James Peter Obeyesekere III
Encyclopedia
Deshamanya
James Peter Obeyesekere III (1915 - 23 October 2007) was a Sri Lanka
n politician and aviator. A Senator
, he was also an Acting Cabinet Minister of Health and Finance.
(the chief native interpreter and adviser to the British
Governor of Ceylon
). His grandfather was Sir James Peter Obeyesekere I.
Educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
, Obeyesekere went on to study at Trinity College, Cambridge
gaining a MA. There he was a member of the Cambridge Union Society
and of the Debating Team of Trinity College. An accomplished sportsman, he was awarded a half blue in athletics at Cambridge, later becoming a certified athletics coach and excellent horseman and equestrian.
With the outbreak of World War II
he joined the Cambridge University Air Squadron
becoming a qualified pilot, he was invited to join the Royal Air Force
as a pilot, however he turn down the offer and instead joined the Royal Observer Corps
. In November 1946, he flew his single-engined Taylorcraft Auster
home to Ceylon from England, this was the first Ceylonese to make such a solo flight.
in 1951, Obeyesekere contested the Mirigama
seat in 1952 and in 1960 contested the Attanagalla
seat and won and became a member of parliament. He served as Junior Minister of Health and Finance and acted as the Health Minister on several occasions from 1960 to 1965. Obeyesekere was also a Senator.
A racing enthusiast he competed in many racing events in Sri Lanka, India and England. He won the Grand Prix de Lanka. He was the vice patron of the Classic Car Club of Ceylon and was the only Asian to be elected an Honorary Life Member of the prestigious Bentley Drivers’ Club. He was also members of the British Automobile Racing Club
and of the Cambridge University Automobile Club
.
His aviation interests were also strong as he was the Chairman of the Colombo Flying Club until its takeover by the government. Gifting his Taylorcraft Auster to the Air Force Academy
for pilot training, its engine is displayed at the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
in memory of his flight from England to Ceylon. Obeyesekere was very active in the scout movement and was a former president of the Sri Lanka Scout Association
. In 2006 he was conferred the national honour of Deshamanya
by the government of Sri Lanka.
He married Sivagami Dassanaike, who in 1970 became the Cabinet Minister of Health. They have two children, James Peter Obeyesekere IV and Chantal Obeyesekere.
Deshamanya
Deshamanya is the second highest Sri Lankan national honour awarded by the Government of Sri Lanka as a civil honour.It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the awardee's name....
James Peter Obeyesekere III (1915 - 23 October 2007) was a 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...
n politician and aviator. A Senator
Senate of Ceylon
The Senate of Ceylon was the upper chamber of the parliament of Ceylon established in 1947 by the Soulbury Commission. The Senate was appointed/indirectly elected rather than directly elected. The Senate was housed in the old Legislative Council building in Colombo Fort and met for the first time...
, he was also an Acting Cabinet Minister of Health and Finance.
Family
Born to Sir James Peter Obeyesekere II, a barrister who was an advocate of the colonial era Supreme Court of Ceylon and severed as Maha MudaliyarSri 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...
(the chief native interpreter and adviser to the British
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...
Governor of Ceylon
Governor of Ceylon
The British Governor of Ceylon was an official who ruled Ceylon during the British colonial period between 1798 and 1948....
). His grandfather was Sir James Peter Obeyesekere I.
Education
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
, Obeyesekere went on to study at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
gaining a MA. There he was a member of the Cambridge Union Society
Cambridge Union Society
The Cambridge Union Society, commonly referred to as simply "the Cambridge Union" or "the Union," is a debating society in Cambridge, England and is the largest society at the University of Cambridge. Since its founding in 1815, the Union has developed a worldwide reputation as a noted symbol of...
and of the Debating Team of Trinity College. An accomplished sportsman, he was awarded a half blue in athletics at Cambridge, later becoming a certified athletics coach and excellent horseman and equestrian.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he joined the Cambridge University Air Squadron
University Air Squadron
University Air Squadrons are training units of the Royal Air Force which primarily provide basic flying training, force development and adventurous training to undergraduate students at British universities...
becoming a qualified pilot, he was invited to join the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as a pilot, however he turn down the offer and instead joined the Royal Observer Corps
Royal Observer Corps
The Royal Observer Corps was a civil defence organisation operating in the United Kingdom between 29 October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down....
. In November 1946, he flew his single-engined Taylorcraft Auster
Taylorcraft Aircraft
-Bibliography:* Fromow, Lt-Col. D.L. Canada's Flying Gunners, Air Observation Post Pilot's Association, Ottawa, Canada. 2002. ISBN 0973005505* Simpson, R.W Airlife's General Aviation, Airlife Publishing, England, 1991. ISBN 1 85310 104 X-External links:...
home to Ceylon from England, this was the first Ceylonese to make such a solo flight.
Political Career
A founding member of the Sri Lanka Freedom PartySri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
in 1951, Obeyesekere contested the Mirigama
Mirigama
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....
seat in 1952 and in 1960 contested the Attanagalla
Attanagalla
Attanagalla is an electorate in Gampaha District, situated in the Western Province of Sri Lanka....
seat and won and became a member of parliament. He served as Junior Minister of Health and Finance and acted as the Health Minister on several occasions from 1960 to 1965. Obeyesekere was also a Senator.
A racing enthusiast he competed in many racing events in Sri Lanka, India and England. He won the Grand Prix de Lanka. He was the vice patron of the Classic Car Club of Ceylon and was the only Asian to be elected an Honorary Life Member of the prestigious Bentley Drivers’ Club. He was also members of the British Automobile Racing Club
British Automobile Racing Club
The British Automobile Racing Club is one of biggest organising clubs for auto racing in the United Kingdom.-History:The Cyclecar Club was formed in 1912, running races for the small and light motorbike powered vehicles at Brooklands as well as rallies and sporting trials. Among the founder...
and of the Cambridge University Automobile Club
Cambridge University Automobile Club
The Cambridge University Automobile Club or CUAC is a motor club for members and alumni of the University of Cambridge.It is recognised by the RACMSA...
.
His aviation interests were also strong as he was the Chairman of the Colombo Flying Club until its takeover by the government. Gifting his Taylorcraft Auster to the Air Force Academy
Sri Lanka Air Force Academy
The Air Force Academy is the Sri Lanka Air Force's training and education academy which provides initial training to all SLAF personnel who are preparing to be commissioned officers...
for pilot training, its engine is displayed at the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
The Sri Lanka Air Force Museum is primarily a museum of the Sri Lanka Air Force, its predecessor, the Royal Ceylon Air Force...
in memory of his flight from England to Ceylon. Obeyesekere was very active in the scout movement and was a former president of the Sri Lanka Scout Association
Sri Lanka Scout Association
The Sri Lanka Scout Association , the national Scouting organization of Sri Lanka, was founded in 1912, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1953...
. In 2006 he was conferred the national honour of Deshamanya
Deshamanya
Deshamanya is the second highest Sri Lankan national honour awarded by the Government of Sri Lanka as a civil honour.It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the awardee's name....
by the government of Sri Lanka.
He married Sivagami Dassanaike, who in 1970 became the Cabinet Minister of Health. They have two children, James Peter Obeyesekere IV and Chantal Obeyesekere.