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The Parsi’s of Sri Lanka: A Small but Vibrant Community Source:Thuppahis Item in Daily Financial Times circulated by Keith Bennett Very few people today have heard of the Parsi community in Sri Lanka, because there are only about 60 in all including men, women and children.Although small in number, the contributions to our nation by this intriguing community throughout the years, have left an indelible mark in the history of Sri Lanka. They have produced eminent citizens, including a Government Minister, a Judge of the Supreme Court, barons of business and industry, high ranking military officials, media and educational personalities and philanthropists, among others. Aban Pestonjee & Rusi Pestonjee Aban Pestonee & Rusi Pestonjee Prominent Parsi families in Sri Lanka today are the Captain’s, Choksys, Khans, Billimorias, Pestonjees and Jillas. Their ancestors were originally from Persia, who later migrated to Gujarat in India. The Parsis are a very religious community who follow the Zoroastrian faith ...

Feb 5, 2025 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , ,
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The 1956 election landslide and SWRD Bandaranaike’s tenure (1956 — 1959) (Excerpted from Rendering Unto Caesar, memoirs of Bradman Weerakoon) Source:Island My acquaintance with S W R D Bandaranaike was only through the press reports of his election campaign. That was before he came to the prime minister’s office in the Fort (now housing the foreign ministry at Republic Square), on an April morning, after the swearing in of his Cabinet at Queen’s House. His eloquence as a speaker, especially his Independence Day speech in 1948, was deeply imprinted in my mind. Throughout a gruelling campaign he had shown extraordinary skills of perseverance in the face of severe odds, and the ability to persuade large masses of ordinary people to believe in his cause. I wondered how he would be to work with after I had experienced the rather easy going style of Sir John. There was also the serious business to be ...

Oct 16, 2024 Posted by In Articles Tagged , ,
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The prelate and the premier: Why Buddharakkitha Thera got S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike murdered-by D.B.S Jeyaraj S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike Source:FT Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as his Prime Minister. The academic turned politico is Sri Lanka’s third woman Prime Minister. The first woman PM of the island nation was Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Sirimavo shattered a global glass ceiling in 1960 by becoming the world’s first woman Prime Minister. Her daughter Chandrika Kumaratunga became the second woman PM in 1994. Subsequently she too made history as Sri Lanka’s first woman President. As is well known, Sirimavo and Chandrika were the wife and daughter of former Prime Minister Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (SWRDB) respectively. Prime Minister Bandaranaike was killed in 1959. He died on 26 September 1959. SWRDB was born on 8 January 1899. As such this year marks the 125th birth and 65th death anniversaries of ...

Sep 29, 2024 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , ,
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Hartal-Left and Trade Unionism. – Dr. Tilak S. Fernando During  Hartel ( the General strike) organanised by the Marxist parties in 1953 to express public dissatisfaction over the cost of rice of the GCSU ( General Clerical Services  Union). Mr. Kanakasamy was shot by the police lead by LSSP  stalwarts; Dr. N.M.Perera, Dr. Colvin de Silva and Lesley Gunawardena. The GCSU was  powerful and acted as in the form of real power to demand a prominent powerful upsurge until 1985. It was stated by Nicky Karunaratne, who was based on the LSSP hierarchy. ‘The old left’ liked to look back with heroic nostalgia of the  1953 general strike as the vital event of their, history. Consequently,  for many years to follow the general strike as an occasion for provoking speeches  by left party members. A review of the past showed that the old left of the SLFP, which benefitted out ...

Apr 13, 2024 Posted by In Articles, Tilak S Fernando Tagged , , , , , ,
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Sri Lanka: What is in store for us?-by Tissa Jayatilaka Source:Pixabay To consider what the future holds for Sri Lanka, a glance at its past and present should prove useful as we could thereby contextualise and perhaps begin to understand what that likely future could be. Unless we look at our past mistakes dispassionately, attempt to learn from them and take meaningful steps to re-chart our national course, we are most likely to continue to allow history to repeat itself. While it is doubtless true that Sri Lanka, like all other colonised countries, suffered immensely at the hands of those who colonised us, our track record of how our country (or constituent parts of it) has been ruled and governed by some of our own kings and nearly all of our politicians leave much to be desired. Heaping all of the blame for our continuing miseries post- 1948, therefore, on ...

Feb 4, 2024 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , , ,
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Story of 75 years of independence – By Malsha – eLanka Sri Lanka gained its independence from British colonial rule on February 4, 1948. The road to independence was marked by various political, social, and economic developments, with several notable figures, including D.S. Senanayake and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, playing a significant role in the independence movement. After gaining independence, Sri Lanka established a democratic government with a parliamentary system of government. The country’s first general election was held in 1947, and since then, Sri Lanka has maintained a vibrant democracy with regular elections and peaceful transitions of power. However, Sri Lanka’s journey towards independence was not without its challenges. The country faced various issues, including ethnic tensions between the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils, which led to a 30-year civil war that ended in 2009. The country also struggled with economic issues such as poverty, income inequality, and high levels of ...

Mar 9, 2023 Posted by In Articles, Malsha Madhuhansi Tagged , ,
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Sri Lankan Prime ministers – By Malsha – eLanka Here is a list of Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka since its independence in 1948: D.S. Senanayake (1948-1952) John Lionel Kotalawela (1953-1956) S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike (1956-1959) W.D. SENEVRATNE (1959-1960) Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike (1960-1965) Dudley Shelton Senanayake (1965-1970) Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike (1970-1977) J.R. Jayewardene (1977-1978) R. Premadasa (1978-1989) Dingiri Banda Wijetunga (1989-1993) Chandrika Kumaratunga (1994-2001) Ratnasiri Wickremanayake (2001-2004) Mahinda Rajapaksa (2004-2015) Ranil Wickremesinghe (2015-present) D.S. Senanayake Dudley Shelton Senanayake was the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), serving from 1948 until his death in 1952. He was a central figure in Sri Lanka’s independence movement, and worked to gain independence from British rule. After independence, he focused on building the country’s infrastructure and promoting agriculture. He is widely regarded as the father of the nation and his son, Dudley Shelton Senanayake, became the second Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. ...

Feb 10, 2023 Posted by In Articles, Malsha Madhuhansi Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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The Pathans (better known as Afghans or Bhai’s) of Slave Island By Noor Rahim The Pathans who originated from the regions of Afghanistan; Eastern Iran & Western India were Sunni Muslims. They were better known as Afghans or Bhai’s in Sri Lanka. They were first known to have arrived in the Eastern Province of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at Batticoloa, in the 1880’s, totalling around 1000 and quickly spread around the country. They were predominantly men; seeking employment; and had left families in their homeland. Once settled in their new domicile; an extremely few are known to have got married to local Moor or Malay women. Though they were by trade, horse keepers, traders, and textile merchants; they were well renowned as Money Lenders & a few as textile vendors that went door to door touting their wares. The last census done in the early 1921 had them around 550 in ...

Jan 17, 2022 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , ,
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BRIGHT STARS OF COLOMBO CHETTY COMMUNITY-by ECB Wijesinghe Source:Island I am beholden to my friend, Mervyn Casie Chetty, lawyer, poet, wit and reigning king of the Colombo Chetty community, for the fund of information he gave about Dr. Philip Sebastian Brito, one of the medical giants of a bygone era. His portrait showing a massive head, broad shoulders and sparkling eyes still adorns the walls of the Medical College. The Brito family was famous even at the turn of this century and double-barrelled names like Brito-Muttunayagam and Brito-Babapulle testify to their pride in a distinguished ancestry. Old Dr. Brito-Babapulle’s name was a household word in Grandpas. Besides being a good doctor he was a humorist and even compiled a book of jokes. He paid the penalty for his reputation for making witty speeches by being invited to speak at every important public dinner and festive occasion. Ultimately his digestion was ...

Jan 3, 2022 Posted by In Articles Tagged , ,
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