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| Sunday, 28 September 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Bandaranaike - leader of many facets Solaman West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike was a great son of Sri Lanka, politician of repute, no one can refute and no person of any rank, caste, creed or religion will dispute.
Bandaranaike married Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike in the year 1940. In 1947 general election he was elected to parliament as a member of Attanagalla with a thumping majority. In that parliament he held many portfolios. He was also Minister of Local Government which was his pet subject. During that era he was called the father of the Local Government institutions. In 1951 we witnessed the birth of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. He left UNP and built up the new party with stalwarts, like Messrs. D.M. Rajapakse, A.P. Jayasuriya, Jayaweera Kuruppu, Sri Nissanka, T.B. Illangaratna, Maithripala Senanayake, Alhaj Baduideen Mahmad. In 1956 he mobilised all progressive forces which represented the Sangha, Veda, Guru, Govi and Kamkaru and became the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna. The era of the common man dawned. He gave the common man a place in the field of Education and Culture. He contributed immensely to the welfare of the working class. During his era, May Day was made a public holiday. Labour Tribunals and Employment Provident Fund were established. Port, Buses, Insurance Co-orporation came to be nationalised ventures. Many I.L.O conventions were ratified. Trade Unions were given its due place. Mr. Bandaranaike always raised his voice on behalf of the common man not only in Sri Lanka but he also espoused the cause of the smaller nations throughout the world. To quote an example, during the aggression in the Suez Canal he raised his voice at the U.N. against aggression by Western Powers. by S. Alavi Mowlana, Secretary, Bandaranaike Commemoration Committee Governor, W.P. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
On his 44th death anniversary which he faced at the hand of an assassin
on the 26th September 1959. We remember Mr. Bandaranaike as a paragon of
wisdom. World recognised interlectual and a Sri Lankan who obtained higher
education from the Oxford University in England. He was also an advocate
but did not practice, as he advocated the cause of the common man. He bade
farewell to his legal career and entered the political arena elected to
the Colombo Municipal Council in 1932. Later he became the President of
Ceylon National Congress and in the year 1936, he was elected to the State
Council of Ceylon representing Veyangoda.
