Susantha de Fonseka
Encyclopedia
Sir Kalutaravedage Deepal Susantha de Fonseka, KBE
(1900–1963) was a Sri Lanka
n statesmen and diplomat. He was the Deputy Speaker of the State Council of Ceylon
and following Ceylon's independence from Britain her first Ambassador
to Burma and first Ambassador
to Japan
.
Fonseka was educated at the prestigious St. John's College Panadura
and went on to study at Downing College, Cambridge
, there he gained his MA
. After leaving Cambridge entered the Inns of Court
and qualified as a barrister
. Apron his return to Ceylon he became the principal of Sri Sumangala College
, Panadura
after which he went on to become the editor of the Morning Leader.
E. A. Nugawela
, who later became a Minister in the first Cabinet of D. S. Senanayake. During this time he joined the newly formed Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force as the first Ceylonese commissioned officer, later his commission was withdrawn for stating in the State Council that the British were under-pricing Ceylon's rubber. He lost his seat in the 1947 general election to a candidate from the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
, marking the end of his political career.
Fonseka later became Ceylon's first Ambassador in Japan. While there, he together with the Professor
G P Malalasekera
, organized a conference of the World Fellowship' of Buddhists. He propagated Theravada Buddhism and built a dagoba in Japan.
Susantha de Fonseka was made a Knight Commander
of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire on 12 April 1954.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1900–1963) 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 statesmen and diplomat. He was the Deputy Speaker of the State Council of Ceylon
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 following Ceylon's independence from Britain her first Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Burma and first Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Early life and education
He was born to Dr C. P. De Fonseka and Muthutantrige Leonora Fernando Sri Chandrasekara a daughter of Muthuthanthrige Simon Fernando Sri Chandrasekera. Susantha de Fonseka was raised by his uncle W Arthur de Silva who was a Minister of Health and a member of the Legislative Council.Fonseka was educated at the prestigious St. John's College Panadura
St. John's College Panadura
St John’s College is a prominent school in Panadura, Sri Lanka, that was founded in 1876. The school has a proud history of more than 100 years and celebrated the 125th anniversary during the year 2000. Even though there were only few girls and boys at the beginning, the number has increased up to...
and went on to study at Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
, there he gained his MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
. After leaving Cambridge entered the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
and qualified as 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...
. Apron his return to Ceylon he became the principal of Sri Sumangala College
Sri Sumangala College
Sri Sumangala College, in Panadura, Sri Lanka, was founded on March 3, 1909 at in memory of Ven.Weligama Sri Sumangala Thero, who played an important role in Sri Lankan Buddhism. It is one of the oldest schools in the country. It is a national school, i.e., it is controlled by the central...
, Panadura
Panadura
- History :The historic debate 'Panadura Vadaya' was held in this place which is a milestone of the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka with the initiative of the ven. Migettuwaththe Gunananda Thera.- People and Culture :Panadura is home to about 100,000 citizens...
after which he went on to become the editor of the Morning Leader.
Political career
Following his journalism career he entered the State Council as member for Panadura for the first time in 1931 and again after the 1936 general election. During the second State Council, when Sir Vaitilingam Duraiswamy was elected speaker, the Fonseka contested the post of Deputy Speaker and won against MajorMajor
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
E. A. Nugawela
E. A. Nugawela
Major E. A. Nugawela, CLI was a Sri Lankan politician. He was the first Cabinet Minister of Education in independent Sri Lanka , later Cabinet Minister of Health , a Member of Parliament & State Council. He is noted for the educational reforms and expansion of the number of state schools during...
, who later became a Minister in the first Cabinet of D. S. Senanayake. During this time he joined the newly formed Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force as the first Ceylonese commissioned officer, later his commission was withdrawn for stating in the State Council that the British were under-pricing Ceylon's rubber. He lost his seat in the 1947 general election to a candidate from the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Lanka Sama Samaja Party
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is a Trotskyist political party in Sri Lanka....
, marking the end of his political career.
Diplomatic career
In 1949 Susantha de Fonseka was appointed as Ceylon's first High Commissioner to Burma. He was a very popular figure in Rangoon, often making speeches in Burmese language. Ambassador de Fonseka built up such close contacts with the Burmese leadership that he was associated with Prime Minister U Na when Karen guerrillas surrendered. Thereafter D. S. Senanayake sent him on an important diplomatic assignment to Peking in 1952. It was this assignment which laid the foundation for the rubber-rice pact between Ceylon and China.Fonseka later became Ceylon's first Ambassador in Japan. While there, he together with the Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
G P Malalasekera
Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera
Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera was a Sri Lankan professor, scholar and diplomat. He was the first Ceylon Ambassador to the Soviet Union,Ceylon High Commissioner in Canada, Ceylon High Commissioner to United Kingdom and Ceylon Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.-Early life...
, organized a conference of the World Fellowship' of Buddhists. He propagated Theravada Buddhism and built a dagoba in Japan.
Susantha de Fonseka was made a Knight Commander
Knight Commander
Knight Commander is the second most senior grade of seven British orders of chivalry, three of which are dormant . The rank entails admission into knighthood, allowing the recipient to use the title 'Sir' or 'Dame' before his or her name...
of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire on 12 April 1954.