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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 eLanka admin In Articles, Tilak S Fernando Tagged General Clerical Services Union, hartal, Lesley Gunawardena, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, SLFP, Tilak S.Fernando, Unionism

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 eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Arjuna Hulugalle, Buddhist heritage, delicious cuisine, Rich culture, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, warm hospitality

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 eLanka admin In Articles, Malsha Madhuhansi Tagged 75th anniversary of independence, D.S. Senanayake, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike

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 eLanka admin In Articles, Malsha Madhuhansi Tagged Chandrika Kumaratunga, D.S. Senanayake, Dingiri Banda Wijetunga, Dudley Shelton Senanayake, J.R. Jayewardene, John Lionel Kotalawela, Mahinda Rajapaksa, R Premadasa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike, Sri Lankan Prime ministers, W.D. SENEVIRATNE

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 eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Karakucak, Pathans, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Sunni Muslims

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 eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Mervyn Casie Chetty, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Stanley Suraweera

Sunethra Bandaranaike on Former PM S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s Sinhala only policy Sunethra Bandaranaike on her father Former Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike’s policy decisions ...

May 31, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Sunethra Bandaranaike

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 Comments 0

61st Death Anniversary (1959 – 2020) The Assassination of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike An Anecdotal Reflection-by Senaka Weeraratna Source:Lankaweb It was a Friday fifty six years ago to be exact on September 25, 1959 at around 10.30 a.m. in the morning when I was in the class room listening to Mr. H.P. Jayawardena’s English lesson in our final year at Royal Primary School, that my eye caught a movement in the corridor adjoining the class. When I looked sideways to my left I saw young Anura Bandaranaike being accompanied by his Ayah leaving the premises. In that relatively quiet moment my class mates too saw Anura being led away but none was able to second guess the reason. It was during the lunch hour that we got the distressing news that Anura’s father Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, then Prime Minister of Ceylon, had been shot. Amidst a variety of reports streaming in of ...

Oct 3, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Chitta Ranjan de Silva, Dr. Mackie Ratwatte, Mapitigama Buddharakkhita Thero, Mr. Upali Attanayake, Mrs. Bandaranaike, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Senaka Weeraratna Comments 0

S.W.R.D Bandaranaike’s 58th Death Anniversary

“…that morning, I went to Rosmead Place. The Prime Minister was talking to another monk. I occupied a seat at the end of the veranda, and then he came up to me and inquired why I had come …I shot at the Prime Minister once. That shot struck him. He started running into the house. I followed behind him and fired three more bullets. Someone shot me as well and I lost consciousness. I do not remember what happened next.” – Ven. Thalduve Somarama—statement by 1st accused [from the dock.] The boy born to an anglophile Christian aristocratic family on January 8, 1899, was given the name, ‘West Ridgway’ after the Governor of Ceylon and his God father, Sir Joseph West Ridgeway. He was affectionately called ‘Solla’, by family elders and ‘Banda’ or SWRD by political colleagues and the press. West Ridgeway joined Christ Church College, Oxford in ...

Oct 1, 2017 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged S.W.R.D Bandaranaike’s 58th Death Anniversary, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike Comments 0