Misplaced Pages

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (October 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Right HonourableDon Stephen SenanayakePC
දොන් ස්ටීවන් සේනානායක
Senanayake in 1934
1st Prime Minister of Ceylon
In office 24 September 1947 – 22 March 1952
Monarchs	George VI Elizabeth II
Governors General	Henry Monck-Mason Moore Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Dudley Senanayake
Leader of the House
In office 2 December 1942 – 4 July 1947
Preceded by	Don Baron Jayatilaka
Succeeded by	S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Minister of Agriculture and Lands
In office 1931–1946
Preceded by	Post created
Succeeded by	Dudley Senanayake
Member of the Ceylon Parliament for Mirigama
In office 14 October 1947 – 22 March 1952
Preceded by	Constituency Created
Succeeded by	John Amaratunga
Personal details
Born	(1884-10-20)20 October 1884 Botale, Mirigama, British Ceylon
Died	22 March 1952(1952-03-22) (aged 67) Colombo, Dominion of Ceylon
Nationality	Ceylonese
Political party	United National Party
Spouse	Molly Dunuwila
Children	Dudley Senanayake Robert Senanayake
Parents	Don Spater Senanayake (father) Dona Catherina Elizabeth Perera Gunasekara (mother)
Residence	Woodlands
Education	S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
Occupation	Planter businessman politician

Don Stephen Senanayake PC (Sinhala: දොන් ස්ටීවන් සේනානායක; Tamil: டி. எஸ். சேனநாயக்கா; 20 October 1884 – 22 March 1952) was a Ceylonese statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of Ceylon, having emerged as the leader of the Sri Lankan independence movement that led to the establishment of self-rule in Ceylon. He is considered as the "Father of the Nation".

Born to an entrepreneur from the village of Botale, Senanayake was educated at S. Thomas' College, Mutwal before briefly working as a clerk in the Surveyor General's Department. Joining the family business, he managed the family estates and the Kahatagaha Graphite Mine. Along with his brothers, Senanayake became active in the temperance movement which grew into the independence movement following 1915 Sinhalese-Muslim riots, in which the Senanayake brothers were imprisoned without charges for 46 days. He was elected unopposed in 1924 to the Legislative Council of Ceylon from Negombo, becoming the Secretary of the unofficial members group of the Legislative Council. In 1931, he was elected to the State Council of Ceylon, where he served as Minister of Agriculture and Lands. He was elected to the first Parliament of Ceylon forming a government and serving as Ceylon's first Prime Minister from 1947 until his death in 1952.

Early life and education

He was born in the village of Botale in the Hapitigam Korale (currently known as Mirigama) on 20 October 1884 to Don Spater Senanayake (1847–1907) and Dona Catherina Elizabeth Perera Gunasekera Senanayake (1852–1949). Spater Senanayake had made his fortune in graphite mining and at the time he was expanding into plantations and investments in the arrack renting franchise. Later he would be awarded the title of Mudaliyar for his philanthropy. Stephen Senanayake had two elder brothers, Don Charles "D. C." Senanayake and Fredrick Richard "F. R." Senanayake; and one sister, Maria Frances Senanayake who married F. H. Dias Bandaranaike.

Brought up in a devout Buddhist family, he entered the prestigious Anglican school S. Thomas' College, Mutwal. Never a studious student, he excelled in sports playing cricket and played in the Royal-Thomian. He later played cricket for the Sinhalese Sports Club and Nondescripts Cricket Club. His contemporaries at S. Thomas's includes D. R. Wijewardena, Sir Paul Pieris, Sir Arthur Wijewardena and Sir Francis Molamure.

Early career

After completing schooling, he worked as a clerk in the Surveyor General's Department but left after a period of apprenticing. He joined his brother D. C. Senanayake in running his father's extensive business holdings. He worked as a planter, introducing the new commercial crop of rubber to the family plantations. He managed the Kahatagaha Graphite Mine, which was owned by his brother F. R. Senanayake wife's family. F. R. Senanayake had married the youngest daughter of Mudaliyar Don Charles Gemoris Attygalle. He was a member of the Low-Country Products Association and of the Orient Club. In 1914, he was appointed as a member of a government commission sent to Madagascar to study and report on their graphite mining industry.

Political career

Early political activism

The three Senanayake brothers were involved in the temperance movement formed in 1912. When World War I broke out in 1914 they joined the Colombo Town Guard. The brothers were arrested and imprisoned without charges during the 1915 riots. They faced the prospect of execution, since the British Governor Sir Robert Chalmers considered the temperance movement as seditious. He was released on a bail bound after 46 days at the Welikada Prison without charges. The heavy-handed suppression of the riots by the British colonial authorities initiated the modern independence movement led by the educated middle class. Don Stephen and Don Charles were prominent members of the political party Lanka Mahajana Sabha. Fredrick Richard and Don Charles were committed supporters of the Young Men's Buddhist Association. D. S. Senanayake played an active role in the independence movement, initially in support of his brother Fredrick Richard.

Legislative Council

In 1924, Senanayake was elected unopposed to the Legislative Council of Ceylon from Negombo. He became the Secretary (similar to a whip) of the unofficial members group of the Legislative Council, activity engaged in proceedings with a particular interest in subjects related to agriculture, lands, and irrigation. He questioned in the Legislative Council the biased policies of the colonial administration in the plantain industry, the cost overruns of the Batticaloa line and the Trincomalee line, the delays in the Norton Bridge Dam, and advocated for the establishment of the first university in the island close to Kandy. In 1927, he acted on behalf of Gerard Wijeyekoon in the Executive Council. When his brother F.R. died on a pilgrimage to Buddha Gaya in 1925, Don Stephen assumed his leadership of the independence movement.

State Council of Ceylon

In 1931 he was elected to the newly formed State Council of Ceylon representing the Ceylon National Congress. At the first siting of the State Council, he was elected as Minister of Agriculture and Lands to chair the state council committee on Agriculture and Lands.

Minister of Agriculture and Lands

As Minister of Agriculture and Lands, he initiated a policy that effectively combated Ceylon's agricultural problems, established the Land Development Ordinance, and introduced an agricultural policy to counter Ceylon's rice problems. This policy earned him respect of many, and he continued to be a minister for fifteen years, having been re-elected in 1936. He also enforced a productivity programme of "Agricultural Modernisation". He introduced the Land Bill, expanded the co-operative movement in Ceylon, and assisted in the founding of the Bank of Ceylon. In 1938, he introduced the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance, establishing the Yala National Park. In 1940, following a heated discussion with the Governor which resulted from the Inspector General of Police refusing to follow a request by the Minister of Home Affairs, Senanayake gave his resignation, which was followed by the other Ministers. The resignations were withdrawn shortly following settlement with the Governor.

World War II

At the onset of World War II in the far east, on 1 December 1941 a Civil Defence Department was formed with Oliver Goonetilleke as Commissioner. D. S. Senanayake, as Minister of Agriculture and Lands and a member of the Ceylon war council took an active role in food supply and control. He was tasked with many defence projects, including rapid construction of an airfield at the Colombo Racecourse, which he achieved, making it available for the defence of Ceylon during the Easter Sunday Raid.

During this time a close relationship developed between Senanayake and the deputy commissioner of civil defence, Dr. Ivor Jennings, who was the principal of the Ceylon University College. Dr. Jennings, an expert on constitutional law, subsequently became Senanayake's adviser on constitutional reforms aimed at gaining independence for the island.

Gaining independence

In December 1942, Senanayake became the Leader of the House and Vice Chairman of the Board of Ministers in the State Council, upon the retirement of Sir Baron Jayatilaka, Minister of Home Affairs. On 26 May 1943, the British Government made the Whitehall Declaration of 1943 on Ceylon constitutional change, which enabled ministers to make submissions. This bypassed the Governor, who called for a commission from the colonial office to halt the activities of the ministers. Senanayake resigned from the National Congress disagreeing with its resolution on independence and instead approached the commission with his proposal of dominion status and they accepted the ministers' submissions, publishing these in the Sessional Paper XIV of 1944. In 1944, the Soulbury Commission was formed. In 1945, he proceeded to London to meet the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Oliver Stanley. On his arrival in London, he met instead the newly appointed George Hall, who had succeeded Stanley following Labour's win in the 1945 general election. He resigned his ministry in 1946 to push for full independence. That year he formed the United National Party (UNP) by amalgamating three right-leaning pro-Dominion parties.

The granting of independence to India in 1947 and the appointment of Arthur Creech Jones as Colonial Secretary gave a new window for Senanayake to push for his case, using the new constitution that was recommended by the Soulbury Commission. In the negotiations that followed, the British government accepted Senanayake's proposals for constitutional change and self-rule. Senanayake presented the Soulbury Constitution to the State Council which voted it in, with only three votes against it.

Parliamentary elections were held from 23 August – 20 September 1947. Senanayake was contested for the first time in the Mirigama electorate, having been elected uncontested in all previous elections. He won the seat by a majority of over 16,000 votes against Edmund Samarakkody of the Bolshevik–Leninist Party of India, Ceylon and Burma. Senanayake's party, the UNP, fell short of a majority at the general election but was able to form a government in coalition with the All Ceylon Tamil Congress.

On 24 September 1947 he was invited by the Governor General of Ceylon Sir Henry Moore to form the island's first cabinet as its first Prime Minister. On 11 November 1947, Senanayake and Sir Henry signed agreements between Ceylon and Britain including a defence pact and public service agreements that paved the way for independence of Ceylon. The "Independence Bill of Ceylon" was passed in December 1947. On 4 February 1948, Ceylon marked its independence with a ceremonial opening of parliament.

First prime minister

With his accession, Senanayake began the process of establishing institutions needed for an independent state. While most domestic institutions existed, Ceylon remained dependent on Britain for trade, defence and external affairs. He turned down a knighthood but maintained good relations with Britain and was the first Ceylonese to be appointed to the Privy Council in 1950.

National development

He boldly made plans to spread out the population, and his Gal Oya scheme relocated over 250,000 people. He expanded the agrarian policies he had initiated during his tenure as Minister of Agriculture and Lands, a post now held by his son Dudley Senanayake. With a rapidly expanding population and food shortages faced during the war, Senanayake aimed to increase local food production to be self-sustainable. Renovation of sites of historic importance in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa took place at this time. Senanayake also proposed expansion of hydro-electric power in the island.

Citizenship

Senanayake's government introduced the Ceylon Citizenship Act which was passed by parliament on 20 August 1948 and became law on 15 November 1948. Only about 5,000 Indian Tamils qualified for citizenship. More than 700,000 people, about 11% of the population, were denied citizenship and made stateless. The bill had been opposed fiercely in Parliament by the Ceylon Indian Congress, which represented the Indian Tamils, and the Sinhalese leftist parties, as well as the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, which represented the Sri Lankan Tamils, including its leader G.G. Ponnambalam. This was followed by the Indian and Pakistani Residents (Citizenship) Act No.3 of 1949 and the Ceylon (Parliamentary Elections) Amendment Act No.48 of 1949.

Foreign policy

Senanayake held the portfolio of Ministry of External Affairs and Defence. He developed Ceylon's post-independence foreign policy, establishing formal relations with foreign nations. Initially gaining membership of the Commonwealth and establishing diplomatic ties other member countries, he established diplomatic relations with the United States and Japan. He established the Ceylon Overseas Service to build a cadre of career diplomats. He hosted the Commonwealth Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Colombo in January 1950. One of the significant outcomes of this conference was the establishment of the Colombo Plan.

Defence

Although Ceylon had maintained a small volunteer force for the defense of colony, Senanayake introduced the Army Act (1949), Navy Act (1950), and the Air Force Act (1951) establishing the Armed forces of Ceylon. Having engaged in Defence Agreement with Britain when gaining independence, Senanayake retained British bases in Ceylon and gained her assistance in training and arming its new military.

Political challenges

In the early years of Senanayake's premiership he faced opposition and a lot of criticism from many of the leftist parties. He soon had difficulties with one of the strongest members of his cabinet and leader of the largest factions of his party, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. Bandaranaike joined his Sinhala Maha Sabha in forming the UNP in 1947, having given the impression that Senanayake would soon retire and he would succeed him. With no signs of Senanayake retiring and conflicts with Senanayake on hardline nationalist policies he had, in 1951, Bandaranaike resigned from his posts, dissolved the Sinhala Maha Sabha, and established the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Senanayake assumed the portfolio of Health and Local Government held by Bandaranaike and began countering his break in parliament for the next few months.

Death

On the morning of Friday, 21 March 1952, Don Stephen Senanayake took his usual pre-breakfast ride on Galle Face Green, a short distance from his official residence Temple Trees. He was riding one of his favorite horses, Chitra, a mare belonging to the mounted police. Accompanying him on that day was Sir Richard Aluwihare, the IGP; G.G. Ponnambalam, a cabinet minister, and Inspector Eddie Grey. The horse broke into a gallop from a canter and went on for a mile, when suddenly the Prime Minister fell off the saddle.

He was taken to a nursing home where he remained unconscious for the next thirty-two hours. It was believed that he had suffered a stroke. He was treated by Dr. M. V. P. Pieris, Ceylon's seniormost surgeon, and a team of Professors from the University of Manitoba who had been visiting Ceylon as part of a WHO medical mission. A radio message was sent for Sir Hugh Cairns, who decided to fly out to Ceylon to attend the Prime Minister. Winston Churchill ordered an RAF Hastings with a double crew to take Sir Hugh. However, the aircraft, with three more doctors and two nurses, was taxiing to take off when the message was received that it was too late, as the Prime Minister's situation was deteriorating. Two more neurosurgeons from India and Pakistan had reached Colombo too late to make a difference. Senanayake died at 3:30 pm on 22 March 1952.

His remains were taken to Temple Trees, where they lay until the next morning, when they were moved to the House of Representatives to lay in state, with over half a million persons showing their respects. His state funeral followed with over 32,000 people taking part in the funeral procession and with the stage barring the coffin drawn by sailors of the Royal Ceylon Navy. The procession ended at Independence Square where the remains were cremated in accordance with Sinhalese Buddhist rites.

Personal life

Senanayake cared for animals and owned a wide range of pets such as elephants, horses, pigs, cattle; many kept at his estate and at the Bothale Walawwa. A keen horticulturist, he grew orchids and would typically wear an orchid in the lapel of his suit. He suffered from diabetes most of his later life.

Marriage and children

D. S. Senanayake married Molly Dunuwila in 1910. She was the daughter of R. R. Dunuwila, then secretary of the Colombo Municipal Council and Grace Jayatilaka, daughter of Frederick Jayatilaka of the Ceylon Civil Service and District Judge of Kalutara. They 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 his nephew, Sir John Kotelawala (1897–1980) in 1953, but this nine-year family dynasty ended with the landslide victory of Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike in 1956, campaigning under the "Sinhala Only" slogan. Dudley Senanayake regained the premiership brefly in 1960, and served again from 1965 to 1970. Rukman Senanayake, one of his grandsons, served as a cabinet minister and member of parliament. Two of his great-grandsons, Vasantha Senanayake, and Ruwan Wijewardene, served as state ministers and members of parliament.

Legacy

D. S. Senanayake is respected by Sinhalese and some Muslims. However, Tamils were not happy with his citizenship laws, which disenfranchised virtually all Tamils of recent Indian origin living in the central highlands. His bold agricultural plans and pro-Western policies drew criticism for their modern and untraditional nature. Under his family's leadership, Sri Lanka's economy flourished, and he is still known as "The Father of Sri Lanka".

Statues of D. S. Senanayake have been erected in many parts of the island, including one at the Independence Memorial Hall and at the Old Parliament Building, Colombo. The lake created by the Gal Oya Dam has been named as the Senanayake Samudraya after him. Many schools, libraries and public buildings have been named in his honor and the Rt Hon D S Senanayake Memorial Shield is awarded at the Royal–Thomian in which he played for S. Thomas' in 1901 and 1902.

Electoral history

See also

• List of political families in Sri Lanka
• Nidahase Piya DS, a biographical film based on DS's life

References

1. ^ Parliament of Sri Lanka – Handbook of Parliament, Prime Ministers Archived 25 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
2. Sri Lankan Sinhalese Family Genealogy, The Don Bartholomews Senanayake Family Tree
3. ^ "D.S. Senanayake – The Father of the Nation". www.dailymirror.lk.
4. Don Stephen Senanayake, the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka by H. A. J. Hulugalle
5. Nobodies to Somebodies: The Rise of the Colonial Bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka, Kumari Jayawardena, pp. 192-3 & 267 (Zed) ISBN 9781842772287
6. DS hobnobbed with the mighty but kept the common touch Archived 29 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine
7. Don Stephen Senanayake
8. ^ "D. S. Senanayake: A leader with extraordinary vision".
9. "Don Stephen Senanayake, First Prime Minister of Sri Lanka".
10. "The Sara Legend The launch of the autobiography of Manicasothy Saravanamuttu".
11. "Remembering the 'Father of the Nation'". Archived from the original on 29 March 2003.
12. "D. S. Senanayake | prime minister of Ceylon". Encyclopedia Britannica.
13. Tambiah, Stanley Jeyaraja (1992). Buddhism Betrayed?: Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka. University of Chicago Press. p. 7. ISBN 0-226-78950-0.
14. Gunasinghe, Newton (2004). "4: The Open Economy and Its Impact on Ethnic Relations in Sri Lanka". In Winslow, Deborah; Woost, Michael D. (eds.). Economy, Culture, and Civil War in Sri Lanka. Indiana University Press. p. 99. ISBN 0-253-34420-4.
15. ^ "The Stalwarts In The Struggle For Independence In Sri Lanka". Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
16. Don Stephen Senanayake, First Prime Minister of Sri Lanka by H. A. J. Hulugalle (The Island) Retrieved 2015-11-08
17. D. S. Senanayake: A leader with extraordinary vision by Walter Wijenayake (The Island) Retrieved 2015-11-08
18. ^ Rajasingham K. T. Sri Lanka: The Untold Story Asia Times, Ch. 10, 19 October 2001. Retrieved 12 June 2015
19. ^ "The Sunday Times Plus Section". www.sundaytimes.lk.
20. What caused the rift between D.S. and Sir Baron by Drene Terana Sariffodeen (Sunday Times) Retrieved 2015-11-08
21. J.R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka: 1906–1956 by K. M. De Silva, William Howard Wriggins, p. 127-8 & 168-70 (Univ of Hawaii) ISBN 9780824811839
22. Sinhalese Parties, Country Studies, Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress
23. "No. 38797". The London Gazette. 30 December 1949. p. 1.
24. "D.S. Senanayake – A nation's father, undisputed leader of all time | Daily FT". www.ft.lk.
25. Imbulana, ChaRNika. "D. S. SENANAYAKE A NATION'S FATHER and Undisputed Leader". Daily News.
26. Apparthuray Vinayagamoorthy (8 November 2003). "103rd Birth Anniversary today : G. G. Ponnambalam - Founder of ACTC". Daily News, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
27. Ethnic Conflict of Sri Lanka: Time Line - From Independence to 1999 Archived 2009-12-12 at the Wayback Machine, International Centre for Ethnic Studies
28. Richardson (2005), Paradise Poisoned, p. 145.
29. "In memory of their kindness".
30. "Moulding forever". www.sundaytimes.lk.

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
• Funeral Of D.S. Senanayake 1952
• Portraits of D. S. Senanayake at the National Portrait Gallery, London

v t e Prime ministers of Sri Lanka (List)
Don Stephen Senanayake Dudley Senanayake John Kotelawala S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Wijeyananda Dahanayake Dudley Senanayake Sirimavo Bandaranaike Dudley Senanayake Sirimavo Bandaranaike Junius Richard Jayewardene Ranasinghe Premadasa Dingiri Banda Wijetunga Ranil Wickremesinghe Chandrika Kumaratunga Sirimavo Bandaranaike Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Ranil Wickremesinghe Mahinda Rajapaksa Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Disanayaka Jayaratne Ranil Wickremesinghe Mahinda Rajapaksa Ranil Wickremesinghe Mahinda Rajapaksa Ranil Wickremesinghe Dinesh Gunawardena Harini Amarasuriya

v t e Leaders of the House
Jayatilaka D. S. Senanayake Bandaranaike Kotelawala Jayewardene C.P. de Silva Jayewardene C.P. de Silva M. Senanayake Premadasa Wickremesinghe Mendis Wickremanayake Pathirana Lokubandara Sirisena N.S. de Silva Kiriella Gunawardena Premajayantha Rathnayake

v t e ← Members of the 1924 Legislative Council of Ceylon (1924 (1924)–1931) →
President: Hugh Clifford (1924–27); Murchison Fletcher (1927–28); Herbert Stanley (1928–31); Bernard Henry Bourdillon (1931); Graeme Thomson (1931) Vice President: James Peiris (1924–1930); Don Baron Jayatilaka (1930–31)
Ex offico Members (5)	General Officer Commanding the Troops Harold Higginson Colonial Secretary Cecil Clementi Murchison Fletcher Edward Bruce Alexander Attorney General Lancelot Elphinstone Controller of Revenue Edward Bruce Alexander Walter Ernest Wait Colonial Treasurer Wilfrid Wentworth Woods
Nominated Members (10)	Official Members (7) Frank Arthur Stockdale Lachlan Macrae John Strachan James Frederick Edmund Bridger Francis Graeme Tyrrell Thomas Reid Maas Thajoon Akbar Unofficial Members (3) Hermann Albert Loos Gerard Wijeyekoon Kadiravalepillai Balasingham
Elected Members (34)	Territorial (24) Colombo Town (North) (1) Victor Corea Colombo Town (South) (1) James Peiris Colombo District (1) Don Baron Jayatilaka Negombo District (1) D. S. Senanayake Kalutara Revenue District (1) E. W. Perera Western Province (Ceylon Tamil) (1) Arunachalam Mahadeva Central Province (Urban) (1) Gerard Wijeyekoon Central Province (Rural) (1) George E. de Silva Northern Province (Northern) (1) Ponnambalam Ramanathan Northern Province (Southern) (1) A. Canagaratnam Northern Province (Eastern) (1) T. M. Sabaratnam (from 19 Feb. 1925) Northern Province (Western) (1) Waithilingam Duraiswamy Northern Province (Central) (1) Suppiramaniam Rajaratnam Southern Province (Eastern) (1) V. S. de S. Wikramanayake Southern Province (Central) (1) Forester Augustus Obeyesekere Southern Province (Western) (1) C. W. W. Kannangara Trincomalee Revenue District (1) M. M. Subramaniam Batticaloa Revenue District (1) E. R. Tambimuttu North Western Province (Western Division) (1) C. H. Z. Fernando North Western Province (Eastern Division) (1) Godfrey Edward Madawala North Central Province (1) H. R. Freeman Province of Uva (1) Henry Kotelawala Kegalla Revenue District (1) Alexander Francis Molamure Ratnapura Revenue District (1) Arthur Hamilton Ekneligoda Molamure Communal (10) European (Urban) (1) Unfinished European (Rural) (1) Unfinished Commercial (1) Unfinished Burgher (2) George Alfred Henry Wille Nathaniel John Martin Muhammadan (3) Mohamed Macan Markar N. H. M. Abdul Cader T. B. Jayah Indian (2) I. X. Pereira S. R. Muhammad Sultan K. Natesa Iyer (from 11 Dec. 1925) Unknown Thomas Yates Wright Edwin James Hayward William Loring Kindersley Thomas Southorn (until 1925) George Thornton Alfred Henry Frank Clarke (from 26 Nov. 1924) W. A. de Silva (from 19 Feb. 1925) Punchi Banda Rambukwelle (from 19 Feb. 1925) Thomas Lister Villiers (from 19 Nov. 1925) Neill Graeme Campbell (from Mar. 1926)

v t e ← Members of the 2nd State Council of Ceylon (1936 (1936)–1947) →
Speaker: Waithilingam Duraiswamy Chief Secretary: Graeme Tyrrell (1936-1939), Maxwell MacLagan Wedderburn (1939-1940), Guy Stanley Wodeman (1940-1942), Robert Drayton (1942-1946)
Central Province (8)	Abeyratne Ratnayaka E. A. Nugawela Senerat Gunewardene K. Natesa Iyer George E. de Silva Bernard Aluwihare E. W. Abeygunasekera M. D. Banda Bennet Soysa S. P. Vythilingam
Eastern Province (2)	S. O. Canagaratnam S. Dharmaretnam E. R. Tambimuttu V. Nalliah
Northern Province (5)	Arunachalam Mahadeva S. Natesan Waithilingam Duraiswamy R. Sri Pathmanathan Joseph Isaac Gnanamuttu Jaganathan Tyagaraja G. G. Ponnambalam
North Central Province (1)	H. R. Freeman P. B. Bulankulame
North Western Province (5)	Claude Corea R. S. Tennekoon John Kotelawala Siripala Samarakkody Richard Gotabhaya Senanayake J. H. Ilangantileke U. B. Wanninayake
Sabaragamuwa Province (5)	H. A. Goonesekera Alexander Francis Molamure N. M. Perera Robert Edward Jayatilaka Dudley Senanayake Harris Leuke Ratwatte Jayaweera Kuruppu
Southern Province (7)	Francis de Zoysa Patrick de Silva Kularatne H. W. Amarasuriya D. M. Rajapaksa D. A. Rajapaksa Raja Hewavitarne R. C. Kannangara S. A. Wickramasinghe Neil Hewavitarne Simon Abeywickrema David Wanigasekera
Uva Province (3)	Henry Kotelawala D. D. Gunasekera J. G. Rajakulendran G. C. Rambukpotha Wijeyananda Dahanayake
Western Province (14)	Philip Gunawardena Bernard Jayasuriya A. E. Goonesinha M. C. M. Kaleel George R. de Silva Naysum Saravanamuttu A. P. de Zoysa D. P. Jayasuriya A. P. Jayasuriya Charles Batuwantudawe Upali Batuwantudawe Don Baron Jayatilaka J. R. Jayewardene C. W. W. Kannangara D. S. Senanayake W. A. de Silva Thomas Amarasuriya A. E. Rajapakse C. E. P. de Silva H. de Z. Siriwardena Susantha de Fonseka S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Appointed (8)	Burgher George Alfred Henry Wille European John William Oldfield Maurice John Cary Evelyn Charles Villiers R. P. Gaddum Evelyn Charles Villiers Indian Tamil I. X. Pereira Muslim Razik Fareed T. B. Jayah Unknown Howard Frank Parfitt Hubert Ernest Newnham Clement Johnston Black Francis Huntly Griffith George Roland Whitby

v t e ← // Members of the 1st Parliament of Ceylon (1947 (1947)–1952) →
Speaker: Alexander Francis Molamure/Albert Peries Prime Minister: D. S. Senanayake/Dudley Senanayake Leader of the Opposition: N. M. Perera
Central Province (15)	M. D. Banda George E. de Silva T. B. Ilangaratne, Tamara Kumari Ilangaratne Senerat Gunewardene R. S. Pelpola Karuppiah Kumaravelu G. R. Motha Abdul Aziz V. T. Nanayakkara E. A. Nugawela T. B. Panabokke H. R. U. Premachandra K. Rajalingam H. B. Rambukwella Abeyratne Ratnayaka H. B. Tenne Savumiamoorthy Thondaman C. V. Velupillai
Eastern Province (7)	A. R. A. M. Abubucker S. U. Ethirmanasingham M. M. Ebrahim M. S. Kariapper Ahamed Lebbe Sinne Lebbe V. Nalliah S. Sivapalan
Northern Province (9)	S. J. V. Chelvanayakam K. Kanagaratnam V. Kumaraswamy G. G. Ponnambalam T. Ramalingam C. Sittampalam C. Suntharalingam Alfred Thambiayah C. Vanniasingam
North Central Province (5)	P. L. Bauddhasara P. B. Bulankulame S. H. Mahadiulwewa T. B. Poholiyadde Maithripala Senanayake
North Western Province (10)	Ivan Dassanayake J. J. Fernando Kavisena Herath I. M. R. A. Iriyagolle Hameed Hussain Sheikh Ismail John Kotelawala Albert Peries Richard Gotabhaya Senanayake Herbert Sri Nissanka Tikiri Banda Subasinghe
Sabaragamuwa Province (10)	C. E. Attygalle D. F. Hettiarachchi N. H. Keerthiratne E. W. Mathew Alexander Francis Molamure Jayaweera Kuruppu N. M. Perera Reginald Perera Harris Leuke Ratwatte Dudley Senanayake Florence Senanayake
Southern Province (12)	H. D. Abeygoonewardane Simon Abeywickrema H. W. Amarasuriya Wijeyananda Dahanayake William de Silva Arthur de Zoysa Walwin de Silva) D. S. Goonesekera Montague Jayawickrama P. Kumarasiri D. A. Rajapaksa Lakshman Rajapaksa V. G. W. Ratnayake W. Wickremasinghe
Uva Province (7)	Leo Fernando J. C. T. Kotelawala K. V. Nadarajah D. Ramanujam J. A. Rambukpota S. M. Subbaiah K. D. Sugathadasa
Western Province (20)	S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Somaweera Chandrasiri R. A. de Mel T. F. Jayewardene Colvin R. de Silva George R. de Silva A. Ekanayake Gunasinha Cholomondeley Goonewardene Philip Gunawardena Kusumasiri Gunawardena Robert Gunawardena T. B. Jayah M. C. M. Kaleel A. P. Jayasuriya D. P. Jayasuriya J. R. Jayewardene D. D. Karunaratne P. P. Jayawardena Pieter Keuneman Wilmot A. Perera Henry Peiris D. S. Senanayake S. A. Silva H. de Z. Siriwardena
Appointed (6)	E. F. N. Gratiaen Rosslyn Koch F. H. Griffith R. Singleton-Salmon J. A. Martenze J. W. Oldfield S. A. Pakeman G. R. Whitby

• Ministers of foreign affairs of Sri Lanka
• 1884 births
• 1952 deaths
• Alumni of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
• Ceylonese military personnel
• Ceylonese people of World War II
• Converts to Buddhism
• Ministers of defence of Sri Lanka
• Leaders of the United National Party
• Members of the Legislative Council of Ceylon
• Members of the 1st Parliament of Ceylon
• Ceylonese members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
• Members of the 1st State Council of Ceylon
• Members of the 2nd State Council of Ceylon
• National Heroes of Sri Lanka
• Prime ministers of Sri Lanka
• Prisoners and detainees of British Ceylon
• Senanayake family
• Sri Lankan Buddhists
• Sri Lankan independence movement
• Sri Lankan mining businesspeople
• Sri Lankan prisoners and detainees