Features
Embarking on a new career in physiotherapy in the UK
by Padmani Mendis
Excerpted from Memories that linger…….My journey in the world of disability
(Continued from last week)
I was going to be a doctor. Instead, I became a physiotherapist. It has been 66 years now since that decision was made, and never a regret. Just relief together with joy that I had made the correct choice. I believe that, had I studied medicine, I may well have emigrated to settle down in some land far away from that of my birth.
My mother had always wanted a doctor in the family. She had tried with each of her children in turn until there was only one left, and she appeared to have succeeded at last. I was kind of agreeable with the thought. The first step in gaining entrance to medical college at that time was that one should obtain at least five credit passes in the Senior School Certificate or SSC Examination. Having got those, the next step for me was success in the Higher School Certificate, HSC, or University Entrance Examination.
We had just entered the Sixth Form or Year One of the HSC. One day all the sixth formers in both the science and arts streams were asked to come together. We were to be addressed by a lady who worked as a physiotherapist at the General Hospital, Colombo. She was from England and had been sent to work there by the World Health Organisation or WHO. This lady introduced herself to us as Elizabeth McDowell. She told us about the work she did at the General Hospital.
And then she showed us a short film about how she did what she did. This film showed people who could not do so after strokes being taught to walk; those who had been paralysed by polio doing exercises and making their muscles strong; they could now put these parts of their body to daily use and be independent; those who had pain in the necks and backs being relieved of it through the use of lamps and machines. Some had their necks or trunks stretched out to give “traction” which would relieve their pain. Those who had asthma and phlegm in their chests and other breathing problems were placed in various positions and tapped on their chests; with this the phlegm would be loosened, they would cough it out more easily and be able to breathe in comfort.
All this and more Elizabeth showed us. Then she invited any of us who would like to know more about her work to come to see her at the General Hospital and learn more about it. The purpose was to encourage at least some of us to see a future in this new profession and join the course of study that was to be made available at the General Hospital. This was a profession that was formally new to Ceylon. There were a few young Ceylonese who had been sent by the Government on Colombo Plan Scholarships to study and return qualified as physiotherapists. Some had been sent to England and Scotland and others to Australia and New Zealand. Although all of them had to come back when studies were over, many of them emigrated later to the UK and some to Canada. Later, even to the United States.
In these countries, the work of physiotherapists was better recognised and compensated in relation to their value, and their futures were more promising. For many decades after that, even as Sri Lanka continued to produce her own physiotherapists, this exodus continued. But patients now knew about physiotherapy and asked for it. The country was continuously in short supply until the market in those countries had been filled. The Ministry of Health was then required to increase cadres and make physiotherapy more accessible to patients who were in need of it.
Physiotherapy education was started by the Ministry of Health as a two-year course of study. It is now available as graduate courses in several universities. Masters and PhD studies are also now available.The morning that we visited Elizabeth at the General Hospital we were a group of nine, young and adventurous, and Deepthi was with us. With the smell of ammonia in the hospital she fell into a faint. Deepthi went on to Medical College and then as Dr. Attygalle, ended up as an eminent Anaesthesiologist. We still tease her about her faint on her first visit to a hospital.
Destiny
That visit with Elizabeth provided for me my first encounter with disability. Even though I had been a passive observer during the encounter, it had impacted my life forever. For that is when, in my subconscious, I had seen my future in this profession. I can still see that visit in my mind’s eye. I knew I no longer wanted to be a doctor. I would be a physiotherapist.
This decision however I kept to myself, knowing I should share it with my mother only when the right time for it came. I was not sure then that I would have the opportunity to avail myself of that course of study. So I went on to prepare for the HSC Examination that would enable my entrance to Medical College, more or less forgetting for the time being, the interest in physiotherapy that was created in me that special morning.
Then something strange happened to me in the second year of Form Six. I crashed in my studies. While I had gained a distinction and credits in science subjects at the SSC Examination, the marks I got not eighteen months later for term examinations were now like 10%, 18% and even below 10%. No one knew what had happened. If it happens to a young teenager now, no doubt the advice of a medical professional would be sought and a diagnosis would have been made.
At that time it seemed to have been alright, was not talked about, and somehow we coped with the situation. At home my mother did not show me that she was unduly worried. At school, it appeared that teachers had taken it as a matter of course – I had done badly in my examinations. Mrs. Amirtharanee Ratnasingham, our class teacher in Form Six Two and I had an easy relationship of mutual affection. My sister Nalini and she had been classmates and good friends. Beyond her intellect and knowledge, her personality made her an exceptional teacher. I had tremendous respect for her. I felt that she was always protective of me, always there for me.
Coming straight from the Principal’s office one morning at the end of the second-term, she called me aside. She said to me with great tact something like, “Padmini you have not done too well in your exams. Maybe you need to study a little more so you will be ready for the University Entrance next year. Why don’t you wait another year with us and do the exam next year? Would you like to do that?” That was good news to me because I too felt I did not know enough to sit that exam. It was, in fact, a relief. I replied that yes of course I would stay. But I had a sneaking feeling that I may not.
Before the end of that term, I had told my mother that I would not be continuing my studies at Ladies’. She was, of course not just sorry that she would not have a doctor in the family; more than that she worried about my future and what I would do now. But I reassured her that I would do something useful. I guess she knew her daughter and had trust in me.
When Miss Simon was told about my plans, she would have none of it. “No,” she said to me sternly in her office. “You are not going to stay at home. At the beginning of next year, you will come back and help Mrs. Ratnasingham in the Lab.”
Which I was happy to do. It gave me time to share my decision with my mother. I was called the Lab Assistant and was paid a salary, or allowance, of one hundred and thirty-five rupees. A princely sum to a young girl just out of school. When I showed surprise that I should receive such a large amount, I was told that this was my entitlement, having the qualification of SSC after my name.
My mother had by this time bought a house at Clifford Road, Kollupitiya, so that the younger of my two sisters, now 28, could have her own home and look after the three younger brothers and me. My mother continued to live at Kalubowila with Uncle Lyn. But her heart was with us and every morning she would come to Clifford Road and return to Kalubowila in the evening.
Most of my friends were all still students, waiting to start at the university or medical college. And here I was, financially independent. At the end of every month I would give fifty rupees to my sister as my share of house expenses. She would take no more. A monthly visit with my mother and sister to Ranjana Stores on Bankshall Street in Pettah was a part of the calendar. Here they would every month help me choose a saree made of exquisite “Katau” voile to add to my working wardrobe, now growing at a steady pace.
These beautiful Indian sarees at that time cost around twenty rupees each. Occasionally my mother would buy me a soft Kashmiri silk with a matching blouse piece for three times that amount. Other minor incidentals and the remainder was savings. I was given no choice but to put that into a Post Office Savings Book. There was a small post office not far from us at Kollupitiya. It is this that has grown to what it is now.
Sharing my Secret
These were happy times working with Mrs. Ratnasingham, getting both chemistry and physics labs ready for lessons and experiments and afterwards making sure that the students would leave the rooms clean and tidy. Getting the flowers and leaves and any other material Miss Lakshmi de Mel required for her botany lessons. And seeing to it that the rats, cockroaches and other odious animals and insects Mrs. Arulampalam wished to have for her Zoology classes were available on time. When alone with Mrs. R, she would often say to me, “Padminee, what are you going to do. You must do something.”
Which got me thinking that it was time I had a chat with my mother. I told her I would like to become a physiotherapist with the why and a possible how. Most of my brothers had gone abroad for various studies and so had my sister Nalini’s husband Leslie. She had of course gone with him. I felt it was a kind of family tradition that I should follow. If my mother agreed, I would find an affordable way. She agreed and I did.
In Search of a Way
I first looked for scholarships that I could apply for. Off went a letter to the German Embassy telling them of my interest and asking whether they would consider giving me a scholarship to study physiotherapy in Germany. They said that they had given out all their scholarships that year in 1958. However, they advised me to learn German so that they could consider me for the next year. That was rather too long to wait, but I started German language lessons. Just in case I could not find a faster route.
We had at school a teacher of English called Erin Muller. It was obvious to us that she was related to the well-known Orthopaedic Surgeon Gerry Muller. I had heard that Mr. Muller had his own clinic where he employed a physiotherapist from England. I told Miss Muller that I would like to meet her to find out about opportunities in the UK. She gladly arranged for this. I was given the address of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy or CSP, headquartered in London.
The CSP was responsible for all physiotherapy education in the UK. My next letter therefore went to the CSP taking care to inform them of our financial constraints. Back came the reply that there were three hospitals in the UK to which I could apply. Costs of study would be within my mother’s budget. So, I sent letters of application to all three. Post was then carried by ship. It turned out later that all three would offer me a place. I grabbed the offer made in the first letter that reached me. I had got a place to study physiotherapy at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital or ROH in Birmingham.
The Course of Study in Physiotherapy in the UK was in length then three years and three months. All costs had to be paid for, including the course and related fees and all costs of accommodation had to be met. This we could absolutely not afford. But the three hospitals recommended in the letter offered a way out. They were all Orthopaedic Hospitals. They offered a combined course whereby a student who first followed a two-year course in Orthopaedic Nursing with them, could then avail of free tuition in physiotherapy as well as have accommodation provided for during the period of the physiotherapy course. Here it was. My mother was hesitant, pointing out to me what I was letting myself in for. But she was no barrier, And never had been throughout my life.
My letter of acceptance had to be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from my school principal. Now how was I to get this?
Miss Simon and I had never been very close. As part of her daily routine, she would go to the hostel every day to have lunch with the boarders. I would accost her on her way there at noon-time.
And so I did, making my request. That she was at the same time shocked, amazed and happy for me is an understatement. Yet filled with pride that quiet me had gone far beyond her expectations, she admonished me for, “leaving everything until the last minute”. I went to her office that afternoon and her letter was in my hands. The next morning that letter attached to mine was on the high seas on its way to inform the ROH, Birmingham that they would soon have a student from Ceylon.
Preparation for my Mother
Meanwhile, there were lots of things to be done. Most important to my mother was to find out as much as she could about this Orthopaedic Nursing and Physiotherapy course that her daughter was determined to go to England for. She had to be sure even now that she was doing the right thing in letting me go.
When Mr. Muller had earlier heard of my interest in physiotherapy he had been delighted. He had invited me to come to his clinic and be with his physiotherapist while she worked whenever it suited me and her. I had been doing that regularly. So my mother had an opportunity to speak with her.
Then an appointment was made with no delay with the Officer-in-Charge of the British Council in Colombo. When he heard about our plans, he was angry with my mother. He used words like, “do you realise what your daughter will have to do as a nurse in England? Do you know that she will have to go down on her hands and knees and scrub the floors? Are you going to let your daughter do these things?” Which had my mother in tears. But I had read enough about nursing in England to know that this was not true. I was as determined as ever that I would go. I had to go to England to study. I tried to persuade my mother that he was misleading us. Why he did that I knew not.
But my mother would go no further without ascertaining the truth of what the British Council Officer had told her. So she next made an appointment to meet Ceylon’s other well-known Orthopaedic Surgeon at the time, Dr. Francis Silva. Dr. Silva was a relative of my father’s, but my mother made this a formal occasion, seeing him in his surgery.
When he heard of what I wished to do and what the Officer had said, he first dismissed that person’s stories out of hand. Then he filled my mother with reassurance. She was actually “Pansy Akka” to him. He told her what a useful profession this was in England. He told her Ceylon needed many more young girls like me to who were willing to do what I was planning to do. My mother was almost satisfied – maybe I would be alright.
(To be continued)
By Uditha Devapriya
If last year proved anything, it was that given a choice between international law and domestic pressures, the US political establishment will give way to the latter. Hence the Democrats, led by Kamala Harris, articulated the need for a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel – Harris spoke vaguely of the Palestinians’ right to their own future and land – yet belied it all by promoting Israel’s right to self-defence.
One can argue that Joe Biden, easily the most pro-Israel of recent Democratic US presidents, set the stage for this situation. But it was taken to its logical conclusion by Harris and her campaign. Barring a few exceptions like Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who were badmouthed by Democrats and demonised by Republicans, there was very little condemnation of Israel’s violations of international law in Gaza and the West Bank – violations which continue today and have accelerated because of the sense of impunity that Jerusalem was bound to receive under a hardcore, right-wing Republican administration.
The situation has worsened since then. But in trying to make sense of what has happened, I think we are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
The Trump administration operates on a logic of its own, and any attempt to make sense of it or rationalise it, to justify it or counter it, would be rather fruitless. For instance, it came to power on a platform of “absolute” free speech. Those who contend that this contradicts the government’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian students and intellectuals should realise that Trump and his supporters have reserved for themselves the power to define and set limits on such abstractions.
When Vice-President Vance, in his remarks in Munich last month, implied to his European audience that the region should be more tolerant of free speech, we need to understand that Vance’s, Trump’s, and the modern-day Republican Party’s framing of free speech differs from the ideals of the Enlightenment. This free speech is unquestionably right-wing and politically incorrect. Thus Trump, speaking to reporters during a meeting with the Irish Prime Minister, stated that Chuck Schumer, one of the most pro-Israel Senators and the highest-ranking elected US Jewish official, had “become a Palestinian.”
On the face of it, this was a slur, and Democrats and Jewish advocacy groups – including the Anti-Defamation League – were quick to point it out. Yet to try holding Trump to account over such remarks would be to hold him up to standards neither he nor his administration feel are applicable to them. When the White House, namely the President’s press secretary, speaks of USD 50 million of US foreign aid being diverted to “fund condoms in Gaza”, one is either outraged or intrigued enough to know more, particularly when someone like Elon Musk amplifies it on his platform. Yet when, weeks later, at a White House briefing attended by Elon Musk and his son, Musk backs away and admits that “some of the things that I say will be incorrect”, they are both investing themselves with a sense of invincibility and passing the onus of proving them wrong to the journalists and media that they themselves accuse of being biased against them.
In other words, the Trump administration is having the cake and eating it too – rather apt, considering how it prides itself on its disruptiveness, its sense of chaos. As far as Israel and Palestine is concerned, of course, there is no ambiguity: this is without a doubt the most pro-Israel administration in recent US history, and there is hardly any US official who would beg to differ with Israel’s actions.
While right-wing commentators like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens have spoken sympathetically about Palestinians – with Carlson decrying Israel’s activities and Owens questioning why US policy is kowtowing to Israel and Zionism – they are the golden exception to the dismal rule. Even Ann Coulter, the grande dame of US conservative politics, who infamously told Vivek Ramasamy to his face that she would not vote for him because he was Indian, questioned whether arresting student activists without proof of crime would infringe on First Amendment rights.
That sentiment has been echoed elsewhere. The arrest in question, of Mahmoud Khalil, has provoked much disgust and revulsion. Set against the backdrop of its gutting of foreign aid, scholarship, and exchange programmes, the Trump administration is now framing citizenship in the US as a privilege, not right. One can counter this by stating that immigration to the US, and gaining citizenship there, was never easy. But beyond any other administration in recent memory, Trump and his fellow-travellers have succeeded in both accusing previous governments of relaxing immigration rules and letting criminal elements in and weaponizing immigration law to achieve its domestic and foreign policy agenda.
To their credit, the Democrats while in power never went beyond arresting protestors – though that in itself raised eyebrows and had implications for civil liberties and freedoms. Perhaps because they saw themselves as the “party of rights”, they were careful, even within the restricted space they were operating in, not to invoke every other law and interpretation of it in the way the Trump administration is doing now.
It is becoming clear that Donald Trump is aligning his foreign policy with his domestic agenda – and that Israel, which has since at least the 1970s become a crucial part of that agenda, has taken centre-stage in a way Ukraine and Russia have not. For better or worse, this will define the course of US domestic politics and foreign relations for the next five years, and it will meet with the resistance of US courts and judges, every time the administration invokes laws and legal provisions to achieve its America First agenda.
Uditha Devapriya is a regular commentator on history, art and culture, politics, and foreign policy who can be reached at udakdev1@gmail.com. Together with Uthpala Wijesuriya, he heads U & U, an informal art and culture research collective.
Yes, you have guessed right. One of the two countries is the United States of America where cutbacks or reduction in spending and increase in tariffs is the order of the day promulgated by President Donald Trump who appears to consider himself king; his porohithaya Elon Musk dictating terms to him. His aim is to make America great again (MAGA) but his maga or path is actually making the rich in the US richer and making life more difficult for the ordinary US citizen with housing and food increasing in prices.
I feel I must explain what cut backs and cutbacks mean. The two word phrase is used as a verb while the one word is a noun.
Among several cutbacks “President Trump has signaled that next set of agencies on the chopping block, as his administration looks to cut down the size of the federal government agencies that serve wide ranging roles in the government, from addressing homelessness to funding libraries. One of these is the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS) that funds grants to libraries and museums across the country. The group EveryLibrary – a nonprofit that has advocated for public library funding and fought against book bans – decried the looming cuts to the agency, arguing that IMLS is statutorily required to send federal funds to state libraries based on an Act passed by Congress.”
The present president is so very different to previous presidents like Jimmy Carter who initiated the first White House Conference on Library and Information Services (WHCLIS)
which took place in Washington DC in November1979. It was such a boost to libraries and spread of information and improvement of education all round as noted by a delegate to the 1979 and 1991 conferences in the White House: “a strengthened and increasingly dynamic role for citizen-trustees in guiding library development; the emergence of citizen leadership across the nation, spearheading a new synergy within the library profession: the concept of partnership –building as a means to advance the library agenda; and the use of information as the power to promote increased productivity, economic growth and enhanced quality of life for all citizens.”
The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLS) was an agency in the US government between 1970 and 2008. The activities of the NCLS were consolidated into the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as an independent agency of the US federal government established in 1996. It is the main source of federal support for libraries and museums within the US to advance, support and empower them. Now they are to be stymied by law. “It marks the next step of the administration eliminating government entities Trump deems ‘unnecessary’ and it follows weeks of the Department of Government Efficiency, helmed by Elon Musk, slashing entire agencies, cutting off funds and instituting mass layoffs of federal workers.”
A Sri Lankan woman with a doctorate in Library and Info Science, living in Singapore, co-heads a unit in the American Library Association (ALA). She comments the IMLS was doing great work in disbursing grants to libraries and librarians to explore uncharted territories such as the use of AI. Trump clipping its wings to decrease federal expenses is a disaster, she opines.
Another agency on the chopping list of Trump and Musk is the US Agency for Global Media, which supervises US government funded media outlets globally including the Voice of America (VOA). Trump being a big critic of this agency is well known.
On Wednesday 19th, I heard a video clip with Fareed Zakaria speaking on cuts on research in universities which he termed Trump’s “fury on academia” which is making drastic cuts on research funding and other funding to State universities in a bid to stop federal spending. Zakaria said that the US had 72% of the world’s best 25 universities. Also quoted was J D Vance who said: “We have to attack universities. University professors are our worst enemies.” (When the VEEP says such, an echo to Donald Musk, I wonder how his wife, an Indian intellectual reacts.)
Proved without doubt is what Sashi Tharoor said while on a visit to the US. He had met and spoken with the Presidents Bush; Clinton and Obama who showed personal mannerisms that distinguished American Presidents. They had statesmanlike gravitas “which I find totally lacking in this gentleman.” Referring to Trump with apologies for an Indian MP commenting thus. Personal not politics, he added.
All this is the bad news of this article. Considering Sri Lanka, we are so fortunate to have sensible persons as head of government and most ministers. You can bet your last thousand rupee note on our government not stinting on essentials like educational institutions and education; bankrupt though we be.
Vetoing excessive use of IT Now for the good news, at least to traditionalists and those averse to, or afraid of too rapid advancement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). We of the Baby Boomer Generation 1946 – 64, even Silent Gen 1928-45, Generation X 1965 -80 are somewhat aghast at how readily, almost frantically, all ICT is grasped and incorporated in business, commerce, even education.
In Sweden they are cutting back drastically on use of electronic devises in schools: “Teachers all across the country are placing new emphasis on printed books, quiet reading time, handwriting practice and devoting less time to tablets, independent online research and keyboarding skills. The return to more traditional ways of learning is a response to politicians and experts questioning whether Sweden’s hyper-digitalized approach to education, including the introduction of tablets in nursery schools, had led to a decline in basic skills. Sweden’s minister for schools, Lotta Edholm, who took office 11 months ago as part of a centre-right coalition government, was one of the biggest critics of the all-out embrace of technology. “Sweden’s students need more textbooks. Physical books are important for student learning.”
So very true, I echo. Not just theoretically but from experience.
We of the school generation of more than half century ago learned in the pirivena style of teaching and learning, where teaching was all important and learning left much to the child’s inclination. Competition was less then and parents left their kids to study at their own pace. By ‘pirivena style’ I mean the teacher teaches (or lectures) and students absorb the imparted knowledge or often fritter their school time away. But from that generation emerged experts in various fields, some of whom made their name overseas too: doctors, astronomers, economists et al.
Education is of course much better and will certainly bring better results if there is insistence on student learning undertaken by each student. Guidance is necessary hence the need for good teachers. The project method of teaching and learning (names of teaching systems would have changed with time) was an excellent way of getting knowledge across to the child. The teacher outlines a subject area, say countries of the world, and gives detailed outlines of what is needed to be found. Students, singly or in groups, work in the library with reference books and write out reports on the country he/she/they were assigned. Submitted reports are edited by the teacher, rewritten, read out by the leader of each group or individual student, and kept available in class. Thus students engage in self-learning and share their knowledge so the entire class knows about the assigned countries. Of course now it would be internet etc that is consulted by the students, but following Sweden’s example, insistence on consulting printed books too needs to be done; and writing.
I heard a British educationist who said she was of the opinion that going back to traditional methods of education in schools is a must since research has proved that IT learning fell short of what education should be. So two of the three traditional Rs should be brought back to importance and incorporated in school education. This is particularly advisable in poor countries like Sri Lanka. We know how some students – less financially able, living in remote areas – were drastically affected during Covid times when teaching was on-line.
I left teaching long ago. Sure the Education Department of Sri Lanka has incorporated new methods of teaching. Good to hear more on this subject.
The General Elections were drawing near. There was concurrently a disturbing trend manifesting itself. A vociferous group were demanding that the elections be postponed for a further period, because the government was unable to complete its “progressive” social and economic programme, due to reasons beyond its control such as the insurgency of 1971. the oil price hike, the food crisis and so on. These arguments were patently absurd. The government had already extended its term of office by two years consequent to the introduction of the new constitution.
Now, a group of people were orchestrating a campaign for a further extension. At various public meetings where the Prime Minister attended, members of this group raised their voices and demanded a further extension of time. It appeared to take the form of a popular agitation exerting pressure on the government. No doubt, various persons holding similar views would have been speaking to the Prime Minister personally about the same issue. The whole thing seemed well orchestrated.
It was in this context that one day, she asked my opinion about the matter. I replied that I had always spoken absolutely frankly to her on any and all matters, and in the same spirit all I could say was that any attempt to extend the life of the government would be a total disaster, both for herself and the country. I went on to speak about her considerable achievements, as the world’s first woman Prime Minister; probably also as the first woman to be leader of the opposition in a parliamentary democracy, Head of the Non-Aligned Movement; honouredby the ILO, by their invitation to her, to deliver the keynote address at one of their inaugural sessions; honoured by the FAO by the award of the CERES medal in recognition of her personal and successful leadership of the food production drive consequent to the difficulties of 1974/75; honoured by the United Nations by their invitation to her to deliver the keynote address, at the first UN Conference on Women and Development and other achievements. \
Then I told her that if elections were not held at the proper time, the position in the country could get unmanageable, and she would face the charge of destroying democracy in Sri Lanka. I had to be hard, because it was evident that many people had created for her, some kind of fantasy world, and she was getting confused. As was customary, she listened to what I had to say with grace and thanked me for being candid. Then she said, “l have asked WT also, and he said the same thing.”
That was the Prime Minister. She was always prepared to listen to different views, after which, she made up her mind. The dose of reality administered by WT Jayasinghe and myself, two public servants who had nothing to do with politics, would no doubt have helped her to take the final decision of holding elections.
Dealing with political personalities
Before I get to the election itself, I wish to refer to one or two other matters. One of the more important of these relates to some of the political personalities I had to work with, other than the Prime Minister. These included the Minister of Trade, Mr. TB Illangaratne; Mr. Hector Kobbekaduwa, Minister of Agriculture and Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, Minister of Plantation Industries, among others. My dealings with Mr. Maithripala Senanayake, I will refer to separately.
The fact was, that at some time or other one had to deal with practically all members of the Cabinet, since all of them had some business to transact with the Prime Minister’s Office at various times. Some of the ministers I have mentioned had more to do with us, both because of their seniority and the sensitive and important nature of their portfolios. My policy was equal attention and equal treatment for everyone. The internal politics between them did not concern me; neither did the state of relations between the parties in the coalition.
These were political issues that had to be resolved at other fora. I saw my job as attending fairly and diligently to any request or advice sought. There was a creative element in this, because, knowing the prime minister’s mind on many matters I was at times able to steer ministers and others away from courses of action which could have negative consequences. Therefore, many ministers dropped in to discuss some sensitive matter or sometimes to seek advice how best to handle a given situation with the prime minister.
They knew that they could repose trust in the confidentiality of such conversations. At the same time, when I thought that the prime minister had to be briefed on some developing situation, I always said openly that I would have to do so. In some circumstances, the relevant minister and I. only discussed a suitable approach. I did not view my duty to the prime minister as one entailing the carrying of tales or the retailing of gossip and rumours.
However, whenever relevant, gossip and rumours were checked out, because beneath them could lie some real problems. Occasionally, when something was beyond our competence to check, and if it looked important enough the prime minister was briefed. This approach begot a great deal of trust and confidence, so much so that on one occasion, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva told me that he as well as others in the LSSP were extremely sorry that I would not be available for appointment, when a vacancy occurred in the post of Secretary, in the Ministry of Communications, a ministry then held by Mr. Leslie Goonewardena, a senior LSSP minister. In his booming voice, he paid me the compliment of saying that they were not only looking for a secretary but also “a man.”
Besides dealing with ministers and government personalities, the secretary to the prime minister had also to deal with many opposition personalities. They received the same treatment as anybody else. If a request was valid, one worked to grant it. If in a particular instance, politics were proving to be an irrelevant and extraneous factor, one proceeded to remove it. Sometimes, this necessitated talking to the prime minister, and if she too were inclined to see only the politics, one analyzed the issue and pointed out that politics had no relevance to the issue, and that in her position she had to do the right thing. All this meant extra work and effort, but I considered it as part of a duty that had to be performed.
In this context, I was able at times to resolve genuine problems faced by opposition MP’s and personalities such as Mr. R. Premadasa, Mr. Gamini Dissanayake, Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali and others. My belief was that the prime minister’s office of a country should act fairly and justly on all matters referred to it subject to overall government policy. When the occasion so demanded, my endeavour was to point out that irrelevant or extraneous considerations could not be the foundation of good policy. They could be petty revengeful acts, harassment or abuse of power, but never policy, and it was my firm belief that those at the helm of affairs of a country should always distinguish between these.
All these meant an addition to an already nearly crippling workload. There were even times when one continued to work when one had fever, in order to meet impending deadlines. Indeed, there were a few occasions during the seven years I held this post, that when I eventually reached home in the night my temperature had risen to over 104°F.
(Excerpted from In Pursuit of Governance,
autobiography of Dharmasiri Peiris,
Secretary to the Prime Minister)
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