‘SWRD promoted country before self’

Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne

Don Solomon Dias Bandaranaike who was born on January 8, 1899 to Gate Mudliyar Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike and Mrs Daisy Asilin Obeysekera had his initial education at the feet of a teacher who visited their home.

Thereafter he completed secondary education at S Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia and proceeded to England where he obtained an LLB from the Oxford University. After completing the Barrister at Law examination from the Oxford University he returned to the country on February 24, 1925 and a ceremony was held at Kalagedihena, Gampaha to welcome him.

Addressing the gathering he said that if people desired to elect him to enter the political field he was prepared to serve them as their obedient servant rather than the master.

At that time when a white regime was in power both in England and Sri Lanka everyone was a shareholder of a subservient society rather than patriotic minded. Although young Bandaranaike too entered that trend most unwillingly he always wanted to block it rather than seek his salvation by swimming along the tide.

Young Bandaranaike who contested the Maradana Ward at the Colombo Municipal Council election on December 14, 1926 emerged victorious beating his rival A E Goonesinghe by 615 votes.

From then on people loved this youth who evinced the character of a veteran politician with his powerful oratory and farsighted programmes and policies. This love developed into a faith and confidence which enabled him to return uncontested to the Veyangoda seat in the State Council elections held on May 4, 1931. He was re-elected to represent the same seat at the elections to the second State Council held in 1936. Taking a new stride towards the welfare of the country, nation, and society Bandaranaike launched the Sinhala Maha Sabha at the Bauddha Mandiraya, Pettah on May 19, 1934.

After reaching the age of 41 years he chose a fitting girl from a renowned clan as his partner in life and married Sirimavo Dias Ratwatte on October 3, 1940.

It is no exaggeration to say that late Bandaranaike dedicated his short life span to promote the ‘country before self” concept among society.

Although Sri Lanka obtained independence from British rule in 1948 Bandaranaike always maintained that it was nominal independence. Bandaranaike who insisted that the people had not received total freedom as a nation even opposed the anti-social attitudes of his own party without reluctance.

In consequence of this policy he resigned from the post of Health and Local Government Minister and Leader of House in the State Council and sat in the Opposition on July 12, 1951. The belief that this was not a childish decision occurred to the people who desired a change when this foundation was laid for the launching of the SLFP in Kandy on September 1, 1951. The initial discussions in this regard was held in a house in Bowala, Kandy.

Apart from Bandaranaike this meeting was attended by founder members Bernard Aluvihare, Ven Siri Seevali Thera, Badi-ud-din Mahmood, T B Ilangaratne, Subramaniam and Fedrick. They were all politicians who truly loved their country.

It is during this time that I was able to establish links with Bandaranaike. I was the only youth who boldly rose up and argued with Bandaranaike regarding some of his ideas when he came to Kandy to address the District Federation of Community Centres in preparation for the formation of the SLFP. Our second meeting occurred at the meeting held in Kandy on September 1, 1951 to form the new party. After paying homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic that day a party membership drive was held in Kandy. When I was standing to enrol myself to the party membership beyond membership number 13 Bandaranaike tapped me and told the officials concerned to write down my name recalling our earlier meeting.

Thereafter the inaugural meeting of the SLFP was held at the Colombo New Town Hall on September 2, 1951. The fact that he wanted to chart a new course for his country and nation can be seen by anyone perusing the state council report of January 19, 1945.

On that day he tabled a new bill called Nidahas Lanka Panatha (Free Lanka Bill). It was a document which promoted a proud Sri Lankan nation with an indigenous vision. In other words it was a slap in the face of imperialists and their lackeys.

With that Bill true Lankans emerged from slumber and came on the streets to fight for their rights. This is the truth the people who flocked round the SLFP like a swarm of bees proved to the world at large.

The golden moment of the fruition of this vision was the election held in 1956 followed by the famous Hartal. SLFP founder S W R D Bandaranaike thereafter assumed duties as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister on April 12, 1956. The people-friendly measures taken during his tenure included the 1957 Official Languages Act which proclaimed Sinhala as the official language, and the nationalisation of bus companies and the ports in 1958.

The non-aligned foreign policy was also adopted by the Bandaranaike regime. The signing of the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact proved his sensitiveness towards the rights of the Tamil Community.

Just as he prepared himself to hoist Sri Lankans as a truly independent and fearless nation a cruel hand felled him on September 26, 1958 morning.

Although Prime Minister Bandaranaike was no more his beloved wife Sirimavo Bandaranaike volunteered to carry forward his mantle for the sake of his people. After Mrs Bandaranaike their daughter Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga carried the torch by becoming President of Sri Lanka after being a Chief Minister and Prime Minister.

As we witness today the Bandaranaike vision will never fade away though the members of the clan have either passed away or stepped down from office.

Bandaranaike vision enabled Sri Lankans to stand on their own feet as a free and independent nation overcoming all odds and enemy forces.

The true peoples era which realised the Bandaranaike vision has dawned today under the Mahinda Chinthana policies of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Mahinda Chinthana is a new chapter of the Bandaranaike policy and vision. This is a privilege won by the people with the blessings of Bandaranaike.

Although S W R D Bandaranaike is no more his memory will linger in the minds of people for ever as a true servant of them.