MILESTONES -

The year 1956 marked a watershed in the Sri Lankan political history where the dominance of the Grand Old Party, the UNP, was temporarily halted by a progressive force led by S W R D Bandaranaike an erstwhile deputy of Prime Minister D S Senanayake, when he swept the board reducing the UNP to a meagre number. Our protagonist Ranasinghe Premadasa too had to face defeat in the hands of a political heavy weight of the time Dr N M Perera. It was a lean period for the UNP but the ambitious Ranasinghe Premadasa saw a brilliant opportunity emerging in the vacuum created by many political leaders who left the party following its humiliating defeat. Premadasa chose to join hands with remaining leadership of the UNP with the intention of revamping the grand old party. His main objective had been to join the elite leaders such as and JR Jayewardene so that he could gain political acumen to be a political genius with an intuitive sense. That was the first step of a long and arduous political journey that reached its culmination in the year 1989 when he was elected the second Executive President of .

J1924 Leader who secured a declaring 1987 as the Year of Shelter for the Ranasinghe Premadasa two thirds majority in Parliament forms the Homeless (IYSH). born at Dias Place, government, the UNP with 17 members 11, to the family emerges as the second largest party. J R of Richard Ranasinghe Jayewardene becomes Opposition Leader and (Ranasinghe Mudalali) of appoints Premadasa as the Chief Opposition Kosgoda and Jayasinghe Whip. Arachchige Ensina Hamine of Batuwita, J1976 on June 23. Peramaga Lakunu, one of the several books authored by Ranasinghe Premadasa, was J1939 published. The auto-biographical work Becomes a full-time organiser of Sri indicates how his vision was greatly inspired Movement, a volunteer organisation with the by the age-old Tank, Paddy Field and Dagaba objectives of uplifting the economic, social concept. and spiritual development of the low-income J1977 J1986 groups living in shanty areas of the capital. At the 1977 General Elections, the UNP President J R Jayewardene conferred the J1949 sweeps back to power with a five-sixths country’s highest civil honour, Sri Lankab- himanya, upon Prime Minister Ranasinghe Joins the Labour Party of AE Goonasinha. majority in Parliament. Premadasa is elected First Member of Colombo Premadasa in recognition of his exceptionally outstanding and most distinguished service J1950 Central Electorate with a huge margin. He is appointed Local Government, to the nation. Elected Member of the Colombo Housing and Construction Minister Municipal Council. in addition to being the Leader J1987 J1955 of the House. Owing to the number of housing projects initiated by Prime Minister Premadasa to Elected Deputy Mayor of the Colombo J1978 coincide with the Year of Shelter for the Municipal Council. Following amendment moves to the Homeless (IYSH), Sri Lanka drew international recognition and the country was awarded the J1956 1972 constitution J R Jayewardene is sworn in as President on February 6. IYSH award. Joins the UNP and contests Dr N M Simultaneously, Ranasinghe Premadasa Perera unsuccessfully in the Ruwan- is appointed as Prime Minister. J1988 wella constituency at the General Premier Premadasa sets up a massive Archbishop of Canterbury felicitated Prime Election held in April. institutional and legal framework for Minister Premadasa with the IYSH award in conceptualizing, articulating and London on October 3. The University of J1957 implementing his ambitious housing, water London introduced a special scholarship Joins the historic walk to Kandy with J R supply, infrastructure and urban develop- programme named after Prime Minister Jayewardene and Dudley Senanayake. ment programme. His goal is100,000 Premadasa in recognition of his service to houses in the first five years and a further the housing industry. million houses in the second five years coupled with Gam Udawa (Village Reawaken- J1989 ing). The project includes integrated Ranasinghe Premadasa is sworn in as infrastructure and community development the on January 2, water supply, roads, health and education following the Presidential election held in facilities, home gardens and even places December 1988. of religious worship in addition to its original concept. J1990 J1979 Keeping a promise at the election campaign, President Premadasa ordered the withdrawal As Prime Minister, Premadasa initiates the of IPKF from Sri Lanka. The last IPKF (Indian J1960 Sevana Fund with his own finances by Peace Keeping Forces)contingents left providing a home to a family in Wellawa. With experience as Municipal Council Member Sri Lanka in March that year. and Deputy Mayor, Premadasa contests the The Fund expands later on with the input March elections under the leadership of of various donors. The Fund sponsors other J1991 Dudley Senanayake and becomes the third projects such as refurbishing the Khettharama MP for Colombo Central. International Cricket Stadium, Sugathatadasa President Premadasa survives the attempted Stadium, Tower Hall Theatre Foundation and impeachment by some of his party members J1961 Elphinstone Theatre. together with opposition Members of Parliament in August. Once again he has the opportunity to serve the Colombo Municipal Council until 1965. J1993 J1964 President Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated, along with 17 others at 12.45 Enters nuptial bond with pm, during a May Day rally in North Colombo, Ms Hema Wickrematunga on his 40th by an LTTE suicide bomber on May 1. birthday on June 23 and blessed with two children Sajith and Dulanjalie

J1965 Contesting under the UNP ticket wins the J1968 multi-member Colombo Central Electorate Appointed Local Government Minister after coming second to Communist Party Leader the Federal Party withdrew from the Dudley . Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake government. Pioneers the grand J1980 Senanayake, leading a seven-party coalition, housing scheme, which beccame the talking Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa delivers appoints M Tiruchelvam, a member of the point of his opponents. Federal Party as Local Government Minister a speech at the 35th Session of General Assembly emphasising on a year and Premadasa as his Deputy. He is also J1970 appointed as the Chief Organiser of the dedicated to the housing for the sake of the Retains his Colombo Central Seat though the House. homeless population. This resulted in, the UNP suffered a crushing defeat. United Nations recognising his efforts and COMPILED BY SACHITRA MAHENDRA