The incidents of violence that took place in Sri Lanka on that fateful May 9 evoked the memories of a much darker time period in the country among its people. In the midst of the people’s representatives caught in the melee on the day were also some of the more educated, knowledgeable and experienced professionals who had entered Sri Lankan politics in the recent past. One of those politicians was MP Dr. Nalaka Godahewa of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). On that day the violent elements not only set fire to his physical assets but also to the hopes and expectations of the people who sought the entrance of intellectuals and the educated to the Sri Lankan political scene.
Dr. Nalaka Godahewa was elected to Parliament under the SLPP ticket by obtaining 325,476 preferential votes coming on top in the Gampaha district while also receiving the third highest preferential votes obtained by an MP in the island. But the hopes of those who voted for Godahewa became engulfed in flames on May 9.
“What took place on May 9 was an organised series of events perpetrated by those whose political ideology is centred around violence. It was the same behaviour they displayed during the 88,89 time period. I strongly believe the Frontline Socialist Party and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna had a hand in the events that took place on the day. Those from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and others also supported and took part in these acts. It was university students who had come to set fire to my residence. They were members of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF). They had use petrol bombs to set fire to the house. Everything had been pre planned including the locations that must be attacked. Perhaps the attack was launched earlier than planned due to the incident that took place at the Galle Face Green on the day,” Godahewa says recalling the devastation on the day.
The half built house belonging to Dr. Nalaka Godahewa and torched by a violent mob was located several kilometres away from the Gampaha town in the Ihala Yagoda area.
“On the day when this incident took place I was at the President’s House in Colombo. I felt deeply disappointed when I heard the news. Perhaps all that is left now is to realise this is the nature of politics and decide if I should remain or give up my political career” he said.
“Even prior to this incident I had stepped down from my Ministerial position, determined I will not accept a post other than a Cabinet position in an all party Government that was to be formed. But following this incident I felt I should step down from my Parliamentary seat as well. However I was not able to do that because of the significant number of people who had cast their vote for me. Today there is a major dissent among the people against the actions of the Government. Even though I have a number of proposals to provide solutions to these burning issues I do not have the opportunity to express them as I do not hold a position in the Cabinet anymore.” Godahewa said.
Dr. Godahewa was born to Mettananda Godahewa and Kalyani Godahewa in his home town of Ambalangoda. But fate dealt a cruel blow to young Godahewa, just aged one when his father suffered an untimely death. Godahewa along with his mother, a teacher by profession moved to Kandy thereafter. Dr. Nalaka Godahewa entered Ananda College in Colombo while studying in grade six. Thereafter he entered the University of Moratuwa to study engineering. After obtaining a BSc Honours degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, he also obtained qualifications in accountancy. Joining a leading company as a Management trainee to commence his career, Godahewa has served in many prominent companies in Sri Lanka since while gaining more educational qualifications in various areas of study.
“I gained vast experience by working for a number of local and foreign private sector companies for 18 years. In 2009 the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa suggested I should take over as the Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation that had just been taken over by the Government. At the time I was working as its competent authority. I was then appointed as its Managing Director through a court order. In a short span of time I was able to improve the company’s performance bringing it to the number two spot among insurance companies in Sri Lanka. In 2010 President Rajapaksa appointed me as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism. Once again in a short time period I was able to increase the number of tourists arriving in Sri Lanka to one million up from just four hundred thousand. As the SLTB was performing well the President once again requested me to accept the Chairmanship of the Sri Lanka Securities and Exchange Commission. By this time the stock market had been suffering serious losses for 18 consecutive months. I became its Chairman in 2012. When President Rajapaksa was defeated in the 2015 election, Sri Lanka’s stock market had received the award for the best stock market in Asia. Even though I had plans to develop it further I decided to step down following the President’s defeat,” he said.
Godahewa then came into prominence in the political arena due to his heavy criticism against the former ‘Good Governance’ Government.
“I was the first to speak up about the bond scam. Hundreds of thousands people had watched my video explaining the bond scam to the people in layman’s terms. Because of these I was constantly harassed by the yahapalana Government. I was called before the President’s Commissions, the Bribery Commission and even the CID. But they were not able to take any action against me and had to drop all inquiries. In 2015 I was invited by Dullas Alhapperuma from the Joint Opposition to conduct a program on the budget. When I completed this program and presented it the ‘Good Governance’ Government once again filed a case against me. But I continued to speak up for these injustices. This is how the Viyathmaga organisation was first formed in 2016.” he recalls.
A large number of intellectuals and professionals in Sri Lanka entered politics through the Viyathmaga organisation. By this time Godahewa had already gained the public favour allowing him to secure the third largest number of preferential votes obtained by a politician in the island. Godahewa employed a unique way to extend his thanks to the people who supported him.
“During the election fray I promised the people of Gampaha that should I win I would move to the district and take up residence there. I took this decision because till then I had resided in Colombo but living in Gampaha would be more convenient to engage in politics. Right after my win I sold the jeep owned by me and also obtained a massive loan from a bank to begin building this house in Ihala Yagoda. I was just a month away from moving into that house which was being completed when it was attacked and set on fire on May 9. I still have to pay off almost Rs. 40 million in loans taken to build the house. I suffered a loss of at least Rs. 70 million because of this act of arson.” he says.
As for the Police investigations into the devastation of his house and property, Godahewa says the Police have taken a lax approach in this regard. “I had never obtained police protection. In fact I had not even obtained a pistol for my protection. Neither have I used a motorcade of back up vehicles. This was because I truly believed I was safe among my people as I had no stolen public funds or committed any wrongs. I would always travel only by myself along with my driver. Because of this I had not implemented any special security measure or personnel at my home in Gampaha that was attacked. It was guarded by two ordinary guards employed through friends of mine.” he says.
According to Godahewa the incident devastated him as he had not engaged in politics seeking personal gain or benefit.
“I was receiving a salary of Rs. 1.3 million in a private sector company when I took over as a Government sector chairman for a salary of Rs. 75 000 in 2009. I have gained nothing personally by engaging in politics. My wife, daughter and I always lived a simple life. My wife Manori is also a telecommunications engineer like myself. She later resigned from her job to take care of our child. My daughter Nithya is also now employed. At least 98 percent of those who were in the telecommunications engineering degree program left the country right after completing their studies. At the time only around 50 students were chosen from among 300 to follow this degree. But I never wanted to go abroad. Neither did I send my children to universities abroad. That is because we loved and trusted this country.” he says.
However Godahewa says he is disappointed that the country’s leaders did not utilise his knowledge and expertise for the betterment of the country.
“When the current Government was in the Opposition it was I who formulated the current President’s economic policy. However he has now found himself in this mess after attempting to manage the economy with another group after coming into power. If I am given an opportunity now I am still able to present a feasible plan to revive our economy” he adds.
Even though many believe the youth of the country played a major role in the incident of violence that took place on May 9, Godahewa holds a different opinion on the issue.
“Various people engage in politics in different ways. The protest at the Galle Face Green spread fast in the society. The middle class and the youth especially gathered around the creatively planned struggle. We, through the Parliament and the Cabinet also extended our support to it to the best of our abilities. My stepping down from the Cabinet post was also in support of this struggle. But later those with various agendas and crooks creeped into this struggle while the middle class and the youth moved away from it. Only a group of miscreants are now engaged in the Galle Face protest” he said.
Godahewa also expressed his opinion on the sweeping wave of protest seen across the country in the recent days.
“There is a clear dissent against the Government among the people of all statuses and ages in Sri Lanka. There are also various opinions on how this dissent should be directed towards a change in Government. Some are suggesting a forceful uprooting of the Government. But my opinion is that this should be resolved through Parliamentary elections alone. We saw the dangers of seeking solutions away from the democratic framework through the incidents of May 9. A regular person with a vehicle could not travel on the roads that day. He was dragged out and attacked by mobs. Therefore the change must take place according to the country’s Constitution and democratic values. Both politicians and the people must understand this.”
Key life events
* Birthday - 1965.6.7
* Hometown - Ambalangoda
* Education - Ananda College, Colombo
* Education Qualifications
PhD in Economics from the University of South Australia - 2007
MBA from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura - 1994
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK - 1993
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK - 1992
BSc Honours degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Moratuwa - 1991
Positions held -
* Cabinet Minister of Media - 2022
* State Minister of Urban Development 2020 - 2022
* Chairman of the Sri Lanka Securities and Exchange Commission 2012 - 2015
* Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism 2010 - 2012
* Chairman and Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation 2009 - 2010
* CEO Offshore Operations of MAS Holdings - 2002 - 2008