The write up in the Mid Week Review of the Island of February 14, 2001 of our former President by C. A. Chandraprema was delectable reading.

Reading it, my mind went back to an incident which happened when he was Prime Minister and I was in Parliament as MP Batticaloa.

My daughter’s wedding was in the offing and I handed over these invitations only to my fellow MPs with whom I had close relationships, and not to all MPs. One of them was a Cabinet Minister who after receiving the card, happened to go to the Prime Minister’s Parliamentary room and seeing the card, D.B had asked, what the card was about and the Minister replied that Prince’s daughter was getting married and that was the wedding card.

About an hour latter when I happened to pass this Prime Ministers official room, I heard someone call out - "Prince, Prince" and realising it was the Prime Minister I walked in and after asking me to sit down, the P.M. with a smile on his face asked me - "Are you in anyway angry with me for anything" I was puzzled and replied "What makes you ask that question Sir?" Then he said, just a few minutes ago, one of the Ministers came carrying in his hand a wedding card and when I asked him, whose card it was, he said it was the wedding card of your daughter. "Why did you not give an invitation card to me also, unless you are angry with me?" and I replied that I could not think of any person ever being angry with a person like him.

Thumbing through his diary and finding out the date of the wedding, with disappointment his diary revealed that on the very day, there was a Govt. Parliamentary Group meeting at 5.30 P.M.

Telling me that he would somehow come to the church for some minutes, this great man fulfilled this promise’ came to St. Lawrence Church and was present for about 20 mts. and tapping me on my shoulder that he was going, he left the church. When despite the group meeting on the same day as the wedding, as I led this simple man and gentleman, out of the church, I could only tell him - "This was indeed a gracious gesture" At the Prime Ministers office in Parliament when he asked me, why he was not served with an invitation, I replied may I tell you the truth Sir - "Its because I felt that you were too high for me Sir" He replied, you are my MP and I am your President, so get that idea out of your head.

Prince Casinader
Batticaloa