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Philip Gunawardene - 39th death anniversary:

A man of the people


Philip Gunawardene strode across the political arena of the country like a colossus for over four decades. It is well nigh impossible to condense into this short discourse all his achievements and contributions to the fabric of social and political life of his Motherland that he served as an honest and upright politician

First part of this article was published yesterday


Philip Gunawardena


Philip Gunawardene

* Born: January 11, 1901
* Died: March 27, 1972
* Educated at Prince of Wales, Ananda College
* Entered University College to study economics
*Joined Young Lanka League
* Obtained degrees at Illinois, Wisconsin Universities
*Organized anti-imperialist activities
* Joined British Communist Party and Indian League
* Became Trostskytte
* Active member of Suriya Mal Movement
* Founder member of LSSP
* Selected to State Council in 1936
* Jailed by British in 1940
* Formed VLSSP in 1950
* VLSSP joined SLFP in 1956 and formed MEP
* Became a minister in 1956 and 1965


Philip had his early education at Prince of Wales’ College Moratuwa and Ananda College Colombo under P De S Kularatne. Even as a student, he involved himself in the political struggle by becoming a member of the ‘Young Lanka League’ founded in 1920 by Victor Corea and A H Gunasinghe. Leaving school he had a short spell at the University College, Colombo and then left to America to continue his University career, whereas most young men at this time were going to Britain.

Anti Colonial struggle

In America, Philip spent two years at the Illinois University and a further two years at the University of Wisconsin studying Agriculture, Political Science, Law and Philosophy. It was at the final stage of his studies at the Wisconsin University that Philip had the occasion to listen to the political lecture by a famous American Socialist Professor Scott Nearing and the seeds of Socialist Political Philosophy was first implanted in Philip’s mind.


Dr N M Perera

S W R D Bandaranaike

Dr Colvin R de Silva

Edmund Samrakkody

A E Gunasinghe

At this point of time it was not only Philip who was influenced by Socialist ideas, but also his colleague Jayaprakash Narain of India. In fact this writer recalls the visit of Professor Scot Nearing sometime in the mid 50s to the residence of Philip at Reid Avenue Colombo.

After finishing his University education, Philip visited New York where he spent three years actively involving himself in the Socialist Movement and the Anti Colonial struggle. By this time, Philip’s brilliant oratory and powerful speeches not only drew and captivated the masses of New York but also all those who flocked there from bit cities in South America. Philip worked together with two Indian Socialist Professors, Seyed Hussain and J C Kumarappa and also established firm ties of friendship with Professor Jose Vaz Gonsalez, a famous Revolutionary of Mexico.

Philip, having equipped himself with learning and knowledge and having received the practical training in the mass movements, decided to return to his country to realize his dream to emancipate his Motherland from foreign domination. On his way back, he visited Britain. He was warmly received by Britain’s Socialist groups. He became a close associate of famous English Socialist Leaders Harry Pollit and Palm Dutt and built ties of friendship with a famous Indian, Shaffaerjee Saklawwala, who represented the Battersea constituency for many years. Philip’s return to Ceylon was however, delayed as the British authorities had by then refused to issue him a visa to enter Ceylon - his own country. Consequently, Philip had to stay back. He made use of his time for the cause he espoused.

Donoughmore Constitution

Philip acted as a representative of the Socialists in many big cities of Europe. He also became a pioneer member of the Indian League founded by Krishna Menon in London. He was looked upto at this point of time as a Marxist Intellectual by other Indian and Asian Socialist groups.

Philip had decided that Stalinism was not the path for national libration. He realized that national liberation movement must be united with Socialist forces for success.

By 1930, he openly advocated Trotskyism against Stalinism, but Philip was never weighed down by doctrine or dogma. He always had the progress of the people and the country at heart. He had pragmatic approach to politics and problems.

By 1932, the political situation in Ceylon had changed after the introduction of the Donoughmore Constitution and Philip was granted permission to return to Ceylon. But before doing so, he undertook another hazardous mission to carry a secret message to the Trotskyists in Spain. As he had no entry permit he had to cross the Pyranese Mountains on foot from France to Spain, at the risk of death or imprisonment. The only aid he had was the help of a map and his knowledge of the French and Spanish language.

Powerful speech

Immediately on his return to Ceylon, he involved himself actively on the formation of a Youth Forum and Trade Unions. His endeavour was to excel A E Gunasinghe, who at that time controlled the Trade Union Movement in Ceylon.

In 1933, Philip and Lesley Gunawardene who were attending a political meeting at St Peter’s College Colombo were the victims of a vicious attack by a pre-arranged group of thugs belonging to the A E Gunasinghe faction in Colombo. It was on this occasion that Philip’s courage and determination was publicly displaced. Forutnatley Philip’s life was saved in the nick of time by the arrival of the Police.

At this point of time, Philip stood before the microphone with bleeding head injuries and made a powerful speech and turning to A E Gunasinghe who was present, said that these same thugs will do the same thing to you soon. There upon Philip was greeted with warm cheers from the crowd present.

In December 1935, Philip together with Dr N M Perera founded the Lanka Sama Samaja Party and accepted office as its General Secretary.

In 1936, Philip entered the State Council as the member for Avissawella, defeating Forrester Obeysekera, who was then the Chairman of the Council. Many of the motions introduced by Philip and Dr N M Perera in the National State Assembly became the background for Socialist Legislation later.

During the World War II, the Colonial Government of Ceylon angered by the anti-war propaganda of the LSSP arrested Philip together with Dr N M Perera, Dr Colvin R de Silva and Edmund Samrakkody and imprisoned them at the Welikada Jail. But later transferred them to the Bogambara prison in Kandy as they were suspected of fomenting a hunger strike at the Welikada Prison.

Political prisoners

While suffering imprisonment at Bogambara, Philip together with the other political prisoners in early 1942 planned and executed a daring escape that became legendary, with the assistance of a sympathetic jailer together with Philip’s brother Robert who was at large at this point of time and Philip’s young wife Kusuma, who there after accompanied Philip together with many of the Ceylonese Trotskyists and escaped to India with the Police hot on their trail.

While in India they joined hands with other co-thinkers to form the Bolshevik Leninist Party of India and Ceylon. Philip was thereafter arrested together with the others in India and brought back to Ceylon. The four political prisoners were then prosecuted in court, and Philip, Dr N M Perera, Dr Colvin R de Silva and Edmund Samarakkody were sentenced to imprisonment. It was in the course of the proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court Kandy that Philip made the historic statement from the dock condemning British Imperialism and Colonialism.

Civic rights

In 1947, during the general strike throughout Ceylon, Philip directly involved himself in the strike at the bus depot at Ratmalana. Philip was prosecuted in court once again for committing an offence and sentenced to six months imprisonment, and Philip was deprived of his civic rights for seven years; that enabled Philip’s wife Kusuma to enter Parliament. But it is noteworthy that those who were responsible to imprison Philip and deprive him of his civic rights wrongfully and unlawfully is the major political party then in power but now in the Opposition today the UNP clamouring for the release of retired General Sarath Fonseka even threatening to break open the prison doors and vociferously appealing to foreign states unfriendly to Sri Lanka although it is manifestly evident that the retired general is strictly not a political prisoner.

This writer is fully aware of the case as he was appearing for the defense when several bus workers of the VLSSP Trade Union who were prosecuted and convicted in the magistrate’s court for the same offence in the course of a strike at Dehiwela, on which Philip was prosecuted and sentenced in court, were all acquitted in appeal.

Transport system

In 1956, Philip joined forces with the late S W R D Bandaranaike in the formation of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna. Incidentally at this point of time this writer served as a member of the Central Committee of the VLSSP that took the decision to join the coalition front. The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna won a resounding success at the 1956 elections and Philip was appointed Agriculture, Food and Co-operatives Minister in the Cabinet of late S W R D Bandaranaike who assumed duties as Prime Minister with wide public support. Philip’s progressive action agitating for the nationalisation of the bus transport system and the Colombo Harbour and introducing the Paddy Lands Act however soon brought him into conflict with certain reactionary elements in the Bandaranaike Government, and Philip had to quit his post shortly thereafter.

Philip was featured in the Time Magazine at this point of time as the strong man in the Bandaranaike Government. Philip certainly through the Trade Union Movement was pressurizing the Government of the day to accelerate the passage of Socialist Legislation and the nationalisation of the harbour and the bus transport service. Credit is also due to Philip for pioneering the co-operative Bank Bill which was the background to the establishment of the People’s Bank.

Patriotic sons

Philip’s father Boralugoda Ralahamy was certainly proud of his two patriotic sons Philip and Robert who did certainly make a sterling contribution towards the struggle for the independence of Ceylon from foreign domination and the progress of the Socialist Movement in Sri Lanka, thus the people, who Philip served conscientiously owe a debt of gratitude to him for his services to the Nation.

It may be said of Philip, in the words of the poet Alexander Pope, that he was a;

“Statesman yet friend to truth, of soul sincere
In action faithful and in honour clear!
Who broke no promise, served no private end’
Who gained no title and who lost no friend”

Concluded

 

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