Don Stephen Senanayake
Encyclopedia
Don Stephen Senanayake (Sinhala:දොන් ස්ටීවන් සේනානායක) (October 20, 1884–22 March 1952) was an independence activist who served as the first Prime Minister of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
) from 1947 to 1952.
to Mudaliyar
Don Spater Senanayake and Dona Catherina Elizabeth Perera Gunasekera Senanayake. Brought up in a devout Buddhist
family, he entered the prestigious Anglican school S. Thomas' College
on his father's wishes, and converted to Christianity. He later converted to Buddhism to in order to become a politician in the majority Buddhist Sri Lanka
. An intelligent student, he found work in the Surveyor General's Department
, but left work as a superintended on his father's plantation. When World War I
broke out in 1914 he joined the Colombo Town Guard
, however he was imprisoned without charges during the Sinhalese Muslim Riots (known as the 1915 riots) and was faced the prospect of execution.
and after his death in 1926, D. S. took his place Legislative Council
and lead the independence movement. In 1931 when he was elected to the State Council
, and went on to become Minister of Agriculture and Lands. He combated Ceylon's agricultural problems effectively, and established the LDO, an agricultural policy that countered Ceylon's rice problems. This policy earned him respect, and he continued to be a minister for fifteen years. He also enforced "Agricultural Modernisation", which increased production output. During World War II he was a member of the Ceylon war cabinet.
However, he resigned in 1946 from his cabinet post to fight for Ceylon's independence. That same year he founded the United National Party
(UNP) by amalgamating three right-leaning pro-dominion parties, which is still one of the main political parties and perhaps the largest single party in Sri Lanka. In only a year he succeeded, and was elected as Ceylon's first Prime Minister in the general election held in 1947. He refused a knighthood, but maintained good relations with Britain
and was a Privy Councillor. He boldly made plans to spread out the population, and his Gal Oya scheme relocated over 250,000 people.
on the morning of March 22, 1952. He died at the age of sixty-seven.
and some Muslims. However, Tamil
s were not happy with his citizenship laws that disenfranchised virtually all Tamils of recent Indian origin
living in the central highlands. His bold agricultural plans and pro-Western policies, however, attracted criticism for their modern and untraditional nature. Under his family's leadership, Sri Lanka's economy flourished, and D.S. Senanayake is still known as "The Father of Sri Lanka".
(1897–1980) in 1953, but this nine-year family dynasty was ended by a landslide victory for Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike in 1956, campaigning under the "Sinhala Only
" slogan. Dudley Senanayake regained the Prime Ministership in 1960, and again from 1965 to 1970. Rukman Senanayake
, one of his grandsons is a former cabinet minister, former chairman of the UNP, current member of parliament and Assistant Leader of the UNP.
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...
) from 1947 to 1952.
Early life
He was born at Botale, MirigamaMirigama
Mirigama is a town in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. It is located 57 km from Colombo, and 35 km from Bandaranaike International Airport.It is one of the most populated and fastest growing cities in the country and is a major metro....
to Mudaliyar
Sri Lankan Mudaliyars
Mudali was a colonial title & office in Sri Lanka. The Portuguese colonials created the Mudaliyar class in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes form the coastal areas, who were most likely to serve the Portuguese masters with utmost loyalty. The Dutch continued the practice of...
Don Spater Senanayake and Dona Catherina Elizabeth Perera Gunasekera Senanayake. Brought up in a devout Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
family, he entered the prestigious Anglican school S. Thomas' College
S. Thomas' College
The College of St Thomas the Apostle, popularly known as "S. Thomas' College", is a private Anglican school providing primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka...
on his father's wishes, and converted to Christianity. He later converted to Buddhism to in order to become a politician in the majority Buddhist Sri Lanka
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...
. An intelligent student, he found work in the Surveyor General's Department
Department of Survey (Sri Lanka)
The Department of Survey of Sri Lanka is a non-ministerial government department in Sri Lanka. Established on 2 August 1800. It is the oldest government department in the country. The department is responsible for national surveying and mapping...
, but left work as a superintended on his father's plantation. When World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out in 1914 he joined the Colombo Town Guard
Colombo Town Guard
Colombo Town Guard was regiment attached to the Ceylon Defence Force which was the predecessor to the Sri Lanka Army prior to 1949 when the Ceylon Army was formed. It was a volunteer regiment was based in Colombo.-History:...
, however he was imprisoned without charges during the Sinhalese Muslim Riots (known as the 1915 riots) and was faced the prospect of execution.
Politics
Senanayake played an active role in the independence movement first supporting his brother Fredrick Richard SenanayakeFredrick Richard Senanayake
Fredrick Richard Senanayake popularly referred to as F.R. Senanayake) was a Sri Lankan politician and independence activist.-Education:...
and after his death in 1926, D. S. took his place 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 :...
and lead the independence movement. In 1931 when he was elected to the State Council
State Council of Ceylon
The State Council of Ceylon was the unicameral legislature for Ceylon , established in 1931 by the Donoughmore Constitution. The State Council gave universal adult franchise to the people of the colony for the first time...
, and went on to become Minister of Agriculture and Lands. He combated Ceylon's agricultural problems effectively, and established the LDO, an agricultural policy that countered Ceylon's rice problems. This policy earned him respect, and he continued to be a minister for fifteen years. He also enforced "Agricultural Modernisation", which increased production output. During World War II he was a member of the Ceylon war cabinet.
However, he resigned in 1946 from his cabinet post to fight for Ceylon's independence. That same year he founded the United National Party
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
(UNP) by amalgamating three right-leaning pro-dominion parties, which is still one of the main political parties and perhaps the largest single party in Sri Lanka. In only a year he succeeded, and was elected as Ceylon's first Prime Minister in the general election held in 1947. He refused a knighthood, but maintained good relations with Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and was a Privy Councillor. He boldly made plans to spread out the population, and his Gal Oya scheme relocated over 250,000 people.
Death
His other plans included the increase of hydroelectric power, but he suffered a stroke and fell down whilst riding the Police mare ‘Chitra’ at the Galle Face GreenGalle Face Green
The Galle Face is a promenade which stretches for half kilometre along the coast in the heart of financial and business district of Colombo, Sri Lanka...
on the morning of March 22, 1952. He died at the age of sixty-seven.
Legacy
D.S Senanayake is respected by SinhaleseSinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
and some Muslims. However, Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
s were not happy with his citizenship laws that disenfranchised virtually all Tamils of recent Indian origin
Sri Lanka Tamils (Indian origin)
The Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka are Tamil people of Indian origin in Sri Lanka. They are also known as Hill country Tamils, Up-country Tamils or simply Indian Tamils. They are partly descended from workers sent from South India to Sri Lanka in the 19th and 20th centuries to work in coffee, tea and...
living in the central highlands. His bold agricultural plans and pro-Western policies, however, attracted criticism for their modern and untraditional nature. Under his family's leadership, Sri Lanka's economy flourished, and D.S. Senanayake is still known as "The Father of Sri Lanka".
Family
D.S Senanayake married Molly Dunuwila, with whom he had two sons, Dudley Shelton Senanayake (19 June 1911 - 13 April 1973) and Robert Parakrama Senanayake (8 April 1913 - 26 April 1986). His eldest son, Dudley Shelton Senanayake, succeeded him as Prime Minister in 1952, followed by another relative, Sir John KotelawalaJohn Kotelawala
General Sir John Lionel Kotelawala, KBE, CH, KStJ, CLI was a Sri Lankan soldier and politician, most notable for serving as the 3rd Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1953 to 1956....
(1897–1980) in 1953, but this nine-year family dynasty was ended by a landslide victory for Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike in 1956, campaigning under the "Sinhala Only
Sinhala Only Act
The Sinhala Only Act was a law passed in the Ceylonese parliament in 1956...
" slogan. Dudley Senanayake regained the Prime Ministership in 1960, and again from 1965 to 1970. Rukman Senanayake
Rukman Senanayake
Rukman Senanayake, is a long standing Sri Lankan politician and was former Member of Parliament for Kegalle District. He was the ex Vice Leader of the United National Party...
, one of his grandsons is a former cabinet minister, former chairman of the UNP, current member of parliament and Assistant Leader of the UNP.
See also
- List of political families in Sri Lanka
- Dudley Shelton Senanayake
- Rukman SenanayakeRukman SenanayakeRukman Senanayake, is a long standing Sri Lankan politician and was former Member of Parliament for Kegalle District. He was the ex Vice Leader of the United National Party...
External links
- The Senanayake Ancestry
- The Senanayake Clan
- Remembering D S of Botale Walauwa
- Website of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
- United National Party website
- DS Senanayake in Sinhala
- Methek Kathawa Divaina
- Methek Kathawa Divaina
- D.S. Senanayake CollegeD. S. Senanayake CollegeD.S. Senanyake College is a public school in Sri Lanka, named after the first Prime Minister of Independent Sri Lanka, Rt.Hon. D.S. Senanayake. It was established on February 10, 1967 under the stewardship of RIT_Alles.-Overview:...