Through the intervention of a woman, the conspiracy to overthrow the government, in 1962 was thwarted.- Dr Gamini Kariyawasam
Sri Lanka’s first military coup was launched in January 1962,sixty-three years ago, by a group of military, naval, and police officers, along with a senior civil servant, who planned to overthrow the democratically elected Sri Lanka Freedom Party government. Their plan was to arrest then-Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and seize state power through a series of coordinated military operations overnight. The coup was set to take place on the night of January 27, 1962. However, they failed to move beyond the conspiratorial stage due to the intervention of a prudent woman.
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Mrs Maya Senanayaka.
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The conspirators aimed to forcibly capture and assassinate the then-Prime Minister, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, and eliminate her cabinet members in order to seize state power.
That conspiracy, which could have completely altered the history of the country, was foiled due to the actions of one remarkable woman.
She was Maya Kularatne, a pioneer in the establishment of Buddhist schools in Sri Lanka, and an alumna of Richmond, Ananda, and Nalanda Colleges. She was the daughter of P. D. S. Kularatne, the founder of Nalanda College and a former principal.
Mrs. Maya Senaanayaka with her husband Stanley Senaanayaka and her four sons.
At the time of the incident, she was married to Stanley Senanayake, who later became the 18th Inspector General of Police in Sri Lanka. At that time, he was serving as the Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of Colombo.
Sensing her husband’s unusual nervousness, she persistently questioned him about it. Eventually, Stanley Senanayake, who had been reluctantly drawn into the conspiracy, confided in his wife about the impending disaster.
Without hesitation, Maya Senanayake informed her father, P. D. S. Kularatne, who was then the Member of Parliament for Ambalangoda, about the dangerous plot. He immediately alerted the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister swiftly took action, summoning security chiefs and arranging to suppress the coup, which had already begun. At that point, the conspirators had even arrested Neil de Alwis, the then-Member of Parliament for Baddegama.
Minister Felix Dias Bandaranaike also played a significant role in thwarting the coup.
It was due to the timely wisdom and actions of Maya Kularatne Senanayake that the history of Sri Lanka was saved from this great conspiracy.
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Maya Kularatne was the daughter of P. D. S. Kularatne and Hilda Westbrook, an Englishwoman who came to Sri Lanka to teach at Ananda College. After marrying, she became Hilda Gunaratne. She was also the founder of Kurunegala Maliyadeva Girls’ College and Panadura Sumangala Girls’ College.
There was a widespread belief that Maya Kularatne Senanayake was the most beautiful woman in Sri Lanka during her time.
Her portrait, painted by Maishi de Silva, one of the most talented artists in Sri Lanka, was considered second only to the Mona Lisa.
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One of her sons, Atula Senanayake, married Rosy Senanayake, who won the title of Mrs. World.
Perhaps, had her mother-in-law participated in a Miss World pageant in her time, she might have had a high chance of winning the title before her daughter-in-law.
However, when Maya Senanayake passed away in July 2017, the media merely reported her as the mother-in-law of the Mayor of Colombo.
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It is unfortunate that the remarkable role she played in Sri Lanka’s history was largely forgotten at the time of her passing.
Dr.Gamini Kariyawasam.
If you missed Dr.Gaminis’ last Article – here it is! – අභිමානවත් දේශීය සටන් කලාව – අංගම්පොර ශිල්පය – By ආචාර්ය ගාමිණී කාරියවසම්.
