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| Saturday, 12 February 2005 |
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Deshamanya E. L. Senanayake awarded 'Trinity College Lion' by Ransirinie Anoma Senanayake, Attorney-at-Law My father the late Deshamanya E. L. Senanayake of Kandy was not only a true Trinity Lion, he achieved the status of a legend in his very lifetime. I very proudly nominate him for the above Award Posthumously. He had a colourful interactive and unforgettable personality. As a career he chose politics and public life. He entered Municipal politics comparatively very young in life in 1943, not long after he left Trinity College after a illustrious school career. He continuously excelled in academics and extra-curricular activities throughout his school career, at Trinity College, Kandy. He won many prizes at school, among which was the coveted Nell Prize for Ceylon History beating many senior boys. At that time he was only 16 years. A Buddhist by religion he won the scripture prize too, more than once. He was a popular class monitor for many years. The solid foundation which he received at Trinity College stood him in good stead throughout his life. He gained entrance to the then University College of Colombo and read for a Honours Degree in Economics. He entered the Kandy Municipal Council at the age of 23 years, which is the same year he married his childhood sweetheart the beautiful Seetha Harasgama of Matale. My mother was a tower of strength and support to my father right throughout their life together. At 29 years he created history by becoming the youngest Mayor not only in Sri Lanka but throughout the whole of South East Asia. The same year Mr. Senanayake's father Gate Mudaliyar James Senanayake a Trinitian himself was honoured by the Central Government for exceptional social service and philanthropy. My father together with his father and brothers built the Trinity College Library and a set of classes above it in memory of his eldest brother Milton Vivian Senanayake, himself an outstanding sportsman and brilliant student of Trinity College, Kandy. He was 24 years at the time of his early death and had completed his third MBBS at King's College, London. He was one among two Lankans at the Kings College Medical School in 1936. The Hon. E. L. Senanayake continued his illustrious career as a politician serving as Mayor of Kandy for 14 consecutive years. He loved his home town Kandy and did his utmost to improve living standards for the people of Kandy. As Mayor he worked tirelessly to complete the new Kandy Market then a showpiece in Asia, the new Kandy water scheme, the D.S. Senanayake Memorial Library, the Boy's Scout Headquarters, the Anniwatte Tunnel and many other projects. He also improved many public and private schools, hospitals, temples, churches, kovils, Mosques and other places of worship. He improved the Kandy roadways and worked hard to maintain the pristine natural beauty of the Dalada Maligawa and the vicinity. He encouraged and helped many sports, recreational and religious facilities for the public of Kandy. He did not forget the social service aspects of public life and to improve the standard of living for the needy. He built and improved Homes for the Elders and orphanages. Here again his father Mudaliyar James Senanayake and the Hon. E. L. Senanayake together with his family members donated many hospital wards and improved orphanages and Homes for the Elders in the Kandy District spending their own monies. They gifted a building to the YMCA at Sangaraja Mawatha and also built a room in the new Pilgrims Rest at the Maha Kataragama Devalaya premises in Kataragama. During Mr. Senanayake's 14 year tenure as Mayor he single handedly organised and orchestrated the Queen of England's visits to Kandy in 1954 and the visits of many other dignitaries like Dr. Rajendra Prasad President of India, Marshall Tito of Yugoslavia, Chou En Lai Prime Minister of China, King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia, King Mahendra of Nepal and many others. Nearly 25 years later when the Queen visited Kandy again, she still had happy memories of her earlier visit which she mentioned to Mr. Senanayake on meeting him again. As the Mayor's office was not a paid position then, Mr. Senanayake had quite a lot of expenses out of pocket and continued to do so throughout over 50 years of his political career. He entered national politics in 1952 and was elected as MP for Kandy. In the General Elections of 1960 he was returned twice to Parliament and thereafter he represented Kandy in 1965, 1970 and again at the 1977 General Elections. As MP Kandy for many years he continued serving the needs of the people not only in Kandy but in the whole of the Central Province. A founder Member of the UNP he was also a very effective chief UNP organizer for the Central Province for many years, succeeding many times to win almost all the seats for the UNP. In 1968 he was appointed Minister of Health in the then UNP Dudley Senanayake Government. In a brief period of two years he successfully spearheaded the malaria eradication programme and initiated many far-reaching new programmes in the health system of Sri Lanka and its administration. In the 1970-1977 SLFP Government he was one of the seven UNP members in Parliament where he continued to successfully represent the interests of the people of the Central Province. In 1977 the Hon. J. R. Jayewardene appointed him the Minister of Agriculture and Lands. During his tenure he made Sri Lanka self-sufficient in rice, and revived old agricultural customs and values from our ancient past like the "vap magula". He also travelled around Sri Lanka extensively and improved the farmers lot. He encouraged multi export crop cultivation like mangoes and several other varieties of fruits and vegetables throughout the island and renovated many tanks in farming areas. In 1983 he was unanimously elected Speaker of the National State Assembly. For six years he added lustre to the post and won the respect and affection of the whole Parliament across party lines. Throughout his career he represented Sri Lanka very constructively in many International Forums like the UNO, FAO, WHO, WFO, IFAD, IPU & CPA. Despite of being very busy he also had time to contribute to social service organisations like the Rotary Club, himself being a honorary Rotarian for life in the Rotary Club of Kandy. He also always found time to actively participate and support the YMBA, the YMCA and the Hindu Cultural Association activities, among others. In early 1989 he was elected Governor of the North Central Province an area which he and Mrs. Senanayake always loved besides Kandy, because of their lifelong interest and love of Sri Lanka history. They enjoyed travelling extensively in this area and interacting with its people. In 1994 he was appointed Governor of Sabaragamuwa. He was very proud to be a Trinitian and never forgot his Alma Mater Trinity College Kandy and returned many times to participate in Prize-givings, Sports Meets and Fund raisers. He helped the TCK old boy's association and school in numerous ways, always finding time to interact with the old boys of Trinity. He served on the Board of Governors of TCK. His family awarded annual prizes on prize days too. He has clearly proved to be one of the most outstanding and very distinguished old boys of the "best school of all", bringing great honour to his school. I therefore feel that he roundly deserves a "TCK Lion" of recognition even posthumously for his outstanding and dedicated services politically and socially to his beloved Kandy, Sri Lanka at large and to his Alma Mater. His brother Senator Dr. James Senanayake and E. R. Senanayake, MMC, JPUM were also Trinitians who distinguished themselves in academics and sports. His eight sons several nephews and grandsons are all Trinitians. Some of them being still at Trinity. They too have had constructive records in academics and sports. They have distinguished themselves careerwise in the fields of law, politics, diplomacy, business, accounts and other fields. His youngest son Hon. Kesara D. Senanayake who graduated with a LL.M Degree from Kings College, London University when he was only 23 years old, is the present and very active Mayor of Kandy. My father together with my mother, his very supportive and loving wife Seetha Senanayake always believed that all the people of Sri Lanka in all communities and religions should have a chance to live together in peace. In his political and public service career spanning over 50 years he received wide support, respect and affection of Sri Lankans throughout the country. He was unforgettable, personable and very popular right throughout his life. He was a brilliant speaker and a voracious reader. He travelled widely and was always interested in learning about other lands and cultures. As hobbies he had a lifelong interest in Sri Lanka history, agriculture, gardening, architecture and archaeology. |
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