Thirty three years in Parliament, from 1961 - 1994, he is a witness to everything, the many milestones, political, economic and social, that Sri Lanka underwent in her recent history. Drafting of the 1972 and 1978 Constitutions, introduction to Republican Sri Lanka, introduction to Capitalism, the change of six political regimes, where Nihal Seneviratne has been an objective observer within the Parliamentary system.
Based on his years of experience in Parliament, 17 years of which as Secretary General, Seneviratne recently published a book A Clerk Reminisces especially, for the younger generation to learn about the history of the Sri Lankan Parliament, which includes stories on assassination attempts, failed impeachments as well as collapsed governments.
But, he said his ambition had been to join the Foreign Service. After completing his LLB at the University of Peradeniya, and Law College, Colombo, he took oaths as a lawyer and worked for one and a half years. Securing a scholarship to study International Law in the US, which was to be the first step towards his ambition, he applied for a vacancy in Parliament as directed by a relative, faced the interviews, in the midst of packing for the US adventure. Two weeks before departure, he was offered a job in Parliament. And he says, he never looked back, since.
A Clerk Reminisces
A Clerk Reminisces carries many interesting stories. Some of them are about those celebrated representatives whose names are mentioned with honour, even today.
There are also stories about Parliamentarians barging in, making various demands that required to bend the rule, or ignore it. But, Seneviratne said, his defence was always, Parliamentary law, regulations, and precedence throughout his career. “Sometimes, the UNP members accuse me of supporting the SLFP, and vice versa. I didn’t do either. I followed the law.” It naturally is the most logical way to work amid the elected law makers of the country.
Seneviratne writes in his book about an instance when an SLFP member in Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s cabinet berated him. “I didn’t want to lose my cool, so I spoke to him politely but he continued to speak in foul language. I was very hurt. So, I went to Mrs.B and told her what happened. Being the great lady she was, she apologized to me on behalf of her MP and said she is sorry that she gave him nominations”.
Looking back, Seneviratne says, the standards have fallen, values have weakened, not only in Parliament but in society too. “There was a time we had well educated, gentleman-like politicians,” he recollected a story; when I.M.R.A. Iriyagolla was Minister of Education, his daughter applied for a scholarship and got an offer to go to India for her studies. The then Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake instructed him to ask his daughter to decline the offer. Even though she applied for the scholarship on her own, the applications were processed through the Ministry of Education. “That was the level of transparency, accountability, they maintained.” The level of accountability has dropped so low, he said, that in 1994, the year he retired, only 150 among the 225 took the trouble to hand over their assets and liabilities declarations to Parliament.
Changing tides
Understandably, many point at the establishment of Capitalism and Open Economy to be the starting point of moral degradation, recounting former President J. R. Jayawardene’s famous statement “Let the robber barons come” though he admits there need to be many more reasons for the degradation of ethics and standards, as well as the increase of corruption.
On the other hand, it is no secret that in the past there was a bar in Parliament, prior to it being moved to Sri Jayawardenapura. Seneviratne said that though the House didn’t have a bar, the Senate members had liquor available, and there have been instances where House Members went to the Senate bar for drinks. “Nobody staggered, but there were a few who got rather high,” Seneviratne recalled.
After retirement, Seneviratne was called upon to work again by former Speaker Anura Bandaranaike and worked with him during the time he gave the historic ruling that the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction over the Legislature. “Those were two good years I spent working with Mr. Bandaranaike, who was a wonderful man and a raconteur with many wonderful stories to tell. He and I became friends and spent many evenings together, but I insisted that we drink ginger beer and nothing else for he replied ‘let’s drink ginger ale, not beer’.”
Mock Parliament
The mock session of Parliament held recently, last week was not the first in Sri Lankan history. Seneviratne recalled as one of the most extraordinary events in his book, the mock session held on April 6, 1955. The mock session had continued until Sergeant-at-Arms entered the Chamber accompanied by the Police to remove MP Somaweera Chandrasiri (Moratuwa) who was speaking in the mock parliament session.
Seneviratne also recollected Parliamentary sessions that continued throughout the night. Former Minister Ronnie de Mel claims to having conducted speeches throughout the night in Parliament.
Seneviratne said, there were instances where the House suspends the Standing Order and continues with the session well into the night, at one time till 10 am the following morning. “I feel sorry for the Hanzard reporters who had to work during the day, and throughout the night too. We test them to be able to write 160 words a minute, but on those days, the hours are too long.”
Seneviratne is nostalgic of the past, the days the MPs considered ‘the Well of Parliament’ to be a sacred territory, upheld its dignity and decorum and stood responsible for their actions. He said, he still believes in the Parliamentary system. “We can reform Parliament, with the Speaker being very firm and independent, along with the support of Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and other Party Leaders,” he said, and, “there is still hope to turn things for the better if necessary steps are taken”.
Pix: Sudath Nishantha
