D. R. Wijewardena
Encyclopedia
Don Richard Wijewardena (1886-1950) was a Sri Lanka
n press baron who was a leader in the Sri Lankan independence movement. A successful entrepreneur, he established the Lake House newspapers and played major role in the independence movement.
D. R. Wijewardena was born as the third male child of seven sons and two daughters Muhandiram Tudugalage Don Philip Wijewardene timber merchant of Sedavatta and Helena Weerasinghe. He lost his father at a very young age and was raised by his mother.
His brothers were Don Philip Alexander, Don Lewis, Don Charles, Don Edmund, Don Albert and Don Walter and his sisters were Mrs. Arthur Seneviratne and Mrs. E. W. Jayewardene who was the mother of J. R. Jayewardene who would later become President of Sri Lanka
. He married Alice Meedeniya, daughter of John Henry Meedeniya a Rate Mahattaya, with whom he had two sons and three daughters, his grandson Ranil Wickremasinghe
would later become Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
He then went on to University of Cambridge
in the United Kingdom for higher education. There he developed his interest in politics and met famous personalities such as future leaders of India like Lala Lajpat Rai
, Bepin Chandra Pal, Surendranath Banerji and Gopal Krishna Gokhale
. After graduating he became a Barrister
at the Inner Temple
.
traced the location of the banner of last King Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe, the last king of the Kingdom of Kandy
to the Royal Hospital Chelsea
where it was kept since the surrender of the Kingdom to the British in 1815. The recovered banner became a focal point in the independence movement and it became the flag of the Dominion of Ceylon
upon its independence in 1948.
Wijewardena was in touch with local events and organised the first deputation to the Secretary of State for the Colonies
with Mr. H. J. C. Pereira along with E. W. Perera
. As a result of lobbying benefits Ceylonese were given another concession of a seat in the British dominated Legislative Council
.
To this seat majority of the Sinhala people elected Sir
Ponnambalam Ramanathan
against Sir
(Dr) Marcus Fernando
. He would later organize a second deputation too. He was also instrumental in starting the Temperance movement and the Amadyapa Sabha.
daily and bought its primary competition Ceylon Independent. Together with is brother D. C. Wijewardena he took over the Sinhala language daily Dinamina. This was followed by the publication of a Tamil language
daily.
The publishing company he established was named after it headquarters along the banks of Beira Lake
was named the Lake House Group with its newspaper arm Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n press baron who was a leader in the Sri Lankan independence movement. A successful entrepreneur, he established the Lake House newspapers and played major role in the independence movement.
Family
His brothers were Don Philip Alexander, Don Lewis, Don Charles, Don Edmund, Don Albert and Don Walter and his sisters were Mrs. Arthur Seneviratne and Mrs. E. W. Jayewardene who was the mother of J. R. Jayewardene who would later become President of Sri Lanka
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
. He married Alice Meedeniya, daughter of John Henry Meedeniya a Rate Mahattaya, with whom he had two sons and three daughters, his grandson Ranil Wickremasinghe
Ranil Wickremasinghe
Ranil Shriyan Wickremesinghe , MP, is a Sri Lankan politician and current Leader of the Opposition in the Sri Lankan parliament. He was Prime Minister of Sri Lanka twice, from May 7, 1993 to August 19, 1994 and from December 9, 2001 to April 6, 2004...
would later become Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is the functional head of the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. However, the President is both head of state and head of government in Sri Lanka...
Education
Wijewardena received his primary education at the Sedavatta school after which like all his brothers, completed his secondary education at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia.He then went on to University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in the United Kingdom for higher education. There he developed his interest in politics and met famous personalities such as future leaders of India like Lala Lajpat Rai
Lala Lajpat Rai
Lala Lajpat Rai was an Indian author, freedom fighter and politician who is chiefly remembered as a leader in the Indian fight for freedom from the British Raj. He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari or Sher-e-Punjab meaning the samem and was part of the Lal Bal Pal trio...
, Bepin Chandra Pal, Surendranath Banerji and Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Gopal Krishna Gokhale, CIE was one of the founding social and political leaders during the Indian Independence Movement against the British Empire in India. Gokhale was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress and founder of the Servants of India Society...
. After graduating he became a Barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
.
Political Career
D. R. Wijewardena, and E. W. PereraE. W. Perera
Edward Walter Perera was a Ceylonese barrister, politician and freedom fighter. He was known as the 'Lion of Kotte' and was a prominent figure in the Sri Lankan independence movement and a Senator....
traced the location of the banner of last King Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe, the last king of the Kingdom of Kandy
Kingdom of Kandy
Kingdom of Kandy was an important independent monarchy of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century...
to the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Royal Hospital Chelsea
The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement home and nursing home for British soldiers who are unfit for further duty due to injury or old age, located in the Chelsea region of central London, now the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is a true hospital in the original sense of the word,...
where it was kept since the surrender of the Kingdom to the British in 1815. The recovered banner became a focal point in the independence movement and it became the flag of the Dominion of Ceylon
Dominion of Ceylon
The Dominion of Ceylon, known today as Sri Lanka, was a dominion, in the British Empire between 1948 and 1972. In 1948, British Ceylon was granted independence as the Dominion of Ceylon. In 1972, the Dominion of Ceylon became a republic within the Commonwealth, and its name was changed to Sri Lanka...
upon its independence in 1948.
Wijewardena was in touch with local events and organised the first deputation to the Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
with Mr. H. J. C. Pereira along with E. W. Perera
E. W. Perera
Edward Walter Perera was a Ceylonese barrister, politician and freedom fighter. He was known as the 'Lion of Kotte' and was a prominent figure in the Sri Lankan independence movement and a Senator....
. As a result of lobbying benefits Ceylonese were given another concession of a seat in the British dominated Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
.
To this seat majority of the Sinhala people elected Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Ponnambalam Ramanathan
Ponnambalam Ramanathan
Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, KCMG, KC was a Solicitor-General and Tamil political leader in Sri Lanka.-Early life:...
against Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
(Dr) Marcus Fernando
Marcus Fernando
Sir Hilarian Marcus Fernando, was a pre-independence Ceylonese statesmen, physician and banker. He was a member of both the Executive Council and Legislative Council as well as the Chairman of the State Mortgage Bank of Ceylon.-Education:...
. He would later organize a second deputation too. He was also instrumental in starting the Temperance movement and the Amadyapa Sabha.
Media Baron
Returning to Ceylon he established the Ceylon Daily News an English languageEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
daily and bought its primary competition Ceylon Independent. Together with is brother D. C. Wijewardena he took over the Sinhala language daily Dinamina. This was followed by the publication of a Tamil language
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
daily.
The publishing company he established was named after it headquarters along the banks of Beira Lake
Beira Lake
Beira Lake is a lake in the heart of the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The lake is surrounded by many important businesses in the city. It occupied approximately 165 hectares of land 100 years ago and has been reduced to mere 65 hectares today due to various reasons. During the colonial era of the...
was named the Lake House Group with its newspaper arm Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
See also
- Sri Lankan independence activistSri Lankan independence activistSri Lankan independence activists are those who are considered to have played a major role in the Sri Lankan independence movement from British Colonial rule during the 20th century.-List of National Heroes:*Don Stephen Senanayake...
- Sri Lankan independence movement
- National Heroes of Sri LankaNational Heroes of Sri LankaNational Heroes of Sri Lanka are those who are considered to have played a major role in the Sri Lankan independence struggle from British Colonial rule...
- List of political families in Sri Lanka
- GovigamaGovigamaGovi, Govigama, Goigama, Goygama, Goyigama, Goviyo is the most influential and the dominant Caste in Sri Lanka and certainly comes as the leading cast in the hierarchy of cast system in Sri Lanka.The term Govi denotes farmer.From time immemorial the Govigama have been the landlords and have been...
- List of Govigama people