|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 30 January 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Looking back how we marched to freedom
This week, we celebrate the National Independence Day. Having been under foreign rule for over 400 years, Sri Lanka won independence on February 4, 1948. Independence Day is a day for remembering those who fought to attain the very independence we are celebrating today. It should be a time for remembering those who unified the people of Sri Lanka; those who led the way and those who bravely followed. Independence Day should be a time of reflection. The dark era dawned with the Portuguese invading Sri Lanka. The Dutch overthrew the Portuguese in 1658 and they were driven away by the British in 1796. While the foreign rulers took control of the maritime provinces, the Sinhalese kings tried to hold onto the hill country, reigning from Kandy. However, the British invaded the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815 and captured the last king of Sri Lanka, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe. British imperialist rule prevailed in this country for no less than 150 years. During this period, the locals fought many battles to regain our lost national independence. Early efforts at regaining independence, though unsuccessful, showed the courage and patriotism of the local people against a foreign power. Patriots like S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, F.R. Senanayake, D.S. Senanayake, Sir Baron Jayathilake, E.W. Perera, D.R. Wijewardena, James Pieris, Arthur V. Dias, Dr. T.B. Jayah, Sir Razik Fareed, Dr. N.M. Perera, Dr. Colvin R.de Silva, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, Sir Mutu Coomaraswamy, Sir Waithilingam Duraiswamy, Sri La Sri Amugu Navalay, C.Y.Thamotherpillai, C.V. Smanatha Aiyar, Swami Vipulananda, Handy Perimpanayagam, S.J.V. Chelvam, G.G. Ponnambalam (Senior), M. Tiruchelvam, C. Vanniasingam and James T. Ratnam were among those who dedicated themselves to the freedom struggle. By 1947, there appeared faint signs that India, which was also under British rule, was well on the road to freedom. D.S. Senanayake therefore made a further claim for Dominion Status. This time, the colonial authorities seemed better disposed. The Ceylon Independent Act 1947 was conferred on the then Ceylon, the legislative powers on the older dominions by the Statute of Westminster, 1931 and on India and Pakistan by Sections 6 of the Independence Act 1947. The Ceylon Independence Order-in-council 1947 removed from the existing Constitution, all those provisions which were inconsistent with independence within the Commonwealth. Sri Lanka gained independence on February 4, 1948 and became a Republic on May 22, 1972. **** Last Sinhala King The last Sinhala king to rule Sri Lanka was Sri Vira Parakrama Narendrasinha (1706-1739), who was known as Kundasale Rajjuruvo. After his death, Malabar kings from South India, who were Hindus, ruled the Kandyan kingdom for 76 years. The maritime settlements of the country were administrated by the Portuguese for 153 years (1505-1658), by the Dutch for 138 years (1658-1796) and by the British for 19 years (1796-1815). After the capitulation of the Kandyan kingdom in 1815, the British ruled the whole country, until Sri Lanka gained independence . **** First cabinet Of all the British colonies, Sri Lanka was the first country to get voting rights. The first parliamentary election was held in 1947. The first cabinet was swon-in on February 4, 1948. The first cabinet of Ministers: Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and External Affairs - D.S. Senanayake. Minister of Health and Local Government - S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Minister of Industries, Industrial Research and Fisheries - Geo. E. de Silva. Minister of Home Affairs and Rural Development - Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, Mr. E.A.P. Wijeyeratne (from July 1948) Minister without Portfolio - R.S.S. Gunawardena. Minister of Labour and Social Services - T.B. Jayah, M.P. Minister of Finance - J.R. Jayewardene. Minister of Transport and Works - Col. J.L. Kotelawala. Minister of Education - E.A. Nugawela. Minister of Justice - Dr. L.A. Rajapakse, K.C. Minister of Food and Cooperative Undertakings - A. Ratnayake. Minister of Agriculture and Lands - Dudley Senanayake. Minister of Posts and Telecommunication - C. Sittampalam. Minister of Commerce and Trade - C. Suntheralingam. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
