Clashes between the Catholic Church and Leftists in Negombo

by W.T.A. Leslie FERNANDO

Dr. Hector Fernando	N. Denzil Fernando	George Rajapaksa	T. Quentin Fernando

Although the Vatican Council II (1962-65) mellowed its attitude towards Marxist-orientated socialism, still the clashes between the Catholic Church and the Leftists in Negombo area continued. In the schools Take-Over issue it was the Leftists in Negombo who shouldered the leadership in favour of the move against the stand of the Church. Dr. Hector Fernando, the leader of the LSSP in Negombo played prominent role against the Catholic Church over the issue.In the 1962 Negombo Municipal Council elections in Dr. Hector Fernando contested the Hunupitiya ward from the LSSP. At this time because of the Schools Take-Over, Santiago Fernando had become a teacher in the government service and he could not contest any ward. The Catholic Church went all out to defeat Dr. Hector Fernando in the Hunupitiya ward.

On the other hand ULF was in the offing and Dr. Hector Fernando of the LSSP got the full support of the LSSP and the CP in Negombo. From 1938 Dr. Hector Fernando had been contesting different wards in Negombo but could never win. Even he was the MP for Negombo he contested the Grand Street ward in 1956 elections but lost badly losing his deposit as well, polling only 170 votes. This time with all the hostility of the Catholic Church Dr. Hector Fernando won Hunupitiya ward comfortably by a majority of over 200 votes.

Philip Gunawardena	Dinesh Gunawardena	Wijayapala Mendis

In the 1965 general election, the Catholic Church threw all its weight to defeat the Sirimavo Bandaranaike government because of the Schools Take-Over. In that election Dr. Hector Fernando contested the Katana seat from the LSSP as the nominee of the SLFP led Coalition. Although the swing was to the UNP Dr. Hector Fernando lost the seat to Wijayapala Mendis of the UNP by a mere 2787 votes.At that time there was an equal number of Catholics and Buddhists in Katana and the hostility of the Catholic Church did not matter much. However in Negombo, the UNP candidate T. Quentin Fernando defeated M. Bernard Kurera of the SLFP by 15,290 votes. In other Catholic seats in the Western Province, the UNP won Ja-ela by a majority of 8,017 votes, Colombo North by 7,991 but the UNP majority in Wattala was only 3,573 votes. The UNP won all the Catholic seats in the Puttalam district. It won Wennappuwa by 6,242 votes, Nattandiya by 5,409. But in Chilaw only by 1,737 votes. As a whole it was clear that the hostility of the Catholic Church towards the SLFP led Coalition had an impact on the Catholic seats at the 1965 general election.

At Talahena-Pitipana Peruwa in the Negombo electorate 100% of the population was Catholics. Nevertheless by the end of 1960s there was a marked progress of the Leftist movement in the area.

This was reported in the official Catholic weekly 'Gnanartha Pradeepaya' on August 5, 1967 as thus; "The Marxist fortress in Negombo is found in the Pitipana area. Through it they are trying to spread Marxism all over the division. Their efforts for nine years have shown some success. In 1968 Talahena Peruwa Village Committee elections, the SLFP led Caolition was returned to power and Bernard Kurera of the SLFP became its Chairman. In this election at the Pitipana ward, Manuel Silva of the LSSP, a fisherman defeated Marshal Fernando, a lawyer by profession.In the 1969 Municipal elections, the SLFP led Coalition and the UNP won equal number of wards in Negombo. However, N. Denzil Fernando of the UNP became the Mayor by the toss of the coin. In the same manner K. Justin Fernando of the SLFP became the Deputy Mayor. In this election Dr. Hector Fernando of the LSSP won the Hunupitiya ward.

In the 1970 general election, there was an exchange of seats in the Coalition between the SLFP and the LSSP. The SLFP conceded Ambalangoda to the LSSP and instead got Katana which was contested by Dr. Hector Fernando of the LSSP in 1965.

By this exchange ultimately the son-in-law of a big wig in the LSSP could contest Balapitiya and his brother in-law could contest Katana from the SLFP.Because of this exchange Dr. Hector Fernando, a senior member of the LSSP could not contest Katana and got 'played out'. Dr. Hector Fernando lost the Katana seat in 1965 with a slender majority.

In 1970 the trend was in favour of the Coaltion and Dr. Hector Fernando could have easily won Katana had he contested it from the LSSP. Dr. Hector Fernando was much 'cut-up' over it but he remained loyal to the LSSP until his death. However, by this exchange, the Leftists were denied the only seat they could win in a Catholic area.

Thereafter the SLFP was seen overriding the Leftists in Catholic electorates.By 1970, the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka was dissatisfied with the UNP led 1965-70 government as it did not undo the Schools Take-Over. Besides, after the formation of Vatican Council II, there was a new outlook in the Church.

As such at the 1970 general election the Catholic Church was neutral but some Catholic priests were seen supporting the SLFP-led Coaltion. They even tried to get SLFP nomination for Negombo to Anita Fernando, an activist of Catholic organisations. Although the bid failed, she addressed some SLFP rallies in Catholic areas.In the 1970 election the SLFP won most of the seats in Catholic areas. In the Western Province SLFP won Wattala and Katana. Except for Colombo North it lost Negombo and Ja-ela by slender majorities. In the Puttalam district the SLFP won all the Catholic seats; Wennappuwa, Nattandiya and Chilaw.

The LSSP fishermen in Pitipana were not allowed to auction their fish in the quadrangle owned by the Church known as 'Lellama' after paying the due rent. They had to sell their fish by the wayside of the road called 'Paare Lellama' (the auction centre in the road). The Minister of Fisheries in the SLFP led Coalition formed in 1970, was George Rajapaksa. Austin Biyanwila, a graduate teacher and Samasamajist activist along with the VC Member for Pitipana, Manuel Silva represented the plight of the fishermen to the Minister.

The Minister suggested to them to look out for a place for a new lellama. Austin Biyanwila, Manuel Silva and A.A. Attanapola, the secretary of the LSSP in Negombo found a spot close to the lagoon in Pitipana and recommended it to the Minister. George Rajapaksa inspected the place and took steps to set up a new lellama. When the land was gazetted to be acquired the Catholic Church filed a case in Courts claiming that the land belonged to the Church.

However it was found that the land was a government reservation and the Church had to withdraw the case.At that time the SLFP led Coalition was in power in the Talahena Peruwa V.C. that included Pitipana and Chairman was Philip Rosa.

When the new lellama came into operation the SLFP fishermen too came there to auction their fish. Soon the Pitipana South Co-operative Society was formed taking the new lellama as the centre.The first President of the Pitipana South Fisheries Co-operative was Dr. Hector Fernando. Even before he entered politics, Dr. Hector Fernando worked hard for the betterment of the fisherfolk and now he got an ideal opportunity to serve them.

The Pitipana South Co-operative provided credit facilities for the fishermen to get mechanised fishing boats and other fishing equipment.At the moment there is a case in courts between two parties for the lellama of the Pitipana Church.

After the death of Philip Gunawardena in 1972, Advocate M.B. Ratnayake was appointed the President of the MEP. Although he was from Matale he practised his profession in Negombo courts and the Negombo town became a centre of the MEP. Santiago Fernando too assisted M.B. Ratnayake to lead the party.

At the by-election for the Puttalam seat in 1972, the MEP under M.B. Ratnayake fielded Asoka Ranasinghe, a lawyer who practised in Puttalam but lost badly losing his deposit as well.When Dinesh Gunawardena; son of Philip Gunawardena returned to the island in 1973, he was appointed the leader of the MEP.

Thereupon M.B. Ratnayake left the party and formed a new party with Prins Gunasekera and Col. Richard Udugama. That party did not last long and later M.B. Ratnayake became close to the JVP. In 1975 Warnakulasuriya Santiago Fernando of Negombo was appointed the President of the MEP.