D.S. Senanayake Archives

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Is there a credible political alternative for Sri Lanka? by Tissa Jayatilaka Why do Sri Lankan voters elect and re-elect corrupt and discredited politicians? This topic has been much talked about and commented on in newspapers and social media ever since Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in a rare moment of self-realisation, asked the above question from the voters of Sri Lanka. Why indeed? Two years before the president posed this question in November 2019, I asked myself the very same question when to my disbelief and dismay, 6.9 million voters elected Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) as executive president. For the purposes of this essay I consider GR to have been a politician since 2005 when, as a political appointee to the post of secretary to the ministry of defence, he wielded more power than any other politician except his older sibling, the then executive president. A few months after the presidential election, when ...

Dec 7, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged D.S. Senanayake, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam

Dudley Senanayake: some personal anecdotes Excerpted from the Memoirs of Snr. DIG (Rtd.) Edward Gunawardena Source:Island Dudley Senanayake was a truly charismatic leader. By his exemplary behavior he enjoyed the respect of both sides of the House. He always entered the chamber from the main doorway and walked majestically down the aisle to his seat. Almost all Members rose from their seats to show their respect. He was an excellent debater. If he had to make a speech it was a studied contribution. He never spent his time in Parliament without making use of every minute. If he was not in the chamber he would be in discussion with his colleagues and members of the opposition as well; or he would be in the library or even learning different aspects of Parliamentary procedure from the Clerk of the House. A remarkable characteristic of Dudley was his ability to concentrate and ...

Apr 23, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged D.S. Senanayake, Edward Gunawardena, Shantun Abeygoonwardena

The Burghers of Ceylon/Sri Lanka- Reminiscences and Anecdotes by J. Godwin Perera Source:-island “The Burghers were a riotous lot With song and dance and many a ‘shot’ Were drivers, guards in the Cee Gee Ar For higher jobs were below par” This is only partly true. It was a small segment of Burghers who worked in the CGR and as they would have said ‘did a bloody, damn good job.’ But, there were Burghers and Burghers. Let’s give credit where credit is due. Higher in the social hierarchy were the Planters. Many, having been ruggerites in their colleges, it was an easy jump to the central hills where they were appointed as ‘Sinna Dorays’ (SDs) and later Periya Dorays (PDs) in the tea plantations. They had the endurance and intelligence to rule their kingdoms (‘Thottams’), very, very, successfully. Some ended up as CEOs in the head offices of the ...

Mar 2, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged D.S. Senanayake, Eddie Gray, Godwin Perera, Periya Dorays, Sinna Dorays

D.S Senanayake – Don Stephen Senanayake – first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka’s visit to Australia Also, Please see below a superb Cartoon of Don Stephen Senanayake by Max Gerreyn You can also see other cartoons by Max Gerreyn here – https://www.elanka.com.au/elanka-cartoons-by-max-gerreyn/ – ...

Jun 25, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Max Gerreyn Tagged D.S. Senanayake, Don Stephen Senanayake

“SENANAYAKE, THE GOOD SAMARITAN” – By Des Kelly It was indeed a proud political name, in the Ceylon I remember. Prime Minister Donald Stephan Senanayake, born 1883, and died in 1952, from wounds incurred in a tragic fall from his favourite horse, which unfortunately tripped, due to an unnoticed hole on the Galle-Face green, throwing this highly popular P.M. completely off. Don Stephan was a U.N.P. (United National Party) Stalwart, highly educated both in English & Sinhala, was voted in as the Island’s first Prime Minister, and, not only did a superb job, but looked the part, as far as I was concerned. A truly distinguished Statesman, taken too soon. D.S. Senanayake was succeeded by his eldest son. Dudley Shelton Senanayake, immediately after the death of his father, was also popular with the people, as I remember, but could not follow in his ...

Jan 31, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, DESMOND KELLY Tagged D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, Maitripala Senanayake, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, SLFP leader, Somaweera Chandrasiri, St. Thomas’ College hostel