure and decorum. On one occasion Felix addressed JR as "JR" and JR corrected him . "No, Member for Colombo South " Felix quickly corrected himself "No, Leader of the Opposition".

In the evening after Parliament adjourned Felix was seen driving his Baby Austin with JR seated next to him. Felix was giving a lift to JR to his residence in Ward Place. Such was the elegant deportment of the parliamentarians then both in government and in opposition.