"Sarupa didn't open an eye and look at a boy -- was chosen to Medical Faculty in Peradeniya, but didn't go ... because of me -- even after getting American citizenship ... didn't go!" -- Chathura Senaratna

"Sarupa didn't open an eye and look at a boy -- was chosen to Medical Faculty in Peradeniya, but didn't go ... because of me -- even after getting American citizenship ... didn't go!" -- Chathura Senaratna

The speech by Chathura addressing the large crowd that graced the wedding celebrations of Chathura Senaratna, son of minister Rajitha at Araliya Gaha Mandiraya yesterday by now has attracted a dialogue in the social media. Seen below is Chathura's full speech.

"This Chathura Senaratna is this Rajitha Senaratna's son. Now our romance and our lives go back 11 years. But from today we are opening a new page in our lives. So, I bow down to my father and mother and offer my respect for having taught me love, affection and the bond for life. In the same way, it's Sarupa's mother that I have seen. Minus her husband, this lady sat at every private tuition
class that Sarupa attended. Those days the brother was my best friend. We used to joke saying that this was the only girl in Sri Lanka who would not open an eye to look at a boy. I was indeed fortunate enough to get her as my wife. After that, I too was protected in the same way. 

I also was in front of the university for six months and that was not to offer protection from boys ... because she had said that she doesn't want to go to university. There's a reason for it. After being chosen to Peradeniya University, at the request of Rathana Thero who blessed us not to abandon me ... she sacrificed all that and sacrificed even the medical degree and decided to stick to me. 

The mother and members of the whole family are living in America for a number of generations. Both these two obtained American citizenship and this is a daughter who gave it up when the mother was travelling all alone. The then American Ambassador when handing over the rejection letter told me that 'in my entire diplomatic service of thirty one years, this was the only person who rejected American citizenship'. It was because both of us wanted one and the same thing. That was to change the country. On behalf of that we fought by sacrificing our lives and by going beyond our personal selves and beyond selfishness and towards a sense of altruism. 

I fought on many a platform and achieved a victory on a number of occasions. We faced many difficulties and suffering too. So, I wish to thank my father and my mother who were exemplary characters in moulding my life through thick and thin and experienced politics without being a student of politics; having had to face all those impediments and once again I offer my wholehearted thanks to Sarupa's mother. 

In the same way this wedding here is indeed a landmark in the history of this country. If one was to make a count here ... there's actually less than twenty people who are my relations. But I wish to tell with pride that in the case of a wedding of a normal politician or a wedding of an MP's child ... what one finds is that the hall is full with businessmen. But I challenge you ... if you could point your finger and show me a single businessman in this hall ... then I will give up my position as member of parliament ... tomorrow. 

All of you here are those who expended their labour, wealth, time as well as tears and sweat for many years on behalf of our objectives, our campaigns of battle, our civil projects. Today a certain person came and handed me a letter as a gift ... Mrs. Susila Wattegama of Sri Lanka Mahajana Party, Ladies' Association. A letter I wrote to her son when he was about to travel overseas. That letter says how we should engage in Politics ... from the view of a small child. 

So, because of that, irrespective of discrimination of whatever party, all of them have been with us every day in the manner that I invited them to do. So for having given this place for all those things ... when I got my auspicious time, there was no hall for me to hold this function. At that moment ... I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremasingha for having made available this hall. In the same way sometime before this we joined in at Ruwanweli Seya. I thank wholeheartedly the Honourable President Mr. Mathripala Sirisena for having left aside all his work and joined in with us. He spoke even this morning and asked me to go to Janadhipathi Mandiraya and take all necessary photographs. So while coming back we took some photographs there. So like that, leaders and everybody who love us have attended this wedding ... irrespective of the party ... all MPs and ministers ... all MPs and ministers who represent parties in the North including TNA ... both of us wish to offer our gracious thanks to all of them. 

In the same way, over a thousand people representing all seats in Gampaha district are here today. I fell really proud ... there is no record in history where an MP celebrated a wedding in the company of his 'brothers' of his electorate. That I started today. In the same way ... all MPs including organisers of the democratic national campaign are here today. That day ... on January 8th we fought a battle with death. Just as much as joining hands with us in that battle, they have become a shadow behind me on this happy occasion. I thank all of them.

I wish to offer my gratitude with my whole heart to everybody for that co-operation, being connected with us all throughout our life. Likewise, the extra special honour which could be bestowed in most instances for an average person with money ... I was able to earn through love. Therefore, I convey my most heartfelt thanks to the great service rendered by all my 'brothers' from the democratic national campaign, artistic, cultural and the creative unit from the place of this poruwa and from that place where meals are taken upto to that place where they are seated for all these creations by dedicating their labour and manpower on my behalf. In the same way I wish to mention that I owe a debt throughout my life to all of them. 

Therefore, they gave me the necessary support from the day the decision for this wedding began ... every 'brother'  scattered around Sri Lanka and is overseas for having dedicated themselves more than me. Those 'brothers' of mine ... 'brothers' who studied with me at Ananda College inclusive of those connected to our civil campaign gave me the necessary support to create an absolutely different kind of invitation card and other things even being outside this country. 

On the day my father became the Minister for Lands I accompanied him to meet former President Mr. D.B. Wijetunga. It was Minister of Lands and the only Minister Rajitha Senaratna who went to thank that President that moment on December 8th, 2001. Then he told that President, "when everybody were accompanying the Prime Minister to the Gangarama temple for a poojawa, it is Chathura who told me to first of all let's go and thank Mr. D.B. Wijetunga who elected you to the parliament". He in any case lived a life of freedom and that connection which so developed became a matter of great affection. He promised to speak to me daily. When speaking, one thing that he said was, "don't go behind money ... that journey will one day end up in politics. Cultivate people". As such. I earned people. Today those people are with me and they stand by me at any moment of necessity. Therefore, I bow down to all of them and I honour and respect all of them who came here representing 25 districts to join hands with us to make this a memorable      

moment of eternal love of both of us. And now I will end our story of love with one word -- it's a fearless love story. Thank you!"