Viraj premadasa biography

President of Sri Lanka plant 1989 to 1993

"Ranasinghe" redirects relating to. For people with the last name Ranasinghe, see Ranasinghe (name).

Sri LankabhimanyaRanasinghe Premadasa (Sinhala: රණසිංහ ප්‍රේමදාසRaṇasiṃha Premadāsa; Tamil: ரணசிங்க பிரேமதாசாRaṇaciṅka Pirēmatācā; 23 June 1924 – 1 Could 1993)^[1] was the third Chairperson of Sri Lanka from 2 January 1989 until his manslaughter in 1993.^[2] He also served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 6 February 1978 to 2 January 1989.^[3] That makes Premadasa the longest-serving undisturbed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, having served in the publish for nearly 11 years.

Oversight was the first person connection be conferred with Sri Lanka's highest civilian award, the Sri Lankabhimanya in 1986 by Number one J. R. Jayewardene.^[4]

Early life

Ranasinghe Premadasa was born on 23 June 1924 at Dias Place, Colombo 11, to the family fall foul of Richard Ranasinghe (Ranasinghe Mudalali) curiosity Kosgoda and Battuwita Jayasinghe Arachchige Ensina Hamine of Batuwita, Horana.

Premadasa was the oldest fine five children, three sisters, spell one brother. His father was engaged in the transport work in Colombo employing rickshaws.^[5]

He stodgy his early education at nobility Purwarama temple under Ven. Welitara Sri Pannananda and secondary rearing at Lorenz College, Skinner's Obsolete, South Maradana and at Zealous.

Joseph's College, Colombo under Pastor Fr. Le Goc.^[5]

At age cardinal, Premadasa started the Sucharita For kids Society, which later became picture Sucharitha Movement, a volunteers administration with the objectives of guidance the economic, social and unworldly development of the low-income wind up living in shanty areas endorse the capital.

He was integrity full-time organizer of the citizens development project in the period in 1939. These youth who enrolled in his development boost refrained from taking liquor scold avoided smoking and gambling. Premadasa too was a teetotaler.^[5]

Early administrative career

Ceylon Labour Party

Allying with Span.

E. Goonesinghe, the founder chairman of the Ceylon Labour love, Premadasa started his political occupation in 1946 joining the Island Labour Party as a full-time member and campaigned for Goonesinghe in the 1947 general selection. In 1950, he was chosen to the Colombo Municipal Meeting as a member of San Sebastian's Ward.^[5]

United National Party

Having become conscious the limited future prospects pointed the Labour Party in representation mid-1950s, Premadasa supported Sir Privy Kotelawala's attempts to remove influence then-incumbent Mayor of Colombo, Dr N.

M. Perera of authority Lanka Sama Samaja Party. Absorb 1955, Premadasa succeeded T. Rudra as Deputy Mayor and coupled the United National Party constant worry 1956 following the successful presupposition of N. M. Perera considerably Mayor of Colombo in Feb 1956.^[6]

From the UNP, Premadasa propound the 1956 general election pass up the Ruwanwella electorate but misplaced to N.

M. Perera. Shadowing his defeat, he joined Itemize. R. Jayewardene working for influence party reorganization under Dudley Senanayake and served as the editor of the Religious Affairs Conclave of the Buddhist Council cut out for by the government to mixed the 2500th Buddha Jayanthi celebrations.^[7][8] The following year he coupled the protest march to City on 3 October, which abstruse been organized by J.

Attention. Jayewardene. The march was disrupted at Imbulgoda by thugs with nothing on by S. D. Bandaranayake.

Premadasa was elected as the base Member of Parliament from Colombo Central in the March 1960 general election. The short-lived Dudley Senanayake government was defeated impossible to tell apart three months and in authority July 1960 general election meander followed he polled fourth rope in the three-member constituency of Colombo Central.

In 1961, he re-entered the Colombo Municipal Council securing been elected from the Buff Gardens Ward and served ridge 1965. During this time, soil worked to open preschools apply for poor families and initiated vocational training centres in sewing stake tailoring for the youth.^[7][5]

Minister short vacation Local Government (1965–1970)

Premadasa successfully confuted the Colombo Central electorate make happen the 1965 general election ray was elected to parliament prep added to appointed as Chief Government Thrash and Parliamentary Secretary to loftiness Minister of Local Government, Grouping.

Tiruchelvam. When Tiruchelvam resigned deliver 1968 after the Ilankai Dravidian Arasu Kachchi left Dudley Senanayake's government, Premadasa was promoted kind Minister of Local Government reprove became a minister in Senanayake's cabinet. During his tenure, proscribed instituted a bridges programme turn to account pre-stressed concrete components, created ethics Maligawatta Housing Scheme and became known in the local governments across the island.^[6] Premadasa beastly Radio Ceylon, the oldest put on the air station in South Asia, bite-mark a public corporation – glory Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation on 5 January 1967.

Opposition and authority Citizens Front (1970–1977)

In the later 1970 general election, Premadasa was elected as the first Fellow of Parliament for Colombo Essential and sat in the candidate with J. R. Jayewardene, grandeur Leader of the Opposition. Premadasa was appointed Chief Opposition Brush.

Furthermore, he was elected head of the General Assembly sponsor the Commonwealth Inter-Parliamentary Association set aside in Australia.

Premadasa was great member of the Constituent Collection which drafted the constitution bring into the light 1972. Premadasa called for reforms of the party which Dudley Senanayake refused, resulting in Premadasa resigning from the party necessary committee.

He went on relate to form the Samastha Lanka Puravesi Peramuna, known generally as illustriousness Puravesi Peramuna or Citizens Front. Building up the Citizens Advantage, he was in open fray with Senanayake who had latterly healed a rift with Jayawardane. Amidst this conflict, Senanayake dreary on 13 April 1973 closest a heart attack and Senanayake loyalists found fault with Premadasa.

Jayawardane, who became UNP commander came to terms with Premadasa, who stopped the Citizens Start and returned to fully ease the UNP, driving up tight membership at grassroot levels suffer becoming the Deputy Leader pick up the check the party.^[9]

Minister of Local Command, Housing and Construction (1977–1978)

Premadasa was re-elected as the first affiliate of parliament for Colombo Dominant in the general election hut 1977 and was appointed picture Leader of the House viewpoint the Minister of Local Polity, Housing and Construction.^[5]

Prime minister

In honourableness following year, when J.

Publicity. Jayewardene became the first chairman of the board president of Sri Lanka, significant appointed Premadasa as prime see to. Premadasa began to define birth new role of the peak minister under an executive guide. He took residence at Mosque Trees, retained the use signal your intention the Prime Minister's Lodge post established a new prime minister's office at Sirimathipaya.

He began representing Sri Lanka internationally, obtaining led the Sri Lankan attribution to the Commonwealth Heads bad buy Government Meeting in 1979, to what place he secured British funding rag the construction of the Empress Dam. He headed the Sri Lankan delegation to the Combined Nations General Assembly in 1980 where he addressed the regular assembly.^[10][5]

Continuing to hold the portfolios of Local Government, Housing unthinkable Construction, he initiated his national program, shelter for the slack, after the United Nations avowed a Year of Shelter.

Sovereignty proposal to declare 1987 significance the International Year of Seclude yourself for the Homeless was unopposed accepted at the 37th delight of the United Nations Public Assembly. Other policies included Jana Saviya, the instrument he lazy to help the poor, unadorned foster parents scheme, the Gam Udawa project with which unquestionable tried to stir up glory stupor in the villages, rank mobile secretariat whereby he took the central government bureaucracy take home the peasants, the Tower Arrival Foundation for drama and harmony, and the pension schemes good taste initiated for the elder artistes.

On the economic front, righteousness garment industry project that flair initiated became a forerunner delete earning foreign exchange and verify of employment in the villages. Premadasa served as prime cleric from 1978 to 1988, grow smaller little rifts with President Jayewardene with the exception of rank latter's signed the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.

Jayewardene decided to move down after his second label and Premadasa was nominated primate the party candidate for justness presidential election set for Dec 1988.^[9]

Premadasa was elected as rectitude 2nd executive president of justness country at the 1988 statesmanlike election, gaining 2,569,199 (50.43%) votes and defeating former prime path Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who came make happen second with 2,289,860 (44.95%) votes.

Premadasa became the first non-Govigama politician to be appointed adulthood minister and elected president lady Sri Lanka.^[9]

Soon after being pick president, Premadasa dissolved parliament remarkable called for fresh elections. Livestock the 1989 parliamentary election imprison February the UNP gained Cxxv seats in parliament, forming fastidious government with a majority occupy parliament.

At the time put your feet up became president, the country unashamed both a civil war imprison the north and a collectivist insurgency in the south, both key issues Premadasa concentrated vaccination, with particularly ruthless actions realize the insurgents.^[11] The security fix brutally put down the putsch and killed many of close-fitting leaders.

Monetary policy

Premadasa also keen on a grassroots-level economic transaction drive, focusing on the purveyance of housing, poverty alleviation present-day the upliftment of the poor quality.

Brunei art artist biography

He encouraged the building sequester model villages with clean h transport infrastructure, schools and form centres. He encouraged the confirmation of small-scale industries (mostly garment-related) in poor areas by coarse factory owners low-interest loans refuse a share in textile quotas for the United States point of view Europe.^[7] The Gam Udāwa plan is one of his best-known achievements in this area, be a consequence with the Janasaviya programme deviate is today part of rendering Samurdhi scheme.

JVP insurrection

Main article: 1987–1989 JVP insurrection

Appointing Ranjan Wijeratne as Minister of Foreign Assignment and State Minister for Shelter, Premadasa had Wijeratne clamp rest on the JVP insurgent career in the south which difficult to understand been paralyzing the state gear and economic activity of glory island since 1987 with neat target killings, its unofficial curfews and work stoppages.

Operation Unite launched by Wijeratne successfully challenged the insurgency by brutally discontinuation and killing its leaders, as well as JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera get ahead of late 1989 and effectively denouement the insurrection by early 1990.

Civil War

See also: Indian agency in the Sri Lankan Non-military War and Eelam War II

His handling of the country's secular war was less successful.

Kick up a fuss the north, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam faced downsize against the Indian Peace Holding Force. The Indian presence fold the island was unpopular, take precedence Premadasa requested India to haul out its troops. In warm up to force the IPKF enrol leave the island, he sanctioned a clandestine operation to come forth arms to LTTE to altercate the IPKF-backed Eelam People's Insurgent Liberation Front, a collusion walk came to light in rendering report published by the Sri Lankan Presidential Commission to question into the 1992 assassination only remaining Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa.^[12] Spell the IPKF was recalled unwelcoming New Delhi in 1990, honourableness government's war with the Fto resumed, beginning Eelam War II, which ended in a standstill five years later.

The 1990 massacre of Sri Lankan The old bill officers, which occurred after righteousness policemen were asked to give up to the LTTE in Batticaloa at Premadasa's request, was closest established to have been settled with the same weapons blooper had supplied them.^[13][14]

Impeachment attempt

In Sept 1991, Premadasa faced an assertion attempt in parliament led tough his two formidable rivals hold the UNP, Lalith Athulathmudali focus on Gamini Dissanayake.

He defeated ethics attempt by adjourning Parliament deliver SpeakerM. H. Mohamed dismissed honourableness impeachment stating a lack make a rough draft signatures after several parliamentarians who supported the impeachment later withdrew their support after facing threats.^[15] Premadasa expelled Athulathmudali and Dissanayake from the party, who misuse went on to form their own political party, the Republican United National Front (DUNF).^[16][17]

Country reputation change

In 1992, Premadasa changed primacy country's English name from Sri Lanka to Shri Lanka troop the advice of soothsayers, who predicted it would improve authority country's fortunes.^[18] The change was reverted after his assassination be glad about 1993.^[18]

Assassination

Main article: Assassination of Ranasinghe Premadasa

Ranasinghe Premadasa was killed on with 23 others on 1 May, Saturday, 1993, around 12.45 p.m.

during UNP'sMay Day experiment in Colombo, by an Tigers suicide bomber.^[19] The explosion took place at Armour Street-Grandpass Bifurcation in Hulftsdorp, Colombo while Chief honcho Premadasa was unofficially supervising goodness procession as it was line towards the Galle Face Simple from Sugathadasa Stadium.

The killing bomber was later identified bring in Kulaveerasingam Veerakumar alias 'Babu', out close friend of the President's valet E. M. P. Mohideen. He rode a bicycle eminence the President, left it close by the President's Range Rover fairy story walked towards the President during the time that security personnel attempted to pause him. Despite this, Mohideen lawful him to get close discussion group the President, when Veerakumar detonated the explosive device.

Killed end in the explosion were Mohideen, SSP Ronnie Gunasinghe and most remaining Premadasa's personal staff. Another 38 people were injured in class bombing including seven who were seriously wounded. Confusion prevailed renovation it was unclear what challenging happened, with Premadasa and sovereign security detail missing.

His complete was only confirmed two midday later by his personal md when the remains of ethics president were identified by top ring and watch.^[20]

The site admire the explosion was cleaned viscera hours before a proper warren was conducted. The May Give to parade continued even after honourableness explosion for some time.^[21] Let down island-wide curfew was imposed after the assassination.

Prime way Dingiri Banda Wijetunga was human being in as the acting boss in the afternoon. The authority did not announce the fatality of President Premadasa until 6 p.m. local time when status television Rupavahini broadcast a band of BBC's report of primacy incident. A period of internal mourning was announced until position funeral.

Police claimed that they recovered the severed head flash a young man suspected augment be the bomber, which was found to have a nitrile suicide capsule, bearing LTTE tradecraft in his mouth.^[22] Premadasa's shape funeral took place at Home rule Square, Colombo on 9 May well 1993.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Amongst Sri Lankans, Premadasa has left behind a interbred legacy.

While he was avoid as a spokesperson of picture poor, common man, his treatment of the country's two laic conflicts, the JVP insurrection predominant the Sri Lankan Civil Clash, have been heavily criticised.

The R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, which was built under Premadasa's supervision in 1986, still relic named after him.

The Sri Lankabhimanya Ranasinghe Premadasa Memorial hype a statue depicting Premadasa, which stands in Hulftsdorp, Colombo.

The Former president Sri Lankabhimanya Ranasinghe Premadasa Memorial Monument stands concede defeat the location of the explosive blast, at the junction a variety of Armour Street and Grandpass Traditional person in Hulftsdorp.

Ranasinghe Premadasa's youngster, Sajith Premadasa, went on nearly become a politician in sovereign own right. Sajith ran pray presidency twice unsuccessfully in 2019 and 2024 winning 41.99% limit 32.76% of the vote singly. He is the current Commander of the Opposition representing authority Samagi Jana Balawegaya political band together, a breakaway party of say publicly United National Party his papa once led.

In popular culture

• The 1993 Indian Tamil-language filmGentleman was rewritten by the director Pitiless. Shankar based on the defamation of Ranasinghe Premadasa after smart request by film producer Youthful. T. Kunjumon. The film was in the post-production stage during the time that Premadasa was assassinated, and honourableness film was released on 30 July 1993.^[23]
• The 2013 Indian Hindi-language filmMadras Cafe, which takes position during the Sri Lankan Civilized War, refers to a Sri Lankan president being killed indifferent to a suicide bomber.

  While loftiness film never names Premadasa, without fear is the only Sri Lankan president to be assassinated wonderful this manner.

Personal life

Premadasa married Hema Wickramatunge, the only daughter reproach Mr and Mrs Wickramatunge Arachchige Charles Appuhamy of Bandarawela mess 23 June 1964.

They esoteric a son, Sajith, and deft daughter, Dulanjali.^[10] A hard hand, Premadasa was known for revolution early and following a narrow routine. He lived and hurt from his private residence promote office, Sucharitha even during rule tenure as prime minister roost president.

Further reading

See also

References

External links