Dudley Senanayake was a reluctant politician—a rare species both then and now. This reluctant streak compelled him to tread a different path in politics. This is why his unique qualities are still talked about and revered among those of varying political hues. A noble son of a strong and rugged father, he bore his first mantle of political leadership inherited from his father with the simplicity which has always been his trademark.

Today, we live in a Sri Lanka which he would have hated. Racism rears its ugly head time and time again. Lawlessness and corruption reign supreme. Murders, abductions, rape are the order of the day. Journalists are killed in broad daylight; inquiries seem to be buried in the sand and dust that cast a black cloud over this green and pleasant land. People even rejoice when those of minority communities are killed. How is it possible that we have sunk to such low depths as to rejoice at the killing of anyone at all?

One political analyst writing about Dudley during his lifetime said ‘How many know the qualities he possessed of head and heart which were rarer than one in a million.’

The late Dudley Senanayake was the elder son of the late D. S. Senanayake, Ceylon’s first Prime Minister, fondly referred to as ‘The Father of the Nation’ and Mrs. Molly Senanayake. He had one younger sibling, Robert; and from all accounts, Dudley was the more mischievous and outgoing of the two during their schooldays. He was educated at S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, and later at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He was first elected to The State Council to represent the Dedigama constituency in 1936; was Minister of Agriculture in Ceylon’s first cabinet after Independence in 1947 and has been Prime Minister four times. He was a cricketer at school and University, loved music, reading and photography. Perhaps it was his love of sports that inspired his qualities of statesmanship and justice to one and all, including his enemies.

I first heard of him from my father who was a few years senior to him in school and who admired and respected him right through his life. Later, I got to know him well through my husband, who was an MP in his government to whom he was a role model. His unique qualities made him stride the political arena like a Colossus till his death.

He was an excellent speaker with a powerful voice; was a crowd puller, famed for his wit and repartee in Parliament. This was in a Parliament that had the crème a la crème of Sri Lankan politicians, many of them educated at British Universities. Dr. N. M. Perera, Dr. Colvin. R. de Silva, Philip and Robert Gunewardene, Dr. S. A. Wickremesinghe, Pieter Keuneman were all in this Parliament, all brilliant speakers and gentlemen to their finger tips; but Dudley outshone them all at off the cuff speeches and witty repartee.

What I appreciated most about that Parliament was that after hard hitting speeches against each other, they would cross the floor, embrace and shake hands with each other. They respected each other’s views, even in disagreement. Diverse political affiliation did not mean political enmity, vulgar abuse and violent behaviour. Standards were incredibly high with no disgraceful episodes such as running off with the mace. This is because the majority in the House was all educated men, familiar with the norms of decent behaviour. We have a reverse situation today with the majority being uneducated which is the root of political violence. Today, standards in this most august assembly have sunk to the lowest possible level and I shudder to think what Dudley would have thought of it all. He was charismatic but never misused his charisma to mislead. Another incomparable asset was an infectious and uproarious laugh which would charm both fans and opponents He also had the ability rare among politicians today to laugh at himself and was often the butt of his own jokes.

When I think back to what I most admired about him it was his steadfast loyalty to his party even when he was temporarily out of politics. He refused office when offered to him by the party in power. In these days of political crossovers for high office, his example is a good one for young aspiring politicians to emulate. Loyalty and integrity are rare virtues in the political turmoil of today. Dudley Senanayake possessed both of these in abundance. He would I know have strongly opposed both the Presidential system and the preferential vote which is responsible for infighting in the UNP today.

The UNP was a most disciplined party. I recall the late Anura Bandaranaike telling me this when he joined the UNP. The indiscipline began with the Impeachment motion, Dudley had no respect for one of the instigators of that and couldn’t comprehend his hatred for the late President Premadasa purely on a question of caste in this day and age.

Dudley was a devout Buddhist but never rabid about race or religion which is real Buddhism He was a friend of all communities and strove hard and long to build bridges of understanding and amity among them. Above all, he was the perfect democrat who ensured that the country was ruled democratically and according to the rule of law.

Dudley Senanayake’s greatest contribution to our country’s development was in the field of agriculture, which was his first love. After launching his food drive, one of his greatest pleasures was checking results in far off pockets of rural Sri Lanka. He was a familiar sight in those areas with his camera slung over one shoulder. His heart was always in the right place—with the rural peasantry of Sri Lanka.

Unassuming to a fault, he unobtrusively and diligently built up one of the major links of Sri Lanka’s economy - her rural economy. He played a major role in the Gal Oya Scheme, the country’s first multi purpose irrigation, land and power project, with the transition to mechanised agriculture. There were absolutely no accusations of Gal Oya flowing into various companies at that time. He had a reputation for absolute integrity with no challenges thrown at him. I recall him refusing to make somebody a Cabinet Minister because he had a bank loan of Rs 10,000/=. He must shudder in his grave at the corruption rampant now.

People were aware of his love for humanity, practical ability and political wisdom. His political idealogy was based on the middle path of The Buddha. He was modest, shy, never sought publicity . Even as Head of State; he preferred to be behind the camera himself rather than to be photographed; to drive his own little Triumph Herald, rather than being driven. He would rather speak the truth than play to the masses with false promises. He had a great sense of mission, wielded power for service, not for self aggrandizement or personal glory and shunned pomp and pageantry; he was meek, gentle, endowed with a cultivated mind and great culture. He never adopted double standards or stooped to conquer. He asked for no plaudits or sought rewards, had transparent honesty of purpose and high honour which he upheld through his life. His return to politics, was no hankering after power and perks; but because he felt the country needed him. The personal following he commanded whether in or out of office would have corrupted a lesser mortal .For all his modesty, he was an accomplished parliamentarian, who often won the day for his side by his studied and polished intervention in debate.

The seething mass of humanity that paid homage to him after his death and at his cremation was the biggest tribute to all he stood for and was his finest hour.

Politics today has become a deep, dark labyrinth. He would have hated the conspiracies in his party, the greed for power and shifting loyalties. He thought above race, class or creed and wanted the best for all communities. These are qualities he learned not only through his innate goodness but also by the privilege of his education. Therein lies the answer; it is more important than ever for politicians to be educated and have at least a basic degree. It is only those with knowledge, integrity and vision who can carry this country forward. His dream was that every Sri Lankan could say with pride ‘This is my own, my native land’.