Philip Gunawardena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Gunawardena
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| Minister of Fisheries and Industry | |
| In office 1965–1970 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Dudley Senanayake |
| Preceded by | W. J. C. Munasinha |
| Succeeded by | George Rajapaksa |
| Minister of Agriculture and Food | |
| In office 1956–1959 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike |
| Preceded by | J. R. Jayewardene |
| Succeeded by | C. P. de Silva |
| Member of the Ceylon Parliament for Avissawella |
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| In office 1956–1970 |
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| Preceded by | Kusumasiri Gunawardena |
| Succeeded by | Bonnie Jayasuriya |
| In office 1947–1947 |
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| Succeeded by | Kusumasiri Gunawardena |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 January 1901 Boralugoda, Avissawella, British Ceylon |
| Died | 26 March 1972 (aged 71) Colombo, Dominion of Ceylon |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Political party | Mahajana Eksath Peramuna |
| Other political affiliations |
Lanka Sama Samaja Party |
| Spouse | Kusumasiri Gunawardena |
| Children | Indika Gunawardena, Prasanna Gunawardena, Lakmali Gunawardena, Dinesh Gunawardena, Gitanjana Gunawardena |
| Alma mater | Ananda College University of Colombo University of Illinois |
| Occupation | Politician |
Don Philip Rupasinghe Gunawardena (born January 11, 1901 – died March 26, 1972) was an important Sri Lankan politician. He was known for his strong belief in Marxist ideas, which focus on creating a society where everyone is equal and resources are shared. People called him 'the Father of Socialism' and 'the Lion of Boralugoda'.
Philip Gunawardena helped start the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, which was one of the first political parties in Ceylon (the old name for Sri Lanka). He also formed another party called the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna. He served in the government as the Minister of Agriculture and Food from 1956 to 1959, and later as Minister of Industries and Fisheries from 1965 to 1970.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Philip Gunawardena was born on January 11, 1901, in a village called Boralugoda in Avissawella. His father, Don Jakolis Rupasinghe Gunawardena, was a local landowner and village leader. Philip was the third of ten children. His siblings, Robert Gunawardena and Caroline Anthonypillai, also became important politicians. His niece, Vivienne Goonewardena, was also a well-known political figure.
Education and Early Influences
Philip started his schooling at the local temple and village school. He then went to Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa and Ananda College in Colombo for his high school education. After that, he studied economics at the University College, Colombo. During this time, he became interested in political activities.
Studying in the United States
At 21, Philip traveled to the United States to study economics at the University of Illinois. There, he became deeply interested in social justice and workers' rights. He later moved to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he met other young people who shared his ideas. He earned degrees in agricultural economics. In 1925, he continued his studies at Columbia University.
Political Beginnings in the West
In 1927, Philip Gunawardena joined the League Against Imperialism in New York. This group worked to end colonial rule around the world. He learned Spanish and worked with leaders from different countries.
In 1929, he moved to London, where he became a powerful speaker and writer, fighting for workers' rights and against colonial rule. He met many future leaders from countries like India, Kenya, and Mauritius. He also worked with socialist groups in France and Germany.
Forming the 'T-Group'
Philip Gunawardena became a supporter of Leon Trotsky, a famous Russian revolutionary. He gathered other like-minded Ceylonese students in London, including N. M. Perera, Colvin R de Silva, and Leslie Goonewardena. They were known as the 'T-Group' and later became the core of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, which followed Trotsky's ideas. British authorities prevented him from going to India, so he returned to Ceylon in November 1932.
Politics Before World War II
Upon his return to Ceylon, Philip Gunawardena immediately started working to organize farmers and workers. He was a key person in founding the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) in 1935. In 1936, he was elected to the State Council of Ceylon from his hometown, Avissawella. The State Council was a legislative body during the colonial period. He used his position to fight for the rights of workers and farmers.
Opposing the War and Imprisonment
When World War II began in 1941, the LSSP openly opposed the British war effort. Philip Gunawardena was arrested and imprisoned for this. However, during a Japanese air raid on Colombo in April 1942, he and other LSSP leaders managed to escape from prison. He went to India and joined the independence movement there. He was later re-arrested in India and sent back to Ceylon, where he remained imprisoned until the war ended.
After the War: A Political Leader
After being released in 1945, Philip Gunawardena continued his political work. The LSSP had split during the war, and he helped reform it. In the 1947 general election, he was elected to the first Parliament from the Avissawella area. However, he soon lost his seat because he was found guilty of leading a workers' strike. This meant he lost his right to vote and hold office for seven years. His wife, Kusumasiri Gunawardena, then won his seat in a special election.
Forming New Political Parties
In 1951, Philip Gunawardena left the LSSP and formed a new party called the Viplavakari Lanka Sama Samaja Party (VLSSP). This party later joined with others to create the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) in 1956. This alliance aimed to form a "people's government."
Minister of Agriculture and Food
In the 1956 general election, Philip Gunawardena won his Avissawella seat by a large margin. He became a key minister in the new government, serving as the Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Co-operatives. He is remembered for creating the Paddy Lands Act, which helped farmers who rented land. He also played a big role in taking control of the country's ports and bus services for the government, and in starting the Co-operative Bank. In 1959, he resigned from his position due to disagreements within the government.
Leading the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
In 1959, Philip Gunawardena reformed the VLSSP into the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP). This party had leftist ideas. He continued to be elected to parliament in the March 1960 and July 1960 elections. The MEP later joined with other leftist parties to form the United Left Front.
Minister of Industries and Fisheries
In 1965, Philip Gunawardena was the only MEP member elected to parliament. He joined the national government led by Dudley Senanayake and became the Cabinet Minister of Industries and Fisheries. He held this position until 1970. During his time as minister, he helped set up the Industrial Development Board and worked to improve state-owned industries and the fishing sector. He also used aid from the Soviet Union to develop the Tyre Corporations and Steel Corporation.
Later Years
Philip Gunawardena lost his parliamentary seat in the 1970 general election. He began working to reorganize the MEP before he became ill. He passed away on March 26, 1972, at the age of 72. His son, Dinesh Gunawardena, later continued his political legacy, eventually entering parliament in 1983.
Personal Life
Philip Gunawardena married Kusuma Amarasinha in 1939. She also became a Member of Parliament. They had five children: Indika Gunawardena, Prasanna Gunawardena, Lakmali Gunawardena, Dinesh Gunawardena, and Gitanjana Gunawardena. Many of his children also became involved in politics and public service. His grandson, Yadamini Gunawardena, was also appointed to parliament.
See also
- List of political families in Sri Lanka
- Ananda-Nalanda
