essay on national heroes of sri lanka

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Kumar Sangakkara: The greatest hero of our time

on 08/24/2015 08/23/2015

The Cricketing world will pause for a moment, to celebrate the legendary career of Kumar Sangakkara that draws to a close, and then move on; a bit richer for the legacy he leaves behind, for the standards he raised, expectations he upheld and for his story being entwined with the story of Cricket. He has already confirmed his place among the greatest test batsmen the game has ever seen.

Yet the people of Sri Lanka will pause for longer and with heavier hearts; not merely beset by doubts about who now will rescue their hopes the next time their openers get dismissed in quick succession. To most Sri Lankans, he is more than the greatest Cricketer their country has ever produced. By far the most loved and respected Sri Lankan on his generation in Sri Lanka and throughout the Cricket playing world, for Sri Lankans, he is also their Hero.

Our choice of heroes – as individuals and as nations – reflect more deeply and authentically, our history and character as well as our hopes and aspirations. Every civilization, culture and historical epoch is characterised by the heroes they spawn, whose lives personify the values and aspirations of their time and whose tales become the template by which heroes of subsequent generations will be cast, and judged by.

The first popular hero of the Sinhalese was a king named Gamini from Sri Lanka’s Deep South, whose mythology is constructed around his vanquish of a popular Tamil king from South India who ruled over the Northern half of the island. Gamini was a rebel from his younger days, raging against his father’s inhibition to evict Ellalan: a Cholan invader who occupied richly irrigated Northern plains – the rice bowl of Sri Lanka. It earned him the nickname ‘Dutugamunu’, meaning ‘Gamini the Wicked’.

When Gamini eventually waged his successful military campaign against Ellalan, he did so with the army that his father had built, having marched along the East Coast through Tamil villages where his father had nurtured friendships in order to supply his troops. Gamini’s army is said to have been led by ten ‘giant’ generals with superhuman powers that his father had recruited and around whom he had organised his troops. The impassioned king and his ten giants led a heroic campaign against many odds to unify the island politically – in 205 BC – for the first time in the islands recorded history. Despite the connotations of this event, Tamils and Sinhalese continued to live rather peacefully together for centuries to come.

Yet, for two millennia, as Sri Lanka came under constant attack and threat of invasion, the quintessential Sri Lankan hero conformed to a version of Gamini’s prototype – usually a tragic-heroic king or royal princeling who defended his race from foreign invaders and protected of his faith from heresies. Every generation and historical epoch that followed was characterised by the nationalism and fervour of heroes they spawned; whose lives reflected the fears and aspirations of their time and whose tales become the progenitor of heroes that came after. The stereotypical Sri Lankan hero therefore, was invariably a brave nationalist. From Dutugamunu in the third century BC, to Veera Puran Appu in the nineteenth century, this type of heroism crystallized in the national psyche to the exclusion of all others. The notion of a stable, independent and unified Sri Lanka did not materialise for another two thousand years, and the intermittence of political and geographic unity never allowed a coherent and inclusive national identity to emerge, let alone the unity of hearts and minds of the diversity of people that inhabited the island and came from afar to trade and settle.

Like Gamini, for much of the island’s long, rich and conflicted history, its heroes have been cast on the field of battle. They distinguished themselves in conquests waged to unify their land politically; but opinions about their heroism or villainy remained divisive because they often fought to protect their own ethnic, religious or cultural identity to the exclusion of others. It has therefore been a common feature even during its struggle for independence from British rule in the aftermath of WWII, that Sri Lankan heroes of one community were often perceived as villains by others.

Therefore at its birth as a modern nation state in 1948, the Dominion of Ceylon faced a serious deformity that would cripple it for decades to come. Strong nation states – more often than not – are born out of collective struggles; through which emerge their defining values, legends, myths and – perhaps most importantly – heroes that personify and embody all the vital elements of a nation’s identity as well as the aspirations of its people. While each community had their own leaders and historic legends, there weren’t a single heroic figure that represented the identity and aspirations of the young nation as a modern, united and pluralistic state. Instead, narrow visions of national identity and short-sighted politics led to decades of divisive communal violence. Most notably at the end of the war in 2009, Sri Lanka needed – more than ever – a voice of intelligent cosmopolitanism that could elevate the island nation from the divisive legacy of its past heroes and give cause for the myriad cultural and religious groups to unite. Yet, it was a void that the island’s conflicted history was ill-equipped to solve by itself.

Sri Lanka required a different kind of battlefield and a new and revolutionarily new type of heroes to emerge – who could unite its ancient peoples in heart and mind like never before. They came in the form of Arjuna Ranatunga and his own band of ten ‘not quite giant like’ men. As diverse a group as the people they represented – they came from the all walks of life including the urban middle class and the rural heartlands that had rarely filled the heroic template of heroes past. Their vocation was even more peculiar. Cricket was very much a symbol of foreign conquest and occupation of the island. Heroes were more likely to be made fighting it than playing the game. Besides, heroes and are often those inclined to imperil themselves in pursuit of immortal glory – not those who side with pragmatism or caution as Cricketers were required to be. Upul Tharanga was ever lauded for bravely chasing deliveries outside off stump nor Chandimal for courageously hooking bouncers down deep square-leg’s throat. But they nevertheless managed to achieve something that Sri Lankan heroes have never done before. 2201 years after the famous campaign of Dutugamunu and his ten giant worriers had briefly united it politically, a contrastingly modest and unassuming band of eleven men united Sri Lanka in heart and mind for the first time in the island’s history in 1996: when they won a world cup (or “THE world cup” – if you are Sri Lankan).

Until 1996 and then again in the early 2000s, Sri Lanka’s cricketers, much like the celebrated kings and rebels of their ancient past, were tragic heroes who valiantly resisted foreign attacks; but often failed despite their own bravery and ingenuity. Most notably, they failed against better equipped and organised conquerors. Yet, whereas history had often trickled down in little streams, they were a torrent that carved out in the space of a decade – a special space for Cricketers to stand among its pantheon of heroes. The legends of Aravinda and Sanath were created on the field. Underdogs for much of their careers, they rose heroically to often rescue Sri Lanka against intimidating oppositions and sometimes, singlehandedly carried the hopes of their nations to victory. But they were hardly consistent enough to be relied upon and their legends rarely not extend beyond the boundary ropes the same way their shots did.

The colonial legacy in Sri Lanka had left a deep and enduring imprint in its society and culture, and Cricket was no exception. Aside from a few exceptions like Duleep Mendis – Sri Lankan Cricketers were rather timid – easily satisfied with a draw against major test nations. Much like the Israelites who had to wonder in the wilderness for 44 years after being rescued from slavery in Egypt, it took the passing of two generations of Sri Lankan Cricketers, for them to unshackle themselves from the game they were drilled to play, and discover the way they were meant to play it. So, it was only with the generation of Cricketers that emerged in the 90s, that they had the lightness of memory and force of their own identity to disregard the text-books and express themselves more authentically. Romesh Kaluwitharana, Mahela Jayawardene, Avishka Gunawardene and Kumar Sangakkara – unlike even Arjuna and Aravinda’s generation – had no direct links to the Cricketers who had only played the game as they were taught by the masters of a forgotten era.

With the opening up of the Indian economy and the advent of dedicated sports TV channels in the 90s, the modern international game transformed into a commercial enterprise – almost unrecognisable from the refined pastime that it used to be, both on and off the field. In that context, it makes little sense to compare modern Cricketers against the greats of its past; the yardstick had changed. Yet, even in that comparison, Kumar Sangakkara statistically ranks among the best three test batsmen of all time. But Sri Lankans who celebrate his heroism don’t often cite statistics to quantify their argument. Where Cricket is much more than a sport, even numbers don’t mean what they say. As much as he has been relied upon consistently to bat his team and country to victory, people all over the world remained glued to their TVs after the match was over – to hear him speak. Though his hero’s journey had started on the pitch with bat in hand, he came to the fore with a microphone in hand at a podium.

Heroes are more inclined to monopolise the limelight than share it, so it would not have been a surprise if the war hero of Sri Lanka’s past and the Cricket hero of its present eventually clashed before one would emerge dominant while the other is relegated to the shadows of time. At an august gathering at Lord’s, two years after what mercifully turned out to be merely an ordeal in Lahore, Kumar recalled an encounter he had with an unknown soldier, at an obscure checkpoint somewhere in the labyrinth of Colombo’s streets. By the soldier’s own admission, the Cricketer was the more dominant and valuable of the two. Remarkably, Kumar had survived an armed attack just a week earlier. It is possible to imagine that the soldier would have never experienced the heat of battle himself – but could only hope that the next vehicle he hailed down to inspect would not be a fatal choice. Yet, the unknown soldier and the great Cricketer took turns appreciating each other’s contribution to their own lives and the life of their country – calling each other ‘heroes’ before departing, perhaps never to meet again. They were both right of course; but the Cricket star and soldier both were enhanced by that experience.

In that speech, Kumar went on to brew a cocktail of emotion, wit, humour passion and rage with his words that tugged at the heartstrings of the Cricketing world. From Sri Lankans in his worldwide audience, it drew tears. A few months earlier in November 2010, Mathews and Malinga had turned an impossible chase against the odds at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Jayawardene had scored a match saving century just weeks before. But, in the years since Arjuna and his team won the world cup in 1996, it was through Kumar’s voice that Cricket spoke most compellingly to Sri Lanka’s identity and aspirations. They were note merely tears of joy – his words also made Sri Lankans look at themselves in a way that made them sad, and angry, and laugh. That story and the broader content of his speech, has since become a mirror in with Sri Lankans can look at themselves and take stock in their bravest moments. Cricket writers all over the world have invariably wove it into the story of Cricket. Kumar grabbed the conscience of the world on that day in a way that it could never escape. Those who doubted him before could not escape his charm afterwards. His moving lecture at Lord’s was perhaps the inception of his heroic status in the international game, and the way he spoke and conducted himself outside the field has been the foundation of its longevity. But the roots of his legend lay buried deeper in the land and its history, up in the hills of Kandy.

Through much of the island’s history, the irrigated lowlands of the North and the fertile South Western plains nurtured Sri Lanka’s cultural, political and economic centres. The wealth of ancient Sri Lanka and its heroic architects were made in its northern and western plains. Vestiges of great monuments that had witnessed bygone times of immense prosperity and creativity, as well as the continuous cycles of conflict that raged over them, still lie in ruins there. Kandy did not feature in any legend or myth in all that time; no hero of consequence in Sri Lanka’s glorious past was ever known to have been born or raised there. Even with the ripening of time, Kandy could not produce a hero on its own accord. It required a long and remarkable collaboration with an occupying enemy and a struggle with its own geography.

A game like Cricket could never grow organically in the mountains around Kandy. Even when it was brought in as a foreign implant, roads had to be straightened and mountains – quite literally – had to be moved before the game could dig in its roots and draw from its fertile soils. One such effort was sparked by the vision of a man named Alek Garden Fraser who took over as Principal of Trinity College at the turn of the twentieth century. He wanted Trinity to have a Cricket field and ambitiously acquired crown land spanning over two nearby hills to build one. There was no heavy machinery or equipment at hand, so the students and staff of the school made their way to the site a few hundred yards from the school premises, every day; where over a couple of years, they cut down the bigger hill and filled the valley below to make a Cricket field. Kandy nurtured the two greatest Cricketers that Sri Lanka ever produced. Kumar learned his Cricket at Trinity and played much of his Cricket on the Ground that Fraser built; and nearly a century later, scored two test centuries and a double century there.

Fraser was not done however. Much to the displeasure of his own colonial secretary, he envisioned that his school should nurture Sri Lankan leaders who were immersed in their own culture and learn about their own history and proud heritage. Fraser made social service, the teaching of local languages and comparative religion a cornerstone of his education policies, much to the dismay of the colonial authorities at the time. Perhaps Kumar Sangakkara was innately predisposed to reach out to his own people with respect and empathy and speak against injustice. Perhaps it was instilled in him but the individuals and institutions that nurtured him. Whatever the case may be, the quality that people of Sri Lanka would later celebrate as his ‘heroism’ was not cultivated on the Cricket pitch alone. His empathy for the struggles and triumphs of life in many corners of Sri Lanka and of the world not only reflects the best features of the rebellious past and proud heritage of his people, but is also informed by a deep and heart-felt knowledge of it.

Heroism is always bestowed by popular consensus. It is the common man who elevates heroes to their status and immortalise them in legend. Heroes are made exceptional among the common and ordinary men and women of the land and that relationship is symbiotic. The legend of Kumar Sangakkara the man was made among victims of a Tsunami and inhabitants of a war-ravaged landscape in the North and East as much as by a fairy-tale test century at Lord’s. Kumar still speaks of the power of Cricket to unite and heal the diverse communities of his war ravaged country. If the reception he gets whenever he visits the north and east of Sri Lanka is anything to go by, few Sri Lankans have personified that message as effectively as he has. That is what makes him a hero. If heroes like him had lent themselves to previous generations, Sri Lanka could well have been a different place. Loved and respected by Sri Lankans of all cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as fans and opponents all over the world – the power of his personality has been unique among Sri Lanka’s pantheon of heroes in its ability to unite as well as inspire humility.

Especially in contemporary Sri Lanka – emerging from three decades of war – celebration of the lives of ‘war heroes’ comes naturally. Cricketers – at least until they won the World Cup in 1996 – were not more than celebrities, among actors and music stars. Merely six years after the war ended, Kumar and Mahela in particular have become iconic and exceptional heroes of their time – eclipsing even the heroes of contemporary military campaigns. The association of Cricketers to heroism – even after 1996 – especially in a country at war, was not only improbable but cut against the grain of the traditional mould of the nationalist heroes of the past. Yet, the privileged place that Cricket occupies in hearts and minds of people has deep roots in the grand and conflicting historical narrative of the island. ‘The boys’ – as Arjuna and Aravinda often referred to their teammates – have been a beacon of hope and an example of what Sri Lankans could be as a nation and as individuals. Heroics on the Cricket field infuse hope – and that hope is very different from the kind that military victories inspired. Kumar Sangakkara’s sensitivity to the heartbeat of his people and the humility with which he served the game and its fans has entwined his story and the story of Cricket with the proud history of his country and of the people for whom he played his Cricket.

But it was with these famous words, that he unites them;

I am Tamil, Sinhalese, Muslim and Burgher. I am a Buddhist, a Hindu, a follower of Islam and Christianity. I am today, and always, proudly Sri Lankan.

Through those words, he epitomised the hero that Sri Lanka, in his generation, so desperately needs. Described by Michael Roberts as an ecumenical Sri Lankan; in him, the diverse ethnic, religious and cultural communities of the island have found a hero they could all love and possess in equal measure. For a country that enjoys neither great influence nor privileged status among world powers, he has risen to capture the love and admiration of the world and represent the best of the proud history and rich culture of his people in a way that hardly any Sri Lankan has been able to do before. For that alone, he is without equal among all the heroes of our generation, and is arguably unparalleled in his Sir Lanka’s history and civilisation.

In a post-match interview, Kumar once famously called on his team mates to understand their place in history. As much as history is made by heroes, they are nevertheless fallible human beings. As much as they reflect what we can hope to be, they also stand to warn us against blindly attaching our future hopes and ambitions to individuals no matter how brave or virtuous they may be. Very few Cricketers have retained their ability to inspire and awe in life beyond the boundary. Some have even turned into villains. Therefore, being the astute student of history that he is, he will have an important message to deliver to his fans and team mates on the eve of his retirement; that the legends of heroes like him are not meant to be venerated, but to inspire. Their heroism is worth nothing if all they inspire is nostalgia and longing. The greatest heroes are those who make others feel they too can, and indeed must, become heroes themselves. Kumar is the son of a lawyer and a teacher – not of a Jewish carpenter and his virgin wife. In the years after his retirement, he will probably devote his time to raising his own children to be independent and productive citizens because every parent must by default, also be a hero. As much as he became a hero to his people when his country desperately needed one, the greatest tribute to his legacy would be to see more heroes like him emerge in years to come; not only from the Cricket fields but from many other walks of life.

Harendra Alwis as a Cricketer of dubious significance and an umpire with an incurable prejudice against batsmen who have bad footwork. He currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.

The need for humanitarianism is greater than ever, seventy five years of the geneva conventions, shared encounters from sri lanka, myanmar and thailand, lending sri lanka’s voice to the palestinian cause, gaza in end times, middle east madness and militias, anti-war protests: a missing dimension, south africa challenges israel’s final solution for palestine, emigration or death: us-israeli offer to gazans, zionism plus impunity: the mathematics of israel.

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Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon in Coronation Robes or Napoleon I Emperor of France, 1804 by Baron Francois Gerard or Baron Francois-Pascal-Simon Gerard, from the Musee National, Chateau de Versailles.

Duṭṭhagāmaṇī

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Duṭṭhagāmaṇī (died 137 bce or 77 bce , Anurādhapura , Sri Lanka) was a king of Sri Lanka who is remembered as a national hero for temporarily ending the domination of the Indian Tamil Hindus over the Sinhalese , most of whom were Buddhist . Though a historical figure, details of his life have become indistinguishable from myth , adding uncertainty to the precise dating of his reign and death.

The elder son of a petty Sinhalese king in the southeast, Duṭṭhagāmaṇī made plans to campaign against the Tamils in northern Sri Lanka by organizing 10 young chiefs to attack. His father opposed the plan and had him bound in chains; he escaped, however, and went into exile until after his father’s death. He twice fought his brother, Saddhā Tissa, and won the crown, as well as the state elephant Kaṇḍula, which was instrumental in his later victories. Saddhā Tissa penitently returned and pledged his loyalty to Duṭṭhagāmaṇī’s campaign. Duṭṭhagāmaṇī then led his troops and Kaṇḍula north to Anurādhapura, where he defeated and killed the Tamil leader Eḷāra. He later defeated Indian-recruited troops led by Eḷāra’s nephew Bhalluka and restored Sinhalese control of the entire island.

Duṭṭhagāmaṇī constructed the 1,600-pillared Brazen Palace in Anurādhapura and commenced building the Ruanveli dāgaba, a colossal stupa (shrine) containing the Buddha’s begging bowl and many of his bones. Duṭṭhagāmaṇī died before the shrine was completed, being deceived into thinking it had been finished by his followers, who had hastily constructed an imitation dome and spire before his death.

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Commemoration of Our National Heroes.

Sri Lanka was a country which was ruled by different European nations from 1505. British administration was the final European nation which ruled Sri Lanka before its independence. In 1948, ending the colonial era which lasted over 400 years, there was a switch of powers. Though there were battles in the initial stages of getting freedom from the Europeans finally there was a peaceful transfer of power from the British administration to Ceylon representatives. There were number of people who involved directly as indirectly with this independence movement. Veera Puran Appu, Kepppatipola Adikaram, Gongalegoda Banda, Kudhapola Hamuduruwo, S. Mahinda Thero were the pioneers of this movement at the initial phases. They kindled the flame of the battle to free mother Sri Lanka from the British empire. This battle was continued with the support of patriots like Anagarika Dharmapala, Walisingha Harshichandra, Sir D.B.Jayathilaka , F.R.Senanayake, D.R. Wijewardena , D.S. Senanyake etc. This movement of freedom was not only supported by the Sinhalese nationality but flag wavers of other nationality such as Ponnambalam Arunachalam, Ponnambalam Ramanadhan,Siddhi Lebbe also gave an immense backing to this.

With all these contribution mother Sri Lanka was freed from British Empire on 1948 February 04th. In the initial phase it was a semi – independent ‘dominion status’and on 22 May, 1972 Sri Lanka became full republic. This independent status of the country helped to save its cultural heritage and natural resources for its future children.They were the pillars of independent Sri Lanka and hence it is the utmost duty of all the Sri Lankans to pay their gratitude for the national heroes who dedicated their lives to make ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ a free country.

Commemoration of Our National Heroes Philately - The Royal College

Yesterday we celebrated the 64th anniversary of Independence. It was on February 4, 1948 that Sri Lanka gained Independence from the British. So it's time to reflect upon the 'Freedom Fighters' who worked hard to free the country from the clutches of the colonial masters.

Foreign domination started with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 AD and occupying the maritime provinces of Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon. They were replaced by the Dutch in 1656, when they captured Colombo and other strongholds held by the Portuguese.

The British drove away the Dutch in 1796 and occupied the maritime areas. They gained complete control of the country in 1815 when the Kandyan kingdom was ceded to the British by Kandyan chiefs who had turned against the king. Thereafter Sri Lanka remained part of the British Empire.

It didn't take long for the people to realise the need to fight against imperialism. The Uva uprising (1817 – 18) saw the people of Uva and Vellassa rebel against the new rulers. It was a people's rebellion with several chieftains joining it, the most prominent being Keppetipola Disawa.

The British had to bring troops from India to subdue some of the provinces. Keppetipola was captured at the end of October 1818 and along with Madugalle Dissawa was court-martialled and beheaded the next month. With the imposition of a series of unjustifiable taxes like the cart and boat tax, stamp tax, gun tax, personal tax, road tax and the dog tax, the people revolted in 1848.

Following this, a young man from the coastal town of Moratuwa went to Kandy and led the proud peasants of the hill country in an armed insurrection against British rule. He captured the town of Matale and declared himself king. The brave 35-year old young man was Veerahennedige Francisco Fernando – better known as Puran Appu.

He was caught by the British army and executed on August 8, 1848. Gongalegoda Banda alias Peliyagoda David (his name was Wansapurna Deva David) declared himself king when the 1848 rebellion spread to Dambulla.

At the Dambulla temple amidst thousands of people, he was crowned 'King of the Kandyan Kingdom' by the chief incumbent of the Dambulla temple, Ven Giranegama Ratanajothi Thera giving him the name 'Sri Wickrema Siddipathi'. He was captured by the British and banished to Malacca where he had died in December 1849.

Stamps have been issued to commemorate these national heroes. Having realised the futility of attempts to fight a strong foreign army, the national leaders later began to campaign on different platforms. There were leaders who concentrated on campaigning for national resurgence, the promotion of traditional values and securing a place for Buddhism.

Among the prominent personalities was Venerable Mohottiwatte Gunananda Thera (Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera) (1823 – 90) – born orator, fearless debater, erudite scholar and inspiring writer. He led the movement for the revival of Buddhist education in the country and the ushering of a spiritual and national renaissance.

Operating from Deepaduttaramaya at Kotahena, he published books and distributed tens of thousands of leaflets to propagate the teachings of the Buddha. He accepted the challenge from Christian missionaries and took part in five public debates held in different parts of the country and emerging victorious. The historic debates are identified by the places where they were held – Waragoda (1865), Udammita (1866), Gampola (1871), Baddegama (1871) and Panadura (1871).

His writings attracted the attention of the advanced West and it was his influence through his writings that brought Colonel Henry Steele Olcott and Madam Blavatsky to Sri Lanka in search of Buddhism. They became part and parcel of the national revivalist movement and Colonel Olcott's contribution to Buddhist education through the establishment of educational institutions like Ananda College in Colombo, Mahinda College in Galle and Dharmaraja College in Kandy was greatly appreciated.

Then there was the dynamic leader Anagarika Dharmapala (1864 – 1903), the campaigner in the cause of Buddhist resurgence who travelled the length and breadth of the country in a bullock cart, inspiring the people with hard-hitting speeches to work for the development of the country and towards achieving independence.

Meanwhile, on the political front, other leaders started campaigning for more responsibility in governing the country with the aim of reaching the goal of becoming an independent nation.

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National Hero of Sri Lanka

National Hero of Sri Lanka

Type	Title
Awarded for	"An especially meritorious contribution to the historical struggle or national interests of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka"
Presented by	the
Total recipients	Unknown; approximately 135 in the Island's history.
Precedence
Next (higher)
Next (lower)	,

National Hero is a status an individual can receive in Sri Lanka for those who are considered to have played a major role in fighting for the freedom of the country. [1] The status is conferred by the President of Sri Lanka . The recipients of the award are celebrated on a Sri Lankan national holiday, National Heroes’ Day, held annually on 22 May. Every year, the President and general public pay tribute by observing a two minutes silence in their memory. [2] The individuals are also celebrated on Sri Lanka Independence Day , held on 4 February. In this, the President or Prime Minister will typically address the nation with a speech honouring the National Heroes. The award has only been awarded to Sri Lankan citizens , but is not limited to this group.

History of the award

Matale rebellion, sri lankan independence movement, bibliography.

The award of "National Hero of Sri Lanka" is currently the supreme civilian decoration in precedence in Sri Lanka . [3] [4] To date, the award has only been awarded posthumously . [5]

The status of ‘Sri Lanka National Hero’ is a civil honour bestowed on an individual recognised and declared as ‘Patriotic Hero’ who fought for the freedom of the motherland. [4] [6] The award focuses on those who led the Uva Wellassa Great Rebellion (1817–1818), the Matale rebellion (1848) and, the Sri Lankan independence movement . [7] [8] [9] [10]

From 1948 to 1972, the nation was known as the Dominion of Ceylon , with its national day, known as Sri Lanka Independence Day being held annually on 4 February. [11] [12] It declared itself a republic on 22 May 1972. [13] Yearly, the National Heroes are celebrated on this day . [14] [15]

Recipients of the award range from the 18th century to the 20th century. [16] The recipients include Pandara Vanniyan , a Vanni chieftain , who died during a revolt against the British and Dutch in Sri Lanka. [17] Other recipients are 19 leaders of the Great Rebellion of 1817–18 (including Keppetipola Disawe , late Desave of Ouva), 49 participants of the Great Rebellion of 1817–18 who were sentenced to death by the Martial Court and 32 participants of the Great Rebellion of 1817–18 who were declared as "betrayers" and expelled to Mauritius by the Martial Court. [18] [9] [19] The final 2 groups were made national heroes on 11 September 2017. [20] [21] The 19 Leaders of the Great revolution were made National Heroes on 8 December 2016. [22] [23]

The Matale rebellion , also known as the Rebellion of 1848 , took place in Ceylon against the British colonial government under Governor Lord Torrington, 7th Viscount Torrington . [24] It marked a transition from the classic feudal form of anti-colonial revolt to modern independence struggles. [25] It was fundamentally a peasant revolt . [26] For their role in the rebellion, Puran Appu and Gongalegoda Banda were made National Heroes. [27]

The Sri Lankan independence movement was a peaceful political movement which was aimed at achieving independence and self-rule for the country of Sri Lanka , then British Ceylon , from the British Empire . [28] [29] The switch of powers was generally known as peaceful transfer of power from the British administration to Ceylon representatives, a phrase that implies considerable continuity with a colonial era that lasted 400 years. [30] It was initiated around the turn of the 20th century and led mostly by the educated middle class. [31] It succeeded when, on 4 February 1948, Ceylon was granted independence as the Dominion of Ceylon . [32] [33] Dominion status within the British Commonwealth was retained for the next 24 years until 22 May 1972 when it became a republic and was renamed the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka . [13] [34] The following persons were awarded as "National Heroes of Sri Lanka" for the part they played in the Sri Lankan independence movement .

List of recipients:

; you can help by . )

Anagarika Dharmapala [35]
C. W. W. Kannangara [35]
Cheruka Weerakoon [35]
D. R. Wijewardena [35]
Don Stephen Senanayake [35]
E. W. Perera [35]
Fredrick Richard Senanayake [35]
Henry Pedris [35]
James Peiris [35]
Ponnambalam Arunachalam [35]
Ponnambalam Ramanathan [35]
Tuan Burhanudeen Jayah [35]
A. Ekanayake Gunasinha
Arthur V. Dias
Charles Edgar Corea
Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka
George E. de Silva
Gratien Fernando
Henry Woodward Amarasuriya
Herbert Sri Nissanka
Leslie Goonewardene
M. C. Siddi Lebbe [36]
Madduma Bandara Ehelapola
N. M. Perera
Philip Gunawardena
Susantha de Fonseka
Thomas Amarasuriya
Victor Corea
Vivienne Goonewardene
W. A. de Silva
Walisinghe Harischandra
Wilmot A. Perera

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All that You Need to Know about the Sri Lanka Independence Day History!

British and Sri Lankan flags flying high, signifying the history of the Sri Lankan Independence day.

The graceful history woven around the splendid island of Sri Lanka is just simply wonderful. Starting from the civilization of Naga-Yakka tribe, with the arrival of Prince Vijaya and his 700 followers, passing a series of successive ancient kingdoms, the journey Sri Lanka came was full of delight, and excitement. However, next, Sri Lanka passed a period of colonization . Of course, it is this period that paved the path for the Sri Lanka independence movement. Thus, it is something that can never be missed. Specially, when studying about the history of Sri Lanka , as well as about the Sri Lankan independence day history.

Hence, we thought of sharing with you the story behind these incidents, helping you have a good overview on the olden days of this charming isle. So, why not? Let us start getting to know about this epoch of the Sri Lankan saga. For a better understanding, let us start with the British colonial period.

Who ruled Sri Lanka Before Independence?

If you have an idea about the colonization history timeline of Sri Lanka, you might know that Sri Lanka was first colonized by Portuguese. Next, Sri Lanka was under Dutch rule. Finally British colonized Sri Lanka, in 1815.

Of course, Sri Lankans were happy with the British rule. They proceeded ahead with their day to day lives at first. Yet, with time, Sri Lankans hated the British rule. They needed Sri Lanka to regain freedom, and to have a self-rule. Thus, the struggles against colonial power began. Many struggles came up, and all of them had an important role when considering the Sri Lanka independence day history. Some of them are as follows.

Uva Rebellion

Matale rebel.

Below sections highlight those most significant incidents that took place with regard in detail.

Accordingly, in 1817, the Uva rebellion took place. There were two closest incidents that led to this uprising. One was the obstacles Sri Lankans faced when enjoying the traditional privileges. The other was the appointment of a Moor loyal to British as an official. Keppetipola Disawe launched the rebellion. Moreover, several chiefs joined and supported the rebel. However, the rebel could not achieve the expected success, owing to poor leadership, and several other reasons.

And then in 1848, the Matale rebel came up. Hennedige Francisco Fernando (Puran Appu) and Gongalegoda Banda led it. The Sinhalese army left from Dambulla to capture Kandy from the British. They attacked the British buildings, and destroyed tax records as well. However, British troops took Puran Appu as a prisoner, and they executed him. Yet, Gongalegoda Banda and his younger brother escaped. Later, British issued a warrant to arrest Gongalegoda Banda. Moreover, they declared a reward for any who provided information about him. However, Malay soldiers were able to arrest Gongalegoda Banda, and the British kept him as a prisoner in Kandy.

The Buddhist Resurgence in Sri Lanka

From ancient times, Buddhism remained the main religion in Sri Lanka. Of course, there were instances where Hinduism flourished in this island owing to the South Indian invasions. Moreover, Islamism emerged from some parts of the island due to the foreign traders who arrived in Sri Lanka. Yet, the majority of the great monarchs were Buddhists. Thus, their main contributions were towards flourishing Buddhism in the island.

However, with the colonizations, Catholicism, and Christianity came up. The British worked hard with regard. Moreover, they attempted to provide Protestant Christian education to the younger generations of the country. Yet, the efforts could not reach a success as per their expectation. That was because of the Buddhist resurgence that took place during this period. Several eminent personalities aided this Buddhist resurgence. Further, foreigners such as Col. Henry Steel Olcott were among them as well. Owing to their activities, Buddhism flourished on this island again. Also a group of Buddhist institutions came up with their sponsorship.

In the course, Sinhala Buddhist revivalists such as Anagarika Dharmapala emerged influencing the society. Many individuals were with him. Hence, it was more like the emergence of a group of people striving towards a similar cause. However, Anagarika Dharmapala, together with his community, could create a Sinhala-Buddhist consciousness.

1915 Sinhala Muslum Riots

In 1915, an ethnic riot arose in the city of Colombo. It was against Muslims. Moreover, Buddhists, as well as Christians took part in it. Besides, British understood that this riot could later turn out to be against them as well. Hence, they heavy-handedly reacted to this riot. As a result, Dharmapala broke his leg. His brother passed away there. Also, the British government arrested several hundreds of Sinhalese Buddhists for supporting this riot as well. Among the imprisoned were several future leaders of the independence movement. Some of them highlighting characters among them were F.R. Senanayake, D. S. Senanayake, Anagarika Dharmapala, Baron Jayatilaka, Edwin Wijeyeratne, A. E. Goonesinghe, John Silva, Piyadasa Sirisena, etc.

Their imprisonment was indeed a great loss for the continuation of the struggles. Yet, nothing could hold back the Sri Lankan motive. Sir James Peiris, with the support of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, and E.W. Perera, submitted a secret memorandum to the Secretary of States for Colonies. It was a plea to repeal the martial law. Also, it described the cruelty of the Police, led by the British, Dowbiggin. However, these attempts succeeded, as the British government ordered the release of the imprisoned leaders. Further, several British officers were replaced as well.

Founding the Ceylon National Congress

In December, 1919, a nationalist political party was founded. Yes, you guessed it right! It was named Ceylon National Congress (CNC) .

This group was a combination of the members from the Ceylon National Association and the Ceylon Reform League. However, the Ceylon National Congress played a vital role in Sri Lanka’s journey of attaining independence. The founding president of the CNC Party was Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam. Later, eminent personalities such as Sir James Peiris, D. B. Jayatilaka, E. W. Perera, C. W. W. Kannangara, Patrick de Silva Kularatne, H. W. Amarasuriya, W. A. de Silva, George E. de Silva and Edwin Wijeyeratneled the party. However, it was this CNC party that paved the path for the formation of the United National Party as well.

Sri Lanka Independence Movements and the Youth Leagues

The youth of the country were highly interested and involved in the Sri Lanka independence movement. Moreover, their utmost motive was not only achieving freedom, but also seeking justice for the citizens of the country. It is no secret that it was Dharmapala’s ethnic group that paved the way for the youth to take part in the independence movement. However, it was the Tamil Youth of Jaffna, that gave the head start for the youth leagues. Accordingly, they formed Jaffna Students. It was later popular as the Jaffna Youth Congress (JYC). They argued that the Donoughmore reforms did not concede sufficient self-governance. Thus, they successfully led a boycott of the first state council elections that took place in Jaffna, in 1931.

Meanwhile, more youth leagues came up from South Sri Lanka. Intellectuals who returned from Britain, after completing their education in foreign states, supported these leagues. However, the ministers of the CNC demanded more power from the colonial government. They even petitioned the government in order to get their demands. Yet, they never demanded for independence, or at least the dominion statues. Nevertheless, owing to their demands, as well as due to a severe campaign of the Youth leagues, the CNC ministers had to withdraw their ‘Ministers’ memorandum’.

Nevertheless, the youth leagues that came up during that period actively took part in several activities. And of course yes! All those activities had some kind of an influence in the journey of the Sri Lanka Independence movement. Thus, we thought of having a quick glance over those highlights as well. Some of them are as follows.

Suriya- Mal Movement

Formation of Lanka Sama Samaja Party

Of course, they were some interesting movements. They had a uniqueness of their own. Continue reading, to get to know what they are!

Suriya-Mal Movement

As the British rule continued, a poppy sale was carried out in Sri Lanka. It was with relation to the Armistice Day, which was on 11th November. Moreover, it was a project to support the British ex-servicemen to the detriment of Sri Lankan ex-servicemen.

However, Aelian Perera, who could not tolerate this activity, started a rival sale of Suriya flowers (flowers of the Portia tree) focusing on the same day. It was with the aim of aiding the needy Ceylon ex-servicemen. Later, the South Colombo Youth League joined hands with this movement and revived it. British authorities tried to interrupt this effort of the youth. Yet, they failed. Thereafter, until the second world war, groups of youth sold Suriya flowers, in competition with the poppy sellers.

Indeed, this is one of the most significant milestones with regard to the involvement of youth leagues in the Sri Lanka independence movement. The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), also known as the Marxist Lanka Sama Samaja Party was the first party that had the sole motive of demanding independence. And the speciality is that it grew out of the youth.

Moreover, their aims were specific, since what they aimed at was complete national independence. Also, re-gaining nationalism in terms of production, distribution, as well as exchange was associated with their objectives. Moreover, they also worked hard to abolish the ethnic inequality, caste inequality, and gender inequality as well. Going beyond, they also demanded that colonial authorities replace the official language by Sinhala and Tamil. Yet, the demanded replacement did not take place, and English continued to be the official languages until 1956. Still, their efforts were impressive. They could strengthen the Sri Lanka Independence day movement.

The Sri Lankan Society By Then

Owing to the Colebrook reforms, a number of opportunities and income paths emerged. Thus, the castes and status of the traditional Sri Lankan society diminished. Instead, a new middle-class was formed within the society.

Most of them were businessmen, and they were educated. Among them were even individuals who completed their education in foreign countries. Thus, they had a good exposure, and they had a good overview on the political status of the country. All these things made this new middle-class get involved and lead the political campaigns of Sri Lanka. Hence, their involvement can be seen significant when considering the Sri Lanka independence day history.

Solbury Reforms and the Sri Lanka Independence

However, the British government appointed the Soulbury Commission. Their task was to study and make recommendations for Sri Lanka constitutional reforms. The members of the commission arrived in Sri Lanka in December, 1944. The report of the commission came out in September, 1945. Accordingly, the commission had recommended a constitution that offers Sri Lankans the full power of the internal activities of the country. Schedules were made for the first parliament election under the Solbury reforms. Yet, the British authorities declared nothing with regard to the grant of independence for Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan political leaders such as D. S. Senanayake argued detailing the rights that Sri Lankans have for independence. However, after much effort, and struggles, just two months before the scheduled parliament election, British authorities declared that they would grant Sri Lanka the freedom to enjoy the facilities of an independent country.

Then, in August 1947, the first parliamentary election took place. As per the results, having won the majority of the seats, the United Nationals Party with the leadership of D.S. Senanayake could establish the government. Yet, the British rule still had power in terms of foreign affairs, and military. The reason behind this was the significant geographical location of Sri Lanka, which was highly beneficial in terms of foreign affairs and military activities.

Nevertheless, D.S. Senanayake could recognize the wishes of the British authorities. Hence, he took actions to sign treaties with them. Time passed by, and later, the British government approved the Ceylon Freedom Act. Accordingly, the British government lost the power to interfere with the activities related to governing Sri Lanka from 4th February, 1948 . Of course, with that, Sri Lanka attained Independence, and it happened to be the independence day of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Independence Day Celebration

However, it was on 10th February, 1948 that the first parliament of the independent Sri Lanka assembled. On that day, D.S.Senanayake took down the British flag, hoisted the Sri Lankan national flag, and symbolized the establishment of Sri Lankan rule.

Yet, from 1948 onward, Sri Lanka celebrated independence day on 4th February each year, commemorating the national heroes, and the efforts behind this achievement. The official independence day celebration takes place having the president as the chief guest. The president hoists the national flag, and addresses the country. Parades, and cultural performances also take place as a part of this official celebration annually. Meanwhile, Sri Lankans all around the island, hoist the national flag on this day, and join the celebration.

The Bottom Line | Sri Lanka Independence Day History

Likewise, when considering the Sri Lanka independence day history, it is clear that the journey of achieving independence had not been that much easy. It was a collective effort of several hundreds. Moreover, it was the strength of the unity of Sinhalese. However, even after achieving independence on 4th February, 1948 Sri Lanka was under dominion state. It was only on 22nd May, 1972 that Sri Lanka achieved the status of a republic. It was after that Sri Lanka was called the ‘republic of Sri Lanka’. Besides, more than 70 years have passed after Sri Lanka gained independence. Sri Lanka passed several milestones after independence day as well. If you are willing to get to know about them as well, do not forget to check our article on, ‘ Significant milestones of Sri Lanka after independence ’.

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Facets of Sri Lanka’s history and Independence

Sri Lankans across the island still live freely and independently because of the lionhearted fighters for freedom Mother Lanka gave birth to more than seven decades ago. The National Day or Independence Day which falls on February 4 annually, is a day when every Sri Lankan commemorates the country’s independence from British rule in 1948.

Independence Day is celebrated through flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades, cultural and other performances which showcase the cultural traditions strengths and wealth of Sri Lanka.

The Independence Ceremony

D.S. Senanayake

Normally, this event takes place in Colombo where the President hoists the National Flag and addresses the nation.

In the President’s speech, he highlights the achievements of the Government during the past year, raises important issues and calls for further development of the country.

The President also pays

tribute to the national heroes of Sri Lanka and observes two minutes’ silence in their memory.

Military parades

A military parade is also held. The military parades showcase the power of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and the Civil Defence Force.

The commitment, bravery, national unity, and determination to achieve peace are aroused in the minds of the people, who also thank patriots who fought and laid down their lives for the country.

The Portuguese arrive

After the arrival of the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in India, the Portuguese learnt that Ceylon as Sri Lanka was then known, produced good quality cinnamon. During that time spices like cinnamon had a big demand in the European market.

A Portuguese Naval officer, Lourenço de Almeida and others who were on a mission to capture Muslim merchant ships got caught in a storm and unexpectedly landed in Ceylon in the year 1505. At first, they said that they were here for trading. However, they later interfered in politics.

The Portuguese era

Sri Lanka did not become a colony of Portugal until King Dharmapala of Kotte handed over the region of Kotte to the Portuguese as a deed of gift in 1580. The rule of the Portuguese started to much aversion by the people of Kotte. The Kings of Kandy led the nation into many battles to set free the Kingdom of Kotte from the Portuguese with little success and later the Kings of Kandy had to seek help from the Dutch.

The Dutch arrival

In 1658, the Dutch took control of the maritime provinces from the Portuguese. The Dutch were used by the Sinhalese king to counter the Portuguese who wanted to expand their rule. The coming of the Dutch led to the Portuguese having two enemies to deal with. The Portuguese were forced to sign a treaty with the Dutch and come to an agreement with their enemies.

Finally, the Portuguese left Ceylon. Even after the Portuguese period ended a part of their culture remained in Sri Lanka.

Battles by the Dutch

During the years 1659–1668, the Dutch attacked the kingdom of Kandy but the Kings of Kandy managed to win almost every battle and the Dutch had to retreat. By the year 1762 the dissents between the ruler of Kandy and the Dutch started increasing even more. As a result, the ruler of Kandy had to seek help from the British.

The British arrive

In 1796, the British arrived and took control of the maritime provinces from The Dutch. Different elements of Dutch culture are now integrated into Sri Lanka’s culture. The islands of the Palk Strait were renamed during Dutch rule in the Dutch language. Among them were Kayts and Delft. There is a part of the Sri Lankan population with Dutch surnames, often people of mixed Dutch and Sri Lankan heritage, who are known as Burghers within the community.

The British take over

The British period is the history of Sri Lanka between 1815 and 1948. During this era the fall of the Kandyan Kingdom into the hands of the British Empire took place. It ended over 2,300 years of the Sinhalese monarchy on the island.

The British rule in the island lasted until 1948 when the country gained Independence following the Independence Movement’s fight for freedom.

Although the British monarch was the Head of State, in practice, his or her functions were exercised in the colony by the colonial Governor, who acted on the instructions from the British Government.

The British found that the hill country of Sri Lanka was suited to grow coffee, tea and rubber. By the mid-19th century, Ceylon Tea had become a key feature of the British market.

The first rebellion against the British took place in 1818 but was not successful. The leaders of this rebellion were Keppetipola Disawa, Kiwlegedara Mohottala, Madugalle Disawe and Butawe Rate Rala.

Then again, there was a second rebellion in 1848, this time led by Veera Puran Appu, Gongalegoda Banda and Dingirala. But this rebellion too did not achieve its main goal, freedom from British rule.

The Independence Movement

The transfer of power was generally known as a peaceful transfer of power from the British administration to Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) representatives. The Independence Movement was initiated around the turn of the 20th century and was led mostly by the educated middle class.

Independence

It succeeded when on February 4, 1948 Ceylon was granted independence as the Dominion of Ceylon.

Dominion status within the British Commonwealth was retained for the next 24 years until May 22, 1972 when it became a republic and was renamed as the Republic of Sri Lanka.

The personalities who led the nation to independence are honoured as National Heroes.

The first Prime Minister Don Stephen Senanayake

(D.S. Senanayake) (1884 – 1952) was an independence activist who served as the first Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1947 to 1952. He played a major role in the Independence Movement, first supporting his brother F.R. Senanayake.

After his brother died in 1926, D.S. took his place in the Legislative Council and led the Independence Movement to success. His most distinguished contribution to the nation was his agricultural policy. He is known as the ‘Father of the Nation.’

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Remembering DS Senanayake on Sri Lanka’s Independence Day

Senanayake Foundation, I tem in Daily Mirror, 4 Feb 2022

The first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) D.S. Senanayake entered the National Legislature in 1924. He was relatively unknown in the country and was pushed into prominence by his elder brother F.R. Senanayake, who was a very popular and active figure in the social and political arena. Many were surprised and taken aback to see D.S. entering the political field, as they were expecting his brother F.R. to fit the role. Perhaps the only person who had faith in D.S’s capability at that time was none other but F.R. Senanayake himse lf.

Ceylon (Sri Lanka) as it was then known was under foreign domination from 1505 to 1948. Three Colonial Powers namely the Portuguese, Dutch and the British ruled parts of the island till 1815 when the entire country was subjugated to the British Government. Many a battle fought by our heroes at different times to free the country remained unsuccessful and the freedom struggles thus brutally subjugated became dormant until its last phase was initiated by F.R. Senanayake in 1915, after being released from imprisonment on false accusations. The Colonial Government imprisoned F.R. Senanayake along with his brother D.S. and a host of other Sinhala Buddhist leaders of the Temperance Movement on trumped-up charges. However, they had to be released as they could not find a shred of evidence against them. But the massacre of innocents under Martial Law continued unabated and F.R. Senanayake vowed to free the country from colonial bondage. He set about revitalizing the freedom movement that lay dormant for many years.

He became a dominant member of the Ceylon National Congress. Continuous agitation for reforms by the newly created Congress resulted in elections being held on a limited scale for the National Legislature in 1924 and F.R. supported his brother D.S. Senanayake to become an elected member of the Legislature. However, just two years later, in 1926, F.R. met with an untimely death at a relatively young age of 44. He was D.S.’s mentor and his death was not only an enormous blow to D.S. Senanayake but also a severe setback to the freedom movement. In fact, many thought that it was the end of the freedom struggle. But D.S. kept his brother’s dream alive and carefully planned and plotted the path to freedom. On 4th February 1948, twenty-four years after entering the National Legislature, D.S. Senanayake raised Lanka’s flag that was brought down by the British in 1815 and proclaimed to the world, Lanka’s Independence.

“Sir, when The Donoughmore Report was accepted I was one of those who were rather apprehensive of the success of the Committee system. At that time, I was not certain how the Constitution would work and what difficulties we would have to contend with. But since I have been in charge of a Committee for about a year I must say that my faith in the Committee system has increased considerably”

Freedom was achieved by many nations all over the world by pursuing either a path of non-violence or by the barrel of the gun. Polemics of revolt have shown us the methodologies advocated by Gandhi to Guevara, from the apostle of peace to the votary of violence. D.S. Senanayake, however, followed another way, the way of effective negotiations. It may have him taken twenty-four years to achieve this goal but he did so by periodically advancing towards freedom without spilling one drop of blood to achieve independence. Perhaps it was this peaceful transition that had created a misconception in the minds of some that freedom for Sri Lanka was gifted when India was granted her freedom.

India and Sri Lanka had their independent freedom struggles. While Indian leaders were seeking freedom through passive resistance, Sri Lankan leaders were represented in the Legislature following a path of active negotiations. It was the capabilities shown by our leaders in the administrative affairs of the country that prompted the then Governor Sir Hugh Clifford to recommend to the British Government in 1926, that the existing Constitution should be viewed as transitional and that a more representative Constitution should be installed. On this recommendation, the British Government appointed the Donoughmore Commission in 1927 to bring about reforms. India received a similar commission, namely the Simon Commission in 1928.

India, however, totally rejected the Simon Commission. They took up the position that the Simon Commission had no right to bring a constitution to India. Demanding Swaraj (independence outside the Commonwealth), non-corporation was unleashed by the Indian leaders throughout the streets of India. Sri Lankan leaders did not resort to the same manner. Though they did not accept the recommendations of the Donoughmore Commission in Toto, it was not rejected. The recommendations were taken up in the National Legislature, amended through debate and discussion, and the amended version was accepted as a step towards achieving self-government. In 1931, Sri Lanka became the first country in the whole of Asia to adopt universal suffrage with women being given the same voting rights as men; a feature that even some advanced European countries did not possess.

Though the Donoughmore Constitution did not measure up to the requirements of the elected representatives who were expecting a Westminster system of government, they were quite pleased with Adult Franchise and abolition of Communal Representation which were viewed as an obstruction to unification. The other main feature, Executive Committee System was received with mixed feelings. Deeply suspicious, D.S. Senanayake was very critical of the proposed Committee system. Having been involved in the functioning of existing committees, the unwanted delays experienced made him to view them as a hindrance rather than an asset to development. However, the amended form was accepted by him on the firm understanding that reforms were to follow.

Bitterly divided, the amended Donoughmore Constitution was accepted by only a slender majority. Leaders such as Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, E.W. Perera and C.W.W. Kannagara opposed the proposals while Sir D.B. Jayatilaka, D.S. Senanayake and W.A. De Silva supported the proposals. It was well known that it was D.S. Senanayake who used his influence to win over the majority for the proposals. He was of the view that though the proposed reforms did not measure up to what was expected, the proposals were a halfway measure to self-government and that it should be given a trial period. The Donoughmore Constitution gave birth to the State Council in 1931 and for the first time elected Representatives entered the realm of the executive. In the election process of the seven Executive Committees announced, chairmen of each committee were designated as Ministers, they were,

It is well known that no member of the Board of Ministers utilized Committees as much as D.S. Senanayake. Having realized that the mere possession of Executive power was meaningless unless it was utilized for the betterment of the masses, he used his Committee to restore all ancient tanks and embarked on massive irrigation schemes to provide water to the rural masses. He opened up the neglected Dry zone which was once the granary of ancient Lanka and settled the landless villages in vast colonization schemes making them a great asset to the nation. Speaking on the Committee system in the State Council on 19th July 1932, D.S. Senanayake said, “Sir, when The Donoughmore Report was accepted I was one of those who were rather apprehensive of the success of the Committee system. At that time, I was not certain how the Constitution would work and what difficulties we would have to contend with. But since I have been in charge of a Committee for about a year I must say that my faith in the Committee system has increased considerably.”

“I feel it is a mistake, a great mistake, to make an attempt to separate the people communally, and make a Constitution whereby the people will forever remain separated communally. If we want to progress, let us all unite. If we try to pander to the feelings of a section of the people, all that will happen is that we will be dividing the people, and that is the greatest danger that can befall any country”

Though many an achievement was made under the Donoughmore Constitution which was in operation for sixteen years, it did not always bring about smooth administration. There were many clashes between the elected Representatives and the Colonial bureaucrats; as such there was continuous agitation for reforms by both the State Council and the Ceylon National Congress. As a result, in May 1943, the Colonial government made a declaration authorizing the Board of Ministers to draft a Constitution within certain parameters and stipulated that the proposed Constitution should be ratified by at least seventy-five percent of the State Council. The Ministers welcomed this offer and proceeded to draft a Constitution with the aim of obtaining ‘Dominion Status’, the surest way for attaining independence. The task was completed in four months, and the draft was submitted to the Governor to be presented to the Secretary of State for approval. However, what they received was a rude shock.

On 5th July 1944, the House of Commons made an announcement that a Commission will be appointed to: ‘To visit Ceylon in order to examine and discuss any proposals for constitutional reforms in the Island which have the object of giving effect to the Declaration of His Majesty’s Government on that subject dated 26th May 1943, and after consultation with various interests in the Island, including minority communities, concerned with the subjects of constitutional reforms, to advise His Majesty’s Government on all measures necessary to attain that object.’ This was a sinister deviation from the original Declaration and a gross breach of trust. Sir John Kotelawala in his autobiography “An Asian Prime Minister’s Story” refers to this incident. He states,

“Sir Ivor Jennings, the great authority on Constitutional questions, has expressed the view that the terms of reference of the Soulbury Commission, appointed in 1944, were undoubtedly a breach of an understanding given by the British Government in May 1943. ‘What is worse,’ says Sir Ivor, ‘was the manner in which this breach was brought about. It left a very nasty taste in one’s mouth.’ When it was all over, Colonel Oliver Stanley, Secretary of State for Colonies, remarked with typical English understatement that this affair had been badly handled.” Many Members of the State Council and of the Ceylon National Congress were aghast at this decision. They began to doubt the sincerity of the British Government. D.S. Senanayake, though disappointed and critical of what had happened, realized that sabotage had emanated from within and not from outside. Referring to this in the State Council on 23rd November 1944, he said,

“As the hon. Members are aware, we received a Declaration to which we gave our interpretation, and on that interpretation, we grafted a constitution. We then decided – at least I had stated our decision was – that we should submit that Constitution to the Secretary of State first and that if it was considered acceptable to him we should bring it here for the approval of a 75 per cent majority of Members of this house ….. You see, Sir, when we drafted that Constitution we sent it to the Secretary of State and I believe, up to this day there was no conditions stipulated that a Commission should come out to examine the views of the interests that were here. If that was so, there was no need for them to tell us that it should get the approval of a 75 per cent majority in this House.

I believe, and I honestly believe, that the reasons for sending a Commission here to consider various interests is due to the fact that the draft Constitution which was submitted by the Board of Ministers and which met with the requirements of the Secretary of State laid down in his Declaration is not the kind of Constitution that those who had influence with the Secretary of State expected us to bring out. So they felt that it was time to sabotage it.”

He went on to say,

“… I feel it is a mistake, a great mistake, to make an attempt to separate the people communally, and make a Constitution whereby the people will forever remain separated communally. If we want to progress, let us all unite. If we try to pander to the feelings of a section of the people, all that will happen is that we will be dividing the people, and that is the greatest danger that can befall any country. It is because of that danger that I do not want communal representation; it is not that I object to two seats here or two seats there. As long as there is this feeling that each community should be separated politically, that there should be this cleavage between community and community, those ideas will penetrate into our whole social life, our whole economic life, into all our activities in this country.

DS and OEG in London in 1946(?) to press for independence

Dismissing the minority phobia, DS said,

“When I suggested the procedure we adopted first, namely, that we deal with the Secretary of State and then the Council, I can honestly tell you that in my own mind I had no desire for Sinhalese domination, or Tamil domination, or European domination; my whole desire was for Ceylonese domination, and the freedom I wanted was for the people of Ceylon.” There was huge agitation to boycott the Soulbury Commission that arrived on the island on 22nd December 1945. D.S. Senanayake, however, did not identify himself with such clamour. He was of the view that the Soulbury Commission should be won over to their way of thinking, and though the Ministers never gave evidence officially, they had many discussions with the Commissioners. D.S. Senanayake in particular had numerous discussions with the Commissioners and even accompanied them on their visits to all parts of the Island. Lord Soulbury was greatly impressed by D.S. Senanayake took an instant liking to him. Lord Soulbury’s attitude and D.S. Senanayake’s commitment helped to rectify the stained relationship between the Imperial Government and the Board of Ministers, and most importantly it paved the way for D.S. Senanayake to obtain the approval for the Constitution that he was eagerly waiting for.

The Soulbury Report was published in September 1945, and a White Paper on the intentions of His Majesty’s Government was published on 31st October 1945. Though D.S.

Senanayake’s recommendations were included and further advancement had been made, the granting of Dominion Status was postponed. It is believed that the defeat of the Conservative Government in 1945 and the Labour Party assuming office caused this change as the new Secretary of State George Hall, who replaced Colonel Oliver Stanley, was not so amiable to the granting of Dominion Status. Had there been no change of government, Colonel Stanley would have remained as the Secretary of State and Sri Lanka on track to receive Dominion Status in 1945. Anyhow it was conceded that the New Constitution if adopted by the State Council, the Imperial Government would pave the way for the attainment of Dominion Status within a short space of time. On this understanding, on 8th November 1945, D.S. Senanayake moved the following motion in the State Council.

“This House expresses disappointment that His Majesty’s Government has deferred the admission of Ceylon to full Dominion status, but in view of the assurance contained in the White Paper of October 31, 1945, that His Majesty’s Government will co-operate with the people of Ceylon so that such status may be attained by this country in a comparatively short time, this House resolves that the Constitution offered in the said White Paper “’be accepted during the interim period.”

Addressing the State Council on 8th November 1945, D.S. Senanayake went on to say,

“I was invited to London by Colonel Stanley, but my negotiations were conducted with the new Secretary of State, Mr Hall. I should like at the outset to bear witness to the encouragement which I received from both of them. It has been a weakness in our case that we have had to correspond by telegram. They have not known the depth of our feelings; we have been suspicious of their intentions. Colonel Stanley was Colonial Secretary for most of the war. He was aware of the importance of our co-operation in the war effort; he was anxious to secure our political advancement; in him, I am convinced, we have a true friend. Mr Hall – who is, if I may say so, a miner like myself – came fresh to the problems of Ceylon. It was inevitable that he, and the Government of which he was a member, should require time for the consideration of our problems. That he and they approached with sympathy is proved by the result. For the Declaration which I ask you to accept is better than the Declaration of 1943, better than the Minister’s draft and better than the Soulbury Report.”

In his lengthy speech, he touched upon all aspects from the freedom movement, its origin, obstacles encountered, sabotage experienced and finally the achievement of the moment of freedom.

Allaying the fears of the Minority, he said,

“The road to freedom was by no means straight. That we were correct in our procedure is proved by paragraph 12 of the White Paper, and I am glad that His Majesty’s Government has had the generosity to admit that we were right. We did all that we were asked to do and with a speed which, I think, surprised Whitehall. The procedure was changed not by us but by His Majesty’s Government, and the change was due solely to the representations of the minorities. After those representations, His Majesty’s Government felt the whole question should be examined by a Commission. We protested as we were bound to do, at what we regarded as a breach of an undertaking. I am convinced, after hearing the case put in London, that the charge was due to an excess of caution. It was felt that the minorities should be given every opportunity of proving their case if they could. They were given every opportunity, and they took it. The Ministers allowed their draft to speak for itself. If the Commissioners wanted to see anything, we showed it to them, but we gave no evidence. The fact that we gave no evidence has had two excellent results.

“First, the minorities said what they pleased and how they pleased. The Ministers were relieved of the temptation to retaliate. In this way we were, I hope, able to avoid adding to the bitterness and ill-will that we so correctly prophesied in 1941. If anybody ought to feel aggrieved it was those who were so bitterly attacked, but we do not feel aggrieved because the verdict has been in our favour. Secondly, that verdict is more impressive because we left our proposals to speak for themselves. “No reasonable person can now doubt the honesty of our intentions. We devised a scheme which gave heavy weightage to the minorities; we deliberately protected them against discriminatory legislation; we vested important powers in the Governor-General because we thought that the minorities would regard him as impartial; we decided upon an independent Public Service Commission so as to give an assurance that there should be no communalism in the Public Service. All these have been accepted by the Soulbury Commission and quoted by them as devices to protect the minorities.

Commending the White Paper, he said,

“The great advantage of the White Paper is that it gives us complete self-government and puts an end to Commissions. If hon. Members who study the White Paper alone will obtain a false picture. It emphasizes the restrictions and precautions. What they should study is the new Constitution. I have had a new draft prepared and I have compared it with the Constitutions of the Dominions. I can assure the House that there is nothing in it that might not be in the Constitution of a Dominion. In fact, in one respect it goes much further than any Dominion Constitution except that of Eire. It provides specifically and positively for responsible government; and this means responsible government in all matters of administration, civil and military, internal and external.”

He concluded his speech by saying,

“The present proposal is for an interim period. We want Dominion Status in the shortest possible space of time. To achieve it we must show not only that we have successfully worked the self-government that the White Paper promises, but also that we are fundamentally agreed no matter what may be our politics or communities. In a short time, the Cabinet will demand the fulfilment of the promises in the White Paper. Their hands can be immensely strengthened by this House and now. Every time we ask for a constitutional advance we are met by the argument that we are not agreed. Let us show that we are agreed by accepting this motion with a majority so overwhelming that nobody dares to use the argument against us again. I am not asking for a majority; I am asking for a unanimous vote.

“It is because of that danger that I do not want communal representation; it is not that I object to two seats here or two seats there. As long as there is this feeling that each community should be separated politically, that there should be this cleavage between community and community, those ideas will penetrate into our whole social life, our whole economic life, into all our activities in this country”

And for what are you being asked to vote? It is a motion to wipe out the Donoughmore Constitution with all its qualifications and limitations and to place the destinies of this country in the hands of its people. It is a motion to end our political subjection and to enable us to devote ourselves to the welfare of the Island freed from these interminable constitutional disputes. A vote for this motion is a vote for Lanka, and it is a pleasure and a privilege to move it.”

The State Council endorsed the Motion in an unprecedented manner; fifty-one Members voted for it while only three voted against it. Those who voted against were two Indian Tamils and one Sinhalese namely W. Dahanayake. D.S. Senanayake triumphantly cabled Lord Soulbury that he obtained 95% of the vote in favour of the proposals. Dominion Status that was promised within three years after the adoption of the White Paper was granted in two years. In February 1947, D.S. Senanayake addressed a personal letter to the Secretary of State through the Governor requesting that Dominion Status be granted to Ceylon (Sri Lanka). This request was supported by the Governor. Three months later, in June 1947, an announcement was made in the House of Commons that, as soon as the new government assumes office, negotiations would begin to confer ‘fully self-governing Status’ to Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

The General Election was held in August 1947, The United National Party became the largest party in the House of Representatives, and since D.S Senanayake had the support of the majority of the Members he became the obvious choice as Prime Minister. The Ceylon Independence Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 13th November 1947, and on 10th December 1947, The Ceylon Independence Act received Royal Assent. On 3rd February 1948 Ceylon (Sri Lanka) ceased to be a Colony. Four Hundred years of foreign domination came to an end and D.S. Senanayake took his rightful position as the ‘Father of the Nation’.

Sri Lanka never modelled itself or followed India’s path to Independence. Until the eleventh hour, India was demanding Swaraj and not Dominion Status. During this period India was involved in widespread demonstrations advocating non-corporation and asking the Imperial Government to quit India while almost all their leaders were languishing in jail. It was perhaps the decision to create Pakistan that made them change their demand to Dominion Status within the Empire, the position Ceylon (Sri Lanka) clung to from the very inception. The creation of Pakistan not only marked the division of India but also brought about unprecedented communal violence where millions lost their lives. The only country that took India’s demand of ‘Swaraj’ to its logical conclusion was Burma and even Burma after becoming an independent nation outside the Empire, proceeded to sign a defence agreement with the United Kingdom. On the other hand, D.S. Senanayake never deviated from his demand for Dominion Status. He was successful in uniting all communities and united, marched to freedom without shedding a drop of blood. It is the sheer ignorance of these facts that has prompted some to erroneously believe that Sri Lanka’s freedom was an extension of India’s Independence.

Sceptics have castigated our independence as a half-baked measure and that it was not real freedom. “Defence Agreements entered into with the British Government have been highlighted to show that Sri Lanka was never really free and that real freedom came in 1956 when the Defence Pact was abrogated. One begins to wonder how a Pact can be abrogated unless the Country concerned had the right to do so. It was the inherent right of Independence that allowed the abrogation of the Defence Pact.

The independence of a country is not judged by the presence of defence pacts or the presence of foreign forces in the country concerned, but on the right of that country to abrogate such pacts or remove foreign troops if they so desire. Even today free nations stationing of foreign troops and holding defence pacts can be seen all over the world. D.S. Senanayake did enter into a Defense pact with the United Kingdom not because it was forced on him but because he wanted it as a safeguard from external aggression. Introducing these agreements in Parliament on 3rd December 1947, D.S. Senanayake told Parliament that,

“The agreements became necessary for no other reason but because of the obligations that Britain had undertaken on our behalf. There was, therefore, this necessity for an agreement before Dominion Status was granted. Besides that, our own interest needed to have an agreement to provide for our defence.”

“Now with regard to this Agreement, my Good Friend was not quite logical when he said that we would be prevented from terminating this agreement by virtue of the fact it did not stipulate a definite period, and that therefore we have no remedy. But these are mutual agreements to be entered into at different times. There is no question of giving bases to anyone. There was a question bases being found in Ceylon, but I was certainly not prepared to grant any. What I felt was that if at any time we wanted the assistance of England we should be able to get that assistance by agreement, and if necessary for that purpose to get their aeroplanes we should give them aerodromes. There is no question of any bases being given to her. They were only to be given when it becomes necessary, in our own interest, and after entering into an agreement.” So far as these agreements are concerned, it has definitely stated that they will be in force only during such time as they are necessary.” Referring to the Defence Agreement sought by Burma that had become independent from the United Kingdom, he went on to say, “As far as Burma is concerned, she has got independence outside the British Empire, but she has come to an agreement with Britain. She is independent, but there is an agreement with Britain –

……. Now that is a country that has obtained independence. But the people feel that it is in the interest of Burma itself and in the common interest to come to such an agreement. But as far we are concerned, what is the position? We say we belong to one family, we have mutual interests, and it is by mutual agreement that we are able to decide what is to be done. I feel that does not in any way remove our independence; it only means that we can maintain our independence” in our country. There is a good deal more that I should like to say, but I think I have said enough. I feel sure that no’ Member of this House or anyone outside can say that we could have more speedily better and more secure Agreements than those we have got. All those who have the love of this country at heart should rejoice not only over our getting freedom but over securing these Agreements, so that we may be safe in Ceylon.”

Parliament approved these agreements on 3rd December 1947. Incidentally, even S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike who abrogated this pact in 1956, voted in favour of these agreements. What he did may have been a popular decision as cutting off ties with the former Colonial Ruler was widely acceptable emotionally. But it certainly did expose Sri Lanka to brazen interference by our giant neighbour and we still continue to pay a heavy price for it.

D.S. Senanayake never advocated that Sri Lanka should have a permanent Defence Pact with the United Kingdom but that to protect our newly won freedom we need the protection of a powerful Nation and at that time the best source was the United Kingdom. Referring to this predicament as far back as 23rd November 1944, speaking in the State Council of Ceylon on Reforms (Introduction of Constituent Bill), he stated, “It may be that there will be a time when perhaps the British will not be our best shield; we may then join some other Commonwealth or come to some arrangement with some other people. But as long as there is no nation I could think of which is better than the British, I would like to get Dominion Status for Ceylon within the Empire. Now at this time, when countries, even big nations, consider it necessary that they should come to some arrangement for the protecting each other, I think it would be foolhardy on our part to think that we can stand by ourselves.”

Harbouring deep suspicions on the intentions of our giant neighbour; D.S. Senanayake was convinced that we need a defence arrangement with a powerful country for our safety. However, after his demise in 1952, the United National Party Government led by Sir John Kotelawala was defeated in 1956 and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike who was elected Prime Minister proceeded to abrogate the defence pact with the United Kingdom. What followed thereafter was blatant interference in our internal affairs and continued infringement of our sovereignty. What we had to experience and continue to experience to date, more than justifies D.S. Senanayake’s suspicions.

Sri Lanka was plagued with a foreign-sponsored armed terrorist organization committed to the division of our country. It took a herculean effort from our armed forces to free the country from this brutal terror. Now, in the name of peace, another threat armed with international repercussions has emerged that threatens the very existence of this nation. It is our bounden duty to save our country from being dismembered and its dominance passed to Foreign Nations. If not greatest .disservice will be done to our National Heroes and another despicable betrayal will be featured in our history.

***** *****

One response to “ Remembering DS Senanayake on Sri Lanka’s Independence Day ”

Sri Lankans love to live in the past remembering, commemorating leaders and kings. Time to change the gear from reverse position to a forward position.

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National Heroes of Sri Lanka

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. National Heroes of Sri Lanka are those who are considered to have played a major role in the Sri Lankan independence struggle from British Colonial rule. [ according to whom? ] On February 4 each year on Independence Day these people are celebrated.

1.1 Uva Rebellion (Rebellion of 1818)
1.2 Matale Rebellion (Rebellion of 1848)
1.4 20th Century independence movement

List of National Heroes by farajfouz

Uva rebellion (rebellion of 1818).

Veera Keppetipola Dissawe

Matale Rebellion (Rebellion of 1848)

Veera Puran Appu
Gongalegoda Banda

kadahapola thero

Utuwankande Sura Saradiel

20th Century independence movement

Don Stephen Senanayake
Fredrick Richard Senanayake
Anagarika Dharmapala
Walisinghe Harischandra
Ponnambalam Ramanathan
Ponnambalam Arunachalam
Charles Edgar Corea
Victor Corea
A. E. Goonesinha
Wilmot A. Perera
N. M. Perera
E. W. Perera
D. R. Wijewardena
James Peiris
Henry Pedris
C.W.W. Kannangara
Gratien Fernando
M.C. Siddi Lebbe
Leslie Goonewardena
Vivienne Goonewardena
Philip Gunawardena
Arthur V. Dias
Susantha de Fonseka
W. A. de Silva
George E. de Silva
Henry Woodward Amarasuriya
Thomas Amarasuriya
Ayodhya Abeyaratne
Kavindu Sahan
Madduma Bandara
Pak General BS Hasantha Mendis
Cheruka Weerakoon
VK Balachandran
Kaveesh Abeysuriya
Uva Rebellion
Matale Rebellion
Sri Lankan independence movement
Sri Lankan independence activist

All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases
Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from June 2013
History of Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan people by occupation
Lists of Sri Lankan people
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Sri Lanka’s new literary voices

The island nation’s young crop of writers is winning international awards and starting conversations on their post-war society and its unique challenges.

Published - September 13, 2024 01:46 pm IST

(Clockwise from top left) Authors Yudhanjaya Wijeratne, V.V. Ganeshananthan, Shankari Chandran, Thushanthi Ponweera, and Shehan Karunatilaka. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement

The past years have seen numerous Sri Lankan writers and those of Sri Lankan origin make their mark on the literary awards circuit. Recently, V.V. Ganeshananthan won the 2024 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction and 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction for her novel Brotherless Night , which took 18 years to write. Australian-Tamil author of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage, Shankari Chandran, won the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award for her third novel, Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens , which is set in contemporary Australia and 1980s Sri Lanka; her first book Song of the Sun God is being adapted for television, starring Bridgerton’s Charithra Chandran.

Shehan Karunatilaka ’s Seven Moons of Maali Almeida won the 2022 Booker Prize, while his debut novel Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew won the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature and the 2012 Commonwealth Book Prize. Vajra Chandrasekera’s debut novel The Saint of Bright Doors was recently awarded the Nebula award for best novel, Locus first novel award and 2024 Crawford award, and was shortlisted for a Hugo award. In 2021, Sri Lankan Tamil author Anuk Arudpragasam was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for his second novel A Passage North ; previously, his first novel The Story of a Brief Marriage (2016), won the DSC Prize for South Asian fiction.

Sri Lankan author Anuk Arudpragasam | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Sri Lankans — both resident in the island and in the diaspora — have been telling their stories for decades, but when literature is shaped by the marketplace and writing is ascribed value by literary gatekeepers of the western world, perhaps the world hasn’t been ready to hear these stories.

“The idea that Sri Lankan creative writing in English has come into the spotlight only recently is possible only when we focus on the international awards Sri Lankan writers have been winning of late. But writers living in Sri Lanka, as well as diasporic authors have been writing for a long time,” says Neloufer de Mel, Senior Professor of English (Chair) at the University of Colombo. “What has happened now is that a generation of Sri Lankan writers, who are between 30 and 50 years of age, are writing on the Sri Lankan war, its society, and its politics in new ways and voices. They also belong to a more global generation with international links and so, have been successful in getting their work internationally published and in circulation. It is this generational shift that I think is important to mark, and what is exciting is their new voices, figurative imaginations, use of language, and the stories they tell.”

Writing as a team sport

In the 90s and early 2000s, writers such as Michael Ondaatje, Romesh Gunesekera, Shyam Selvadurai, Carl Muller and Michelle de Kretser were also successful in publishing internationally and reaching wider audiences. Currently, Yudhanjaya Wijeratne, Amanda Jayatissa, Nizrana Farook, Thushanthi Ponweera and Shyala Smith are among the new crop of writers making their mark in science fiction, thriller, and children’s writing, internationally. Their books display inventiveness in form and explore a variety of themes drawing from Buddhist mythology, Sri Lanka’s socio-political history, its civil war and more.

Author Shehan Karunatilaka | Photo Credit: Special arrangement

“I think it is always nice when writing — which can be very solitary — becomes more of a team sport where you are able to cheer for other people who are interested in the themes, ideas, people and communities that you are, and who have their own approaches and language and energy that they’re bringing. It just makes the conversation so much more interesting and exciting and less lonely. I think it’s the beginning of great things, hopefully, to come for writing connected to Sri Lanka and I hope that it will expand so that those who are working in Sinhala and Tamil also get more of the spotlight because I know remarkable work has been taking place in these languages for a really long time,” says novelist Ganeshananthan, who is based in the U.S.

While writing and publishing in English remains a niche market in Sri Lanka, the country has a long literary tradition of Sinhala and Tamil writing. Although there has been little overlap in recent years, there are ongoing efforts to encourage translations and cross-pollination between the three languages. “Translations are very important because this is the way you get to read each other’s work, particularly in monolingual societies as in Sri Lanka. There are very few people who work in literary translation here and this is a great setback. The Gratiaen Trust has offered the H.A.I. Goonetilleke Prize for translation of creative writing from Sinhala and Tamil into English since 2003 to encourage such translations,” says de Mel, former chair of the Gratiaen Trust. “University departments of English and Sinhala have also added translation, either as a course or module, into their curricula in Sri Lanka. These are good initiatives, but we need a concerted effort to encourage and train more literary translators because this is a special field in its own right.”

Author Shankari Chandran | Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Long road to publishing

While there is a welcome spotlight on stories about Sri Lanka, the road to publication remains long. In interviews, author Karunatilaka has spoken of the struggle to get Seven Moons published. It was seen as a ‘difficult’ book by many — the only publisher willing to take it on was an independent firm, Sort Of Books, based in the U.K.

In 2022, Sri Lanka faced its worst economic crisis since independence, and is currently rebuilding from the aftershock. In a bid to increase government revenue, the state has imposed taxes on previously exempt industries such as publishing. For writers based in Sri Lanka, this is yet another challenge to overcome. “The price of books [fiction] is exorbitant, so writers find it hard to access contemporary fiction. Writers need to read and when a country levies high taxes on books, it dampens critical thinking and creativity,” says Ramya Jirasinghe, who recently won the 2023 Gratiaen prize for her unpublished novel, Father Cabraal’s Recipe for Love Cake .

A generation of Sri Lankan writers, who are between 30 and 50 years of age, are writing on the Sri Lankan war, its society, and its politics in new ways and voices. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

But for many Sri Lankan writers, the recent spotlight on Sri Lankan stories is encouraging. “If you accept how small this country is, how small our reading/writing population in English is, and how hard it is for local writers to access resources, what is happening now is groundbreaking. Shehan and Ashok [Ferrey] have broken into global markets becoming trailblazers for others and have shown that it can be done from Sri Lanka,” says Jirasinghe. “Sri Lanka is very unique even within South Asia, which means that our stories really must leave these shores and encounter readers from around the world.”

The writer is based in Colombo.

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E.B. Creasy Solar partners Sungrow to bring next-level solar power to Sri Lanka

Friday, 13 September 2024 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Tania de Silva

E.B. Creasy Solar, a division of the esteemed E.B. Creasy & Co., PLC, has taken a remarkable step in Sri Lanka’s renewable energy sector by forming a strategic alliance with Sungrow, a globally recognised leader in solar technology. With over 500 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity worldwide as of 2023, Sungrow’s reputation for excellence in the solar industry is well-established. Announced on 10 September, this partnership designates E.B. Creasy Solar as the exclusive sales and service partner for Sungrow solar inverters in Sri Lanka. This pivotal collaboration represents a substantial advancement towards achieving Sri Lanka’s ambitious renewable energy targets, notably its goal to generate 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, according to the Sri Lankan Power and Energy Ministry. Sungrow’s inverters are engineered with cutting-edge technology designed to optimise the performance of solar energy systems. Key features include Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) and integrated monitoring systems, which enhance energy yield by up to 30%. This technology ensures that solar systems operate at peak efficiency, converting more sunlight into usable electricity. The versatility of Sungrow inverters makes them suitable for a broad spectrum of applications, from residential setups to extensive commercial installations. Their robust construction is built to withstand extreme weather conditions, meeting international standards such as IP66 for dust and water resistance, and they perform reliably across a wide temperature range of -25°C to 60°C. Furthermore, the user-friendly interface and cloud-based monitoring capabilities provide real-time performance data, making it easier for users to manage and optimise their solar systems. This technological prowess aligns with Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to boost its solar capacity, which, as of 2022, surpassed 600 MW. The milestone event celebrating this partnership featured a distinguished gathering of industry leaders and experts. Representing E.B. Creasy Solar were E.B. Creasy Solar Chairman S.D.R. Arudpragasam, Managing Director Sanjeev Rajaratnam, Chief Operating Officer Isuru Lekamge, and Sales Manager Eksath De Alwis. Also present was Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd. Director Howard Fu, alongside the Sungrow team. The event was attended by prominent figures from Sri Lanka’s energy sector, including Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) Chairman Ranjith Sepala, University of Moratuwa Electrical Engineering Expert Prof. Asanka Rodrigo, and Ceylon Electricity Board Chairman Nalinda Ilangakoon. The presence of SLSEA-registered solar PV service providers underscored the significance of this development within the industry. Lekamge emphasised the strategic importance of the partnership, stating: “Our collaboration with Sungrow marks a groundbreaking moment for E.B. Creasy Solar and Sri Lanka’s renewable energy sector. By integrating Sungrow’s high-efficiency solar inverters into our offerings, we are setting a new benchmark in solar technology that promises to significantly enhance energy yield and system reliability. This partnership not only supports Sri Lanka’s ambitious target of sourcing 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, but also contributes to reducing carbon emissions and advancing sustainable development.” The advanced features of Sungrow’s inverters, including their MPPT technology and robust design, are tailored to maximise energy efficiency while enduring Sri Lanka’s challenging climate conditions. Their broad application range – from residential to large-scale commercial installations – ensures they meet diverse energy needs across the country.

COMMENTS

National Hero of Sri Lanka
The status of 'Sri Lanka National Hero' is a civil honour bestowed on an individual recognised and declared as 'Patriotic Hero' who fought for the freedom of the motherland. [4][6] The award focuses on those who led the Uva Wellassa Great Rebellion (1817-1818), the Matale rebellion (1848) and, the Sri Lankan independence movement. [7 ...
List of National Heroes of Sri Lanka
"81 leaders in 1818 freedom struggle declared as national heroes". www.dailymirror.lk. Daily Mirror; Somasundaram, Daya (2010). "Collective trauma in the Vanni- a qualitative inquiry into the mental health of the internally displaced due to the civil war in Sri Lanka". International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 4. University of Jaffna: 4.
List of National Heroes of Sri Lanka
National Hero is a status an individual can receive in Sri Lanka for those who are considered to have played a major role in fighting for the freedom of the country. The status is conferred by the President of Sri Lanka. The recipients of the award are celebrated on a Sri Lankan national holiday, National Heroes' Day, held annually on 22 May.
Kumar Sangakkara: The greatest hero of our time
Instead, narrow visions of national identity and short-sighted politics led to decades of divisive communal violence. Most notably at the end of the war in 2009, Sri Lanka needed - more than ever - a voice of intelligent cosmopolitanism that could elevate the island nation from the divisive legacy of its past heroes and give cause for the ...
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Puran Appu
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Commemoration of Our National Heroes. November 4th, 2021. Prefects. Sri Lanka was a country which was ruled by different European nations from 1505. British. administration was the final European nation which ruled Sri Lanka before its independence. In 1948, ending the colonial era which lasted over 400 years, there was a switch of powers.
Recognising unsung heroes
Sri Lanka National Heroes. "Sri Lanka National Hero" is a status of civil honour bestowed on an individual recognised and declared as "Patriotic War Hero" who fought for the freedom of the motherland especially in the Uva Wellassa Great Rebellion (1817-1818), the Matale Rebellion (1948) and, the Independence movement against the ...
Recognition of unsung heroes
The inaugural meeting of the pioneer fighters for 'Sri Lanka - Accessible for All' held at the Taj Samudra Hotel, 1 July 2005. Persons who deserve honour for their patriotic deeds and distinguished services to the country are rightly recognised as National Heroes, National War Heroes and recipients of Sri Lankan National Honours.
Thomian National Heroes of Sri Lanka
S. Thomas' College has recently brought out a remarkable publication called Thomian National Heroes of Sri Lanka. It is the brainchild of Lakmini de Silva, the Teacher-in-Charge of the Political Science Society of STC, and the outcome of the efforts of the Student Committee led by Uthsara Dunusinghe whom the Warden, Reverend Marc Billimoria describes as the "live wire behind the project.
Heroes in the struggle for Independence
Heroes in the struggle for Independence. Yesterday we celebrated the 64th anniversary of Independence. It was on February 4, 1948 that Sri Lanka gained Independence from the British. So it's time to reflect upon the 'Freedom Fighters' who worked hard to free the country from the clutches of the colonial masters. Foreign domination started with ...
National Heroes of Sri Lanka
4 1. rank #3 ·. Wansapurna Dewage David alias Gongalegoda Banda (a.k.a. Peliyagoda David) (13 March 1809 - 1 December 1849 ) was the leader of the Matale rebellion in 1848, pretender to the throne of Kandy and a national hero of Sri Lanka. Kandyan period · 7T. Sri Lankan independence movement · 15T. Sri Lankan military leaders · 4T.
Sri Lankan Independence Activists: National Heroes of Sri Lanka
Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: National Heroes of Sri Lanka, Anagarika Dharmapala, C. W. W. Kannangara, Edwin Wijeyeratne, Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Mark Anthony Bracegirdle, Philip Gunawardena, Don Stephen Senanayake, Henry Pedris, Arthur V ...
Category:National Heroes of Sri Lanka
Category:National Heroes of Sri Lanka. Category. : National Heroes of Sri Lanka. The following are people who contributed towards the movement to achieve independence for Sri Lanka from the British Empire. They are now called Jathika Weerayo in Sinhala, which translates to National Heroes.
Lankapura: The Legacy of the Ramayana in Sri Lanka
Abstract. The five articles which make up this special issue of South Asia explore the role of the Ramayana in Sri Lankan art, literature, religious ritual and political discourse in shaping Sinhala Buddhist and Tamil Saiva perceptions of the island's distant past. Contributors work to answer the question as to when and how Sri Lanka came to be equated with the mythic 'Lankapura' of ...
National Hero of Sri Lanka
The status of 'Sri Lanka National Hero' is a civil honour bestowed on an individual recognised and declared as 'Patriotic Hero' who fought for the freedom of the motherland. [4] [6] The award focuses on those who led the Uva Wellassa Great Rebellion (1817-1818), the Matale rebellion (1848) and, the Sri Lankan independence movement.
Our National Heroes of Sri Lanka1
Our National Heroes of Sri Lanka1 - Free download as Word Doc (.doc / .docx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site.
Sri Lanka Independence Day History
On that day, D.S.Senanayake took down the British flag, hoisted the Sri Lankan national flag, and symbolized the establishment of Sri Lankan rule. Yet, from 1948 onward, Sri Lanka celebrated independence day on 4th February each year, commemorating the national heroes, and the efforts behind this achievement.
Facets of Sri Lanka's history and Independence
Sri Lankans across the island still live freely and independently because of the lionhearted fighters for freedom Mother Lanka gave birth to more than seven decades ago. The National Day or Independence Day which falls on February 4 annually, is a day when every Sri Lankan commemorates the country's independence from British rule in 1948.
අපේ ජාතික වීරයෝ
අපේ රටේ නිදහස් සටනට පණ පෙවූ ජාතික වීරවරයින් ගැන මෙම වීඩියෝවෙන් ඔබ වෙත ගෙන ...
Remembering DS Senanayake on Sri Lanka's Independence Day
Senanayake Foundation, I tem in Daily Mirror, 4 Feb 2022 The first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) D.S. Senanayake entered the National Legislature in 1924. He was relatively unknown in the country and was pushed into prominence by his elder brother F.R. Senanayake, who was a very popular and active figure in the social and political arena.
Anagarika Dharmapala
Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala. Anagārika Dharmapāla (Pali: Anagārika, [ɐˈnɐɡaːɽɪkɐ]; Sinhala: Anagārika, lit., Sinhala: අනගාරික ධර්‍මපාල; 17 September 1864 - 29 April 1933) was a Sri Lankan Buddhist revivalist and a writer.. Anagarika Dharmapāla is noted because he was: the first global Buddhist missionary; one of the founding contributors of non ...
National Heroes of Sri Lanka
National Heroes of Sri Lanka are those who are considered to have played a major role in the Sri Lankan independence struggle from British Colonial rule. [according to whom?] On February 4 each year on Independence Day these people are celebrated.
Sri Lanka's new literary voices
The past years have seen numerous Sri Lankan writers and those of Sri Lankan origin make their mark on the literary awards circuit. Recently, V.V. Ganeshananthan won the 2024 Carol Shields Prize ...
Cabinet approves personal income tax relief from April
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E.B. Creasy Solar partners Sungrow to bring next-level solar power to
E.B. Creasy Solar, a division of the esteemed E.B. Creasy & Co., PLC, has taken a remarkable step in Sri Lanka's renewable energy sector by forming a strategic alliance with Sungrow, a globally recognised leader in solar technology. With over 500 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity worldwide as of 2023, Sungrow's reputation for excellence in the solar industry is well-established ...