Secretary, Ministry of Plantation Industries and back to the PM's office as Secretary

Soon after the 1977 elections President J R Jayewardene's secretary, Menikdiwela who had been my assistant in the Dudley Senanayake administration telephoned to say that he wanted to see me at his office at Republic Square about a new position in the government.

- Bradman Weerakoon

I had kept my links with 'Meniks' during my seven year exile. He was a man of strong attachments and a committed fighter for a cause. I was very touched to see him wish me farewell on the platform of the Fort railway station the evening in 1970 when Damayanthi and I took the lonely train to Batticaloa to begin our posting in Ampara. He and another of my former colleagues were the only ones who had taken the trouble to do so.

We discussed the possibility of my having to break my contract with the IPPF. That evening I discussed the question of whether I should stay with the IPPF or come back to government with Damayanthi and Esala. Esala was most forthright in saying that my place was with government, and if I was wanted, I should go back.

J R was all smiles when I met him. He had been informed by Meniks that I was prepared to chuck up the regional directorship and come in as a permanent secretary in his administration. He made an offer of one of the four positions. He inquired which I would like best. The options were defence, public administration, plantation industries and agriculture. I thought for a while and said that the only one of the subjects I really knew anything about was public administration, which was coupled with home affairs at the time, and said I might be able to do something worthwhile there. About defence, I certainly didn't want to take that, because I would find it very difficult to suggest that the government go to war at any time against anybody.

J R countered with asking whether I knew anything about plantation industries. I ruefully said 'no', that my only acquaintance with tea, was spending delightful holidays with my younger brother Peter, who was a planter upcountry. J R then surprised me by saying, "Aha! then that is exactly what you must do plantation industries."