UDDIKA AWARD WINNING ACTOR,VOCALIST ,MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WITH A UNIQUE VISION FOR A FRESH EPOCH – By Sunil Thenabadu
UDDIKA PREMARATHNA born on 16th September in year 1980 to his parents ,father had been employed in the health sector recollected his era at Padaviya hospital while mother was a housewife educated at St.Joseph’s College Anuradhapura, had excelled as a cadet had won the award for best sergeant in schools at his age of eighteen years in year 1998, renowned actor in cinema and tele drama , a television host of a reality contest ,an acclaimed vocalist. Uddika recalls he is not a successful television presenter had been in the three judge panel at ‘Hiru Mega Star’ at the recommendation of teledrama and film assistant Director Nirendra Deshapriya , Viraj Weliwatta, a top executive at Hiru TV .The gruelling contest was live for a period of one and a half hours daily using modern technology voting via an app, the contestant is not seen to the panel , which Uddika admits with two others in the judge panel was successfully adjudicated. Uddika has confessed that if he is invited to another reality contest with enhanced technology only he will accept to be in the panel.
Uddika confesses his career profession is acting absolutely not as a member of parliament, since 20th August 2020 having polled 133,550 preferential votes who does not aim to be a VIP. Uddika is married to Anusha Kumari Pannala has a son Angsh Prachien born on 24th April 2013. Uddika had commenced acting in several films and tele dramas from year 2005 some of most popular are in ’Mahindagamanaya’,’Hopalu Arana’ in year 2013,’Samanala Sandhawaniya’, ‘Duwana Muwan’ in year 2014 ‘Maharaja Gemunu’, ‘Duwana Muwan’, in year 2015.” Paththini’ in year 2016, In year 2017 in ‘Samath’ and ‘Aloka Udapadi’, ‘ Minigandela,’ ’Midunu Vishwaya’ and ‘Rush’ in year 2019,’Hopalu Arana ‘ in year 2013, ‘Butterfly Symphony’ ,a drama with musical and romance. ‘Para Dige’ in 2021 and ‘Midunu Vishwaya’ in year 2023.Uddika in television dialog was full of praise to film director Jayantha Chandrasiri for his contribution to the cinema. Uddika next film will be that of Jayantha Chandrasiri but Uddika has huge plans to produce a film directed by himself to take Sri Lanka to the world which many had not achieved so far but it will only be after his plans to change the present parliamentary system which needs a revolutionary innovative change.
Uddika never attends to funeral houses in Anuradhapura district like what other M.P’s do anticipating preferential votes for the next election, only to those known to him well .Uddika usually never adheres to low strategic tactics like other members of parliament. But attends to small functions like erecting a road name board ,meetings and where it is extremely necessary to patronise. He was under the sense that Gotabhaya was a visionary leader by the work he had done to the country by beautifying, not allowing to smoke on roads etc during his tenure at the UDA. But he was a complete failure in his accomplishments since appointed President which were at a very low ebb
Uddika represents two diverse fields, to one he receives huge accolades and appreciation from varied audiences , the other no such reception as a people’s representative in the parliament elected from the Anuradhapura district. Uddika prefers him be called by his name given by his mother not as ‘manthree thuma’.He is a person who works relentlessly towards an anticipated target which hitherto not endeavoured by previous politicians. Uddika comes to Colombo to join the ‘Horizon ‘ band as the principal soloist. The group had won the award for the best group which had felt Uddika very elated. Uddika also had featured in musuc videos initially in songs of Chamika. During his tenure in his early married life he recollects as extremely tedious and very stressful a he had to come to Colombo to rehearse in the ‘Horizon’ musical band from Anuradhapura and return home by catching a bus from Polgahawela after been dropped by the band van after the concert as his wife was all alone .It had been invariably standing and falling asleep in the bus.For Uddika then it was bearable as had been brought up with sufferings trying to survive.The following day too Uddika it was a routine. Many people in Anuradhapura district are used to such torments.
Then he gets opportunity to act as an actor without any hereditary affiliations. He is a person like others wishes to always elevate from his current position to a slightly taller location from whatever profession. The opportunities that come need to be exploited to the maximum should endeavour to explore more avenues by deviating from them to figure a personality for oneself. During this journey during a short period Uddika was voted as the most popular actor winning many other awards having commenced his acting career in year 2005 initially been nominated on several occasions at award ceremonies for awards, replicating vivid characters . Uddika has confessed that he never dreamt of becoming the best or the most popular acter believe he may have been merited to receive them. Uddika always had endeavoured to preform to the best of his ability not withstanding the fact he wins awards or not. Uddika has innate talent as a vocalist has been acclaimed as a vocalist too.When he submitted his nomination papers for the general election many fans and supporters had objected saying why you are going to the ‘vama wala’ .But to date he has not made any harm or injury to his position as a back bencher in the parliament as a member of Wimal Weerawansa’s leftist party, having made a few explosive speeches boldly saying he is now an independent member in the parliament. The contents of his few speeches had contained very vital information targeting some senior ministers had been well received and applauded by a majority. He confesses that his followers would very soon realize what his future plans are as he thinks in a very dissimilar mode. For changes he believes it is extremely difficult as our political system cannot be changed overnight which has remained static for decades.According to Uddika we have no established system in the parliament unlike in the developed countries. He believes that from such speeches satisfying the audiences is not his target but to make appropriate strategies , monitoring them for the advancement of the country. Uddika is against the politicians who stick on for ages doing nothing, hence need to have a proper structure to allow the nest generation to come in and perform with change in strategies according to the dire desires of the citizens, as the country should prosper with time which has not happened to date. It has revealed what had prompted Uddika to come in to politics after listening to a television confession of Minister Wimal Weerawansa who had shed tears while speaking on the Easter terrorist catastrophe when Uddika had called him had unanimously decided to come to politics contesting under the ‘Jathika Nidahas Peramuna’ label. At a meeting subsequently had lamented that he needed to address the dire wants of the people in Anuradhapura district like farming, water, kidney deceases, unemployment issues of youth more importantly children’s education. After two years in parliament Uddika has written to all the related authorities in order to obtain redress to all concerned. Each Member of Parliament are allocated from the decentralised budget a certain amount of money which he distributes among the people according to their needs after a appropriate scrutiny. According to Uddika in a country with so many burning issues like in Anuradhapura giving a small amount of money to make a culvert, to display a name board, for medical attention are scarcely sufficient . In an initial sitting in the parliament Uddika had brought edible ‘bada irungu’ for all two hundred and twenty five to eat and suggested this could be substituted for ‘lentils’ ( parippu) and also so many other biproducts could be made out from them but surprised as to why we are not starting projects like that.
Uddika concurrently had pioneered on an agricultural farming project on television in order to make modern farmers, using modern equipment how to prepare for ‘yala’, ‘maha’ seasons. Though Uddika had taken these proposals to senior politicians they were unwilling to pursue this proposed lucrative program. It has been voiced by Uddika that he had invited the then President, agriculturists and over thirty professors to a seminar and workshop in Anuradhapura but regrets was unable to take it off the blocks Uddika contemplates that these were not implemented as the junior politician would be highlighted , could get marks and prominence over the senior politicians. This is what Uddika believes could be made via new system thinking differently be established. These practices are implemented by many developed countries which have unfortunately deprived to our society which needs a paradise shift. A strategic plan titled ‘piripun’ is under preparation to which people could agree, disagree or add proposals and pinpoint shortcomings. Uddika with the assistance of knowledgeable personnel are formulating a manifesto . Any person could argue ,show discrepancies and add any suggestions to uplift living standards from all walks of people to make this venture a resounding success. The initiative of Uddika should be hailed and appreciated to tall elevations as he and his group are endeavouring to commence a new leaf to all people via a modern ideally suited parliament manifesto to make a system change which is currently a dire requirement.
All citizens in Sri Lanka could keep hopes on Uddika’s strategy to change our parliamentary system which is now obsolete and redundant.
Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane
e mail sthenabadu@hotmail.com
whatsapp 0061444533242
