William de Silva
Encyclopedia
Peduru Hewage William de Silva (8 December 1908 – 30 July 1988) was a 20th century Ceylonese politician
with Marxist/Trotskyist leanings.
P. H. William de Silva was born at Kahatapitiya
in Batapola
, Ambalangoda, Ceylon, to a wealthy land-owning family. He received his elementary education at Batapola Mixed School and secondary education at St John's College, Panadura
, Richmond College, Galle
, and Ananda College, Colombo
. He studied for one year at the University College Colombo (now the University of Colombo
) and then traveled to England for further studies at University College, Oxford
.
While in England, William de Silva joined the India League and a Marxist study group with other Ceylonese students in London
. He then returned to Ceylon and joined the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
(LSSP). During World War II
, he was an anti-war movement leader and was imprisoned in Bogambara Prison
and Badulla Prison in Sri Lanka
(1943–45). He became a Ceylonese Member of Parliament in 1947 and 1953. He was leader of the All-Ceylon Estate Workers Union and Vice President of the All-Ceylon Congress of Samasamaja Youth Leagues. He separated from the LSSP in October 1953 and joined the Viplavakari Lanka Sama Samaja Party
(VLLSP). He was the founding leader of Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
(MEP). He was Cabinet Minister of Industries and Fisheries in S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
's SLFP-MEP coalition government (1956–59). He became a Member of Parliament in 1960 and was Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(SLFP). In 1970, he became the Ceylon High Commissioner
to Canada
.
De Silvia died aged 80.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
with Marxist/Trotskyist leanings.
P. H. William de Silva was born at Kahatapitiya
Kahatapitiya
Kahatapitiya is a village in Sri Lanka. It is located within Central Province.-External links:*...
in Batapola
Batapola
Batapola is a village located in the Galle District of Sri Lanka.Batapola is 8 km away from the town of Ambalangoda. Batayan lived there, which is where the name derives from....
, Ambalangoda, Ceylon, to a wealthy land-owning family. He received his elementary education at Batapola Mixed School and secondary education at St John's College, 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...
, Richmond College, Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, and Ananda College, Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. He studied for one year at the University College Colombo (now the University of Colombo
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
) and then traveled to England for further studies at University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
.
While in England, William de Silva joined the India League and a Marxist study group with other Ceylonese students in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He then returned to Ceylon and joined the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Lanka Sama Samaja Party
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is a Trotskyist political party in Sri Lanka....
(LSSP). During World War II
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 was an anti-war movement leader and was imprisoned in Bogambara Prison
Bogambara Prison
The Bogambara Prison is a maximum security prison and is the second largest prison in Sri Lanka. Situated in the old city of Kandy in the Central Province it was built in 1876 by the British colonial government under instructions of Inspector General Of Prisons and Police, N.R. Saunders...
and Badulla Prison in 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...
(1943–45). He became a Ceylonese Member of Parliament in 1947 and 1953. He was leader of the All-Ceylon Estate Workers Union and Vice President of the All-Ceylon Congress of Samasamaja Youth Leagues. He separated from the LSSP in October 1953 and joined the Viplavakari Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Viplavakari Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Viplavakari Lanka Sama Samaja Party was a group that broke away from the Trotskyist Lanka Sama Samaja Party, since Philip Gunawardena refused to reconcile with the Bolshevik Samasamaja Party...
(VLLSP). He was the founding leader of Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna is a left-wing political party in Sri Lanka. Today the party is led by Dinesh Gunawardena, son of Philip Gunawardena....
(MEP). He was Cabinet Minister of Industries and Fisheries in S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Solomon Bandaranaike
Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (Sinhala:සොලමන් වෙස්ට් රිජ්වේ ඩයස් බන්ඩාරනායක)(Tamil:சாலமன் வெஸ்ட் ரிச்சர்ட் டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கா)Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (Sinhala:සොලමන් වෙස්ට් රිජ්වේ ඩයස් බන්ඩාරනායක)(Tamil:சாலமன் வெஸ்ட் ரிச்சர்ட் டயஸ்...
's SLFP-MEP coalition government (1956–59). He became a Member of Parliament in 1960 and was Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Sri 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...
(SLFP). In 1970, he became the Ceylon High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
De Silvia died aged 80.
See also
- List of Sri Lankan independence activistsSri 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...
- List of University of Oxford people in public life overseas
- List of alumni of University College, Oxford