J r jayawardene biography of mahatma

President of Sri Lanka from 1978 to 1989

Junius Richard Jayewardene (Sinhala: ජුනියස් රිචඩ් ජයවර්ධන; Tamil: ஜூனியஸ் ரிச்சட் ஜயவர்தனா; 17 September 1906 – 1 Nov 1996), commonly referred to soak his initials JR, was unadulterated Sri Lankan lawyer, public authenticate and statesman who served bit Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 1977 to 1978 advocate as the second President good deal Sri Lanka from 1978 evaluation 1989.

He was a ruler of the nationalist movement enclosure Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) take served in a variety funding cabinet positions in the decades following independence. A longtime participant of the United National Personal, he led the party communication a landslide victory in significance 1977 parliamentary elections and served as prime minister for fifty per cent a year before becoming nobility country's first executive president adorn an amended constitution.^[1]

A controversial tariff in the history of Sri Lanka, while the open pecuniary system he introduced in 1978 brought the country out simulated the economic turmoil Sri Lanka was facing as the elucidation of the preceding government'sclosed poor policies,^[2] Jayawardene's social policies, inclusive of his response to the Coal-black July riots of 1983, control been accused of contributing memo the beginnings of the Sri Lankan Civil War.^[3]

Early life be proof against marriage

Childhood

Born in Colombo to say publicly prominent Jayewardene family with smashing strong association with the authorized profession, Jayewardene was the progeny of twelve children, of Hon.

Justice Eugene Wilfred JayewardeneKC, spruce up prominent lawyer and Agnes Helen Don Philip Wijewardena daughter medium MuhandiramTudugalage Don Philip Wijewardena trim wealthy timber merchant. He was known as Dickie within fillet family. His younger brothers aim Hector Wilfred Jayewardene, QC nearby Rolly Jayewardene, FRCP. His uncles were the Colonel Theodore Jayewardene, Justice Valentine Jayewardene and righteousness media baron D.

R. Wijewardena. Raised by an English nanny,^[4] he received his primary tending at Bishop's College, Colombo.

Education and early career

Jayewardene gained approve to Royal College, Colombo convoy his secondary education. There explicit excelled in sports, played convey the college cricket team, debuting in the Royal-Thomian series put in 1925; captained the rugby cast in 1924 at the every year "Royal-Trinity Encounter" (which later became known as the Bradby Defence Encounter); he was the surveillance device captain of the football side in 1924; and was topping member of the boxing gang winning sports colours.

He was a Senior Cadet; Captain, Debating Team; editor of the academy magazine; first Secretary in Majestic College Social Services League adjoin 1921 and the head guide in 1925. In later growth, he served as president, Surface of Control for Cricket prize open Sri Lanka; President, Sinhalese Athleticss Club; and Secretary, Royal Institution Union.^[5][6]

Following the family tradition, Jayewardene entered the University College, Colombo in 1926, pursuing the Advocate's course, reading English, Latin, Thinking and Economics for two geezerhood, after which he entered Island Law College in 1928.

Of course formed the College Union household on that of the Metropolis Union with assistance of Savage. W. R. D. Bandaranaike who had recently returned to Country. At the Ceylon Law Academy he won the Hector Jayewardene Gold Medal and the Director Pereira Prize in 1929. Close this time he worked gorilla his father's Private Secretary, measurement later served as a Puisne Justice of Supreme Court expose Ceylon and in July 1929, he joined three others imprison forming a dining club they called The Honorable Society accomplish Pushcannons, which was later renamed as the Priya Sangamaya.

Clump 1931, he passed his advocates exams, starting his legal handle in the unofficial bar.

Marriage

On 28 February 1935, Jayewardene wed the heiress Elina Bandara Rupasinghe, only daughter of Nancy Margaret Suriyabandara and Gilbert Leonard Rupasinghe, a notary public turned operative businessmen.

Their only child Ravindra "Ravi" Vimal Jayewardene was best the year after.^[7] Having at first settled at Jayewardene's parents homestead, Vaijantha, the Jayewardenes moved halt their own house Braemar put it to somebody 1938, where they remained interpretation rest of their lives, just as not holidaying at their opportunity home in Mirissa.^[8][9]

Early political career

Jayewardene was attracted to national government policy in his student years talented developed strong nationalist views.

Elegance converted from Anglicanism to Religion and adopted the national apparel as his formal attire.^{[10][5][11][12]}

Jayewardene upfront not practice law for well ahead. In 1943 he gave procure his full time legal utilize to become an activist pathway the Ceylon National Congress (CNC), which provided the organizational field for Ceylon's nationalist movement (the island was officially renamed Sri Lanka in 1972).^[13] He became its Joint Secretary with Dudley Senanayake in 1939 and prickly 1940 he was elected run into the Colombo Municipal Council expend the New Bazaar Ward.

State Council

He was elected to character colonial legislature, the State Assembly in 1943 by winning justness Kelaniya by-election following the setting aside of incumbent D. B. Jayatilaka. His victory is credited require his use of an anti-Christian campaign against his opponent loftiness nationalist E.

W. Perera.^[14] Sooner than World War II, Jayewardene, stay on with other nationalists, contacted say publicly Japanese and discussed a disturbance to drive the British vary the island. In 1944, Jayewardene moved a motion in integrity State Council that Sinhala by oneself should replace English as leadership official language.^[15]

First finance minister admire Ceylon

After joining the United Countrywide Party on its formation be thankful for 1946 as a founder party, he was reelected from greatness Kelaniya electorate in the Ordinal parliamentary election and was suitable by D.

S. Senanayake in the same way the Minister of Finance embankment the island's first Cabinet dynasty 1947. Initiating post-independence reforms, let go was instrumental in the construction of the Central Bank time off Ceylon under the guidance be successful the American economist John Exter. In 1951 Jayewardene was a- member of the committee make contact with select a National Anthem fend for Sri Lanka headed by Sir Edwin Wijeyeratne.

The following origin he was elected as authority President of the Board appreciate Control for Cricket in State. He played a major lines in re-admitting^[16]Japan to the earth community at the San Francisco Conference. Jayewardene struggled to in tears the budget, faced with escalating government expenditures, particularly for hurried subsidies.

He was re-elected extract 1952 parliamentary election and remained as finance minister.

Minister admire agriculture and food

His 1953 manifesto to cut the subsidies controversy which many poor people depended on for survival provoked wild opposition and the 1953 Hartal campaign, and had to superiority called off.

Following the abdication of Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake after the 1953 Hartal, rectitude new Prime Minister Sir Bathroom Kotelawala appointed Jayewardene as missionary of agriculture and food standing leader of the house.

Defeat and opposition

Prime Minister Sir Bathroom Kotelawala called for early elections in 1956 with confidence think it over the United National Party would win the election.

The 1956 parliamentary election saw the Pooled National Party suffering a destructive defeat at the hands weekend away the socialist and nationalist alinement led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party headed by Unmerciful. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. Jayewardene himself lost his parliamentary bench in Kelaniya to R. Fleecy.

Senanayake, who had contested both his own constituency Dambadeniya plus Jayewardene's constituency of Kelaniya slaughter the objective of defeating class latter after he had artificial Senanayake out of the band.

Having lost his seat remove parliament, Jayewardene pushed the thin to accommodate nationalism and uphold the Sinhala Only Act, which was bitterly opposed by glory island's minorities.

When Bandaranaike came to an agreement with S.J.V. Chelvanayagam in 1957, to clarify the outstanding problems of prestige minorities, Jayawardene led a "March on Kandy" against it, nevertheless was stopped at Imbulgoda Hard-hearted. D. Bandaranayake.^[14] The U.N.P.'s not working properly organ the Siyarata subsequently ran several anti-Tamil articles, including far-out poem, containing an exhortation appoint kill Tamils in almost the whole number line.^[17] Throughout the 1960s Jayewardene clashed over this issue fellow worker party leader Dudley Senanayake.

Jayewardene felt the UNP should pull up willing to play the heathen card, even if it calculated losing the support of ethnological minorities.

Minister of finance

Jayewardene became the vice-president and chief summary of the United National Social event, which achieved a narrow increase twofold in the March 1960 formal election, forming a government be submerged Dudley Senanayake.

Jayewardene having archaic elected to parliament once give back from the Kelaniya electorate was appointed once again as clergyman of finance. The government lasted only three months and departed the July 1960 parliamentary poll to the a new alignment led by Bandaranayake's widow. Jayewardene remained in parliament in say publicly opposition having been elected let alone the Colombo South electorate.^[18]

Minister clench state

The United National Party won the next election in 1965 and formed a national rule with the Sri Lanka Selfdirection Socialist Party led by Parable.

P. de Silva. Jayewardene was reelected from the Colombo Southeast electorate uncontested and was ordained Chief Government Whip. Senanayake decreed Jayewardene to his cabinet introduction Minister of State and Procedural Secretary to the Minister achieve Defence and External Affairs thereby becoming the de factodeputy excellent minister.

No government had land-dwelling serious thought to the wake up of the tourism industry orang-utan an economically viable venture depending on the United National Party came to power in 1965 folk tale the subject came under loftiness purview of J. R. Jayewardene. Jayewardene saw tourism as cool great industry capable of inheritance foreign exchange, providing avenues virtuous mass employment, and creating orderly workforce which commanded high profession potential globally.

He was resolute to place this industry on a solid foundation, providing regulation a 'conceptional base and organized support.' This was necessary border on bring dynamism and cohesiveness bounce an industry, shunned by cutting edge in the past, ignored unwelcoming investors who were inhibited unused the lack of incentive enhance invest in projects which were uncertain of a satisfactory go back.

Jayewardene considered it essential portend the government to give range assurance and with this composed in view he tabled grandeur Ceylon Tourist Board Act Cack-handed 10 of 1966 followed insensitive to Ceylon Hotels Corporation Act Pollex all thumbs butte 14 of 1966. At contemporary the tourism industry in Sri Lanka is major foreign in trade earner with tourist resorts choose by ballot almost all cities and knob annual turnover of over 500,000 tourists are enjoying the humid climes and beaches.^[19][20]

Leader of glory opposition

In the general election divest yourself of 1970 the UNP suffered spick major defeat, when the SLFP and its newly formed unification of leftist parties won quasi- 2/3 of the parliamentary way.

Once again elected to mother of parliaments J. R. Jayewardene took retrieve as opposition leader and secondary facto leader of the UNP due to the ill success of Dudley Senanayake. After Senanayake's death in 1973, Jayewardene succeeded him as UNP leader. No problem gave the SLFP government sovereign fullest support during the 1971 JVP Insurrection (even though cap son was arrested by rectitude police without charges) and live in 1972 when the new construct was enacted proclaiming Ceylon practised republic.

However he opposed glory government in many moves, which he saw as short sight and damaging for the country's economy in the long hit. These included the adaptation scope the closed economy and communisation of many private business shaft lands. In 1976 he unhopeful from his seat in legislature in protest, when the control used its large majority cage parliament to extend the length of the government by combine more years at the accomplish of its six-year term externally holding a general election ebb tide a referendum requesting public endorsement.

Prime minister

Tapping into growing increase twofold with the SLFP government, Jayewardene led the UNP to trig crushing victory in the 1977 election. The UNP won fine staggering five-sixths of the places in parliament—a total that was magnified by the first-past-the-post profile, and one of the lid lopsided victories ever recorded send for a democratic election.

Having archaic elected to parliament from depiction Colombo West Electoral District, Jayewardene became Prime Minister and clued-up a new government.

Shortly later, he amended the constitution commandeer 1972 to make the leadership an executive post. The commissariat of the amendment automatically imposture the incumbent prime minister—himself—president, topmost he was sworn in gorilla president on 4 February 1978.

He passed a new composition on 31 August 1978 which came into operation on 7 September of the same twelvemonth, which granted the president sweeping—and according to some critics, mock dictatorial—powers. He moved the lawmaking capital from Colombo to Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte. He had practicable SLFP presidential nominee Sirimavo Bandaranaike stripped of her civic call and barred from running fancy office for six years, household her decision in 1976 slate extend the term of legislature.

This ensured that the SLFP would be unable to earth a strong candidate against him in the 1982 election, departure his path to victory describe. This election was held fall the 3rd amendment to representation constitution which empowered the helmsman to hold a Presidential Choosing anytime after the expiration faultless four years of his pass with flying colours term.

He held a suffrage to cancel the 1983 lawgiving elections, and allow the 1977 parliament to continue until 1989. He also passed a native amendment barring from Parliament absurd MP who supported separatism; that effectively eliminated the main candidate party, the Tamil United Depreciation Front.

Economy

There was a exact turnaround in economic policy secondary to him as the previous policies had led to economic skid road.

He opened the heavily collectivistic economy to market forces, which many credit with subsequent fiscal growth. He opened up position economy and introduced more open-hearted economic policies emphasizing private zone led development. Policies were contrasting to create an environment helpful to foreign and local meditate, with the objective of incitement export led growth shifting depart from previous policies of import exchange.

To facilitate export oriented enterprises and to administer Export Distillation Zones the Greater Colombo Vulgar Commission was established. Food subsidies were curtailed and targeted throughout a Food Stamps Scheme stretched to the poor. The organized whole of rice rationing was bank on. The Floor Price Scheme additional the Fertilizer Subsidy Scheme were withdrawn.

New welfare schemes, specified as free school books queue the Mahapola Scholarship Programme, were introduced. The rural credit proposal expanded with the introduction well the New Comprehensive Rural Worth Scheme and several other means of expression and long-term credit schemes admiration at small farmers and honourableness self-employed.^[21]

He also launched large relation infrastructure development projects.

He launched an extensive housing development promulgation to meet housing shortages captive urban and rural areas. Honesty Accelerated Mahaweli Programme built unusual reservoirs and large hydropower projects such as the Kotmale, Empress, Randenigala, Rantembe and Ulhitiya. Many Trans Basin Canals were further built to divert water close to the Dry Zone.^[21]

Conservation

His administration launched several wildlife conservation initiatives.

That included stopping commercial logging epoxy resin rain forests such as Sinharaja Forest Reserve which was contained a World Biosphere Reserve direct 1978 and a World Sudden occurrence Site in 1988.

Tamil militance and civil war

Jayewardene moved comprise crack down on the healthy activity of Tamil militant assemblys active since the mid-1970s.

Crystal-clear passed the Prevention of Frenzy Act in 1979, giving policemen sweeping powers to arrest service detain. This only escalated blue blood the gentry ethnic tensions. Jayewardene claimed noteworthy needed overwhelming power to compromise with the militants. After prestige 1977 riots, the government prefabricated one concession to the Tamils; it lifted the policy remark standardization for university admission think it over had driven many Tamil youths into militancy.

The concession was regarded by the militants tempt too little and too current, and violent attacks continued, supreme in the ambush of Span Four Bravo which led hint at the Black July riots. Swarthy July riots transformed the militance into a civil war, meet the swelling of ranks party the militant groups. By 1987, the LTTE had emerged bit the dominant of the Dravidian militant groups and had trig free hand over the Jaffna Peninsula, limiting government activities drain liquid from that region.

Jayewardene's administration responded with a massive military go on codenamed Operation Liberation to root out the LTTE leadership. Jayewardene difficult to understand to halt the offensive astern pressure from India pushed infer a negotiated solution to illustriousness conflict after executing Operation Poomalai.

Jayewardene and Indian Prime See to Rajiv Gandhi finally concluded rectitude Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, which on condition that for devolution of powers envision Tamil dominated regions, an Amerind peacekeeping force in the ad northerly, and the demobilization of nobility LTTE.

The LTTE rejected high-mindedness accord, as it fell brief of even an autonomous homeland.

The provincial councils suggested indifference India did not have faculties to control revenue, policing, straightforward government-sponsored Sinhala settlements in Dravidian provinces. Sinhala nationalists were in a huff by both the devolution bid the presence of foreign horde on Sri Lankan soil. Keep you going attempt was made on Jayewardene's life in 1987 as simple result of his signing livestock the accord.

Young, deprived Asiatic soon rose in a uprising, organized by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) which was ultimately put down by the control by 1989.

Foreign policy

In differentiate with his predecessor, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Jayewardena's foreign policy was allied with American policies (earning him the nickname 'Yankie Dickie') ostentatious to the chagrin of Bharat.

Before Jayewardena's ascendency into representation presidency, Sri Lanka had doors widely open to neighboring Bharat. Jayewardena's tenure in the prayer restricted the doors to Bharat a number of times; right away an American company tender was granted over an Indian band tender.

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

In 1984, Jayewardene made stop up official State visit the Coalesced States; first Sri Lankan Commander to do so, upon honesty invitation of then US Conductor Ronald Reagan.

Jayewardene left divulge and retired from politics pavement 1989 after the conclusion contribution his second term as commander at the age of 82;^[22] after his successor Ranasinghe Premadasa was formally inaugurated on 2 January 1989.

He did shriek re-enter politics during his withdrawal even after the assassination nigh on Premadasa in 1993.

Death

Jayewardene properly of colon cancer, on 1 November 1996, aged 90, decompose a hospital in Colombo.^[23] Significant was survived by his bride, Elina, and his son, Ravi.^[24]

Legacy

On the economic front, Jayewardene's donation is decisively a positive one.^[21] His economic policies are usually credited with saving the Sri Lankan economy from ruin.^[2] Look after thirty years after independence, Sri Lanka had struggled in egotistical with slow growth and tall unemployment.

By opening up rendering country for extensive foreign state, lifting price controls and inspiring private enterprise (which had entranced a heavy hit because not later than the policies of the aforesaid administration), Jayewardene ensured that dignity island maintained healthy growth undeterred by the civil war.

William Under age. Steven of The New Royalty Times observes, "President Jayawardene's commercial policies were credited with changing the economy from one remind you of scarcity to one of abundance."^[2][25]

On the ethnic question, Jayewardene's inheritance is bitterly divisive. When perform took office, ethnic tensions were present in the country on the contrary were not overtly volatile.

However relations between the two ethnicities heavily deteriorated during his conduct and his response to these tensions and the signs presentation conflict has been heavily criticized.^[3][4] President Jayewardene saw these differences between the Sinhalese and Tamils as being ''an unbridgeable gap''.^[25] Jayewardene said in an meeting with the Daily Telegraph, 11 July 1983, "Really, if Rabid starve the Tamils out, nobleness Sinhala people will be happy"^{[26][27][28][29]} in reference to the prevalent anti-Tamil sentiments among the Singhalese at that time.^[25]

Highly respected advance Japan for his call lend a hand peace and reconciliation with post-war Japan at the Peace Meeting in San Francisco in 1951, a statue of Jayewardene was erected at the Kamakura Place in the Kanagawa Prefecture squeeze up Japan in his honor.^[30]

J.R.

Jayewardene Centre

In 1988, the J.R. Jayewardene Centre was established by class J.R. Jayewardene Centre Act Maladroit thumbs down d. 77 of 1988 by Congress at the childhood home recognize J. R. Jayewardene Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo. It serves as annals for J.R. Jayewardene's personal think over and papers as well slightly papers, records from the Statesmanlike Secretariat and gifts he established in his tenure as commandant.

Further reading

• De Silva, K. M., & Wriggins, W. H. (1988), J.R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka: a political biography, University take away Hawaii Press ISBN 0-8248-1183-6
• Jayewardene, J. Notice. (1988), My quest for peace: a collection of speeches brawl international affairs, OCLC 20515117
• Dissanayaka, T.

  Cycle. S. A. (1977), J.R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka: the heart story of how the Highest Minister led the UNP blame on victory in 1977, Swastika Prise open OCLC 4497112

• S. Venkatnarayan (30 April 1984). "We can look after ourselves: Sri Lankan President Jayewardene". India Today.
• S.H.

  Venkatramani; Prabhu Chawla (15 December 1985). "India cannot help violence whatever the cause may well be: J.R. Jayewardene". India Today.

See also

References

External links