Sunday Times 2
Remembering Sir Lalita Rajapakse, LLD, QC
Forty five years ago, in May, Sir Lalita passed away in his residence in Horton Place Colombo 7,a property devolved from his mother’s mother, who built and presented to the Sasana Abeysingharamaya in Kolonnawa.
Born in 1900, under a lucky star, in Galmangoda Maha Walauwa to an “old family” rooted in the South, he was a direct descendant of Maha Mudliyar Louis de Zoysa, the famous scholar who deciphered ancient rock inscriptions.
Sir Lalita was an Anandian as a child, and developed in to a well rounded student at St Joseph’s College, Darley Rd when Fr Le Goc was Rector. He excelled both in studies and sports, playing cricket for the college and winning most of the athletic events. It was here that the foreign Rev Fathers inculcated in him to attain every goal he set himself, with perseverance and energy.
He set sail to England at age 20 to read for the LLB at the London University. Eventually, at the tender age of 25, he obtained the LLD, to become the first and youngest (still) Doctor of Laws of Sri Lanka. He also became a Barrister from Lincolns Inn. His portrait has been unveiled both at the university and the Inn.
On his return in 1926, out of patriotic zeal, he legally changed his original names of Louis Alexander to Lalita Abaya and began a successful practice in the Appeal Court. His contemporaries were H V Perera QC, N E Weerasuriya QC, M T De S Amarasekera QC and Francis Zoysa QC. Sir Lalita also lectured at Law College. Being the first Sri Lankan to obtain the LLD, a beautiful portrait of his in the crimson robes of a Doctor of Laws, hangs in the premises. The largest cash prize to a student at the Annual Prize giving is awarded in his memory.
By 1935 he had built a school named Revatha on his lands in his birth village Welitara in Balapitiya, and began managing it out of his personal wealth, when free education was not yet available in the country. Today it is a Maha Vidyalaya with more than 3000 students, producing highly educated professionals and well placed individuals, who adorn and contribute to the wellbeing of our motherland. Every morning, the students sing a verse composed by a former Principal wishing Sir Lalita the bliss of Nibbana. A statue of him has been donated to the school by the grateful past pupils.
At this time, he donated a 10 acre block of land belonging to him in scenic Okadawatte, for the Government to set up a Teacher Training College. For the moral upliftment of the community he set up a branch of the YMBA in Balapitiya, around the same time. He thus believed, that he had done what he could to enhance the lives of the people of the area. Sir Lalita always attended to the needs of the temple his father’s mother built, just behind the Walauwa. It is today a beneficiary of the Cultural Triangle.
In 1944, because of his outstanding practice, Sir Lalita was conferred Silk, i.e. made a Kings Counsel, which after the death of King George VI was renamed Queen’s Counsel (QC). By 1948, on the invitation of Rt Hon D S Senanayake he became the first Minister of Justice of Independent Ceylon. It was then that he handed over Revatha Vidyalaya to the Government. At this time, he was the Leader of the Senate. In the same year, he was appointed to the seven-member Flag Committee to design the new National Flag.
Dr. L A Rajapakse, as he was then known, opened many courts in the outstations. The exciting issue of his tenure was the “Battle of the Shifting of Courts from Hulftsdorp”, because of a useless objection brought about by the Private Bar, which really had no say in the matter. The two Prime Ministers under whom Dr. Rajapakse served (DS and Dudley) did not give into the pressure of the Private Bar (with its personal agenda of having an unfair lucrative practice), but backed their Justice Minister. It was after Dudley gave up the reins to Sir John Kothalawala, and the appointment of a new Justice Minister, that the Private Bar was able to have its way.
He was knighted after he successfully led a delegation of the Colombo Plan to Australia. By then there was already a Knight in his extended family; Sir Frank Gunasekera, Physician to the Governor General. After Sir Lalita, another relative received a Knighthood – Sir Cyril de Zoysa of Kalutara Bodhi fame.
All three of his brothers-in-law shone in their chosen professions. He was happy that his only son, became a Barrister from his own Inn and obtained the LLB from his own university. Had he lived, he would have rejoiced that his son-in-law, excelling as a defence Lawyer in the criminal field, was conferred Silk (President’s Counsel) by J R Jayewardene in 1988.
In the 1960s he was appointed, Ambassador to France. Thereafter, as High Commissioner to the UK. Though of high education and intelligence, and coupled with vast experience, he never took snap decisions. Sir Lalita consulted all officials relevant to a problem before arriving at a solution. This was greatly appreciated by everyone at the Chancery. In the late 60s, he was unanimously elected President of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress. His thoughtfully crafted annual speeches were made into booklets by the Committee, and distributed to enhance the lifestyle of the readers.
He was the only lay person in both Senates of the Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara Pirivenas, his advice sought after by the erudite Vice Chancellor monks.
Sir Lalita enjoyed a private life with his wife and family, and his nieces and nephews in his Estate where he had some exotic pets headed by two elephants. A bath at the well was a must there for his visitors, even the foreigners! It was the same when he stayed at his Walauwa, with a trip on the Madu Ganga being the additional highlight. During Sinhala New Year, villagers were entertained by him on the Walauwa grounds, partaking of traditional food, and competitive games. Off season, he would delight in a long vacation in his bungalow and well maintained garden in Nuwara Eliya, always taking along a few relatives with his family, to add to the pleasure.
His was a well-rounded life, bringing fame to himself and country. A good Buddhist and a philanthropist whose deeds uplifted the needy. A teetotaler, and a family man devoid of vices. An affectionate son and dutiful brother. A gentleman of sartorial elegance and excellent manners. A Trust created in his name handles exclusively Charitable Endowments.
But bad karma also affected his life. For about seven years before his death, Sir Lalita suffered from Parkinson’s – a disease which debilitated his nervous system. Although medically treated, gradually he deteriorated both mentally and physically, with bouts of depression plaguing him.
With Sir Lalita’s demise on the night of May 26, 1976, a noble life with many facets to be admired and emulated, passed away from our midst.
V Gunasekera