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All PRIME MINISRTERS SOUGHT THEM ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN PRINCIPLES – By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando Since Independence was sought on 4th February 1948, without shedding a single blood drop, the first Prime Minister was chosen by the Colonials as the as Right Honorable D.S. Senanayake. He was the Prime Minster from 24 September 1947 till 22 of March 1952 when he had an accident and died immediately (after falling from horse riding in the morning). After his death there was a battle with Sir John Kotelawala to be the Prime Minister of Ceylon. As a result, according to the wishes of Rt.Hon. D.S. Senananayake, his son, became (Dudley Senananayake ) became the Prime Minister of Ceylon from 02 December to July in 1947. Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike became the Prime Minister from 26 September 1959, known by the Sri Lankan people as “The Silver Bell of Asia”, the fourth Prime ...

Feb 3, 2024 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Tilak S Fernando Tagged 4th February, Ceylon, Christ Church, Hon. D.S. Senananayake, Sir John Kotelawala, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka, Tilak S.Fernando

The dam that nurtures Uda Walawe – By MAHIL WIJESINGHE Source : sundayobserver The sprawling Uda Walawe reservoir of Embilipitiya is one of the largest irrigation schemes in the South-Central area of the island. The Walawe basin nestling in parts of the Ratnapura, Hambantota and Moneragala districts is adorned with many tourist attractions. Among them, the most popular attractions are the Uda Walawe reservoir and its adjoining Udawalawe National Park. Having crossed over this reservoir embankment on many occasions during my visits to Southern and Eastern destinations, I take a peek into this magnificent work of irrigation engineers of years gone by. It was a great moment in the history of the irrigation sector in then Ceylon in the latter part of 1950, when former Prime Minister, the late Sir John Kotelawala inaugurated work on the Walawe Ganga reservoir scheme, the second multi-purpose project undertaken in Ceylon after the country ...

Jan 9, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Ceylon, Sir John Kotelawala, Uda Walawe, Udawalawe National Park, Walawe Ganga

The architect of Sri Lanka’s independence From bondage to freedom D. S. Senanayake and Sri Lanka labour movement leader A.E. Goonesinghe Source:Dailymirror The first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) D.S. Senanayake entered the National Legislature in 1924. He was relatively unknown in the country and was pushed into prominence by his elder brother F.R. Senanayake, who was a very popular and active figure in the social and political arena. Many were surprised and taken aback to see D.S. entering the political field, as they were expecting his brother F.R. to fit the role. Perhaps the only person who had faith in D.S’s capability at that time was none other but F.R. Senanayake himself. Ceylon (Sri Lanka) as it was then known was under foreign domination from 1505 to 1948. Three Colonial Powers namely the Portuguese, Dutch and the British ruled parts of the island till 1815 when the entire ...

Feb 4, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged D.S. Senanayake, Sir John Kotelawala

Lionel’s scoff at Nehru and Chou, stunned World Leaders-By KKS Perera Source:Dailymirror Third Prime Minister, Sir John Kotelawala, represented Ceylon at the first large-scale Afro–Asian Conference, the ‘Bandung Conference’; in April 1955, in Indonesia. Sir John made headlines when he clashed with the Chinese Communist Leader, Chou-en-Lai, at the Bandung summit where he had an oblique hit, when he said “we have done away with Western Colonialism. We don’t want to start an Eastern Colonialism in its place.” Worldwide, newspapers splashed a photo of Sir John pointing an accusing finger. Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru, playing the ‘Big Brother’, questioned Sir John. “Lionel, why didn’t you show your speech to me before?” Only for Sir John to hit back, “why should I Nehru?… Do you show me yours, before you make it?” Sir John Kotelawala ‘Wickremesinghe Mudali who helped King Rajasinghe to wage war against the Portuguese, on the Kelani banks, shunned ...

Oct 4, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Sir John Kotelawala, Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

“BAMBALAPITIYA BEAUTIES” – By Des Kelly The memories keep flooding back. Very nearly 60 years ago, this writer reluctantly decided, like so many other Burghers, to emigrate to places like Australia, England, Canada etcetera, in order to escape what was termed the “Sinhala-only” policy brought in by the Sri Lankan Government of the era. I was only around 26 years old at the time, with a young family, having actually moved from the famous Town of Bambalapitiya, (or Colombo 4, as I think it was also called), after marrying a girl from the Town of Dehiwala, but that is indeed a different story to be divulged later. ...

Sep 14, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, DESMOND KELLY Tagged Sir John Kotelawala, Yvonne Gulamhusein

When Hollywood rolled out the red carpet for Sir John Kotelawala the Prime Minister of Ceylon https://vernoncorea.wordpress.com/tag/st-marks-church-badulla/ The Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1954 was Sir John Kotelawala a statesman respected around the world. Sir John knew and met Vernon Corea’s father and mother, the Reverend Canon Ivan Corea and Ouida Corea. Later on in life when Vernon was an announcer at Radio Ceylon he too would meet Sir John Kotelawala. The Prime Minister of Ceylon was also related to the wider Corea Family through marriage. His sister married Dr. C.V.S Corea, cousin of Reverend Canon Ivan Corea. The Prime Minister’s nephew was the distinguished Sri Lankan diplomat, former Secretary-General of UNCTAD and former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Gamani Corea. This was the first ever occasion of Hollywood welcoming a Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1954. Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia. 1954 was also the year that Sir ...

Dec 12, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Sir John Kotelawala, The Court Jester

Dr. Wijayananda Dahanayake – Galle’s most flamboyant son Source:Island Great sons of Galle Part III Born on October 22, 1902, he was the twin son of Muhandiram Dionysius Sepala Panditha Dahanayake. He was named Wijayananda after the Wijayananda Vihara in Weliwatta, Galle, where Col. H. S. Olcott first observed the five precepts. His learned father was the chief lay disciple of this Vihara. The eminent astrologer Karo Gurunnanse, who read Dahanayake’s horoscope had predicted that one day he would rule the country. With Ceylon under the British Raj at the time, and with no independence in sight, it was treated as a far fetched prediction. He was educated at Richmond College, Galle and later at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. The born fighter that he was, he one day created a rumpus, while lunch was being served, when Warden Stone sternly said, “Dahanayake! the next train to Galle is at ...

Nov 8, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Richmond College, Siddhartha College Balapitiya, Sir John Kotelawala Comments 0

Please scroll down for the Sir John Kotelawala article below the Desmond Kelly article… “PETERITES AROUND THE WORLD” – Appointment of Desmond Kelly, an old Peterite, as Administrator on the Forum This was a recent Article sent in to the “Captain” of S.L.S. eLanka on 1st Oct., 2020. Interesting, to say the least. Hi Neil, (Jayasekera), I believe that Desmond Kelly is the Editor of eLanka, Main Website for all Lankan Australians, and now the Special Website for all Lankan Britishers as well. We are happy & proud to announce that we have decided to appoint Desmond, also an old Peterite, as Administrator on our Forum “Peterites Around The World”, with immediate effect. The reasons for this appointment are varied. Firstly, we believe that due respect has to be shown to all Peterites & others who are now in the twilight years ...

Sep 30, 2020 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged S. Thomas' College, Sir John Kotelawala Comments 0