"I have cancer ... father didn't inquire" -- Jayantha Ratnayaka

"I have cancer ... father didn't inquire" -- Jayantha Ratnayaka

It is with sadness that we have had to report that reputed singer Victor Ratnayaka's eldest son Jayantha Ratnayaka is ailing with a cancer. Due to this condition artistes have got together recently and have organised a concert in aid of him. Jayantha's father, Victor was not present for this concert. Jayantha has told a weekend newspaper that his father has not even given him a call and inquired about his health and that the

crowd who graced the concert not because of his father but because of him.

This is what he said when questioned about this topic: "The first surgery relevant to this cancer condition was carried out last July. Now I take medicine regularly. Two days every fortnight I have to get myself warded in hospital and get my treatment ... I have not mentally broken down as such. I take my medicine in time and am fit. 

* There was a concert on your behalf recently. Wasn't it a great strength     to you?

   As you know I provide music for weddings, parties and the kind. In the process when talking about my sickness, Mahendra Pasqual, Gayanath Dahanayaka, Niranjala Manjali and the crowd have discussed about holding a concert on my behalf. This concert has been organised with Manjali having got together with Lokka and after speaking to Lelum also. They did this kind of thing to strengthen me. It was Lelum malli who in fact has given telephone calls to whoever he knew saying that 'this should not be done in a light manner ... let's do it in a grand scale'. 

Last 7th, the relevant artistes turned up for the concert without charging a cent as such. The concert incidentally was held at my school D.S. Senanayaka College. The hall where the concert was held was given free. For Lelu's phone calls many persons came to the concert because of the affection they had for me. I just couldn't believe that I was so much loved. 

* Such a big crowd ... haven't you earned so many people, isn't it?

   I used to know know people in this field from the time I was seven, eight. From my small days ... everybody who are veterans and the new are aware of my behavioural pattern. That day Mr. Sunil Ariyaratna was present and he made a speech about me. From that speech he delivered ... I couldn't think that I was such a valued person. Everybody knows the manner in which I work. I couldn't believe when Latha Walpola, Sunil Perera, Rohana Weerasingha and a large crowd of others came on my behalf. I am not a person who has tarnished my name. I have no misunderstandings with with anybody in the field. I am not a big man, so to say. It was not because I was a the son of a particular person that they came for the concert. Actually a lot of people came because of my human qualities. Really that too was a strength and felt a mental boost to me.

* So, you have many people in the artistic field near you at your most essential hour, isn't it?

  Yes. Even when I have to be hospitalised once a fortnight ... comrades of my band stay by my side. Just as much as those in the music field ... those in the field of performing arts too are affectionate to me. Everyone is with me because I lived a decent life without doing harm to anybody. I reap good results for having lived a good life. My mental strength increased by two hundred per cent. 

* Aren't there those who deserted you at the time you wanted them most, isn't it?

   If I have helped someone ... I have never expected anything in return. But then I had those who helped me more than I expected. I realised how many people are there with humanistic qualities. When I feel their love ... tears come to my eyes ... I feel a difficulty to breathe. At a time when I do not get a call from my father ... I feel the love of those in my field even more. 

* Doesn't those in your family inquire about you a lot?

  My wife and daughter look after me very well. Son of course is studying overseas. Those on my wife's side, those on my malli Lelu's side and those on my nangi's side help me a lot. 

* Because of your ailing condition ... you have not stopped your music activities ... haven't you?

   No. I attend wedding functions, festivals which I have undertaken. On days that I have to get hospitalised and when I have to perform ... I direct someone else there. I have not become weak. I can engage in singing activities. 

* You may have something to tell those who love you!

   What I realised at the time I fell sick was that we do not take power, wealth or any such thing for that matter ... we take only humanistic qualities and good deeds. So tell everybody to do good ... that nothing will go wrong any day".

Notes on discussion -- Thilini Wijeysingha