Late Mr Sarath Jayasuriya – My Recollections
Lionel Bopage
Mr Sarath Jayasuriya was a person of resolve and courage; a humble person with strong convictions for protecting democratic rights of the people of Sri Lanka, irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, caste and gender. He aspired for and agitated for a Sri Lanka that was inclusive, non-discriminatory, democratic and prosperous. He was a mentor and friend to many and much beloved by his immediate family, relatives and friends.
I met Sarath around 2010, at the meetings private and public in Australia, to discuss what was going on in the country of our birth. Though we are Australian citizens, as first-generation migrants, Sri Lanka remains in our hearts, thoughts and actions as that is the land where we were nourished, culturally and politically. The people there paid for our education and upbringing, and Sarath and I have always been aware of the incalculable debt we and many others owe to the nation and the struggle of the people for a just and harmonious society.
Politically, we were in different camps. My political affiliations as the record shows have been with the Left. Sarath was the President of the United National Party branch in Australia. His university colleagues such as Dr Jayampathy Wickramaratne, now living in Switzerland and Dr Willie Senanayake in Canberra, are my friends too. They also join me in conveying their deepest sympathies on this his untimely passing.
We discussed mostly the issues people are faced with, not the ‘personalities’, who seem to infest Sri Lankan politics. Our discussions centred around mostly on how we can introduce proper system of governance into the political equation from a system full of partisan, corrupt and favours-based practices. We agreed that these issues need to be addressed not only by being critical, but also being constructive, making alternative policy proposals to convince the stakeholders of the necessity for change socially, economically as well as culturally.
Life was not easy for activists like Sarath when the political camp they are not with was in power. Conditions become gruelling, especially to those who are at the front line of change. We all understood that our mission was difficult and would take time. We abhorred corruption and the abuse of rule of law for the enrichment of some at the expense of the rest. Sarath with many others stood against the beneficiaries and defenders of such malpractices. Sarath even switched camps when he became aware of the currents that drove corruption and undermined the rule of law.
As the situation turned worse, Sarath was one of the first to suggest bringing together the expatriates, who wished for making a positive and constructive change in Sri Lanka. That is how, in 2014, the Australian Advocacy for Good Governance in Sri Lanka came into being. Sarath was a founder member and a Vice-President until his fatal illness that ultimately took away his life. He was at the frontline in the fight against racism, ultra-nationalism, and fundamentalism.
I can recollect him with his family and friends attending the Bushfire Disaster Relief Fundraiser we held early this year. He participated in some of the discussions even when he was seriously unwell. It was the examples of activism of those like Sarath that instil confidence in humanity and offer some hope that one day Sri Lanka will acknowledge and reclaim its multicultural and multi-religious heritage.
I want to acknowledge Sarath, for confronting social injustices and historical distortions in the best way possible and by standing firm. We thank him for not moving away from the resolve of constructively engaging in raising awareness about the need for a good policy framework and a coordinated response; unlike the current direction the society is currently moving towards, at the brink of a triple escalating and intersecting systemic crisis.
Sarath’s example encourages us in struggling for and attaining the society all fair-minded people aspire for: a society that is egalitarian, prosperous, and free. Building such a society necessitates sacrifices in pursuit of the common good. For that we need to sharpen our convictions and contribute to the much-needed social transformation without being motivated by material advantage or personal gain.
Like Sarath, we need to double down our efforts and intensify the fight against corruption and authoritarianism, strengthen the forces for genuine democracy of the people, by the people and for the people. We need to pick up his conviction, emulate his humility and volunteerism and strive and fight with equal measure to overcome the ills of our society, the ills of poverty and injustice, of violence against women and children, against disease, and against racism, inequality, and fundamentalism.
I would like to close with these apt words from Homer’s Iliad:
“A generation of men is like a generation of leaves; the wind scatters some upon the ground, while others the burgeoning wood brings forth, and the season of spring comes on. So, of men one generation springs forth, and another ceases.”
I believe that quote speaks about our generation.
At a personal level, let me acknowledge the sad fact that losing a family member and a friend is never easy, no matter the age or the circumstance. Yet, we know that death is a natural part of life. We share in the sorrow of Sarath’s family.
So, farewell dear friend; it has been an honour to have known you, and we will truly miss you. You ran the race and fought a good fight, and we salute you!
Dr Lionel Bopage
3 December 2020
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