Role of the Marxist MP Dr. Hector Fernando in Catholic Negombo

by W.T.A. Leslie FERNANDO

The Catholic Church at that time was an arch-enemy of Marxism. Nevertheless strongest Communist party outside the Communist world was found in Catholic Italy where the Vatican is. In India too on several occasions Communists gained power in the State of Kerela - a Catholic stronghold. It is clear that the Catholic always do not blindly follow the Church.

Vivienne Gunawardena

Dr. Hector Fernando

Fr. Peter Pillai

Hector Abhayawardena

Hector Abhayawardena, a leader of the LSSP highlights that the first religious opposition which the LSSP encountered in Sri Lanka was from the Catholic Church. He illustrates that in 1930s when Fr. Peter Pillai returned from abroad he started the periodical 'Social Justice' to attack the LSSP for atheism in Marxism. He adds that this opposition was translated into action when in 1938 the LSSP organised a meeting at the island of Duwa - a Catholic stronghold, they were stoned and chased away.

It was significant that in 1956, both the LSSP candidates Dr. Hector Fernando won Negombo, where there was a Catholic majority and Vivienne Gunawardena won Colombo North where there was a considerable number of Catholics. In these electorates many Catholics defied the Church and voted for Marxist candidates. Dr. Hector Fernando, an arch rival of the Catholic Church at the time winning Negombo called the 'Little Rome' surprised all.

Even before Dr. Hector Fernando joined the LSSP, he clashed with the Catholic Church while working for the betterment of the fisherfolk in Negombo. At one time he organised poor fishermen against giving the tithe to the Church. As the leader of the LSSP in Negombo Dr. Hector Fernando fought face-to-face against the Catholic Church.

In 1940s when the Catholic Church opposed free education, Dr. Hector Fernando vigorously campaigned against the stand of the Church. At an election petition he filed after losing Negombo seat in the 1962 General Election, he led evidence that Catholic priests exerted undue influence when they instructed Catholics not to vote for him in their sermons from the pulpit. In this background Dr. Hector Fernando winning Negombo would have definitely annoyed the Catholic Church.

Dr. Hector Fernando exalted by his victory planned to capture the power for the LSSP in Negombo Municipal Council at the elections held by the end of 1956. The LSSP put forward four candidates and came to terms with some others.

Dr. Hector Fernando contested the Grand Street ward and his wife Esmee Fernando was the candidate for Kundanwila. K.M. Bastian Perera contested Kudapaduwa and M. Saheed Marikkar was the LSSP nominee for Maha Hunupitiya.

The LSSP backed progressive candidate like lawyer Preman de Silva at Udayartoppuwa and Robert Peiris at Bolawalana. In the Sea Street ward contested by Dr. Hector Fernando in 1954, the LSSP did not put forward a candidate against the sitting member Manuel Boolonne on condition that he would vote for Dr. Hector Fernando as the Mayor and he was returned uncontested. On the same condition the LSSP supported the sitting member D.W.W. Jayamanna at Hunupitiya. In this election Santiago Fernando of the VLSSP contested Hunupitiya ward from the MEP and D.A. Seneviratne contested Bolawalana from the SLFP. As the UNP was routed at the 1956 General Election winning only 8 seats, both the LSSP and the Communist Party believed at this time that the UNP would never come back to power again. They expected the Leftists could gain power by defeating the MEP. In Negombo too the LSSP and the CP campaigned against the MEP at Municipal elections.

In 1956 MC elections in Negombo the only LSSP candidate who could win award was M. Saheed Marikkar at Maha Hunupitiya. Dr. Hector Fernando polled only 170 votes at Grand Street and he lost badly forfeiting his deposit. Esmee Fernando lost Kundanwila to T. Wijayapala Mendis by an overwhelming majority. Bastian Perera lost Kudapaduwa polling only 118 votes and he too forfeited his deposit. LSSP sympathisers Preman de Silva and Robert Peiris too lost Udayartoppuwa and Bolawalana respectively. All the hopes of the LSSP gaining power at the M.C. Negombo and Dr. Hector Fernando becoming Mayor were shattered.

The SLFP cadre wholeheartedly supported Santiago Fernando of the MEP at Hunupitiya but the LSSP and the CP worked against him. As the MEP stood for Sinhala Only, Santiago Fernando lost the support of Jaffna Tamil shop owners, workers and Muslims in the ward. As such Santiago Fernando who lost Hunupitiya by just 54 votes at 1954 elections, lost this time by 153 votes. D.A. Seveviratne of the SLFP too lost badly at Bolawalana.

When the MEP was in power and Dr. Hector Fernando was the LSSP MP for Negombo, how come that the Leftists fared so badly at 1956 Negombo M.C. elections? At that time the Catholic Church was against the MEP and the Marxists. Besides around this time a Buddhist Thera published a book named 'Kanni Mariyage Heti' denying the virginity of Blessed Virgin Mary. There were prayer meetings and protest rallies by Catholics over it. This hostility of Catholics too went against both the MEP and the LSSP in Negombo. At the mayoral election the sole LSSP member Saheed Marikkar too joined the reactionary camp.

As the MP for Negombo from 1956 to 1959 Dr. Hector Fernando did a yeoman service. At this time P.H. William de Silva a former colleague of Dr. Hector Fernando when they were together in the BLPI was the Minister of Industries and Fisheries. It was during his time that the fishing industry was mechanised. Dr. Hector Fernando who was always committed to the welfare of the fisherfolk always encouraged William de Silva for the mechanisation.

There was some opposition from the fishermen in Negombo for mechanisation of the fishing industry. Vested interests who did not like the advancement of the fisherfolk so as to keep them under their subjugation, had misled the fisherfolk that the sound of engines would make the fish to run away from fishing grounds. Once some fishermen surrounded Dr. Hector Fernando's office in Negombo and demanded him to protest against mechanisation. But Dr. Hector Fernando allayed their fears and convinced them of the benefits of mechanisation. Ultimately the mechanisation of the fishing industry led to the increase of fish landings in great proportions. Dr. Hector Fernando was able to set up so many sub-post offices in Negombo to provide postal facilities to many villages. He did a lot to improve the Base Hospital in Negombo and other Government dispensaries in the area. He also took steps to provide science teachers and other facilities to schools in Negombo.Dr. Hector Fernando wanted to relieve the fisherman from the clutches of the fish magnates so as to provide them a reasonable price for their catch.

He prepared a scheme for the state to provide to auction fish at a place conducive to both the fisherfolk and the consume. His plan was to provide the fisherman his due share and make fish available to consumer at a reasonable price. It was approved by William de Silva the Minister of Fisheries. However before the scheme was implemented both Philip Gunawardena and William de Silva had to leave the Cabinet. J.C.W. Munasignhe who succeeded William de Silva as the Minister of Fisheries abandoned the scheme.

When the MEP government was in power there was a move that all the assisted schools should be vested in the State. The Catholic Church vehemently protested against the move for the Schools 'Talk-Over'. It was a foregone conclusion that as long as Dr. W. Dahanayake was the Minister of Education Schools Take-Over would not be effected.

In 1957 there was a meeting at St. Peter's College, Negombo presided over by Archbishop Thomas Cooray to protest against the move. In that meeting Fr. Joe Quintus Perera expressed that the Catholic schools could be taken only over his dead body.

At the same meeting one speaker said that Catholic Negombo should have a Catholic Mayor. At that time Wijayapala Mendis, a Buddhist was the Mayor of Negombo. Archbishop in his speech replied "A good Buddhist is better than a bad Catholic".