ROHITHA RAJAPAKSA SPEAKS

“The Rajapaksa family is not a family as many think.
If truth is spoken we do not possess our own house or vehicles
From our small days we were living at government expense

Thaththa comes to the ‘Gym’ with us
He loves to stay young and to be admired that way and it to be said

I am only 23 years old, will get married after I am 30 years old”

    -ROHITHA RAJAPAKSA

On coming 22nd Thursday at 6.13 p.m the first communication satellite belonging to Sri Lanka will be released to space from China. The main person instrumental behind this historic occasion is none other than President’s youngest son Rohitha Rajapaksa.
About this experience of his, his studies in astronomy, about family details and marriage Rohitha Rajapaksa was interviewed by a journalist of the Lankadeepa newspaper. Some of the excerpts of the interview which appears in Sunday’s Lankadeepa are appended below.

What is going to take place in regard to this historical event Rohitha Rajapasa had explained as.........
This space satellite is named as “SUPREME SAT 1”This space satellite was designed by him and it is joint collaboration of a Sri Lankan company with a Chinese company. Since Sri Lankan company had made the major contribution in funds he had named it “Supreme sat 1”.
He had been in overall charge of its manufacture and many other details. 
An Administrative controlling tower which is needed is been constructed at Pallekelle. After its completion Sri Lanka would taken the administrative activities in the year 2013.In the year 2015 all connections and coordinating activities with China will end. The Sri Lanka would be in a position to connect with foreign countries in regard to Satellite facilities. This will help our country to earn a lot of foreign revenue. There is bound to be big demand in this connection. His ambition is to be Sri Lanka’s first astronaut. He had just turned 23 years and his ambition is to become the most qualified youngest astronaut in the world.

Are you a person doing different things?
“From our younger days we were thought and advised to live strictly according to our culture and religion. If the Rajapaksa generation is perused it will prove that all of them had lived according to our culture and religion. My two elder brothers and I have never tasted any type of liquor. From our younger days we have had ‘daham pasel’ education. I thought Buddhism to students at the Lyceum International School in Nugegoda, also to students at the Gangarama temple. I am a person who loves sports. While in school at S.Thomas’ College I was the youngest player to have captained the College rugby team. After completion of my G.C.E (Ord level0 I completed within just three months London (Advanced Level) in maths. I am a person who wants to do everything differently. Buddhism is somewhat a scientific subject. I thought Buddhism in a different manner.”

What are your hobbies?
What I do at home as hobbies is playing TV games. I cannot stay at one place and on one subject for more than 10 minutes. Then I go out and play some other game. I want to be active all the time. I do not consume liquor. I want to keep my body in good shape. While at home most of the time I am engaged in sports.

The rapport you maintain at home?
If I speak in a simple and common way the links and bonds between the family members are very close.  We all get up early and go to the ‘gym’ at 6 a.m. There we get the time to speak with each other. I always move closely within the family. Like our links in the family the links in the government are also closely knit. These close links become very advantageous. Otherwise it is bound to collapse. Ours is a family corporation.
With father we are like friends. Father too joins when we play. He too comes to the ‘gym’. Father loves to remain young and to look younger. When we carry heavy weights he too wants to imitate us even with difficulty. We support him to the maximum, in his efforts and endeavours. Because of the political environment we cannot go on trips together. All what we could do at home is to be in unity at home. We all have to at home during meal times. It is compulsory. That is the way in our family.
We have a lot of good faithful friends who come home frequently. They stay at our home just like us. They have meals with us. About 20 are present for meals. We have to queue up for meals. Today we are in power but the friends would be there when we are not in power also .We have confidence and faith in them. They live with us in that manner.

Are there any stories involving girl friends?
From our small days it was very difficult to have freedom in the outside environment. We cannot even walk 10 feet with a girl. Then rumours would spread that we are friendly with this one or the other. For us there is no difference between boys and girls as friends. There are a set of girls and boys who visit us. Our parents never discriminate them.

About Marriage?
If I tell about my marriage I must tell that I have already planned my future. That will not happen soon or in the near future. I cannot get married until I am stable in my profession. It is true that my father is the President in the country. My mother is person with a strong will power. My elder brothers too have strong will powers. Without money I just cannot think of marriage. We do not possess personal assets. We do not own a house and vehicles. It is always government assets and vehicles we depended upon from my younger days. When I need money I borrow from friends.” Machang give me some money I request”. It is not the way people think about the Rajapaksa family.
My father’s advice is not to borrow from anyone. His advice is to earn by ourselves. My only profession is teaching. That is also not for monetary gains. I need to get a doctorate. After qualifying myself and completing my studies I will get married. That would be after I have reached 30 years.”

Excerpts from the Sunday’s newspaper article after an interview with a journalist Prasanna Sanjeewa Tennakoon of Lankadeepa.