Ceylon National Congress Archives

Home ⁄ Tag Archives: Ceylon National Congress

Narrating Tamil Nationalism: Subjectivities and Issues-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Michael Roberts, being a reprint of a review article in South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, s., Vol. XXVII, no.1, April 2004 …… with a review of this essay by Bandu de Silva having appeared earlier Thuppahi. The version here has highlighted emphasis to aid the reader –clearly a ‘work ‘in 2017. ONE Alfred Jeyaratnam Wilson, now regrettably with his maker, remains Sri Lanka’s leading political scientist, with numerous books associated with his name. He had secured eminence as early as the 1970s, when attached to Peradeniya University, and this reputation enabled him to move to a Professorship at the University of New Brunswick around 1972. It was his considerable scholarly reputation that encouraged the president of Sri Lanka and leader of the right-wing United National Party, J. R. Jayewardene, to utilise his consultative services in the political negotiations and constitutional engineering that occurred in ...

Feb 22, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Ceylon National Congress, Ceylon Plantations, Problem Of National Integration, Rajarata civilisation

Sir Ponnampalam Ramanathan’s Defiance: A Turning Point-by KKS PERERA After successfully advocating for justice in London, Sir Ponnampalam Ramanathan returned to Ceylon to a hero’s welcome. His tireless efforts to expose the British administration’s oppressive measures, particularly the unjust imprisonment and mistreatment of national and temperance movement leaders after the 1915 riots, had earned him the admiration and gratitude of the people. Recognizing his pivotal role in securing justice, Sinhala leaders and the public organized a grand reception to honor him. The most striking display of their appreciation was the symbolic act of leading him from the port in a grand procession, where prominent Sinhala leaders pulled the chariot carrying Ramanathan through the streets. This extraordinary gesture was a profound acknowledgment of his selfless service and the deep respect he had earned, transcending ethnic and political divides. Thousands gathered to witness the event, with people lining the streets to ...

Feb 4, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged British colonial administration, Ceylon National Congress, D.S. Senanayake, J.R. Jayewardene, Sir Ponnampalam Ramanathan

Nationalisms in Ceylon: Origins, Stimulants and Ingredients-by MICHAEL ROBERTS Source:Thuppahis REPRODUCING CHAPTER III IN VOLUME I OF DOCUMENTS OF THE CEYLON NATIONAL CONGRESS AND NATIONALIST POLITICS IN CEYLON, 1929-1950, VOL I, 1977, DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES, 1977 , PP. LXVIII–LXXVIII ** While the political activists of the first half of the twentieth century were drawn from both the national and the local elites, the political leadership (at significant island-wide levels) was largely composed of individuals who could be ranked among the national elite. As indicated earlier, the national elite was a small segment of the Ceylonese population. Its levels of wealth, power and status, its lifestyle, and its value-system marked it off from the rest of the population. In such circumstances, it is no surprise that the older, rosy image of “nationalists” as selfless-patriots who led the struggle against foreign political domination is no longer accepted. Indeed, the tendency in some circles today ...

Jul 6, 2024 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Michael Roberts Tagged Ceylon National Congress, J. E. Amaratunga, J.R. Jayewardene

The unique thirties that shaped the nation-BY H.L. D. MAHINDAPALA Source:Sundayobserver In the thirties Ceylon, as it was known then, entered into a unique phase in the history of the nation. For the first time it was ushered into the age of mass politics. Never before were the masses ever given a direct say in running the affairs of the state. This gift to the people – some may not consider it a good thing – came through the Donoughmore Constitution which was introduced in 1931. As I said earlier, it was a daring experiment in which all issues that questioned the ability of the masses to make wise political decisions for their own good and that of the nation as a whole were thrown into the winds and empowered with universal franchise to elect representatives of their choice to make decisions on their behalf. We made history by being ...

Oct 28, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Ceylon National Congress, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Saivite Arumuka

The hidden racism and naming of roads in Sri Lanka by Saroj Jayasinghe Source:Dailymirror A single incident in the US which was captured on a mobile phone by a teenager has triggered waves of protests against racism, globally. This has included bringing down of monuments that represented racists or slave owners in the UK and USA. Well-known names of such racists who were being implicitly honoured include the statue of Cecil Rhodes in Oxford University and the Policy School named after Woodrow Wilson in Princeton USA, both of which are likely to be removed by the universities. It is inevitable that countries in the global financial periphery such as Sri Lanka, too are touched by these events and reflect about racism. In the next few paragraphs I wish to outline the history behind a few selected names we currently glorify in Sri Lanka. The fact that Sri Lanka honours ...

Jul 25, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Ceylon National Congress, Colvin R. De Silva, Saroj Jayasinghe