Wijeyananda Dahanayake
Encyclopedia
Wijeyananda Dahanayake (October 22, 1902 - May 4, 1997) was a Sri Lanka
n political figure. He was the Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1959 to 1960.
movement of the 1950s and 60s, and for being one of the early movers responsible for the decades of ethnic unrest that have prevailed in Sri Lanka
since.
before joining the administration of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, prime minister and leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
. He served as cabinet minister of education in the Bandaranaike Administration, from 1956 to 1959.
Dahanayake contested the March 1960 General Election in Ceylon under the nomination of his newly formed Lanka Prajathanthravadi Pakshaya (Ceylon Democratic Party). He could not be re-elected as an MP, as he had lost his Galle constituency in that election.
He had also served as a cabinet minister of home affairs in Dudley Senanayake
's government from 1965 to 1970 and cabinet minister of cooperatives in Junius Richard Jayawardene's government from 1986 to 1988.
Dahanayake died on May 4, 1997 at the age of 94 in Galle
, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n political figure. He was the Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1959 to 1960.
Early Life
He was born as a twin in the Galle district. Wijeyananda Dhanayake was educated at a well known educational institution in Southern Sri Lanka, Richmond College in Galle. He is often regarded as being one of the primary forces responsible for the Sinhala OnlySinhala Only Act
The Sinhala Only Act was a law passed in the Ceylonese parliament in 1956...
movement of the 1950s and 60s, and for being one of the early movers responsible for the decades of ethnic unrest that have prevailed in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
since.
Political Career
Dahanayake was a member of the Lanka Sama Samaja PartyLanka Sama Samaja Party
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is a Trotskyist political party in Sri Lanka....
before joining the administration of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, prime minister and leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
. He served as cabinet minister of education in the Bandaranaike Administration, from 1956 to 1959.
Prime Minister of Ceylon
He took office as prime minister, cabinet minister of defence external affairs and education when Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike was assassinated in September 1959. He led the caretaker government for a year.Dahanayake contested the March 1960 General Election in Ceylon under the nomination of his newly formed Lanka Prajathanthravadi Pakshaya (Ceylon Democratic Party). He could not be re-elected as an MP, as he had lost his Galle constituency in that election.
He had also served as a cabinet minister of home affairs in Dudley Senanayake
Dudley Senanayake
Dudley Shelton Senanayake was a Ceylonese politician, who became the second Prime Minister of Ceylon and went on to become prime minister on 2 more times during the 1950s and 1960s.-Early life:Dudley was born on 19 June, 1911 as the eldest son to Molly Dunuwila and Don Stephen Senanayake, who...
's government from 1965 to 1970 and cabinet minister of cooperatives in Junius Richard Jayawardene's government from 1986 to 1988.
Dahanayake died on May 4, 1997 at the age of 94 in Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, Sri Lanka.