The simple guy who hijacked a 747 Sepala Ekanayaka

For the love of his son and wife, without a second thought he hijacked an airplane, creating history by being the first Sri Lankan to do so in 1982. Sepala Ekanayaka, who would be turning 65 years soon, broke his silence after three decades. In an interview with , he recalled the fateful incident 32 years ago and revealed some hitherto unknown facts.

Q Let’s start with your childhood.  Tell us about your family and siblings.
I was born in Matara, Koratota in June 1949. I am the second in the family. I have a brother and a sister. My mother died when I was small. So it was my father who looked after the family. My brother is a teacher now and my sister is a housewife. I studied at Hambanthota Yodhakandiya Maha Vidyalaya up to the GCE Ordinary Level Examination. After that I attended an English Course which was conducted in Matara.

Q What made you move     out of the country? Were there any social reasons for it?
Well not a special reason. It is just that during that period there were political uncertainties in the country. And many youth were engaged in various political activities which I had no interest in. I had a very good friend whom I lost contact with. I was worried about him and then got to know that he lived in Germany and was doing well. Unlike today the only way of communication was letters. So I wrote to him and then he said that if I also came there I could make a good living. So with the help of that friend I went to Germany in 1971.
Q How was life in Germany? And tell us about Anna, your first wife.
Life in Germany was good. I earned and travelled a lot. I made a lot of friends there. Whenever we have leisure time we would travel to other countries. Till the money was over we would travel. As I told you we met many people through friends. Of course I had a few love affairs. I met Anna also through some friends. I can not exactly recall where we met.  We got married there.
Q What made you move to Italy? Were you an illegal immigrant?
No. I had a visa - there was no issue with regard to visas. It is just that Italy is a wonderful country and I made quite a good income there.  No other special reason brought me to Italy.
Q According to the records you did not have a valid visa to stay in Italy. You were advised to stay six years in Sri Lanka?
During that period immigrants like us had a document given to a department which is connected to the Police. After some time there was an issue with regard to that document. The office said they did not have it and neither did I. There was some confusion over it so I had to come back to Sri Lanka. For a period of time I had to travel back and forth to Sri Lanka and to Italy in order to renew the visa. This was quite a torture to me.
Q  Let us move in to the historical incident. Can you tell us what exactly you brought into the Alitalia Boeing 747?
As the reports which have published yes, I got into the Alitalia Boeing 747. My demand was to bring my wife and son to the Bangkok Airport and 300,000 US dollars in cash. I did bring in some chemicals in to the plane. And there were some who helped me . I got the technology to make the explosives through an acquaintance.I spent almost two weeks in preparation

Q  How did you take them? Did you actually intend to blast the aircraft?
As I told you there were certain individuals who helped me. I did not have all the explosives with me at the time I entered the aircraft. They were merely chemicals and some other substances when mixed together, can create an explosion. However those days the security checks were not as advanced as today. Without any problem I was able to take these in because of that. During that moment my only desire was to get my family. I was young and restless.  I was willing to do anything for the sake of my family and especially for my son Free.
Q Do you have contacts with Anna and your son Free?
  I did not have contacts with Anna after the divorce. But I had continual contacts with Free. He came to Sri Lanka in 1998 when he was 19 years old. From that time onwards he has been visiting from us time to time.  Free has a fiancée who is a Moroccan national. Probably he will be getting married soon.”
Lots of people are curious to know what happened to Anna and some even ask whether my present family and I have any contact with her. There are many who sympathise with her but there is something they do not know about. I signed the divorce papers while I was in the prison. Along with the divorce papers she sent me a letter stating that from that point onwards the connections between us were severed.  But later, after few years she again sent me a letter asking for money. For that I replied by attaching the letter she sent.  After that I do not know about her. Free lives in a separate city - not with her.

Q How was your first reunion with Free?
In 1998 Free decided to come and see me. Since we had not seen each other after his birth I wondered how we would recognise each other. On the day of his arrival I went to the airport along with my family. A young man walked passing me. He patted me to ask something. The moment I turned he saw me and hugged me tight. He told me that he recognised that I was his father the moment he saw my moustache.
Q Tell us about your present family
 I married again in 1990, to Yasangani Madupali who is an English teacher. We have two children - a son and a daughter named Wirama and Sally. Both of them are doing their higher studies abroad.
Q  All your children have uncommon names. Any special reason behind that?
Not at all. I named my first child “Free” because while Anna was in hospital I was in the library at the same hospital reading about a world famous rugby team. They survived by eating the flesh of their own mates in order to survive. Throughout the story the words “free”, “freedom” had been used. By the time I finished reading Anna had given birth to a baby boy and I was given a set of forms by the hospital authorities. Since I had thoughts about freedom I named him Free.

My second son Wirama’s name was also due to a similar situation. While Yasanganee was in hospital I had to attend to some work in a Government office. There was a board stating that the officer was not available and will be back soon. But I had to stay more than an hour. It was ironical that the statement that he would be back soon meant more than an hour. So by the time I returned to the hospital my second son was born and I named him “Wirama” which means a short break.

My daughter Sally was named after the great musician John Lennon’s pet that was very loyal and intelligent. But I must say that all these names were not planned. It’s just that they coincidentally came into my mind and most importantly easy to pronounce.

Q At a later stage you joined politics. Tell us about your political life - and what is your stance now?
  Yes I engaged in politics during the period of Chandrika Bandaranaike’s government. But later I resigned because I lacked interest. Even now I am not much interested in politics although I have received invitations from some of the main parties to contest, as I have no interest. Politics is something I would refrain from.
Q Ekanayaka Vs AG is a known case not only locally but also internationally. But later you again appeared in the media for filing a case. What is that?
That is against a private school in Colombo which my two children attended. They were faced with certain injustices and therefore I went to courts. Since there is an ongoing court case I should not comment on that.

Q  You wrote books during the period you were at Welikada Prison. Also, you published a book named “Uta saha Thota.” Any plans to publish any new books?
In order to relax my mind I engaged in writing and did some stage dramas. After I came out of prison I did not take part in any dramas as I believe I am not a dramatist.  But I engaged in writing. I published “Uta saha Thota” a collection of stories I wrote for a newspaper. After that I did not publish books but I engaged myself in translating a book which was not published.
Q  If you get an invitation to join active politics would you join?
Definitely a No. I prefer a serene, low-profiled life. I do not want any complications.
Q  Have you travelled after the incident in 1982? Wasn’t there any travel ban for you?
 I travelled for the first time after 1982 in 2010 as Wirama was studying in Germany. I went to Italy as well.
Q How do you feel about life in Sri Lanka compared to living abroad?
This indeed is a land like no other. I love every part of Sri Lanka. When I was young I used to travel a lot and I have travelled to more than sixty countries. But nothing stole my heart apart from Sri Lanka. But I believe we need more development and infrastructure. Life may be easy in Europe, but nothing so relaxing and serene like Sri Lanka.
Q What are your plans for future?
I have nothing much and no big hopes. All I want is to see my children have a good education and well-settled. I am a simple man and I do not think about far beyond. I welcome each day as it comes.

Q  If you can go back to the past, is there anything you wish to change?
 Nothing. I do not regret nor am I proud about any incident. For me it was just one incident. Only if someone reminds me of it I would remember. It maybe my fate but I do not wish to change or repent over it. I must say that I did not plan things; I did not wish to hijack a plane I was merely acting according to the circumstances that arose.{jcomments off}