Finance Ministers’ Conference in Canada and World Bank meeting in New Delhi

by Sheila de Zoysa

The 1958 Annual Finance Ministers’ Conference was coming up. An invitation was sent to our Government inviting the Finance Minister and his wife to be guests of the Canadian Government.

The Prime Minister, Mr Bandaranaike, affectionately known as Banda, sent the invitation to Stanley as he was then the Finance Minister.

Stanley, having thought it over, and knowing that his personal finances wouldn’t permit him to pay for my ticket at top level, decided to decline the invitation to me. Banda was not happy about Stanley’s decision and talked it out with the Governor General, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke. They both agreed that I must go.

They called for Stanley, and Sir Oliver told him that he would arrange with Air Ceylon to present me with an air ticket. Stanley was horrified and said he was not willing to be under obligation to Air Ceylon, or anyone else for that matter. Banda and Sir Oliver were determined that I must go. The next day, Banda sent for Stanley and told him that it was an order from him that I must go, and he had decided that the government would pay for my ticket, which Stanley thought was proper and agreed.

He came home that evening and told me the whole story, and his reason as well for not telling me about this earlier. He didn’t want me to feel disappointed. What was my reaction? You guess! Of course I was very happy and excited as it was my first trip out of this country. After we flew out, hell broke loose, and all the papers were screaming – “Govt pays for Finance Minister’s wife’s ticket to Canada.”

I had a wonderful trip. I visited so many places and did so many things. Most of all, I hope my going paid off for whatever the Prime Minister had in mind.

I was invited to the close of the conference, where Stanley was called upon to make a speech. He excelled himself, and I was so proud of him when several of the Finance Ministers congratulated me on his speech, saying it was a brilliant one and without a scrap of paper to refer to.

After the close of the conference, there was a break-up party. All the Finance Ministers and their wives gathered in the Reception Hall of the hotel. Suddenly, Sasha, a very old friend of ours appeared. He was the former band leader of the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo. It was a lovely re-union. Sasha insisted we have a piano for the party.

He knew exactly where to find one, taking me by my hand, set out, and in no time found a grand piano. Sasha carried and sat me down on top of the piano, wheeling me all the way down the corridor and into the party. Stanley’s face was a treat as he watched this grand entrance! It was a hit with everyone, and we had a great time together.

From Canada, we flew to London and had a little break there. Then we flew out to India where Stanley had to attend the World Bank Conference in New Delhi. On the way to Delhi, we spent two days in Bombay. My first day I spent in bed as I was travel sick. I went out shopping on the second day and, while walking down the street at noon, we walked into another long lost friend: Marguerite Skillen. We took her with us to our hotel for lunch.

Stanley phoned Burt and told him his wife has been kidnapped and, if he wanted to negotiate, he would have to come to the hotel. Burt was there in a flash. We enjoyed meeting him as well even though it was for a short while, as we had to fly out that afternoon soon after lunch.

Next stop was New Delhi, for the World Bank Conference. We met Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and lots of other interesting people as well. At the close of the conference, there was the usual banquet to attend, to which Stanley wanted me to wear my bridal sari, which I was very happy to do. Time to dress, and I couldn’t get into my sari jacket: I had gained a few extra inches, so I got out another sari to wear instead.

Stanley was half dressed by then and, when I told him about the change of sari, he threw a tantrum and, like a naughty schoolboy, got into bed and sulked saying we were not going to the banquet unless I wore my bridal sari. I was in a quandary and didn’t know what to do.

Just then Raju Coomaraswamy and Douglas Gunasekera, who were delegates to the conference, arrived at our room to accompany us to the banquet. They were very amused when I told them my story. We put our heads together (Stanley still in bed) and, in no time, they were helping me to rip my jacket with a razor blade. I managed to open up a good part of it and squeeze into it, covering the rip with my sari fall. Stanley was up and dressed in no time. We spent a lovely evening together.

AN ENCHANTED EVENING

In 1958, the World Bank Conference was held in New Delhi. Stanley and I were on our return trip from the Finance Ministers Conference which was held in Canada (Montreal). Among many invitations waiting for us in New Delhi was one from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to a banquet which he was hosting in honour of all the visiting finance ministers and their respective wives.

Stanley and I arrived at the PM’s residence and there he stood to welcome us — so handsome and exuding charisma. His daughter, Indira, was beside him looking very charming. After some light refreshments and drinks, we were taken upstairs by elevator and ushered into the grand dining room. I was escorted to my seat and to my surprise found myself seated on the right hand of the PM. Of course I was not only honoured but delighted as well. Who wouldn’t be?

Dinner began when a turbaned waiter walked into the room bearing a whole watermelon on a large silver platter. He then placed it by the PM who stood up and cut a little wedge of the melon and, putting it on my plate, asked me to sample it, which I did, and gave my approval. He thanked me and sat down while the melon was taken away and soon brought back cut up and served as an appetizer to all the guests. I was by that time floating on cloud nine all through dinner, which was really nice, both food and company-wise.

When dinner was over Indira invited the ladies to join her for coffee in an adjoining room. The men stayed on with the PM and joined us after a while. I noticed that the PM was very engrossed in conversation with Stanley. It was such an enchanted evening and I was sad it was going to end. I then noticed that one by one, the couples who took their leave were escorted to the elevator where the PM bade them goodnight.

Stanley and I were not the last to leave but when we did, the PM not only escorted us to the elevator but went down with us and walked with us out to the carport where we said our goodbyes. Our car pulled up just then and the PM himself opened the car door for me leaving the doorman gaping! After I was well settled in the car he closed the door and waved to us while the car pulled out.

What an evening. What a man!

(Excerpted from ‘Fond Reminiscences’ privately circulated)