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by Willie Wijeratne (Office of the Leader of the Opposition)

The Thirty-first death anniversary of one of the most colourful personalities in the political field fell on the 26th March 2003. One of the most fiery Marxists that ever lived in Sri Lanka was Don Philip Rupesinghe Gunawardena. He was in the political field both as a Trade Unionist, a State Councillor and a Parliamentarian.

He was one of the eight children (3 sons and 5 daughters) of the well-known Boralugoda Appuhamy Don Jacolis Rupasinghe Gunawardena. Philip's father too was a very straightforward and feared none. During the 1915 riots he was jailed and sentenced to death, and was only freed due to the Abolition of Martial Law. Philip was born on 11th January 1901 and he was the fourth child in the family.

He studied at Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, Trinity College, Kandy and Ananda College, Colombo. He went to the University of Wisconsin USA for higher studies. Even while studying abroad he took an active part in the political discussions and demonstrations held in the both London and the USA.

Philip was the founder of the LSSP in 1935, and led the Suriya Mal Campaign in 1934-1935 together with other LSSPers like NM, Colvin, Leslie Gunawardena, Robert Gunawardena (brother of Philip) and many others. During the war years he was very active as a State Councillor. In the year 1932 he was jailed for Trade Union activities and lost his seat in the State Council. He was jailed again for speaking against the British Government and Ceylon's involvement in the War.

He was so outspoken that together with his other LSSP colleagues he was jailed. It was left to his brother Robert to organise the famous Jail-break together with Jalior Solomon and they all surreptitiously left for India and were hiding, till finally they were caught. He was elected to the Avissawella Seat at the first General Elections in 1947 with a majority of 22,252 votes.

At a by-election held in 1948, his wife Kusumasiri was elected to Parliament uncontested. Such was the power that Philip had that no party contested the Avisawella seat. In May 1956 saw Philip blossoming as a partner in the MEP Government led by the late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.

He was the Minister of Agriculture and wielded much influence in the country with his progressive measures. His famous Paddy Lands Act brought him much fame but some of his colleagues in the then Cabinet were not happy, and put every obstacle to thwart his stand on measures he took for the good of the people. It is said that the production of rice locally recorded a higher percentage as a result of his progressive measures.

A helpless Prime Minister stood by Philip but ultimately he too was pressurized to do something that he did not want to do. He changed his Ministry which Philip resented. It was a period of stress and anxiety for Philip who did so much during the short period of his tenure as Minister. Together with his colleagues William Silva (MP for Ambalangoda) and Lakshman Rajapaksa (MP for Tissamaharama) they left the MEP Government.

Soon after Philip left the Government he in a forthright speech, told the late Mr. Bandaranaike that very soon the very people round you would squeeze your neck and snuff you out of this world. He warned that this will happen sooner that you think. He was very critical of even the Buddhist monks who were trying various tricks to bring in racketeers to influence the Government.

He was even brave to name them. He believed that to move forward with sincerity was the best. In Parliament it was a treat to listen to him. It was then very easy to go to the Gallery in the old Parliament and the Policeman on duty just allowed us to go if there was room. He used to take off his glasses and with sincerity and force speak with all his might against the evil forces of democracy.

When Dr. N.M. Perera and other LSSPers joined the SLFP Government and formed a coalition Government, Philip was left out. Whether it was done purposely or not is not the question, but I believe, some had told Mrs. Bandaranaike, that it was very difficult to get on with Philip. Of course, Philip too was very critical of Mrs. Bandaranaike being the Prime Minister from the Senate and not from Parliament. Ultimately he joined the National Government of Dudley Senanayake, whom he described as one of the finest democrats and a Gentleman in politics. He became the Minister of Industries and he gave the local entrepreneurs a place in the industrial field.

Mr. Ronnie de Mel, a former Minister in a tribute to Philip Gunawardena has said that if any person enters his room, he or she comes out with a good feeling of pride and self-respect. The media was very critical of him, but he was not one bit worried and he gave them also a good tongue-lashing. The late Mr. J. R. Jayewardene, former President, has described Philip as one who brought a revolutionary tone and a "red colour" to the proceedings of the House. Philip always took the side of the depressed and oppressed.

He was scrupulously honest in all his dealings and because of his politics he has lost rather than gained anything for himself. It is fortunate that two of his sons are Politicians.

It is in the fitness of things that a son of his heads the Party he formed so sincerely and honestly. Dinesh himself was former Minister and during his short-term as Minister or Transport worked hard and it would have been a proud father who would have witnessed Dinesh becoming a Member of Parliament thrice and then a Minister of the People's Alliance.

Philip gave 35 years of his life to the service of the people, particularly those in the Hewagam Korale. He will be remembered for the Fisheries and Agricultural policies he was able to put into practice and was very instrumental in the Nationalisation Programmes that were set up by the then MEP Government.

He had some very fine Civil Servants who worked for him. I remember one of them - Mr. K. Alvapillai who carried out his policies to the letter. Once when a reshuffle of Permanent Secretaries was to take place, he insisted that his Secretary should not be removed.

However, it took me a long time to reconcile myself to the fact that I could never agree with the political beliefs of the MEP. As a Christian I used to think that the MEP were extremists. But I was strongly reminded recently by a Security personnel, that the MEP was a party that stood by the Sinhala Buddhist at all times, and never changed their policies to suit people as they like. He explained to me that Dinesh Gunawardena and his colleagues have never condemned the religious beliefs of any particular religion, but if the necessity arose, they would defend them at all time.

Don Philip Rupesinghe, the fiery Marxist who brought colour and dignity to politics died on the 26th March.

It was fitting that tributes and ceremonies were held at Boralugoda on this date. A Public Commemoration meeting will be held on Monday 31st March at the Public Library Auditorium at 4.00 p.m. where tributes will be paid for his services to the nation.

The writer gratefully acknowledges the assistance given by the staff of the Parliament Library to enable him to peruse relevant information regarding the late Mr. Philip Gunawardena).

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