Vijamu: The Pilot of a Great Public Mission – 83rd Birth Anniversary – By Gamini Kariyawasam.
As soon as we see the three letters VIJMU, Vijamu Lokubandara Champions come vividly to our memory. His 83rd birthday is on the 3rd of August. He was born on August 3, 1941, in Haputale Yahalabedda village, in a family of three brothers and three sisters. The parents, Loku Menike and Gunasekara Bandara, named this baby VIJesinha Jyaweera Mudyanselage Lokubandara. Later, this great man got used to using his name as Vijamu, by combining the initials of the trinity of his names.
A lively conversation where Wijamu recalls his childhood
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Yahala Bedda School was the school he attended. This child went to Bandarawela Madhya Maha Vidyalaya for secondary education. He passed the university entrance exam with flying colors and obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Peradeniya. Vijamu, who was very interested in further education, was also fortunate to pass the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of London.
Lokubandara was a lawyer by profession. He worked as an Assistant Legal Draftsman for some time. The 1970s dawned with spring for this young man. It was during that time that a love relationship with Malathi, who was a music teacher at the Kotte girls’ school, took place. Malathi’s mother is a close relative of J. R. Jayawardena family. They got married on February 1, 1979. Later, three sons Rashmin, Udith, and Damith were born in that couple’s home, making their married life more meaningful, solving the isolation of the two generations.
His name will always be remembered as a philanthropic politician, a writer born in our country, as well as a lovely man who radiated the simple radiance of rural life. I am motivated to write such a memorial note about him, not only because of the closest association I had with him for the longest time in my professional life. In that close association, I was able to clearly see the transparent nature of his wonderful and humanitarian character. His virtues are still felt in my heart as then and now.
At an unexpected moment, I was called by him to take over the position of Director General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, which was under his ministry. Fulfilling one of his basic wishes, I gave him my fullest support to start a special radio educational broadcast called “Guvan Thaksalawa” to educate school children in underprivileged areas all over the island. The guidance received from him to enhance the local identity of the radio is optimal. The radio program called Rasa Deepani was planned and conducted by Lokubandara Champions.
A great mission was accomplished to develop the field of Ayurveda during the period when he served as the Minister of Indigenous Medicine. He led indigenous doctors and started a series of researches for the prevention of heart disease through indigenous medicine. He also pioneered the introduction of music therapy, “Gandharva Ayurveda,” to the Department of Ayurveda. On his advice, the Department of Ayurveda collected the books containing the traditional knowledge of the traditional indigenous doctors all over the island and prepared a series of books called “Talpathe Piliyam” so that they would not perish.
His efforts to popularize the green porridge drink (kola kanda) such as herbal teas and green drinks, which had been far from the nation’s memory, and the support and glory of green leafy vegetables, were very successful. Not only in Parliament, but also in government and private institutions, in the city as well as in rural areas, people started selling green porridge and became very addicted to drinking it.
speech by the former speaker
He became the 18th Speaker of the Parliament, displaying not only his knowledge of Sanskrit, Pali, and literature but also his expertise in law. The manner in which he led the public representatives with his eloquence was heartwarming. In everyday normal conversation, his own style of language appeared from him. He addressed his devotees with the playful word ‘Machang’. In his academic lectures, he displayed his linguistic ingenuity in highlighting the diversity and richness of meaning and sound inherent in the Sinhala language.
Every time we met him, we always had the opportunity to gain some new experience or academic understanding that broadened our knowledge base. At times, he used the Sanskrit language well and recited a Shloka and told us its meaning in the manner of a devoted teacher. At other times, he told us about his past experiences as a mixture of flavors.
“Gamini, do you know the incident that caused the former President Premadasa to issue a circular that higher officials must wear a tie around their necks?” I was silently staring at his mouth, wanting to know the news. He raised his voice and smiled, taking us to the past.
“To find out the progress of Buttala village development programme “Gam Udava”, President Premadasa took me on a trip to Buttala in 1992. At the village development work site, a man with a messy shirt and pants and wearing a set of rubber sandals explained the progress. After listening to his explanation, the President said to that person, “It’s okay “Bass Unnahaya”, the rest of the work needs to be finished soon.” When we got into the vehicle, I said to the President, “Mr. President, it was not Bass Unnahaya who told you the details about the construction of the village, but the AGA of this area…”
At that moment, Mr. Premadasa called his secretary through a long distance and told him to take necessary steps to issue a circular stating that all government officials at the executive level should dress in an orderly fashion and must wear a tie…”
As the Minister of Culture, he dedicated himself to uplifting the dying customs and values of the local culture. He planned an admirable project to reprint ancient Sinhala literary works. Thus, many books such as Subhashitaya, Lokopakaraya, Amavathura, Vadan Kavi Potha, and Sakaskadaya have been made available for the reference of students. Prof. Senarath Paranavithana Chapireen translated Sigiri songs written in English into Sinhala language and made them available to Sinhala readers. He showed special interest in observing the hidden information about Sigiriya. The Mystique of Sigiriya, the two Sinhala and English works, are written by him as a result of it.
He was also the first to publish a series of biographical books of national heroes, which were important for the character development of children. A discussion in which the whole wisdom of him about Buddhism is evident. He, as the Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province from 2010 to 2015, implemented a sustainable program for the conservation of ancient sites in that province under the auspices of the Department of Archaeology.
Vijamu Lokubandara Champions, who performed such a great mission for the country, passed away on February 14, 2021, at the age of 79 due to complications from Covid while receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Control Hospital.
The death of Mr. Vijamu Lokubandara.
Former Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara (හිටපු කතානායක විජමු ලොකුබණ්ඩාර මහතා) | විශේෂ වැඩසටහන | 2021-02-15
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1322473674788826
On the occasion of his 83rd birth anniversary, remembering the great national mission he accomplished with great gratitude, we all wish him eternal rest.
Dr. Gamini Kariyawasam.
