In the limelight

Those who led the independence struggle

Many people of Sri Lanka, belonging to all races, religions and communities, were instrumental in winning independence for the country. Here, we feature some of them.

D.S. Senanayake

Don Stephen Senanayake was one of the leaders of the independence movement, so much so that he is known and honoured as the Father of the Nation.

The first Prime Minister of Independent Sri Lanka (Ceylon), he was born on October 20, 1884 in Botale, Meerigama. A product of S. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia, D.S. entered public life by identifying himself with the Temperance Movement, entered the Legislative Council and was appointed the first Minister of Agriculture and Lands in 1931.

D.S. died in a riding accident on March 22, 1952 and was succeeded as Premier by his son Dudley Senanayake.

F.R. Senanayake

Frederick Richard was a powerful influence on Ceylon's politics until his premature death in 1925.

He was the elder brother of D.S. Senanayake and had his education at S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia from where he entered Cambridge College in Britain.

F.R. entered politics by propelling the YMBA and the Temperance Movement, which had been introduced by his father.

He was the first politician from the family and was the first leader of the Ceylon Independence Party.

D.S. took his place after his sudden death during a pilgrimage to Buddha Gaya, India.

S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike

Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike was born on January 8, 1899 in Nittambuwa. He was educated at S. Thomas' College and Oxford University, England.

S.W.R.D. returned to Ceylon in 1925 and having practised law for a while, entered politics in 1926. He was a member of the UNP from 1931 to 1951, in which year he formed the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He led the SLFP to victory at the 1956 election and became Prime Minister.

He died on September 26, 1959 after being shot. He was succeeded by his wife, Sirimavo Bandaranaike who became the world's first female Prime Minister.

Ponnambalam brothers

Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Ponnambalam Arunachalam and their less well-known brother P. Coomaraswamy were nominated heads of the Legislative Council at different times.

Ramanathan was born on April 16, 1851 and was educated at Colombo Academy (now Royal College) and Presidency College in India. Returning to Ceylon, he became an Advocate of the Colombo Bar.

In 1879, Ramanathan entered politics by acquiring the Nominated Unofficial Member seat in the Legislative Council.

He was the Solicitor General from 1892-1908 and became a King's Councillor in 1903. He also won the Legislative Council seat for the Educated Ceylonese in 1911 and held it for 11 years.

He was one of the leaders of the campaigns which demanded the release of Sinhala leaders who were imprisoned after the riots of 1915.

He was knighted in 1921 and became an Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council from 1922-1924. He also set up two schools, of which one became the Jaffna University.

Ramanathan died on November 26, 1930.

Arunachalam was born on September 14, 1853 and received his education at Colombo Academy. He won the Queen's Scholarship in 1871 and entered Christ College, Cambridge. He became the first Ceylonese to enter the Civil Service.

Arunachalam was the Registrar-General from 1888-1902 and published the four-volume Census of Ceylon in 1901. He retired from the public service in 1913 and received a Knighthood. He was President of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society from 1913-1916. Arunachalam died in 1924.

Dr T.B. Jayah

Tuan Burhanuddin Jayah was born in Kandy on January 1, 1890. He studied at St. Paul's College, Kandy, S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia and University of London. He returned to Sri Lanka and joined Ananda College as a teacher. In 1921, he was appointed Principal of Zahira College.

He entered politics in 1924 and was elected to the Legislative Council. Teacher, principal, legislator, State Councillor, freedom fighter, parliamentarian, Cabinet minister and High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Pakistan, Jayah died in the Holy City of Medina, Saudi Arabia on May 31, 1960.

Vivienne Goonewardena

If you thought that only men fought for independence in Sri Lanka, you are wrong. Many women took part in the campaign. One of the most prominent was Violet Vivienne Goonewardena.

She was born on September 18, 1916 and was educated at Musaeus College, Colombo. Her involvement in politics began from her schooldays, through the Suriya Mal Movement (an anti-imperialist, nationalist movement) in 1933. She joined the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) which played a leading role in the fight for freedom. Among her foremost activities were agitations for independence, labour rights, reduction in prices of household goods and the establishment of creches which would allow mothers to work.

During the British crackdown on the LSSP in 1941, she went into hiding in India along with other party leaders. She returned in 1946 and continued her political activities, becoming one of the foremost women leaders of the LSSP.

Goonewardena was known for her quick wit, fierce tongue and many skirmishes with the police. She died on October 3, 1996.

************

Others who fought for independence

Keppetipola Disawe

Puran Appu

Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera

Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera

Dudley Senanayake

Anagarika Dharmapala

D.B. Jayathilake

D.R. Wijewardene

E.W. Perera

Arthur V. Dias

G.G. Ponnambalam

N.M. Perera

Philip Gunawardana

James Pieris

W.A. De Silva

Razik Fareed

Colvin R. De Silva

Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy

S.A. Wickremesinghe

Doreen Wickremesinghe

Mary Rutnam

Selina Perera

E.W. Jayawardene

H.J.C. Perera

E.J. Samarawickrema

Daisy Dias Bandaranaike

A.E. Gunesinghe