Anagarika Dharmapala (17 September 1864 - 29 April 1933) was a leading figure of Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was a pioneer in the revival of Buddhism in India after it had been virtually extinct there for several centuries, and he was the first Buddhist in modern times to preach the Dharma in three continents: Asia, North America, and Europe. He was a major reformer and revivalist of Sri Lankan Buddhism.

He was born Don David Hewavitarne in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Don Carolis Hewavitharana and Mallika Dharmagunawardhana (the daughter of Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana), who were among the richest merchants of Ceylon. His younger brother was Dr Charles Alwis Hewavitharana.

'Dharmapala' means 'protector of the dharma'. 'Anagarika', a term coined by Dharmapala, means "homeless one." It is a midway status between monk and layperson. As such, he took the eight precepts (against killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, harmful speech, intoxication, eating after noon, entertainments and fashionable attire, and luxurious beds)

The young Dharmapala helped Colonel Olcott in his work, particularly by acting as his translator. Dharmapala also became quite close to Madame Blavatsky, who advised him to study Pāli and to work for the good of humanity - which is what he did. It was at this time that he changed his name to Dharmapala (meaning "Guardian of the Dharma").

Most of Dharmapala's works are collected in Return to Righteousness: A Collection of Speeches, Essays, and Letters of the Anagarika Dharmapala. (Edited by Ananda Gurunge. Colombo: Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, 1965).

Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (August 2, 1832 – February 17, 1907) was an American military officer, journalist, lawyer and the co-founder and first President of the Theosophical Society.

Olcott was the first well-known person of European ancestry to make a formal conversion to Buddhism. His subsequent actions as president of the Theosophical Society helped create a renaissance in the study of Buddhism. Olcott is considered a Buddhist modernist for his efforts in interpreting Buddhism through a Westernized lens.

Olcott was a major revivalist of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and he is still honored in Sri Lanka for these efforts. Olcott has been called by Sri Lankans "one of the heroes in the struggle of our independence and a pioneer of the present religious, national and cultural revival." More ardent admirers have claimed that Olcott as a Bodhisattva.

Olcott was born in 1832 in Orange, New Jersey. Henry was the oldest son of six children born to a Presbyterian businessman Henry Wyckoff Olcott and his wife Emily Steel Olcott. In 1860 he married Mary Epplee Morgan, daughter of the rector of Trinity parish, New Rochelle, New York. They had four children, two of which died in infancy.

The Buddhist Catechism, composed by Olcott in 1881, represents one of his most enduring contributions to the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, and it remains in use there still today. The text outlines what Olcott saw to be the basic doctrines of Buddhism, including the life of the Buddha, the message of the Dharma, the role of the Sanga. The text also treats how the Buddha’s message correlates with contemporary society. Olcott was considered by South Asians and others as a Buddhist revivalist.

Olcott was President of the Theosophical Society until his death on February 17, 1907.Two major streets in Colombo and Galle have been named Olcott Mawatha, to commemorate him. A statue of him has been built in front of Colombo Fort Railway Station. The date of his death is often remembered by Buddhist centers and Sunday schools in present-day Sri Lanka, as well as in Theosophical communities around the globe. Olcott believed himself to be Asia's savior, the outsider hero who would sweep in at the end of the drama to save a disenchanted subcontinent from spiritual death.[16]

Olcott and Anagarika Dharmapala were associates, which reflects both men’s awareness of the divide between East and West - as seen in their presentation of Buddhism to the West

Literary Works

Sorgho and Imphee, the Chinese and African sugar canes; A. O. Moore, New York 1857 Outlines of the first course of Yale agricultural lectures; C. M. Saxton, Barker & Co.,

New York 1860 Descendents of Thomas Olcott, 1872 Human Spirits and Elementaries; 1875 People from the other world; American Publishing Co., Hartford 1875 A Buddhist catechism; Madras 1881 Theosophy, Religion, and Occult Science; New York 1885 Old Diary Leaves (6 volumes) The Hindu Dwaita Catechism; 1886 The Golden Rules of Buddhism; 1887 The kinship between Hinduism and Buddhism; The Maha-Bodhi society, Calcutta 1893 The Poor Pariah; Addison & Co., Madras 1902 The Life of the Buddha and its Lessons; 1912 Old diary leaves, Inside the occult, the true story of Madame H. P. Blavatsky; Running

Press, Philadelphia 1975 (

Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, KCMG, KC (15 April 1851 - 30 November 1930) was a Solicitor-General and Tamil political leader in Sri Lanka.

His father was Gate Mudaliyar Arunachalam Ponnambalam and mother was Sellachchi Ammaiyar, both belonging to the Vellala caste. He was leader brother of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam who was another famous Sri Lankan Tamil leader. Ramanathan was educated at the Colombo Academy (Royal College, Colombo}, and enrolled as an Advocate from 1873 to 1886.

Ramanathan was nominated as an unofficial Member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon from 1879 to 1892 representing the Tamil-speaking people. He positioned himself as a representative of all communities in the Island. About 1890, Ramanathan had several conferences with the American Theosophist Col. Henry Steele Olcott about the feasibility of founding a Hindu-Buddhist College for the benefit of the Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus.[1] He was then appointed by the Governor of Ceylon as Solicitor-General in 1892 and functioned as such until 1906, and acted as Attorney-General on several occasions during this period

Ramanathan was nominated by the Government to represent Ceylon as a delegate to the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria in 1897 at London. He was described by Lord Salisbury as the most accomplished speaker in the British Empire and the Queen awarded him a gold medal on the occasion.

He was the founder of Uduvil Ramanathan Girls College and Parameshwara College Parameshwara College of Jaffna which later became the University of Jaffna [

Riots of 1915

During the widespread and prolonged Sinhalese-Muslim Riots of 1915 (from May 28—June 5, 1915) the British Governor came down with a heavy hand on the Sinhalese community. The Governor declared Martial Law (June 2—August 30, 1915)[4] and ordered the Police and the Army to arrest and imprison several prominent Sinhalese leaders. Among those imprisoned were D. S. Senanayake, D. R. Wijewardena, Dr. Cassius Pereira, E. T. De Silva, F.R. Dias Bandaranaike, H. Amarasuriya, A.H. Molamure and several others. It was reported that other leaders were shot without trial. On the request of Anagarika Dharmapala, Ramanathan came to the rescue of the Sinhalese community and fought hard and long against the tyranny of the British Government.

D. S. Senanayake, the first Sri Lankan prime minister, called Ramanathan ‘the greatest Ceylonese of all times’, while Sir Baron Jayatilaka, the Head of the Cabinet in the State Council, referred to him as ‘the greatest man Ceylon has produced during the past 50 years.’[5]] K.G.Dilana Sandaruwan.

Family

Ponnambalam Ramanathan married Miss Sellachchi Ammal, daughter of Mudaliyar E. Nannithamby of Manipay. They had three sons and three daughters. Later, when his first wife died, he was remarried to Leelawathy Ramanathan, née R. L. Harrison

Selected writings

Ramanathan availed himself of this period of service as a senior Law Officer of the Crown to introspect and produce very illuminating writings on Christian and Hindu spiritual themes.

An Eastern Exposition of the Gospel of Jesus According to St. Matthew (1898) An Eastern Exposition of the Gospel of Jesus According to St. John (1902) The Culture of the Soul Among Western Nationals (1907)) The Spirit of the East Contrasted with the Spirit of the West (1905) On Faith or Love of God (1897) Tamil translation of Bhagavat Gheetha (1914) Tirukkural (1919) Shri Ramanatha Dharmasastra (lesson)

Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka (13 February 1868 - 29 May 1944) was a Sri Lankan educationalist, politician and diplomat.

Born at Waragoda, Kelaniya, he was the eldest male child of Don Daniel Jayatilaka, a government contractor, and his wife Liyanage Dona Elisiyana Perera Weerasinha. He had two brothers, and two

sisters, both of whom died young.

When he was seven years Jayatilaka was sent to the Vidyalankara Pirivena, where he learned Sinhala, Pali and Sanskrit by Ratmalane Sri Dharmaloka Thera. To study English and other subjects in the English medium, he was sent to the local Baptist school from where he was sent to Wesley College in 1881, there he passed the junior and senior Cambridge examinations, traveling daily by cart from Kelaniya to the Pettah. He served as the Principal of Dharmaraja College and Ananda College.

Don Baron Jayatilaka was knighted in 1943.

In 1890, Baron Jayatilaka had the fortune of meeting Col. H.S. Olcott (who came to Sri Lanka in 1880 from the US), and participating in his campaign to establish English schools in the island open to Buddhist children. The first among them was the Ananda College in Colombo (estab. 1886). In the field of education, the first job that Baron Jayatilaka was assigned was his appointment as Principal of the Buddhist High School in Kandy (now Dharmaraja College). In 1898, he became the vice Principal of Ananda College, the first Principal of which was C.W. Leadbeater, a close companion of Col. Olcott.

His political career commenced from the day he decided to fight the cause of innocents in prison. The local European community made the British Government believe that Buddhist leaders were conspiring against it and were secretly supporting the Germans. Arrests were made without trial. D.B. Jayatilaka himself was arrested on 21st June 1915, allegedly for making seditious speeches and writing inflammatory articles. Along with him, several others including D. S. Senanayake and his brothers F. R. and D. C. Senanayake were also taken in. Martial Law was declared after what is known as the Sinhala-Muslim riots took place on 28th May 1915 and continued till 5th June. Jayatilaka was released on 4th August. He left for England in December 1915 and arrived there on 6th January 1916, to get riot prisoners released and ask for reforms. He emerged as a politician and freedom fighter overnight. The British Government made him a politician, although he was born to be an educationist and religious and social worker. He now started a reform movement and along with some others like F. R. Senanayake, E. W. Perera and Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, asked for a Royal Commission. He remained in England to fight for reforms. In Ceylon, the National Congress was formed and Jayatilaka became its representative in England. He propagated the view that Europeans, Burghers, Sinhalese, Tamils, and Moors were all one people and refrained from asking for separate rights.

In the new State Council of 1931, Sir Baron was returned uncontested for the Kelaniya seat and re-elected unopposed once again in the election of 1936. From 1931 to 1942, he was the Leader of the State Council and Minister of Home Affairs.

He resigned from ministerial office in 1942 to accept an appointment as Ambassador for Ceylon in India to expedite the resolution of mutual problems between the two countries

Two years thereafter, Sir Baron was taken seriously ill and passed away on 31st May 1944 while on the way to Colombo from New Delhi by air. Thus came to an end the fruitful life of a great Buddhist leader, well-known oriental scholar, able educationist and a dedicated statesman

Sir Baron was an exemplary Buddhist. He had a profound understanding of the Dhamma and took great efforts to practice the Dhamma in his daily life.

The invaluable Buddhist virtues of loving-kindness compassion, joy in the success of others, charity, courage and perseverance were conspicuous features of his character

Edward Walter Perera (December 12, 1875 - February 16, 1953) was a Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) barrister, politician and freedom fighter. He was known as the 'Lion of Kotte' and was a prominent figure in the Sri Lankan independence movement and a Senator.

Born on 12 December 1875 at Unawatuna, Galle to Edward Francis Perera, Proctor of Colombo. Raised as a devoted Christian, Perera was educated at the prestigious Royal College, Colombo and was the first editor of the Royal College Magazine. He served as a sub-editor of the newspaper, Examiner until he was called to the Bar in May 1900. Having gone to England for further studies, he became a Barrister in 1909. Perera was a member of the first Reform Deputation in 1910

During World War I, in 1915 commercial-ethnic rivalry erupted into a riot in the Colombo against the Muslims, with Christians participating as much as Buddhists. Fearing an uprising the inexperienced British colonial Governor of Ceylon Sir Robert Chalmers declared Martial Law on 2 June 1915. Many local leaders, that included D. S. Senanayake, D. R. Wijewardena, Dr. Cassius Pereira, E. T. De Silva, F.R. Dias Bandaranaike, H. Amarasuriya, A.H. Molamure where imprisoned and Captain D.E.Henry Pedris, a militia commander, was shot for mutiny.

A memorandum was drafted at a secret meeting held at the residence of E. W. Perera, initiated by Sir James Peiris and presided over by Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan. Before presenting it to his majesties government, the support of the British Members of Parliament and the press in England had to be obtained. Sea voyage was dangerous due to the presence of German submarines, which attacked ships and destroyed them. Abandoning a promising career at the Bar, E. W. Perera undertook the task of going over to England by obtaining permission saying he was going to do some research in the British museum

The mission was a success. The British government ordered the release of the leaders who were in detention. Several high officials were transferred. A new Governor, Sir John Anderson was sent to replace Sir Robert Chalmers with instructions to inquire and report to His Majesty’s Government. E. W. Perera’s effort was greatly appreciated and he was thereafter referred to as the Lion of Kotte

It was also E. W. Perera who with the help of D. R. Wijewardena, the press baron (grandfarther of the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickramasinghe) traced the location of the banner of last King Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe, the last king of the Kingdom of Kandy to Royal Hospital Chelsea where it was kept since the surrender of the Kingdom to the British in 1815. The recovered banner became a focal point in the independence movement and it became the flag of the Dominion of Ceylon upon its independence in 1948.

He was a member of the Legislative Council - first as member, Western Province BH Division (1920) and then representing the Kalutara district (1924). As President of the National Congress, he led its delegation before the Donoughmore Commission in 1926/27. Sincere to his convictions, he opposed the granting of universal adult suffrage and broke with his colleagues in the Congress. He agitated for full freedom and formed the All-Ceylon Liberal Association with Sir James Peiris. However, he was elected Member of the State Council for the Horana seat (1931) by a majority of 12,432 votes. He was a scholar and wrote several books. He died on 16 February 1953 at the age of 79.

Don Stephen Senanayake (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.

He was born at Botale, Negombo to Mudaliyar Don Spater Senanayake and Dona Catherina Elizabeth Perera Gunasekera Senanayake. Brought up in a devout Buddhist family, he entered the Anglican school S. Thomas' College on his father's wishes, and converted to Christianity.[3] 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.

D.S Senanayake married Molly Dunuwila, with whom he had two sons, Dudley Shelton Senanayake and Robert Parakrama Senanayake. His eldest son, Dudley Senanayake, succeeded him as Prime Minister in 1952.

D.S. Senanayake played an active role in the independence movement first supporting his brother Fredrick Richard Senanayake 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

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 Green on the morning of March 22, 1952.[4] He died at the age of sixty-seven

D.S Senanayake is respected by Sinhalese and some Muslims. However, Tamils 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".

Fredrick Richard Senanayake (October 20, 1882 – January 1, 1926)[1] popularly referred to as F.R. Senanayake) was a Sri Lankan politician and independence activist. Educated at Downing College, Cambridge, he became a Barrister-at-Law at Lincoln’s Inn, Londen in 1905.[2] He was a leading member of the Sri Lankan independence movement in the early parts of the 20th century and was an active member of the Legislative Council. His brother Don Stephen Senanayake took his place in the Legislative Council following his death in 1926. D.S. Senanayake would go on to lead Sri Lanka's independence movement, becoming the first Prime Minister of independent Sri Lanka in 1947.

He married Ellen Attygalle, and they had eight children. His eldest son Richard Gotabhaya Senanayake went on to become a member of parliament and minister.

E. W. Perera, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, F. R. Senanayake, D. S. Senanayake, E. W. Jayewardene, H. J. C. Perera, D. R. Wijewardene and others were men who fought for a greater measure of freedom and political reforms wider than what prevailed then under the old Legislative Council. It was the riots of 1915 which stirred our leaders to campaign for political reforms. These riots which began in Gampola over an incident in which Muslims and Sinhalese figured spread all over the country. They assumed such proportions that the then Governor, Sir Robert Chalmers and his Colonial Secretary, Edward Stubbs mistook it to be a rebellion against the British.

Interned with his brothers D.S.Senanayake, future prime minister and D.C.Senanayake, at Welikada jail Colombo, during the Riots. F.R.Senanayake contributed generously to the ‘Royal Commission Fund’ of which he was the Hon.Treasurer. The expenses of Perera and Jayatilaka during their stay in England were to a large degree defrayed from this Fund. F.R.Senanayake became the most influential Sinhalese leader from the time of the Riots until his untimely death. Together with Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam he convened a ‘Sinhalese Conference’ at the Tower Hall, Colombo, on 20 September 1919, at which Arunachalam, speaking in Sinhalese, on behalf of the convenors inaugurated ‘a movement in the Sinhalese districts of the Island’ for ‘political, social and economic improvement’ [see, Ceylon Daily News, 22 September 1919, p.1]. F.R.Senanayake became the first President of this organisation which was eventually named The Lanka Maha Jana Sabha. Although Senanayake did not himself aspire to be a Member of the Legislative Council, he was a powerful ‘Member-maker’ in the Sinhalese districts during the Legislative Council elections of 1921.

Crestoper William Wijeyekoon Kannangara (October 13, 1884 - September 23, 1969) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician. Rising up the ranks of Sri Lanka's movement for independence in the early part of the 20th century, he became the first Minister of Education in the State Council of Ceylon, and was instrumental in introducing extensive reforms to the country's education system that opened up education to children from all levels of society.

Born in rural town in Ambalangoda,southern Sri Lanka, his academic prowess enabled him to win a scholarship to Richmond College, Galle, a prestigious national school at the time. Initially working as a lawyer after leaving school, he entered politics as the movement for independence was gathering strength in Sri Lanka. Kannangara was first elected to the Ceylon Legislative Council in 1923 and then to the State Council. He also served as the President of the Ceylon National Congress.

As Minister of Education in the State Council, Kannangara introduced extensive reforms to the education system of Sri Lanka throughout the 1940s. They befitted thousands of underprivileged students in rural parts of the country by making education free for all students. He also began a central schools scheme, which established high quality secondary schools in rural areas of the country. Kannangara's significant achievements in areas of education have led him to being commonly referred to as the Father of Free Education in Sri Lanka

Kannangara was regarded as an excellent all-round student at Richmond, leading the Ceylon and British Empire list in Mathematics at the Cambridge Senior Examination in 1903. He also captained Richmond College in first eleven cricket in 1903, and was a member of the school soccer team the same year, winning colors for his performances.[4] He was also regarded as a fine debater and actor.

After leaving school, he taught Mathematics first at Richmond College and then Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa and Wesley College, Colombo. While teaching he studied law, passing out as an Attorney at law in 1910.[5] He set up his first law practice in Galle the same year.He married Edith Weerasuriya in 1922

Kannangara joined Anagarika Dharmapala's historically significant Temperance movement, and worked actively with its leaders, including Sir D.B. Jayatilleke, D.S. Senanayake, F.R. Senanayake and Arthur V. Dias.[3] He rose to national prominence as a lawyer defending leaders of the Sri Lankan independence movement and others who were persecuted by the colonial British administration during the period of martial law which following the Riots of 1915. This also drew him into national politics, and 1923 he entered the Legislative Council of Ceylon, winning a bye-election on April 13, 1923 for a seat in the Galle District

Following the recommendations of the Donoughmore Commission, the State Council was established in 1931, succeeding the Legislative Council as the national legislature. Kannangara was elected to the State Council in 1931 and again in 1936.[2] He also became the President of the Ceylon National Congress in 1931.

For the first time the State Council, which had its members elected via universal suffrage, compromised of Executive Committees and Ministers.[6] Kannangara was appointed as the first chairman of the Executive Committee of Education in the State Council and thus became the first Minister of Education of Sri Lanka in 1931

Educational Reforms

Executive Committee of Education to exercise its powers to create new regulations paving the way for the establishment of a new system of education in Sri Lanka.[6] The new system was expected to ensure that education was provided with equal opportunities for all children in the country, irrespective of social class, economic condition, religion and ethnic origin. In 1942 a special committee was appointed with Kannangara as chairman to report on the status of education in the country. Among the recommendations for providing “lasting value to the nation” given in the report, which was published in 1943, were that]

Education should be free from the Kindergarten to the University. The mother tongue should be used as the medium of instruction in the Primary Schools. English should be taught in all schools from standard III. A curriculum for the child which would develop its "head, heart and hands" should be

introduced. In other words, the education of the emotions is as necessary as the education of intellect and practical ability for the well-being of the child.

C.W.W. Kannangara retired from active politics in 1956, and died on September 23, 1969.[4] There are number of instituitions named after him in Sri Lanka.A statue of C.W.W. Kannangara was erected at the Ministry of Education.

AE Gunasinghe was a labour leader who was instrumental in winning the labour rights in Sri Lanka. The working class commemorates him with gratitude on 1st of May.

The working class commemorates World Labour Day. It marks the historic struggle of the working class throughout the world. This years May Day comes after 120 years since the Heymarket riot in Chicago where the workers demanding an eight hour working day were killed by the hired thugs. In later years, workers as well as left political parties and socialist countries began commemorating May Day on a grand scale.

The idea of Trade Unions and fighting for the rights of the working class spread from United States to Europe then to England, Third World Countries and Japan.

At that time Sri Lanka was still a British Colony, thus the country inherited the “working 8-hours a day” policy which is still effective even after the country gained independence in 1948. Founder CMU, A.E. Gunasinghe celebrated the first May Day in the history of Sri Lanka.

In 1956, T.B Ilagaratne legalized May Day as an official holiday.

In 1948 Ceylonese led by Sir James Peiris, George E. De Silva, E. W. Perera, Ramathanan, Arunchalam, Coreas, Macan Markars,Caders, Razeek Fareed, Jayawardenes, A. E. Gonnasinghe procure independence from the British solely by means of negotiations without single drop of blood being shed

A.E.Gunasinghe, Pioneer trade unionist and first Mayor of Colombo died in 1966.

Eighty years ago when Ceylon was very much a part of the empire over which the sun never set, Dr. Wickramasinghe was born in a rural southern village.

Through the 80 years that followed there have been many changes in Ceylon. Dr.

Wickramasinghe was very much a part of the movement that brought about these

changes. Karl Marx has said, that “revolutions are the locomotives of history.” Dr.

Wickramasinghe’s place in Sri Lanka’s revolutionary movement put him at the helm of

that locomotive.

Another feature of this life, the strong desire for racial amity, also manifested itself at

this time. While yet a student at Mahinda College, he organised a group of Sinhalese

boys to daily escort their Muslim Colleagues to and from school, to prevent any attacks

on them during those troubled days.

After passing out from the Ceylon Medical College, he proceeded to the UK for his post-

graduate studies. By this time Wickramasinghe seems to have realised that nothing

short of complete independence, followed by development along socialist lines, could

bring about liberation of his people.

In England, he plunged into the anti-imperialist movement. It was during these times,

that he first met and began to work with the leaders of the future Left movement: N. M.

Perera, Colvin R. de Silva, Leslie Goonewardene, were also studying in London and

fellow-students of Marxism.

Back in Ceylon, he started work as a doctor, joining Government Service. When the

effects of the depression first began to be felt, several doctors including the young

Wickramasinghe were retrenched. He started practising in Matara where his fame as a

doctor soon became legendary.

As a diagnostician he had few equals - and his ‘healing hand’ has given rise to many a

story. Those who new him personally would concede that it was his genuine compassion

and concern, as much as his considerable knowledge of medicine, which made him the

successful medical man that he was.

In 1931 he became the General Manager of the Buddhist Theosophical Society schools.

The BTS was fighting vested interests in education and more often than not were in

financial difficulties.

In 1932 he met and married Miss Doreen Young, then the Principal of Sujatha Vidyalaya.

She was to remain at his side for the remaining forty-nine years of his life; and

distinguished herself in the progressive movement of the country as the first President

of the historic Suriya Mal Movement and later as a Member of this House.

Wickramasinghe’s life was radically different from that of the other young professional

men of his time. He showed genuine concern for people and busied himself on behalf of

the deprived sections of the community. His lifestyle was different from that of his

peers, and his simplicity was symbolised by the national banian and cloth which he

chose to wear

Wickramasinghe together with N. M. Perera, Colvin R. de Silva, Philip Goonewardene, M.

G. Mendis, Rev. Udakendawela Saranankara and several others founded the LSSP. It

was the first political party of Sri Lanka. Dr. Wickramasinghe was jailed twice in Ceylon.

Each time he returned to his people to fight their cause with renewed vigour and

determination.

He passed away on 25.8.1981 at the age of eighty

Dr. T. B. Jayah

Son of Police Sergeant Cassim Jayah and Nona Jayah, Tuan Buranudeen Jayah was born

on January 1, 1890 in Galagedara and was a legend in his time. A man of multifaceted

career, he was a patriot, educationist, benefactor, principal, freedom fighter, Minister

and diplomat.

He received his primary education at SPG School, Kotahena and won a scholarship to St.

Thomas College, Modara in the year 1904. Having passed the Cambridge Junior and the

Cambridge Senior in flying colours, he entered the London University's Matriculation

class at the age of 18 years

He was appointed Principal of Zahira College, Colombo, in 1921 when it was in a poor

state with a few students and teachers and lack of buildings to house classrooms.

Undoubted, he took up the challenge and worked with zeal and zest for the betterment

of Muslim education. An indefatigable educationist, he emphasised the need of English

education for the Muslims to forge ahead in the society. He held the reins of principal-

ship for over a quarter century and during this period he was instrumental in opening

several branches of the school, in Aluthgama and Gampola.

After relinquishing his duties as principal, he took up a diplomatic post as High

Commissioner of Ceylon in Pakistan.

T.B. Jayah was a colossus among men and his name lives in the pages for history,

remembered by a grateful nation for his sterling, selfless service.

He breathed his last at the age of 70 while on Haj Pilgrimage.