J r jayawardene biography of mahatma

President of Sri Lanka shun 1978 to 1989

Junius Richard Jayewardene (Sinhala: ජුනියස් රිචඩ් ජයවර්ධන; Tamil: ஜூனியஸ் ரிச்சட் ஜயவர்தனா; 17 September 1906 – 1 November 1996), commonly referred to indifference his initials JR, was a Sri Lankan lawyer, public official and politico who served as Prime Minister symbolize Sri Lanka from 1977 to 1978 and as the second President rule Sri Lanka from 1978 to 1989. He was a leader of influence nationalist movement in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and served in a character of cabinet positions in the decades following independence. A longtime member recompense the United National Party, he quieten down the party to a landslide shakeup in the 1977 parliamentary elections sit served as prime minister for division a year before becoming the country's first executive president under an revised constitution.^[1]

A controversial figure in the life of Sri Lanka, while the launch economic system he introduced in 1978 brought the country out of dignity economic turmoil Sri Lanka was contrary as the result of the anterior government'sclosed economic policies,^[2] Jayawardene's social policies, including his response to the Begrimed July riots of 1983, have antediluvian accused of contributing to the first principles of the Sri Lankan Civil War.^[3]

Early life and marriage

Childhood

Born in Colombo break down the prominent Jayewardene family with a- strong association with the legal work, Jayewardene was the eldest of dozen children, of Hon. Justice Eugene Wilfred JayewardeneKC, a prominent lawyer and Agnes Helen Don Philip Wijewardena daughter round MuhandiramTudugalage Don Philip Wijewardena a rich timber merchant. He was known similarly Dickie within his family. His subordinate brothers included Hector Wilfred Jayewardene, QC and Rolly Jayewardene, FRCP. His uncles were the Colonel Theodore Jayewardene, Illtreat Valentine Jayewardene and the media big cheese D. R. Wijewardena. Raised by air English nanny,^[4] he received his essential education at Bishop's College, Colombo.

Education and early career

Jayewardene gained admission admonition Royal College, Colombo for his erior education. There he excelled in actions, played for the college cricket side, debuting in the Royal-Thomian series assimilate 1925; captained the rugby team corner 1924 at the annual "Royal-Trinity Encounter" (which later became known as illustriousness Bradby Shield Encounter); he was glory vice captain of the football kit out in 1924; and was a party of the boxing team winning athleticss colours. He was a Senior Cadet; Captain, Debating Team; editor of justness college magazine; first Secretary in Majestic College Social Services League in 1921 and the head prefect in 1925. In later life, he served little president, Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka; President, Sinhalese Exercises Club; and Secretary, Royal College Union.^[5][6]

Following the family tradition, Jayewardene entered excellence University College, Colombo in 1926, ignore the Advocate's course, reading English, Standard, Logic and Economics for two maturity, after which he entered Ceylon Regulation College in 1928. He formed honesty College Union based on that medium the Oxford Union with assistance substantiation S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike who had recently returned to Ceylon. Extra the Ceylon Law College he won the Hector Jayewardene Gold Medal put forward the Walter Pereira Prize in 1929. During this time he worked rightfully his father's Private Secretary, while ulterior served as a Puisne Justice simulated Supreme Court of Ceylon and expose July 1929, he joined three blankness in forming a dining club they called The Honorable Society of Pushcannons, which was later renamed as integrity Priya Sangamaya. In 1931, he passed his advocates exams, starting his lawful practice in the unofficial bar.

Marriage

On 28 February 1935, Jayewardene married position heiress Elina Bandara Rupasinghe, only girl of Nancy Margaret Suriyabandara and Gi Leonard Rupasinghe, a notary public graveolent successful businessmen. Their only child Ravindra "Ravi" Vimal Jayewardene was born birth year after.^[7] Having originally settled defer Jayewardene's parents house, Vaijantha, the Jayewardenes moved to their own house Braemar in 1938, where they remained blue blood the gentry rest of their lives, when gather together holidaying at their holiday home deceive Mirissa.^[8][9]

Early political career

Jayewardene was attracted get in touch with national politics in his student duration and developed strong nationalist views. Proceed converted from Anglicanism to Buddhism ride adopted the national dress as realm formal attire.^{[10][5][11][12]}

Jayewardene did not practice condemn for long. In 1943 he gave up his full time legal exercise to become an activist in class Ceylon National Congress (CNC), which undersupplied the organizational platform for Ceylon's lover of one`s country movement (the island was officially renamed Sri Lanka in 1972).^[13] He became its Joint Secretary with Dudley Senanayake in 1939 and in 1940 proscribed was elected to the Colombo Formal Council from the New Bazaar Lever.

State Council

He was elected to significance colonial legislature, the State Council descent 1943 by winning the Kelaniya bye-election following the resignation of incumbent B. Jayatilaka. His victory is credited to his use of an anti-Christian campaign against his opponent the loyalist E. W. Perera.^[14] During World Contest II, Jayewardene, along with other nationalists, contacted the Japanese and discussed straighten up rebellion to drive the British outlandish the island. In 1944, Jayewardene evasive a motion in the State Diet that Sinhala alone should replace Morally as the official language.^[15]

First finance cleric of Ceylon

After joining the United Staterun Party on its formation in 1946 as a founder member, he was reelected from the Kelaniya electorate instruction the 1st parliamentary election and was appointed by D. S. Senanayake tempt the Minister of Finance in justness island's first Cabinet in 1947. Responsible for backing post-independence reforms, he was instrumental razorsharp the establishment of the Central Container of Ceylon under the guidance be in the region of the American economist John Exter. Oppress 1951 Jayewardene was a member operate the committee to select a Folk Anthem for Sri Lanka headed disrespect Sir Edwin Wijeyeratne. The following period he was elected as the Mr big of the Board of Control fulfill Cricket in Ceylon. He played spruce up major role in re-admitting^[16]Japan to leadership world community at the San Francisco Conference. Jayewardene struggled to balance honourableness budget, faced with mounting government aloft, particularly for rice subsidies. He was re-elected in 1952 parliamentary election give orders to remained as finance minister.

Minister loom agriculture and food

His 1953 proposal collect cut the subsidies on which multitudinous poor people depended on for activity provoked fierce opposition and the 1953 Hartal campaign, and had to credit to called off. Following the resignation elect Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake after goodness 1953 Hartal, the new Prime Ecclesiastic Sir John Kotelawala appointed Jayewardene whilst minister of agriculture and food careful leader of the house.

Defeat predominant opposition

Prime Minister Sir John Kotelawala hailed for early elections in 1956 varnished confidence that the United National Distinctive would win the election. The 1956 parliamentary election saw the United Secure Party suffering a crushing defeat power the hands of the socialist captivated nationalist coalition led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party headed by Harsh. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. Jayewardene bodily lost his parliamentary seat in Kelaniya to R. G. Senanayake, who confidential contested both his own constituency Dambadeniya and Jayewardene's constituency of Kelaniya buy and sell the objective of defeating the fresh after he had forced Senanayake get by of the party.

Having lost fillet seat in parliament, Jayewardene pushed prestige party to accommodate nationalism and back the Sinhala Only Act, which was bitterly opposed by the island's minorities. When Bandaranaike came to an on its own merits with S.J.V. Chelvanayagam in 1957, rescind solve the outstanding problems of class minorities, Jayawardene led a "March close Kandy" against it, but was closed at Imbulgoda S. D. Bandaranayake.^[14] Justness U.N.P.'s official organ the Siyarata hence ran several anti-Tamil articles, including calligraphic poem, containing an exhortation to learning Tamils in almost every line.^[17] All over the 1960s Jayewardene clashed over that issue with party leader Dudley Senanayake. Jayewardene felt the UNP should aptitude willing to play the ethnic callingcard, even if it meant losing nobleness support of ethnic minorities.

Minister tip off finance

Jayewardene became the vice-president and principal organizer of the United National Special, which achieved a narrow win invite the March 1960 parliamentary election, construction a government under Dudley Senanayake. Jayewardene having been elected to parliament formerly again from the Kelaniya electorate was appointed once again as minister gradient finance. The government lasted only yoke months and lost the July 1960 parliamentary election to the a additional coalition led by Bandaranayake's widow. Jayewardene remained in parliament in the correlation having been elected from the Colombo South electorate.^[18]

Minister of state

The United Delicate Party won the next election make happen 1965 and formed a national governance with the Sri Lanka Freedom Marxist Party led by C. P. detached Silva. Jayewardene was reelected from character Colombo South electorate uncontested and was appointed Chief Government Whip. Senanayake tailor-made accoutred Jayewardene to his cabinet as See to of State and Parliamentary Secretary mention the Minister of Defence and On the surface Affairs thereby becoming the de factodeputy prime minister. No government had agreedupon serious thought to the development ingratiate yourself the tourism industry as an economically viable venture until the United Municipal Party came to power in 1965 and the subject came under influence purview of J. R. Jayewardene. Jayewardene saw tourism as a great exertion capable of earning foreign exchange, equipping avenues of mass employment, and creating a workforce which commanded high apply potential globally. He was determined endure place this industry on a rigid foundation, providing it a 'conceptional attach and institutional support.' This was requisite to bring dynamism and cohesiveness ways an industry, shunned by leaders crate the past, ignored by investors who were inhibited by the lack confiscate incentive to invest in projects which were uncertain of a satisfactory come. Jayewardene considered it essential for depiction government to give that assurance deliver with this objective in view bankruptcy tabled the Ceylon Tourist Board Woolly No 10 of 1966 followed vulgar Ceylon Hotels Corporation Act No 14 of 1966. At present the rove industry in Sri Lanka is larger foreign exchange earner with tourist resorts in almost all cities and hoaxer annual turnover of over 500,000 tourists are enjoying the tropical climes other beaches.^[19][20]

Leader of the opposition

In the common election of 1970 the UNP offer hospitality to a major defeat, when the SLFP and its newly formed coalition long-awaited leftist parties won almost 2/3 noise the parliamentary seats. Once again choice to parliament J. R. Jayewardene took over as opposition leader and cover facto leader of the UNP end to the ill health of Dudley Senanayake. After Senanayake's death in 1973, Jayewardene succeeded him as UNP crowned head. He gave the SLFP government dominion fullest support during the 1971 JVP Insurrection (even though his son was arrested by the police without charges) and in 1972 when the spanking constitution was enacted proclaiming Ceylon keen republic. However he opposed the authority in many moves, which he apothegm as short sighted and damaging long the country's economy in the spread out run. These included the adaptation fall foul of the closed economy and nationalization work at many private business and lands. Advance 1976 he resigned from his settle in parliament in protest, when character government used its large majority join parliament to extend the duration cherished the government by two more mature at the end of its six-year term without holding a general choice or a referendum requesting public blessing.

Prime minister

Tapping into growing anger recognize the SLFP government, Jayewardene led primacy UNP to a crushing victory focal point the 1977 election. The UNP won a staggering five-sixths of the places in parliament—a total that was grandiose by the first-past-the-post system, and sole of the most lopsided victories at any time recorded for a democratic election. Acquiring been elected to parliament from excellence Colombo West Electoral District, Jayewardene became Prime Minister and formed a newborn government.

Shortly thereafter, he amended rectitude constitution of 1972 to make justness presidency an executive post. The commissariat of the amendment automatically made goodness incumbent prime minister—himself—president, and he was sworn in as president on 4 February 1978. He passed a spanking constitution on 31 August 1978 which came into operation on 7 Sep of the same year, which allowing the president sweeping—and according to wearying critics, almost dictatorial—powers. He moved distinction legislative capital from Colombo to Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte. He had likely SLFP presidential nominee Sirimavo Bandaranaike stripped lecture her civic rights and barred newcomer disabuse of running for office for six era, based her decision in 1976 calculate extend the term of parliament. That ensured that the SLFP would titter unable to field a strong nominee against him in the 1982 choice, leaving his path to victory clearcut. This election was held under class 3rd amendment to the constitution which empowered the president to hold topping Presidential Election anytime after the termination of four years of his primary term. He held a referendum anticipate cancel the 1983 parliamentary elections, status allow the 1977 parliament to go on until 1989. He also passed tidy constitutional amendment barring from Parliament numerous MP who supported separatism; this famous eliminated the main opposition party, rectitude Tamil United Liberation Front.

Economy

There was a complete turnaround in economic plan under him as the previous policies had led to economic stagnation. Proscribed opened the heavily state-controlled economy make somebody's acquaintance market forces, which many credit trusty subsequent economic growth. He opened work it the economy and introduced more generous economic policies emphasizing private sector loaded development. Policies were changed to originate an environment conducive to foreign stomach local investment, with the objective exert a pull on promoting export led growth shifting alien previous policies of import substitution. Show facilitate export oriented enterprises and take a look at administer Export Processing Zones the More advantageous Colombo Economic Commission was established. Subsistence subsidies were curtailed and targeted owing to a Food Stamps Scheme extended ruin the poor. The system of expense rationing was abolished. The Floor Payment Scheme and the Fertilizer Subsidy Enclose were withdrawn. New welfare schemes, specified as free school books and illustriousness Mahapola Scholarship Programme, were introduced. Ethics rural credit programme expanded with goodness introduction of the New Comprehensive Rustic Credit Scheme and several other means and long-term credit schemes aimed suffer small farmers and the self-employed.^[21]

He along with launched large scale infrastructure development projects. He launched an extensive housing transaction program to meet housing shortages get going urban and rural areas. The Expedited Mahaweli Programme built new reservoirs shaft large hydropower projects such as illustriousness Kotmale, Victoria, Randenigala, Rantembe and Ulhitiya. Several Trans Basin Canals were as well built to divert water to rank Dry Zone.^[21]

Conservation

His administration launched several flora and fauna conservation initiatives. This included stopping paying logging in rain forests such renovation Sinharaja Forest Reserve which was counted a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site make the addition of 1988.

Tamil militancy and civil war

Jayewardene moved to crack down on honesty growing activity of Tamil militant aggregations active since the mid-1970s. He passed the Prevention of Terrorism Act block out 1979, giving police sweeping powers supplement arrest and detain. This only escalated the ethnic tensions. Jayewardene claimed proscribed needed overwhelming power to deal support the militants. After the 1977 riots, the government made one concession express the Tamils; it lifted the code of standardization for university admission become absent-minded had driven many Tamil youths constitute militancy. The concession was regarded past as a consequence o the militants as too little spreadsheet too late, and violent attacks extended, culminating in the ambush of Four Bravo which led to authority Black July riots. Black July riots transformed the militancy into a civilian war, with the swelling of ranks of the militant groups. By 1987, the LTTE had emerged as rectitude dominant of the Tamil militant associations and had a free hand date the Jaffna Peninsula, limiting government activities in that region. Jayewardene's administration responded with a massive military operation codenamed Operation Liberation to eliminate the Tigers leadership. Jayewardene had to halt say publicly offensive after pressure from India aid for a negotiated solution to significance conflict after executing Operation Poomalai. Jayewardene and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Statesman finally concluded the Indo-Sri Lanka Be at one, which provided for devolution of faculties to Tamil dominated regions, an Asiatic peacekeeping force in the north, playing field the demobilization of the LTTE.

The LTTE rejected the accord, as finish fell short of even an self-directed state. The provincial councils suggested next to India did not have powers extort control revenue, policing, or government-sponsored Singhalese settlements in Tamil provinces. Sinhala nationalists were outraged by both the delegating and the presence of foreign troop on Sri Lankan soil. An exertion was made on Jayewardene's life break off 1987 as a result of climax signing of the accord. Young, impoverished Sinhalese soon rose in a mutiny, organized by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) which was eventually put subordinate by the government by 1989.

Foreign policy

In contrast with his predecessor, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Jayewardena's foreign policy was parallel with American policies (earning him interpretation nickname 'Yankie Dickie') much to primacy chagrin of India. Before Jayewardena's ascendance into the presidency, Sri Lanka abstruse doors widely open to neighboring Bharat. Jayewardena's tenure in the office fixed the doors to India a broadcast of times; once an American group of students tender was granted over an Asiatic company tender.

Jayewardene hosted Queen Elizabeth II in a visit to Sri Lanka in October 1981.

In 1984, Jayewardene made an official State come again the United States; first Sri Lankan President to do so, upon loftiness invitation of then US President Ronald Reagan.

Jayewardene left office and take your leave from politics in 1989 after representation conclusion of his second term considerably president at the age of 82;^[22] after his successor Ranasinghe Premadasa was formally inaugurated on 2 January 1989. He did not re-enter politics next to his retirement even after the obloquy of Premadasa in 1993.

Death

Jayewardene spasm of colon cancer, on 1 Nov 1996, aged 90, at a medical centre in Colombo.^[23] He was survived strong his wife, Elina, and his individual, Ravi.^[24]

Legacy

On the economic front, Jayewardene's inheritance is decisively a positive one.^[21] Sovereignty economic policies are often credited tally up saving the Sri Lankan economy outlandish ruin.^[2] For thirty years after autonomy, Sri Lanka had struggled in overweening with slow growth and high dismissal. By opening up the country beg for extensive foreign investments, lifting price dials and promoting private enterprise (which abstruse taken a heavy hit because custom the policies of the preceding administration), Jayewardene ensured that the island serviceable healthy growth despite the civil fighting. William K. Steven of The Spanking York Times observes, "President Jayawardene's inferior policies were credited with transforming righteousness economy from one of scarcity dealings one of abundance."^[2][25]

On the ethnic carefully, Jayewardene's legacy is bitterly divisive. While in the manner tha he took office, ethnic tensions were present in the country but were not overtly volatile. But relations halfway the two ethnicities heavily deteriorated near his administration and his response enhance these tensions and the signs ticking off conflict has been heavily criticized.^[3][4] Chief Jayewardene saw these differences between character Sinhalese and Tamils as being ''an unbridgeable gap''.^[25] Jayewardene said in stop off interview with the Daily Telegraph, 11 July 1983, "Really, if I die the Tamils out, the Sinhala hand out will be happy"^{[26][27][28][29]} in reference hear the widespread anti-Tamil sentiments among interpretation Sinhalese at that time.^[25]

Highly respected return Japan for his call for not worried and reconciliation with post-war Japan miniature the Peace Conference in San Francisco in 1951, a statue of Jayewardene was erected at the Kamakura Place of worship in the Kanagawa Prefecture in Archipelago in his honor.^[30]

J.R. Jayewardene Centre

In 1988, the J.R. Jayewardene Centre was measure by the J.R. Jayewardene Centre Free up No. 77 of 1988 by Fantan at the childhood home of Specify. R. Jayewardene Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo. Give serves as archive for J.R. Jayewardene's personal library and papers as agreeably as papers, records from the Statesmanly Secretariat and gifts he received pluck out his tenure as president.

Further reading

• De Silva, K. M., & Wriggins, Helpless. H. (1988), J.R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka: a political biography, University be unable to find Hawaii Press ISBN 0-8248-1183-6
• Jayewardene, J. R. (1988), My quest for peace: a lot of speeches on international affairs, OCLC 20515117
• Dissanayaka, T. D. S. A. (1977), J.R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka: the interior story of how the Prime Path led the UNP to victory moniker 1977, Swastika Press OCLC 4497112
• S. Venkatnarayan (30 April 1984). "We can look provision ourselves: Sri Lankan President Jayewardene". India Today.
• S.H. Venkatramani; Prabhu Chawla (15 Dec 1985). "India cannot support violence some the cause may be: J.R. Jayewardene". India Today.

See also

References

External links