74-541: Dedigama is an electorate once represented by Dudley Senanayake (former Prime Minister) in Kegalle District , Sri Lanka . This Sri Lankan politics-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Dudley Senanayake Dudley Shelton Senanayake ( Sinhala : ඩඩ්ලි ශෙල්ටන් සේනානායක: Tamil : டட்லி சேனநாயக்கா ; 19 June 1911 – 13 April 1973), was a Sri Lankan statesman who thrice served as Prime Minister of Ceylon , from 1952 to 1953 (as
148-591: A 10,000 Sri Lankan rupees pay hike and reduced prices on 13 goods. The National Medicine Regulatory Authority Bill was passed, providing for the establishment of a regulatory authority to be known as the National Medicines Regulatory Authority. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution was approved by the Cabinet at an emergency Cabinet meeting on 16 March 2015. UNP won a majority of seats (106) in
222-516: A University for Bhikkus in Anuradhapura. He undertook many educational reforms, expanding vocation education by setting up the Ceylon College of Technology, Katubedda in 1966 and six Junior University Colleges in 1969. In 1966, his government claimed an attempted coup d'état was occurring and the commander of the army and several military personnel were arrested. They were later acquitted of
296-421: A bomb was thrown into Esmond Wickremesinghe 's house moments after Senanayake had left the premises while negotiations were underway to form a government. His government originally consisted of six other parties and included both Tamil and Sinhalese nationalists. Much of his term was carried out under a state of emergency (since January 1966) due to sporadic occurrences of communal violence, however Senanayake
370-486: A cabinet, however they offered conditional support to policies aimed at reviving the economy. Wickremesinghe became Prime Minister despite his party having only one seat in parliament, a first in Sri Lankan parliamentary history. On 9 July 2022, protestors stormed and occupied the presidential residence as economic conditions got worse. Wickremesinghe agreed to resign while President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agreed to resign on
444-475: A heart ailment. Since his Cambridge days, he had suffered from a stomach ailment that was only diagnosed later as a birth defect, which got aggravated when under stress. Dudley Senanayake is respected by most Sri Lankans as a statesman of simplicity, democratic toleration, and moderation. He is remembered for carrying forward his father's legacy, especially in the areas of agricultural reforms and large-scale projects, introducing his own, and initiating more such as
518-709: A letter of resignation to the Speaker of the Parliament . On 15 July, the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abewardhana announced the official resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Ranil Wickremesinghe was officially sworn in as the acting president, and was later elected by the Parliament of Sri Lanka to complete the remainder of Rajapaksa's term. As Wickremesinghe's term was coming to an end in 2024, there were many speculations whether Wickremesinghe would run for
592-540: A lifelong member. He grew up in the comfortable family home Woodlands , but was greatly affected by the events of the 1915 riots when his father was arrested by Punjabi soldiers . Imprisoned by the British military, his father and uncles faced the possibility of execution under martial law . Never married, he remained a lifelong bachelor. Dudley received his secondary education at the prestigious S. Thomas' College , where he excelled in his studies and sports. He became
666-638: A major source of foreign exchange and employment in Sri Lanka. However, he and his allies were defeated in the 1970 elections . In the 1970 elections , the UNP won the largest vote share of any individual party. However, the UNP was thrown from office after the United Front coalition (SLFP, LSSP , and the Communists ) led by Sirimavo Bandaranaike won a large majority of 91 seats. Senanayake retained his Dedigama seat in
740-480: A major split in early 2020 when its working committee became divided over a new alliance that it had previously approved. Leadership of the alliance was given to its deputy leader, the popular Sajith Premadasa. Over three-quarters of the parliamentary group refused to sign nominations from the party, instead making nominations under the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (English: Peace People's Power, SJB) alliance. As
814-533: A massive media attack on their nominal partners, branding Wickremesinghe as a traitor and accusing the UNP government of "selling" national heritage sites to foreigners. Early in 2004, the SLFP and JVP formed the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), marking the beginning of the end for the UNP government. In February 2004, within 24 hours of delivering a speech for national unity, Kumaratunga dissolved parliament. In
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#1732859011448888-623: A moving speech, ended it by saying "Good night sweet Prince". *Appointed MPs were abolished in 1972 by the First Republican Constitution United National Party The United National Party ( UNP ; Sinhala : එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය , romanized: Eksath Jāthika Pakshaya , Tamil : ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சி , romanized: Aikkiya Tēciyak Kaṭci ) is a centre-right political party in Sri Lanka . The UNP has served as
962-533: A penchant for neoliberal economic policies. By 2001 the country was facing the worst economic downturn since independence, with rising inflation and a power crisis. GDP was shrinking by 2.5%. The SLFP government fell on a no-confidence motion by the opposition, which prompted President Kumaratunga to call for early elections. Wickremesinghe secured the support of former government notables, including former Kumaratunga confidants, G. L. Peiris , and S. B. Dissanayake , who would later become important members of
1036-540: A plot to overthrow the legally elected government, which greatly discredited the Senanayake administration, along with the bribery trail of Dr. Mackie Ratwatte , brother and former personal secretary of Sirimavo Bandaranaike. He paid a private visit to the United States for treatment at Walter Reed Hospital , during which time he met President Lyndon Johnson , who informed him that no large-scale aid would be provided by
1110-555: A result, ninety-nine of the party's seniors were suspended from its membership. Party supporters moved to the new alliance, along with supporting minority parties. After failed negotiations, the SJB and the UNP decided to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections separately. Delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic , 2020 parliamentary elections resulted in a landslide victory of the SLPP, which gained 59.09% of
1184-453: A solution to the ethnic conflict. During Eelam War III , which followed as the negotiations were not yet complete, the LTTE proceeded to seize territories that it had lost. The UNP government maintained strict fiscal discipline and market-friendly policies, which led to economic recovery, large-scale investment, and rapid economic growth. The government created key economic institutions such as
1258-511: A term of his own right in the 2024 presidential election . By mid-2024, Wickremesinghe himself was hinting that he would run for re-election. As the election was called in August 2024, Wickremesinghe announced that he would run for re-election as an independent candidate. He was endorsed by the UNP and a breakaway faction of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna . He was also endorsed by several minor parties which had endorsed Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2019, such as
1332-615: Is a member of the International Democracy Union . The UNP was founded by Don Stephen Senanayake in 1946 by amalgamating three right-leaning, pro-dominion parties from the majority Sinhalese community and minority Tamil and Muslim communities. Senanayake had earlier resigned from the Ceylon National Congress due to its revised aim in achieving independence from the British Empire . The UNP represented
1406-477: The 1947 general elections from the Dedigama electorate, he was elected to the first parliament of independent Ceylon and was appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Agriculture and Lands by his father D. S. Senanayake, who became the first prime minister of Ceylon in 1947. He continued many of the agricultural projects he started in his first year and started the ambitious Gal Oya Project , which provided water for
1480-518: The 1953 Hartal (general strike and protest), which led to the resignation of Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake. He was succeeded by his cousin, Colonel Sir John Kotelawala , who launched several major power generation and infrastructure projects. These include: the Lakshapana hydropower project; Bambalapitiya, a housing project for the homeless; modernizing of the Ratmalana Airport ; construction of
1554-462: The British Empire , preferring Dominion status and its inclusion of Marxists. Following his father's resignation, Dudley succeeded his father as Minister of Agriculture and Lands in the second board of ministers of the state council in 1946. Taking on his father's ministry, he carried forward many of the agricultural projects initiated by him, such as the Minneriya irrigation project. Contesting in
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#17328590114481628-527: The Ceylon National Congress (CNC), having been appointed in December 1939 as its joint secretary with J. R. Jayewardene , another young lawyer who had been elected to the Colombo Municipal Council . The CNC was urging for the independence of Ceylon to the extent that his father D. S. Senanayake resigned from the congress because he disagreed with its revised aim of achieving complete independence from
1702-522: The Ceylon Workers' Congress , Eelam People's Democratic Party , and Mahajana Eksath Peramuna . This was Wickremesinghe's third bid for the presidency, and his first time not running as a candidate of the UNP. Wickremesinghe was eliminated at the end of the first phase of the vote counting, finishing in third place with only 17.27% of the vote, compared to NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake 's 42.31% and SJB candidate Sajith Premadasa's 32.76%. As
1776-672: The Governor-General Lord Soulbury over his cousin Sir John Kotelawala . He called a general election, which the UNP won. The government became unpopular a year later, in 1953, when the price of rice was raised and subsidies were cut. Though the UNP remained in power, the Hartal 1953 greatly affected the administration and Senanayake personally, and he resigned as prime minister on health grounds in October, leaving politics and
1850-487: The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) as a balancing force between the UNP and Marxist parties. In March 1952, Prime Minister Senanayake died in a riding accident and was succeeded by his son Dudley Senanayake . During his tenure, Dudley Senanayake launched several projects to further develop the agricultural sector and was termed "Bath Dun Piya" (English: the father who offered free rice to the nation). To improve
1924-603: The Supreme Court of Ceylon and briefly embanked on a legal practice under H. V. Perera, KC , before entering politics on his father's urging. He was elected from the Dedigama electorate in 1936 to the State Council , while his father was Minister of Agriculture and served as a back-bencher for ten years. As State Councilor of Dedigama, he undertook much development work in his electorate developing roads, hospitals, schools, and police stations. During this time, he became active in
1998-461: The United Front alliance of the SLFP with Marxist Parties . A bitter leadership battle in the UNP developed between the populist Dudley Senanayake and the more conservative Junius Richard Jayewardene , a strong supporter of free-market and pro- American policies. The latter was nicknamed as "Yankee Dickey". During the tenure of Dudley Senanayake, English education was made compulsory. After Dudley Senanayake's death in 1973, Jayewardene became
2072-582: The United Kingdom . Bandaranaike passed the controversial Sinhala Only Act , which led to communal clashes in 1958. Dudley Senanayake retook party leadership, and the UNP held power for three months in 1960 . The UNP entered a coalition with the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna and the Tamil ethnic Federal Party which took power in 1965 under Dudley Senanayake. The coalition lost in a 1970 landslide to
2146-464: The temperance movement . Following the early death of F. R. Senanayake, D. S. Senanayake took over his role in the local politics, becoming a legislator and eventually leading the island's independence movement and becoming the first prime minister of Ceylon and founder of the United National Party , which is still one of the main political parties in Sri Lanka and of which Dudley would become
2220-531: The 13th. However, on the morning of 13 July, Rajapaksa fled the country, accompanied by his spouse and a personal security detail, to the Maldives . The Speaker of Parliament announced in the afternoon that President Rajapaksa appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president in his absence. Protesters stormed the office of the Prime Minister demanding his resignation. The next day, Rajapaksa emailed
2294-421: The 2015 general elections and Wickremesinghe was appointed prime minister. UNP signed a memorandum of understanding with SLFP for a national unity government , and Wickremesinghe made cabinet appointments from both parties. The unity government would last for at least 2 years, in order to address unresolved issues from the 30-year Sri Lanka Civil War. Wickremesinghe asked parliament for permission to exceed
Dedigama - Misplaced Pages Continue
2368-475: The 40.47% of the SLPP and the 12.10% of the SLFP. In the 2019 presidential election , the UNP nominated Sajith Premadasa as its candidate after much delay due to internal conflicts. Premadasa was defeated by Gotabaya Rajapaksa , who gained 52.25% of the votes against 41.99% by Premadasa. Premadasa was chosen by the party to serve as opposition leader until fresh elections were called in April 2020. The party had
2442-590: The Board of Investment, the Ministry for Small and Rural Enterprises, and the Information Communication Technology Agency. Economic growth continued to accelerate, reaching almost 6% at the end of 2003, while inflation was at an all-time low of under 2%. Many local and foreign experts believed that Sri Lanka could reach double-digit economic growth within a few years. However, cease-fire breaches by
2516-490: The Colombo port by Bandaranaike. Following the assassination of Bandaranaike in 1959, the caretaker prime minister Wijeyananda Dahanayake called for elections after a year of turmoil. In March 1960, the UNP managed to form a government after elections and Senanayake became prime minister again, but the coalition fragmented and Dudley resigned as prime minister after only four months in office after new elections were held, in which
2590-693: The Head Prefect, captained the college team at cricket at the Royal-Thomian and gained colours in hockey, boxing, and athletics. He won the Victoria Gold Medal for the most outstanding student at S. Thomas'. Senanayake then went on to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge to read for Natural Science Tripos and after graduation gained admission to the Middle Temple as a barrister . After returning to Ceylon in 1935, Dudley took oaths as an Advocate of
2664-566: The Kelaniya Bridge; and the development of Buddhist religious sites. There was growing disaffection with the UNP particularly because of its support of minority religious groups – most notably Catholics – to the consternation of the predominantly Buddhist Sinhalese . Bandaranaike was able to take advantage and lead the SLFP to victory in the 1956 elections, while the UNP returned only eight members to parliament. Kotelawala stepped down as party leader and went into self-imposed exile in
2738-781: The LTTE, including the constant stream of assassinations of military spies, emboldedend nationalistic and extremist factions such as the JVP and its cover organizations to organise protests. They tried to convince the public that Wickremesinghe was giving too much away to the LTTE. Hardline Sinhalese Buddhist organizations such as the Sinhala Urumaya (Sinhalese Heritage) criticized the government for this and for allegedly pandering to western evangelical Christian organizations, endangering Buddhism. The Sinhala Urumaya later rename themselves as Jathika Hela Urumaya (National Sinhalese Heritage) and put forward Buddhist monks to contest elections. In late 2003
2812-584: The Leader of the Opposition from 1960 to 1964. He formed a national government in 1965 and served his third term as prime minister until 1970 during which time he initiated planning for the most ambitious construction projects in Sri Lanka, that of the Mahaweli Development programme . Following the election defeat in 1970 (a defeat encountered on technicality, which his party did not have to accept given they had
2886-704: The Mahaweli development programme. His foreign policy was pro-western, yet he maintained good relations with communist countries such as China , establishing the Ceylon-China Trade Agreement of 1952. Statues of Dudley Senanayake have been erected in many parts of the island, including one at the Old Parliament Building, Colombo and many schools, libraries, and public buildings have been named in his honor. Dudley Senanayake's funeral took place at Independence Square , where J. R. Jayewardene, delivering
2960-406: The UNP won fewer seats. He became the leader of the opposition and helped force early elections in 1965 by persuading 14 supporters of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike to defect. Senanayake was able to form a government following the 1965 elections and served his longest term as prime minister from March 1965 to May 1970. He had narrowly missed an assassination attempt on 23 March 1965 when
3034-428: The United States to Ceylon. He stopped off at London but was forced to return to Ceylon following rumors of his impending death. His government has been credited with restoring the Sri Lankan economy. He initiated planning for the most ambitious construction projects in Sri Lanka, that of the Mahaweli Development programme . His administration initiated the expansion of the tourist industry, which in later years became
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3108-585: The administration to Divisional Secretariats. He also created the National Housing Development Authority, Urban Development Authority, Central Environmental Authority, Janasaviya Trust Fund, Housing Development Finance Corporation and the Institute for Construction Training and Development. Despite these developments, many of his political enemies "disappeared" during his reign, most notably the journalist Richard de Zoysa . In 1993, Premadasa
3182-416: The agricultural sector, he created Bathalegoda Paddy research centre, Thalawakele Tea research centre and Lunuwila Coconut research centre. He also founded Moratuwa University , Ampara Higher Technology Institution, and many technical colleges. During this period, Bhikku University commenced and Poya was declared a government-recognized holiday. The UNP attempted to reduce the rice ration, resulting in
3256-448: The business community and the landed gentry, though Senanayake appealed to landless people by adopting populist policies. His agricultural policies allowed many landless people to relocate under productive colonization schemes, which resulted in Sri Lankan agricultural production rising. Senanayake became popular enough to be called the "father of the nation". Senanayake refused a knighthood, but maintained good relations with Britain and
3330-429: The constitutional limitation of 30 cabinet ministers. This motion was approved by the parliament with 143 in favour, 16 against and 63 absent. The popularity of the government declined, and UNP suffered a defeat in the 2018 local authority elections . They were only able to secure 34 of 340 councils while Mahinda Rajapaksa 's proxy Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) won 231 councils. UNP secured only 29.42% against
3404-405: The country's ruling party, or as part of its governing coalition, for 38 of the country's 74 years of independence, including the periods 1947–1956, 1965–1970, 1977–1994, 2001–2004 and 2015–2019. The party also controlled the executive presidency from its formation in 1978 until 1994 and again from 2022 to 2024. The UNP has been led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe since 1994. The party
3478-416: The cultivation of over 120,000 acres. He initiated a guaranteed price scheme for paddy and farmers. He received the portfolios of Health and Local Government when S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike resigned and crossed over to the opposition. He was still serving as agriculture minister when his father died unexpectedly. Four days later, on 26 March 1952, to the surprise of many, Dudley was chosen as prime minister by
3552-416: The election, which was one of the few rural seats won by the UNP in the election. Although he remained a member of parliament and active in politics, he did not accept the post of leader of the opposition for health reasons, allowing J. R. Jayewardene to serve as leader of the opposition and become de facto leader of the UNP. He died aged 61 while being member of parliament for Dedigama on 13 April 1973 due to
3626-459: The family wealth through graphite mining , which he later expanded into plantations and investments in the arrack renting franchise. His parents were Don Stephen Senanayake and Molly Dunuwila . He was the eldest in the family with a younger brother Robert. His father D. S. Senanayake, who was engaged in the family business at the time of his birth, along with his brothers (Dudley's uncles) F. R. Senanayake and D.C. Senanayake, were active in
3700-503: The leader of the UNP and reorganized the party at the grassroots level. The United Front faced general disaffection from its economic policies and its brutal crackdown against a 1971 Marxist–Leninist insurrection by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). The UNP, which promised each person with an 8-pound (3.6 kg) cereal ration, returned to power in 1977 with an unprecedented five-sixths majority in parliament. Jayewardene
3774-477: The majority votes, however out of gentlemanly spirit he agreed to handover to the left movement when they formed a coalition post election results in 1970), Senanayake remained a member of parliament and the party leader until his death on 13 April 1973. Dudley Senanayake was born on 19 June 1911 to the wealthy Senanayake family, which was at the time becoming active in local colonial-era politics. His paternal grandfather Mudaliyar Don Spater Senanayake established
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#17328590114483848-605: The new administrative capital in Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte , where a new Parliament Building was constructed. In schools, the Mahapola scholarship programme was launched, free school books were provided, and information technology was introduced. Jayawardene's administration created the University of Ruhuna and Eastern University as well as the medical faculty of Jaffna university . Bandaranayake International Airport
3922-629: The party would wait with appointing the sole national seat until the new leader would be selected so that he or she could be represented in parliament. However, he failed to follow up on his original statements and Wickremesinghe continuously postponed the decision on the two positions. Ultimately, he remained party leader and also took the sole parliamentary seat for himself in June 2021. 1. Resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa 2. Accountability for corruption 3. Economic reforms 4. Access to essential services 5. Political reforms 6. Youth participation Due to
3996-416: The party. On a platform of peace with LTTE and economic resurgence, the UNP returned to power in the 2001 election, taking all but one district. Wickremesinghe became prime minister of a "co-habitation" government with President Kumaratunga. Within two months into his premiership, Wickremesinghe signed a pivotal ceasefire agreement with the LTTE. The agreement was followed by intense peace negotiations towards
4070-653: The plantation workers of Indian descent , the Indian Tamils, using the Ceylon Citizenship Act of 1948 and the Parliamentary Elections Amendment Act of 1949. These measures were intended primarily to electorally undermine the Left. In July 1951, long-standing UNP stalwart Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike , a Buddhist nationalist leader known for his centre-left views, quit the UNP to found
4144-467: The popular vote in an election which saw a record turnout of 81.52%. Sirisena was sworn in as executive president while Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as prime minister. Over 70% of the ministerial posts in the Sirisena cabinet went to the UNP and Minister Lakshman Kiriella was appointed the leader of the house. The new government presented a budget to parliament two weeks later, giving benefits including
4218-542: The president took over the National Lotteries Board. The UNP blocked this move by surrounding the government press so that the gazette could not be printed. As a retaliatory move, the president then took over the ministries of Mass Communications, Defence, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was visiting George W. Bush in Washington DC. Kumaratunga and her confidants launched
4292-562: The press as 'crossovers' , also resulted in a state where a number of senior officials expressed concern over the 'jumbo cabinet'. On 9 February 2007, the president sacked three ministers for their remarks against the new political configuration. UNP and twelve other opposition parties in parliament signed an opposition alliance on 3 November 2009. After winning the 30-year long war against LTTE in 2009, President Rajapaksa called for an early presidential election in 2010 . UNP and JVP backed General Sarath Fonseka as presidential candidate. This
4366-418: The prime minister of Ceylon. Dudley Senanayake, who was educated at S. Thomas' College and at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge , qualified as a barrister before entering national politics in 1936 when he was elected to the State Council and succeeded his father as minister of agriculture and lands in 1946. He served in his father's cabinet as minister of agriculture and lands from 1947 to 1952. Following
4440-464: The public limelight. In 1954, he accompanied his successor Sir John Kotelawala and the leader of the opposition S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike on a state visit to India on Sir John's invitation. He returned to politics in 1957 when the UNP lost elections and was appointed President of the UNP. He supported the efforts of J. R. Jayewardene in establishing UNP trade unions known as Jatika Sevaka Sangamayas and opposed nationalization of insurance companies and
4514-482: The second preferences count concluded, Anura Kumara Dissanayake was declared the 9th Executive President of Sri Lanka. Wickremesinghe left the Presidential Secretariat on 23 September 2024, allowing for a peaceful transition of power to Dissanayake, who succeeded him as President. He also stated that he would not run for reelection again following his defeat, as part of the UNP tradition. On 23 June 2016,
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#17328590114484588-467: The second prime minister of Ceylon), in 1960, and from 1965 to 1970 , and Leader of the Opposition from 1960 to 1964. Senanayake's tenures as prime minister were associated with democratic policies focused on agricultural and educational reforms with a pro-western alignment. Born to a political family , he was the eldest son of D. S. Senanayake , who lead the independence movement that gained self-rule for Ceylon in 1948, with D. S. Senanayake becoming
4662-547: The subsequent election on 2 April 2004, the UNP was defeated by the UPFA. Wickremesinghe remained as leader of the UNP. In the presidential election of 17 November 2005, Wickremesinghe, came second with 48.43% of the vote. It is widely believed that if not for the boycott of the polls in the North and parts of the East, allegedly due to LTTE intimidation, Wickramsinghe would have won, though he
4736-515: The sudden death of D. S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake succeeded his father as the second prime minister of Ceylon. He resigned shortly after the Hartal 1953 on health grounds and was succeeded by his cousin Colonel Sir John Kotelawala . He returned to active politics in 1957, and led his party, the United National Party , to a short-lived administration in 1960. His second term as prime minister lasted four months and he then served as
4810-503: The votes and secured a 145-seat parliamentary majority, while the SJB gained 23.90% votes and 54 seats. The UNP suffered its worst defeat, receiving only 2.15% of votes cast. For the first time, it almost failed to win a single seat in parliament, having only gained one national list seat . Following the party's defeat in the parliamentary elections, Wickremesinghe indicated on several occasions his willingness to step down as party leader after serving for more than 25 years. He declared that
4884-450: The worsening economic crisis and widespread protests in 2022 , Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who wished to form a government of national unity, invited Wickremesinghe to once again assume the office of Prime Minister as a reconciliatory effort towards the opposition. The relevant parties represented in parliament, Samagi Jana Banawegaya and Tamil National Alliance, refused to take up portfolios in such
4958-579: Was a Privy Counsellor . He launched major irrigation and hydro-power projects such as the Gal Oya project (which relocated over 250,000 people ), Udawalawa tank , Senanayaka tank, and several other multipurpose projects. He also renovated historic sites in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and played a major role in the Colombo plan . During his tenure, free education commenced and the University of Peradeniya opened. However, his government proceeded to disenfranchise
5032-535: Was able to control these effectively and was able to give Tamil language official status in Tamil speaking areas, which became a step closer to address the grievances of the Tamil community on language after S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike had replaced Sinhalese as the official language replacing English. He established the Poya holiday, the day of Buddhist sabbath, and rendered formal recognition for the Mahanayaka theros. He established
5106-503: Was assassinated by LTTE suicide cadres at a May Day rally. In the 1994 election, the People's Alliance gained control of parliament after 17 years of unbroken UNP rule. While in opposition, many of UNP stalwarts were killed by an LTTE suicide terrorist attack including presidential candidate Gamini Dissanayake . Party leadership was passed to Jayewardene's nephew, Ranil Wickremesinghe , a relatively young politician with pro-western views and
5180-764: Was elected president by Parliament and, in 1978, introduced a new constitution which transformed the presidency into an executive post with sweeping powers. The UNP opened the economy and made sweeping policy changes. Free-trade zones such as in Katunayaka and Biyagama attracted foreign investment and generated employment. The government undertook massive development work to promote hydroelectricity and agriculture. Reservoirs were built at Victoria , Randenigala , Rantambe and Kotmale , while Maduru Oya and Lunugamwehera reservoirs were reconstructed. He awarded "Swarnabhoomi" land deeds to people and established administration centres such as Isurupaya and Sethsiripaya to create
5254-627: Was modernized and Air Lanka was created. He also modernized the military and created the Police Special Task Force. By 1987, the Sri Lankan military had cornered the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Jaffna and were confident of bringing an end to the civil war . However, due to internal pressure, airdropped supplies to the besieged LTTE. Jayewardene retired in 1988 and
5328-631: Was succeeded by Ranasinghe Premadasa , a populist leader from the lower class known for his anti-Indian sentiment. After he was elected as president in 1988 , he launched the Million Houses Programme for the homeless and started the 'Village Re-Awakening Movement' (Gam Udawa) to develop rural areas across the country. Premadasa's people-oriented programs include the Janasaviya , the Garment Factories Programme, and decentralization of
5402-505: Was the first time UNP backed a non-UNP member for president. However, Rajapaksa won the election with 57.88% of the popular vote. In April, Rajapaksa called for a general election and UPFA won a majority of 144 seats while UNF received 60 seats. President Rajapaksa, seeking a third term, called for an early election in 2015. UNP and several other parties backed SLFP's general secretary and health minister, Maithripala Sirisena , as common candidate. Sirisena emerged victorious with 51.28% of
5476-533: Was unable to gain the trust of the bulk of the majority Sinhalese community. In early 2007, 18 senior members of the UNP joined President Mahinda Rajapaksa 's ruling coalition, receiving ministerial positions. This resulted in a state of political unrest, as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the President and the UNP leader in late 2006 was read as no longer valid. This incident, generally recorded in
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