By
Prasad Gunewardene
Very few communist comrades possess humour as they are known to be serious politicians. For communist comrades, it’s difficult to add one magical component to their socialist skills to make their contributions more palatable and enjoyable. That magical component is humour, which many comrades lack. However, Parliament had a comrade from the Communist Party during the last quarter of the 20th Century who possessed much wit and humour. He was the amiable Sarath Muttetuwegama, well versed in the cliometrics of communism sporting a mellifluous smile, and representing the Kalawana electorate at that time, he was an ebullient representative of the progressive politics of our time who could sing the ‘Communist Chorus’ to eternity.
He fought for the liberation of mankind and the working class, upholding the doctrine of Nicolai Ostrowsky. Comrade Sarath, hailing from the affluent class, was a humble human being in politics. Today’s neophyte scribes and self-proclaimed political pundits certainly missed the opportunity to listen to him, as he died at a relatively young age in a tragic accident. If the late C.V. Gooneratne and A.H.M. Azwer were the best combination to crack humour in the Parliaments of the last quarter of the past century, they were followed by Sarath Muttetuwegama and former Deputy Minister of Higher Education A.M.R.B. Attanayake during the J.R. Jayewardene Government. In parliamentary debates that turned hot, Sarath proved he was capable enough to take on the 140 UNP members with capitalist views, when the UNP held power with a five-sixth parliamentary majority in the House.
Debate speeches
In the footsteps of his predecessors, like Dr. S.A. Wickremesinghe and Peiter Kueneman, Sarath made fine debating speeches, speeches of an intriguing and self revealing kind, speeches of recrimination and incrimination and which lightened the long drawn hours of the Parliament he represented, providing the necessary humour and entertainment at times when the Capitalists were often seen falling asleep after lunch in the Chamber.
The only Member who was always disturbed by Sarath was A.M.R.B Attanayake. President J.R. Jayewardene held the portfolio of Higher Education and the Ministry Secretary, Dr. Stanley Kalpage was given full control of the ministry with Attanayake just kept as a figure head. Like Azwer who ran into C.V. Gooneratne, Attanayake always ran into Sarath. Attanayake could not stand Sarath’s mischievous smile whenever Sarath spotted him. Once Sarath was raising a point of order when Attanayake was winding up the debate on the votes of the Higher Education Ministry and cracked, “Mr Speaker, the Hon. Deputy Minister has much experience at university level education being the only undergraduate to spend the longest number of years in a university to obtain a degree.” Attanayake, angered by the interruption shot back in Sinhala, “Sir, Meyawa Soviet deshayata patawanna, mata nidahase katha karanna ona” (Sir, pack him to Soviet Russia so that I can address this House peacefully).
On another occasion, when Attanayake appeared clad in full white, with white shoes and white socks to match his attire, Sarath rose from his seat and looked at the Minister sporting a mischievous smile. He then turned to the Speaker and said, “Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Minister looks like Don Bradman walking to the wicket to take his guard but his bat is missing.” Attanayake truly lost his cool and retorted, “Denawa ehenam oya langa thiyena bat eka mata” (Give me the bat that you have with you now). With a mischievous smile on his face, Sarath replied in Sinhala, “Pissuda, eka deela mata gederin banun ahanna ba” (Are you mad…I can’t get scolded from home for giving that bat to you).
Japanese delegation
Attanayake shot back to say, ‘Ehenam manthrithuma gedera gihin bat karanna mata paaduwe inda deela” (Then go home and bat and leave me alone). To annoy the Deputy Minister further, Sarath cracked, “Sir, ape niyojya amathi thumata bariwunata mama num gedera hondata bat karanawa” (Sir, unlike our Deputy Minister, I bat well at home).
Another day, there was a Japanese delegation in the Speaker’s Gallery who had come to view parliamentary proceedings. As usual, Attanayake was addressing the House in Sinhala.
Sarath rose to a point of order and said in Sinhala, ‘Sir, ape niyojya amathi thumage kathawa kochchara sundarada kiwwoth, arauda balanna, Japan walin awilla kathawa ahanna” (Sir, even delegates from Japan have come to listen to the interesting speech delivered in Sinhala by our Deputy Minister). Attanayake expressing his anger screamed, “Sir, Muttetuwegama manthri thumawa sabhagaben eliyata adala daanna mage kathawaka ragena yanna” (Sir, order Muttetuwegama out of the Chamber for me to continue with my speech). Deputy Speaker Norman Waidyaratne in the Chair, called both members to order. Outside the Chamber, whenever they met after clashes inside, Sarath would ask Attanayake, ‘Niyojya amathi thuma tharaha naha neda? (I think the Deputy Minister is not angry with me). Attanayake greeted Sarath with a smile and a pat on Sarath’s shoulder. Sarath often invited the Deputy Minister to join him on a Friday to make a trip to Ratnapura. Attanayake too invited Sarath to spend a weekend in Udu-Dumbara.
Verbal battles and humour between parliamentarians like Sarath Muttetuwegama and Attanayake kept the proceedings alive in the House. They never used abusive language in the Chamber and always looked up to the public galleries during heated verbal exchanges and ensured that parliamentary language was in order. Sarath was a class by himself who needs no effigies of stone or bronze as his memories are carved in the hearts and minds of the people who admired him. Attanayake gracefully retired from politics after completing 11 years as a parliamentarian and a deputy minister.
Their lives and deeds are eloquent enough to prove that they were quality parliamentarians in the annals of parliamentary politics. They never flinched from challenges in their political careers and were good companions to all. While Sarath was an able communist who could clobber the capitalists with the characteristics of communism, Attanayake was a cord of the capitalist class who constantly clashed with communist characters. We will never see the likes of them again.
Courtesy:Ceylon Today