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by Ariyavansa Jayaweera

Desamanya E.L. Senanayake, the leading politician of the Central Province passed away three years ago on 29th January 2000, thus ending a 52-year career in public service. Politicians of Mr. Senanayake's calibre are very rare indeed.

He was born in Kandy in 1920 and was the third son of Wasala Mudaliyar James Senanayake who resided at "Milton House", Castle Street, Kandy, "E.L." as he was affectionately known was educated at Trinity College Kandy and at University College Colombo. During his distinguished academic career at Trinity College, E.L. Senanayake carried away many prizes awarded for various subjects including the coveted nell prize for Ceylon History. After his university career E.L. entered the Kandy Municipal Council in 1943 as a Municipal Councillor.

In 1946 he was elected as the Deputy Mayor of Kandy and in 1950 he became the youngest Mayor in the country at the young age of 29 years. His contributions to the development and enhancement of Kandy during his twenty five year Municipal career are now part of legend. E.L.was responsible for the construction of the new Kandy Central Market which was then regarded as the best public market in the whole of Asia.

He was also responsible for starting the new Kandy water supply scheme at Getambe, the D.S. Senanayake Public Library, the E.L. Senanayake Children's Library, the Auditorium and the E.L. Senanayake Children's Park at Ampitiya. Apart from his contributions to Kandy in his official capacity Mr. E.L. Senanayake's parents and his family were responsible for many contributions to charitable causes from their private family wealth. Amongst these gifts to charity are the Miltion Senanayake Memorial Library at Trinity College Kandy, a ward at the Mahaiyawa Home for Elders, the Pothgul Viharaya at Malabar Street Kandy and the YMCA building at Sangaraja Mawatha Kandy.

Mr. Senanayake was elected as Member of parliament for the Kandy seat in 1952 and continued in that capacity till 1988. Furthermore he served as the Health Minister in the Government of Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake, the Minister of Agriculture and lands in the Government of President J.R. Jayewardene and as the Speaker of Parliament for a period of five years. After retiring from active politics Mr. Senanayake served as the governor of the North Central Province and finally as the Governor of Sabaragamuwa. In recognition of all his contributions to public life, E.L. Senanayake was bestowed with the honorific title of Desamanya the highest national honour by the President of Sri Lanka. During his wide and varied political career E.L. Senanayake and his wife Mrs. Seetha Senanayake received many heads of States during their visits to the historic city of Kandy.

Amongst the Heads of State they received were Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England, King Mahendra of Nepal and his Queen, Harold Macmillan, Prime Minister of England, pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Prime Minister of India, Chou En Lai Prime Minister of China, Marshal Tito President of Yugoslavia. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of India, Kurt Kissinger, President of Germany, Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of England and Emperor Akihito of Japan.

Mr. Senanayake represented Sri Lanka in many international forums including the United Nations General Assembly, the Commonwealth Speakers Conferences in London and New Delhi and many meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter Parliamentary Union. Mr. Senanayake's brother Dr. James Senanayake served as a Senator and his younger brother Earnest Senanayake served as a Member of the Kandy Municipal Council. Two of E.L. Senanayake's sons Dhathusena and Rajasinghe served as Members of the Kandy Municipal Council. His youngest son Kesera Senanayake served as a career diplomat in the Sri Lanka Overseas service and was for a period of ten years a Member of the Central Provincial Council. Kesera is now the Mayor of Kandy. Throughout his long political career E.L. remained a very popular figure in Kandy. He faced many challenges unperturbed.

The outstanding contribution made by Desamanya E.L. Senanayake to Kandy and to the country will remain enshrined in the hearts of the people of the Central Province for many years to come. Taking into consideration the yeoman service rendered by Desamanya E.L. Senanayake, the Kandy Municipal Council has unanimously resolved to name a road after him.

Furthermore, the Government of Sri Lanka has granted permission for a life-size statue of Mr. E.L. Senanayake to be erected in front of the E.L. Senanayake Children's Library and Auditorium at Kotugodella Veediya, Kandy.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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