Gamini the visionary

Gamini Dissanayake, a visionary leader, passed away 32 years ago. When he was the Minister of Lands & Mahaweli Development, he appointed the reporter as Chairman of the Land Reclamation & Development Corporation. The Corporation faced liquidity problems at the time, but they managed to overcome them by reclaiming valuable marshy land through a public auction.

One of Gamini's notable contributions was his concern about the scarcity of land in Colombo and its escalating prices. He directed his officials to coordinate a program for the disposal and development of additional lands, including allocating blocks for housing to the Judiciary. Land for housing was also made available to professionals and other economically important segments.

Gamini's success extended beyond his role as President of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. He identified the need for professional cricketers to possess mental toughness and a killer instinct, which were lacking in the national team. He worked with Dr. Rudy Webster, a friend and colleague of Sir Garfield Sobers, to address this issue. Webster's motivational talks and interactions with the team led to Sri Lanka's subsequent success in cricket.

Gamini's people-management skills, excellent communication, and ability to concentrate under pressure made him an effective team builder and motivator. His ability to see things from different perspectives allowed him to generate energy and enthusiasm, attracting others to follow his path. He rewarded generously and made his team members feel important and worthwhile.

As the President of the Lanka Jathika Estate Worker’s Union, Gamini prioritized the welfare of plantation workers. He appointed him as the Union’s Treasurer and worked towards improving their relationship with estate management. Gamini brought the LJEWU to a high level of membership and activity, worked towards equalizing wages for male and female workers, and emphasized worker education and knowledge spread in the plantation sector.