Everlasting comrade N.M. Perera
14 / 09 / 2006 - Daily News
W. Annesley Sumith Fernando


NMs demise was on August 14. This is published in his memory


CELEBRITIES: NM from Ruwanwella and Philip from Awissawella contested the State Council election in 1936 as LSSP candidates. NM was a total stranger to Ruwanwella. He had no connection, neither kith nor kin. But his only credential was the affectionate title 'Parippu Mahaththaya'. He was a lone warrior, but had the goodwill of the people in good measure, earned through his heroics during the malaria plague.

NM's opponent was none other than Mrs. Adline Molamure, a former State Councillor, who enjoyed the full blessings and backing of the rich and the powerful. Ruwanwella was her domain and NM was trotting over an unknown territory. After a hectic fight NM emerged victorious with a thumping majority of 2975 votes and entered the State Council.

Nayakkarapathirana Martin Perera was born on 5th June 1905. He commenced his education from St. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia and proceeded to Ananda College, Maradana to further his studies. From Ananda he stepped in to the high walled villas of higher education at the Ceylon University and from there took wings to England in search of greater heights in education.

He took a special liking to the lectures of Prof. Harrold J Laskey, which watered the Marxist inclinations he had in his veins. He completed his academic pursuits with double doctorates in Economics and Political Science, and commenced his journey as an avowed Marxist.

The fires of freedom, and struggles against the colonial masters were raging in and around the British colonies, including Ceylon (Sri Lanka). It was then that NM and like minded youth, having an orientation towards Marxism and a vision towards a socialist society engaged themselves in full measure in the freedom struggle. This struggle gave birth to the first political, as well as the first Marxist party in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) under the banner of Lanka Sama Samaja Party.

NM joined forces with Philip, Colvin, Edmund Samarakkody, Robert and Bernard who carved a name in the political annals of Sri Lanka, in building LSSP and expedited the formation of trade unions and other employee groups in the country. The endeavours of NM and his comrades faced stiff opposition and resistance from not only the white imperialists; but from the local rich and the aristocrat who licked the boot of their white masters. NM was a university professor by profession.

Prof. Marst, head of the economic division, a slavish agent of the British colonist, least tolerated the young Marxist Professor. NM continued, undeterred and unmoved but at the end sacrificed his profession and threw himself totally into the political arena. During the period 1933/34 a vicious malaria plague engulfed the entire country.

NM, Philip and the other marxists threw their university robes and caps aside and crisscrossed the country, starting from the Thun Korale, distributing medicines, dhal (parippu) to the affected people. The people of Thun Korale affectionately called him the 'Parippu Mahaththaya', for this heroic efforts among the malaria victims.

Where there was a strike, NM was there, irrespective of the period whether it was before independence under British rule or after independence.

During 1930s when NM and his comrades addressed the people in Sinhala, when they proposed that lower courts and the police should function in Sinhala, when they pinpointed that Indian labour would bring in problems to the country, when they campaigned for equal wages for teachers, teaching national languages (swabasha), when they agitated for a guaranteed price for paddy, the local whites (kalu suddo), the state owners' government leaders and their opponents laughed at them and heaped scorn and humiliation upon them.

The 'Besgirdle' incident, which took place in 1937 gave much publicity to LSSP and enhanced its popularity among the people. During this historic event NM fearlessly made scathing attacks within and out side the State Council against the white rulers, the Governor General and the estate owners. This incident paved the way for the Governor Sir Reginold to flee to the safety of his motherland. NM and the other members of the LSSP had a greater share over his flight.

During his stint as an MP in the House, whether the issue in hand was economy or language he stood for transparency and expressed the truth and the truth only to the people. NM could foresee the chaos and calamities JR's constitutional reforms would bring in to the country. Like a lonely prophet he echoed his doubts and fears about the development in the North as early as in 1950.

When NM proposed equal rights for the Tamils the racists rose against him with arms and ammunition. The end result was his defeat at Borella, which he has defended successfully. But belatedly, after the river has breached the bound and the damage has taken its toll over the intelligentsia, and the politicians acknowledged that N.M. was right.

He was a man of silence by nature. It was his practice to close his eyes and caress his forehead with his fingers as he intensely listened to the MPs doing their rounds at the House. But at the right time, and the most opportune moment he would stand like colossus and speak in a raised voice either to reply an MP or to stretch a point.

He was a disciplined man. He knew the parliamentary codes of conduct like the palm of his hand. He did not pay lip service to them. In his case the codes were not something to be observed more in breach rather than practised in their true spirit. I have never witnessed an occasion where N.M. crossed the path with the Speaker of the House.

N.M. was on his feet making a speech when the revised Public Security Bill was presented to the House on 12th Feb. 1959. He said that it should not be taken up for debate. The speaker overruled N.M. and tried to stop him continuing with his speech. N.M. continued regardless. The speaker ordered N.M. out of the House.

But N.M. remained unmoved and the speaker had to postpone the sitting. Suddenly police officers rushed into the House, as if the German army was marching over the French front. LSSP MPs surrounded NM. In the end the police had to oust NM on their shoulders while seated in his chair. Same fate awaited the other LSSP colleagues, like their leader they too were thrown out of the House complete with chairs.

Sirmavo Bandaranaike made this extraordinary man the finance minister of her Government in 1964. NM's first task as the finance minister of the SLFP, LSSP, lead Government was to pull out the black money, hoarded by the black marketers and the wealthy. Demonetisation was his weapon. As the finance minister again under the coalition Government in 1970, he introduced a number of progressive steps to revitalize the stagnant economy.

In 1959, comrade Philip was thrown out of the then Bandaranaike Government as a result of a sinister plot hatched by a clique of disgruntled ministers. In the same fashion NM too had to leave the Government in 1975. He was a victim of behind the seen manoeuvres of the power hungry politicos. In lighter vein it was said that N.M. lost his hold of Madam Bandaranaike's 'Sari Pota'.

N.M. crossed over to the opposition benches and the other LSSP comrades, except a few followed suit. N.M. together with LSSP, Sri Lanka Communist Party and T.B. Subasinghe, the break away member from SLPF entered the fray during the parliamentary elections in 1977. By this time the people of the country were disillusioned with the policies of the SLFP and the other leftist parties, and the elections gave them an opportunity to give vent to their anger and dissatisfaction.

The coalition came into power in 1970, on a number of un-kept promises. Of the many reasons, which contributed to the downfall of the coalition, disagreements and inability to see eye to eye on many a vital issue among coalition partners stood out prominently.

Another contributory factor was the failure of the Govt. ministers to keep the common touch. They distanced themselves from the people. Nationalisation of the estates, and banks were hailed as progressive steps and won peoples' accolades in their favour; but handling of the economy ended in disaster.

Govt. measures hit the people where it hurts most i.e. the belly. The snowballing effect of all these ended up by allowing J.R. to win the 1977 parliamentary elections with no competition at all. He had a cake walk with a thumping majority surpassing the 2/3 mark. N.M. lost his stronghold i.e. Yatiyantota.

Leftist parties were routed with an ignoble defeat. J.R. the 'Witty Old Fox' outsmarted N.M. the 'Golden Brain' quite handsomely. People felt the eminence of N.M's presence in his absence at the house of the parliament. There was no one to champion their cause, to give cry to their needs. Indomitable N.M. continued his political errands as usual. He openly criticized the repressive policies of the government. He cautioned the people of the threats posed against freedom of movement, assembly and political activity.

N.M. was an economist par excellence a theoretician with a noble political mission, a die-hard devoted and dedicated politician, a committed Marxist to the core, and a fire-brand leader of trade unionism. Above all he was a humanist who could strike a common chord with ordinary men and women. He was not confined to politics alone, but a competent writer, an accomplished actor, and a sportsman of note.

He has the distinction of serving as the president of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. He blossomed as a flower radiating its beauty; reached heights of success and knocked at the doors of power. But N.M. too failed, faltered and floundered. Comrade N.M. you are not dead.

As you foretold the constitution is in a crisis. and the ethnic problem sways its ugly head on and off. Your name reverberates within the walls of the august assembly in the parliament whenever a debate arises over trade unions. Indeed, you were a man ahead of your times. All what you prophesised have come true today.