DOCSLIB.ORG

Sirimavo of Sri Lanka: Refocusing on World's First Women Prime Minister

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sirimavo of Sri Lanka: Refocusing on World's First Women Prime Minister Sirimavo of Sri Lanka: Refocusing on World’s first Women Prime Minister December 10, 2018 Srimal Fernando and Pooja Singh In 1970s, there was a time when Sirimavo Bandaranaike caught the global attention and her premiership was one of the most momentous times in Sri Lanka’s political history. On 21 July, 1960, she became the first ever woman Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (formally known as Ceylon) and the world. Even today nearly half a century later, Sirimavo’s name is remembered among the thousands of Sri Lankans and among the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) supporters. Thus the Sri Lankan voters expectations about Sirimavo rose within no time after the unfortunate assassination of her husband S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in 1959. In the summer of 1970, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) , the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and also the Communist Party (CP) was sweeping electorates in a general election by winning 115 seats out of 151. In essence, Sirimavo’s administration presented far-reaching constitutional and socio-economic reforms that were suitable for a small island nation. In fact Mrs. Bandaranaike handled the transfer of island nation becoming a republic under a new constitution tactfully. In this context, Dr. N.M. Perera, Felix Dias Bandaranaike, Philip Gunawardena was some of the primary shapers of her administration. At that time, unlike her predecessors, the former premier showed great interest in developing cement, paper, steel and chemical industries. Despite promising signs under her leadership, uneven inequalities from 1948 to 1970 and economic stagnation created tensions within rural masses. Surprisingly, a coup in 1971 by the southern insurgents headed by Rohana Wijeweera, the leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) shattered the hopes of Bandaranaike government for a short time. Although coup was unsuccessful because of Sri Lanka’s military support to premier’s rule. It is noteworthy to mention Sirimavo era solidified Sri Lanka’s foreign policy in the coming decades, which set the stage for the island to increase bilateral ties with India and China. In fact, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was a trustworthy friend of Mrs. Bandaranaike. This period also saw the closest bilateral relations between the neighbouring countries. Especially, Mrs. Bandaranaike was a giant among Non- Alignment leaders. In the summer of 1976 at the fifth Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall(BMICH) in Colombo, Mrs. Bandaranaike stated, “The non-aligned countries should fight against injustice, intolerance, inequality, old concept of empire and intervention.” On the domestic political scenario, the opposition leader J.R. Jayewardene and his deputy Ranasinghe Premadasa had been outspoken critics of Sirimavo Bandaranaike policies. When she lost 1977 general elections, it was extremely a difficult situation for Mrs. Bandaranaike and for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) coalition partners who had developed a remarkable sense for socialist political culture within the multicultural society in Sri Lanka. Seven years later Mrs. Bandaranaike had lost her civic rights, the party hierarchy nominated veteran SLFP stalwart Hector Kobbekaduwa for the forthcoming referendum. The Referendum results did not reflect the true situation. Then while the atmosphere began to change in the island country after the eruption of ethnic conflict and signing of the Indo-Lanka accord. This scenario caused strong anti-United National Party (UNP) regime change feeling. In a closely fought presidential election in 1988, the SLFP leader Mrs. Bandaranaike lost to UNP presidential candidate Mr. Premadasa. There were no immediate solutions to the crisis in Sri Lanka under Premadasa’s presidency. Hence in the South, due to the JVP uprising and the Tamil tiger (LTTE) attacks in Northern and Eastern provinces, conditions inside the Island nation was going from bad to worse. At the same time, the crisis in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) came to surface and the party was divided into several wings. Thus, the time had come for SLFP party unity for doing away with the seventeen years United National Party (UNP) rule. Mrs. Bandaranaike was convinced that it was time for a new generation of party leadership. She opened the corridors of political power to Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Maithripala Sirisena who later became presidents of Sri Lanka. In late years, Mrs. Bandaranaike was a prime minister for a short time from when her daughter Mrs. Kumaratunga was president. On the Foreign Policy front she reworked strong bilateral ties with India and China and her policies remained important for Non Aligned Movement (NAM) nations and for India and China ties with Sri Lanka. After more than fifty years of service to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), to the nation many of the Sri Lankan’s were finding it hard to come to terms with Sirimavo’s sudden death on 10th October, 2000.Late premier Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s pragmatic policies mattered very much for the South Asian island nation, the region and to the world at large. Srimal Fernando a research scholar at Jindal School of International Affairs, India and an editor of Diplomatic Society for South Africa and Pooja Singh, a scholar of Masters in Diplomacy, Law, Business at Jindal School of International Affairs, India. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Results of Parliamentary General Election - 1947
    RESULTS OF PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION - 1947 No. and Name of Electoral District Name of the Elected Candidate Symbol allotted No of No of Total No. of Votes No of Votes Votes Polled including Registered Polled rejected rejected Electors 1 Colombo North George R. de Silva Umbrella 7,501 189 14,928 30,791 Lionel Cooray Elephant 6,130 E.C.H. Fernando Cup 501 A.P. de Zoysa House 429 H.C. Abeywardena Hand 178 2 Colombo Central A.E. Goonasinha Bicycle 23,470 3,489 102,772 55,994 T.B. Jayah Cart Wheel 18,439 Pieter Keuneman Umbrella 15,435 M.H.M. Munas House 8,600 Mrs. Ayisha Rauff Tree 8,486 V.J. Perera Elephant 5,950 V.A. Sugathadasa Lamp 4,898 G.W. Harry de Silva Pair of Scales 4,141 V.A. Kandiah Clock 3,391 S. Sarawanamuttu Chair 2,951 P. Givendrasingha Hand 1,569 K. Dahanayake Cup 997 K. Weeraiah Key 352 K.C.F. Deen Star 345 N.R. Perera Butterfly 259 3 Colombo South R. A. de Mel Key 6,452 149 18,218 31,864 P. Sarawanamuttu Flower 5,812 Bernard Zoysa Chair 3,774 M.G. Mendis Hand 1,936 V.J. Soysa Cup 95 Page 1 of 15 RESULTS OF PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION - 1947 No. and Name of Electoral District Name of the Elected Candidate Symbol allotted No of No of Total No. of Votes No of Votes Votes Polled including Registered Polled rejected rejected Electors 4 Wellawatta-Galkissa Colvin R. de Silva Key 11,606 127 21,750 38,664 Gilbert Perera Cart Wheel 4,170 L.V.
    [Show full text]
  • RESULTS of PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION - May 27, 1970 No of No of Total No
    RESULTS OF PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION - May 27, 1970 No of No of Total No. of Votes No of No. and Name of Electoral District Name of the Elected Candidate Symbol allotted Votes Votes Polled including Registered Polled rejected rejected Electors 1 Colombo North V.A. Sugathadasa Elephant 20,930 97 44,511 Harris Wickremetunge Chair 13,783 W.I.A. Corsby Fernando Ship 164 A.S. Jayamaha Cockerel 97 2 Colombo Central R. Premadasa Elephant 69,310 5,491 240,597 99,265 Falil Caffoor Chair 63,624 Pieter Keuneman Star 58,557 M. Haleem Ishak Hand 41,716 C. Durairajah Umbrella 783 M. Haroun Careem Bell 413 Poopathy Saravanamuttu Ship 396 Panangadan Raman Krishnan Pair of Scales 307 3 Borella Kusala Abhayawardana (Mrs.) Key 16,421 50 32,810 42,849 M.H. Mohamed Elephant 15,829 M.A. Mansoor Pair of Scales 510 4 Colombo South J.R. Jayawardena Elephant 57,609 1,134 97,928 66,136 Bernard Soysa Key 36,783 Ratnasabapathy Wijaya Indra Eye 1,166 Ariyadasa Peiris Bell 561 A.S. Jayamaha Cockerel 241 Mudalige Justin Perera Flower 165 Joseph Beling Chair 164 Yathiendradasa Manampery Pair of Scales 105 5 Wattala A.D.J.L. Leo Hand 21,856 106 41,629 48,875 D. Shelton Jayasinghe Elephant 19,667 6 Negombo Denzil Fernando Elephant 20,457 132 36,509 44,284 Justin Fernando Hand 15,920 RESULTS OF PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION - May 27, 1970 No of No of Total No. of Votes No of No. and Name of Electoral District Name of the Elected Candidate Symbol allotted Votes Votes Polled including Registered Polled rejected rejected Electors 7 Katana K.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Baila and Sydney Sri Lankans
    Public Postures, Private Positions: Baila and Sydney Sri Lankans Gina Ismene Shenaz Chitty A Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Contemporary Music Studies Division of Humanities Macquarie University Sydney, Australia November 2005 © Copyright TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF F IG U R E S.......................................................................................................................................................................... II SU M M A R Y ......................................................................................................................................................................................Ill CER TIFIC ATIO N ...........................................................................................................................................................................IV A CK NO W LED GEM EN TS............................................................................................................................................................V PERSON AL PR EFA C E................................................................................................................................................................ VI INTRODUCTION: SOCIAL HISTORY OF BAILA 8 Anglicisation of the Sri Lankan elite .................... ............. 21 The English Gaze ..................................................................... 24 Miscegenation and Baila............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Amba Yahaluwo by T.B. Ilangaratne AMBA YAHALUWO PDF
    Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Amba Yahaluwo by T.B. Ilangaratne AMBA YAHALUWO PDF. Sirimavo Bandaranaike Leader of the Opposition: This article needs additional citations for verification. See 1 question about Amba Yahaluwo…. Galagedera Vidyalaya, GalagederaSt. The socio-economic classifications that surrounding them will n I loved the Sinhala novel, loved the Akba series and also loved the English translation which I borrowed from a student. Open Preview See a Problem? Celebrating Kandyan middle-class life”. Truly a wonderful a “coming of age” novel. Ilangaratne retired from politics on April 12, Abdul Cader Lakshman Kiriella M. Selvanayagam Senerath Somaratne S. Amba Yahaluwo by T.B. Ilangaratne. Siriwardena Bernard Soysa V. Feb 20, Thevuni Kotigala rated it it was amazing. Thanuja rated it it was amazing Jan 19, To ask other readers questions about Amba Yahaluwoplease sign up. Retrieved from ” https: Abdul Raheem rated yaaluwo really liked it Feb 01, Apr 24, Keshavi added it. T. B. Ilangaratne. Jul 21, Isini Thisara added it. Nadun Lokuliyanage rated it it was amazing Apr 30, Amba Yahaluwo was made into a television serial. Retrieved 19 May Hasini Anjala rated it liked it Jul 01, Nilu rated it it was amazing Feb 16, I loved the Sinhala novel, loved the TV series and also loved the English translation which I borrowed from a student. This is a wonderful story about two children To ask other readers questions about Amba Yahaluwoplease sign up. The socio-economic classifications that surrounding them will never let them be friend as they want to. Sanath Senarathne rated it liked it Oct 14, But if I had been able to translate it while Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Seminar Für Ländliche Entwicklung) Publication Series by Centre for Advanced Training in Rural Development
    HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITÄT ZU BERLIN Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerische Fakultät Schriftenreihe des Seminars für Ländliche Entwicklung Conflict – Threat or Opportunity? Land Use and Coping Strategies of War-affected Communities in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka CATAD Team: IFSP Team: Benedikt Korf (Team Leader) Rohini M. Singarayer (Team Leader) Tobias Flämig Rathnayake M. Abeyrathne Christine Schenk Kanagaratnam Devarajah Monika Ziebell Dharsanie Dharmarajah Julia Ziegler Thangavel Sakthivel SLE (CATAD): Integrated Food Security Programme Podbielskiallee 66 Trincomalee (IFSP) 14195 Berlin, Germany 42, Huskison Street Tel. 0049-30-314 71 334 31000 Trincomalee, Sri Lanka Fax 0049-30-314 71 409 Tel. 0094 26 22023, 22687 http: www.agrar.hu-berlin.de/sle Fax 0094 26 22294 [email protected] Berlin/Trincomalee, December 2001 SLE CENTRE FOR ADVANCED TRAINING IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT Schriftenreihe des SLE (Seminar für Ländliche Entwicklung) Publication Series by Centre for Advanced Training in Rural Development Herausgeber/ SLE - Seminar für Ländliche Entwicklung Editors (Centre for Advanced Training in Rural Development) Humboldt Universität zu Berlin Podbielskialle 66, D-14195 Berlin, Germany E mail: [email protected] Internet: www.agrar.hu-berlin.de/sle www.berlinerseminar.de Redaktion/ Dr. Karin Fiege Managing Editor Seminar für Ländliche Entwicklung Druck/ Offset-Druckerei Gerhard Weinert GmbH Printers Saalburgstraße 3, D-12099 Berlin Verlag und Vertrieb/ Margraf Verlag Publishers and Postfach 105, D-97985 Weikersheim Distributors 1. Auflage 2001/ 1-750 1st edition 2001 Copyright 2001 by SLE – Seminar für Ländliche Entwicklung (Centre for Advanced Training in Rural Development) ISSN 1433-4585 ISBN 3-8236-1362-6 Cover photo Front cover:Monika Ziebell Back cover: Ruth Fode FOREWORD Foreword This report is the result of the IFSP-CATAD Project 2001, a six-month joint venture, carried out by an intercultural team from the Centre for Advanced Training in Rural Development (SLE), Humboldt University Berlin, and from the Integrated Food Security Programme Trincomalee (IFSP).
    [Show full text]
  • William De Silva... from Page 9
    The Island Features Wednesday 22nd July, 2009 11 gene pool of 55%. The Sri Lankan Tamils are mostly Hindus with a sig- nificant Christian population. Sri Lankan Tamil literature on topics including religion and the sciences flourished during the Medieval Period in the Court of the Jaffna Kingdom. Sri Lankan Tamil dialects are noted for their archaism and retention of words not in everyday use in the Tamil Nadu state in India. Veddahs: The aboriginal Vanniyala-Aetto, or “forest people”, more commonly known as Veddas or Veddahs, are an indigenous people of Sri Lanka. They were never numerous and are now few in num- ber. Sinhala-speaking Veddahs are found primarily in the southeastern part of the country, especially in the vicinity of Bintenne in Uva Province. There are also Sinhala- Like some other speaking Veddas who live in Anuradhapura District in the North peoples of Sri Central Province. Another, largely distinct group, Lanka, the often termed East Coast Veddas, is Sinhalese“ have a found in coastal areas of the “ Eastern Province, mostly between caste-based socie- Batticaloa and Trincomalee. These Veddas speak Tamil as their pri- ty borrowed from mary language. India and with a Their language, usually referred A plantation worker to as ‘Veddah,’ is closely related to complex structure Sinhala, although much of its vocab- ulary (especially terms associated based largely on with the forest and their lifestyle) can not be traced to Sinhala and occupation. may be from an archaic language Marriage partners spoken before the adoption of the Sinhala language. are usually taken Examples include the Wanniyala- One Nation: Aetto word ruhang for friend, while from persons of the Sinhala word is yaluva There are also communities of Wanniyala- the same caste, Aetto who speak Tamil in the East diversity and preferably from Coast.
    [Show full text]
  • Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike (Nacida Sirimavo Ratwatte))
    Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike (nacida Sirimavo Ratwatte)) Sri Lanka, Primera ministra (3º ejercicio) Duración del mandato: 14 de Noviembre de 1994 - de de Nacimiento: Ratnapura, provincia de Sabaragamuwa, 17 de Abril de 1916 Defunción: Kadawatha, provincia Western, 10 de Octubre de 2000</p> Partido político: SLNP ResumenNacida en una acaudalada familia de aristócratas de religión católica, recibió una educación religiosa en el Girls High School de Ratnapura y el St. Bridget?s Convent de Colombo. En estos años de juventud se mostró activa en la Liga del Servicio Social de Balangoda y el movimiento nacionalista Lanka Mahila Samithi. http://www.cidob.org 1 of 4 Biografía El 10 de octubre de 1940 contrajo matrimonio con Solomon R. Dias Bandaranaike, entonces ministro de Salud en el Gobierno colonial, que el 28 de diciembre de 1951, casi cuatro años después de la independencia del Reino Unido, fundaría el Partido de la Libertad de Sri Lanka (SLNP, socialista). Ambos cónyuges se convirtieron al budismo. Solomon venció en las elecciones de abril de 1956 y se convirtió en primer ministro, pero pereció asesinado el 26 de septiembre de 1959, precisamente a manos de un monje budista. Convertida en la heredera política de su difunto esposo, en lo que se anticipó a la nicaragüense Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, a la bangladeshí Khaleda Zia y a la filipina Corazón Aquino, el 7 de mayo de 1960 fue elegida presidenta del SLNP, sustituyendo a C. P. de Silva, y en las elecciones del 20 de julio siguiente obtuvo para su partido 75 escaños, justo la mayoría absoluta, de manera que al día siguiente se convirtió en la primera jefa de Gobierno de la historia.
    [Show full text]
  • Authoritarian Regime Types, Political and Socio-Economic Outcomes
    Authoritarian Regime Types, Political and Socio-Economic Outcomes, and Democratic Survival Huang-Ting Yan A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Government University of Essex Year of Award: 2020 1 Summary This dissertation addresses the question of which factors shape outcomes in autocratic regimes, and, in turn, what influences the survival of democratic regimes in light of their authoritarian legacies. I argue that regimes which are able to curtail the dictator’s powers, compared to uncontested autocracies, are associated with better institutional and socio-economic outcomes during the authoritarian rule as well as a higher survival rate upon transition to democracy. The first two papers of this dissertation provide evidence that regimes where the leader’s power is constrained either by an organised opposition or by a strong regime party are more likely to have an independent judiciary and experience higher levels of health expenditure. A third paper provides evidence that the mechanisms which protect contested autocracies also lay the foundation for an institutional framework in which the subsequent democratic regimes are more likely to survive. This dissertation offers a mixed-methods approach to confirm the three arguments. In conclusion, only with checks and balances in place, those in power can stay humble, take care of people, and promote good governance, compared to the ruler with unlimited power. 2 1. INTRODUCTION This dissertation addresses the question of which factors shape outcomes in autocratic regimes, which, in turn, influence the survival of democratic regimes in light of their authoritarian legacies. To explain the difference in the lifespan of young democracies, scholars have compiled a list of causal factors and their mechanisms that affect these democracies.
    [Show full text]
  • DISAPPEARANCES Disappeared
    This study explores the impact of the ruling elite’s political project through the experiences of 87 relatives of the DISAPPEARANCES DISAPPEARANCES disappeared. It considers how their own A SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF A SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF political project to re-establish the IN SRI LANKA socio–legal identity of the disappeared was exploited by the political elite and their own communities rendering them socially ostracised. Within this context, DISAPPEARANCES transitional justice mechanisms including prosecutions and social movements were manipulated and IN SRI LANKA politicised along party lines as part of a ritual of conspiracy against the victims to deny state terror and protect those responsible for it. About the author: Jane Thomson-Senanayake, B.A Hons (NSW), Grad Dip (NSW), Grad Cert (New England), M.A (Deakin), PhD (Sydney), is a human rights and social policy researcher. Her academic J research has focused on political ane Thomson-Senanayake violence, enforced disappearances, transitional justice and social restoration in contexts including Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and East Timor. She was awarded the Lionel Murphy Postgraduate Scholarship in 2004 and completed her PhD in 2013 at the University of Sydney. Her doctoral research, which explored enforced disapearances over three decades in Sri Lanka and involved extensive fieldwork across eight districts, provided the basis Rs 1000/= Jane Thomson-Senanayake for this publication. Asian Human Rights Commission, Unit 1 & 2 12/F, Hopeful Factory Centre 10-16 Wo Shing Street, Fotan, N.T. ,Hong Kong, China A SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF DISAPPEARANCES IN SRI LANKA ''Not even a person, not even a word...'' Jane Thomson-Senanayake ii A sociological exploration of disappearances in Sri Lanka ''Not even a person, not even a word...'' © Jane Thomson-Senanayake 2014 ISBN (Print) : 978-955-4597-04-4 Published by Asian Human Rights Commission Unit 1 & 2 12/F.
    [Show full text]
  • Socialist Review (Sum­ April 15Th, 1964, Dr
    A Correction Editor: Correspondence In the article I wrote on Brazil, Editor: published in the last number of the International Socialist Review (Sum­ April 15th, 1964, Dr. Neville Al­ mer 1964), it is printed in the last exander and ten other nonwhite paragraph that the investments of South Africans, including four wo­ the USA reach $1,500,000. Evidently, men, were convicted in the Cape Su­ there was a typographical error, preme Court of "sabotage" and be­ since the investments of US capital­ longing to the militant "National ists in Brazil reach $1,500,000,000, Liberation Front" and sentenced to that is, 1.5 billion dollars. prison on Robben Island - South The total investment of the Unit­ Africa's version of an Auschwitz or ed States in Latin America in 1963 Belsen Nazi concentration camp. reached almost 10 billion dollars. Ten-year sentences were given to The most important countries for in­ Dr. Alexander, a doctor of philoso­ vestments in millions of dollars are: phy and high-school teacher, one of Venezuela: 3,000 the most brilliant graduates who Brazil: 1,500 ever went through Cape Town Uni­ Mexico: 1,000 versity in the Federal Republic of Argentina: 900 Germany; Don Davis, a minister; Chile: 850 Marcus Solomons, a school teacher; Panama: 650 Elizabeth van der Heyden, a school After Canada (the country that rep­ teacher; and Fikele Bam, an African resents the largest colony of Amer­ senior law student at Cape Town ican imperialism), it is the Latin University. Seven-year sentences American continent which absorbs were given to Lionel Davids, a clerk, most American foreign investment.
    [Show full text]
  • The Executive Presidency: a Left Perspective
    27 The Executive Presidency: A Left Perspective Jayampathy Wickramaratne The Sri Lankan Left spearheaded the campaign against the introduction of the executive presidency in 1978 though the opposition had been weakened by the massive victory of the United National Party (UNP) at the 1977 parliamentary elections. The UNP won an unprecedented five-sixths majority. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), down from 75 seats to just 07, was weak and demoralised. It was the Left parties – now without representation in Parliament – that took the lead in opposing it from outside. Since then, Left parties have been at the forefront of the agitation for the abolition of the executive presidency. The purpose of this chapter is not merely to recount that opposition but to show that such opposition was based on established democratic principles. The chapter also discusses the campaign to abolish the executive presidency, and conversely, actions to strengthen it. If there is one statement that epitomises the Sri Lankan Left’s unswerving opposition to the executive presidency and its preference for the parliamentary form of government, it is the one made by Dr Colvin R. de Silva, then Minister of Constitutional Affairs, in the Constituent Assembly on 2nd July 1971: “There is undoubtedly one virtue in this system of Parliament […] and that is that the chief executive of the day in answerable directly to the representatives of the people continuously by reason of the fact that the Prime Minister can remain Prime Minister only so long as he can command the confidence of that assembly. […] We do not want either Presidents or Prime Ministers who can ride roughshod over the people and, therefore, first of all, over the people’s representatives.
    [Show full text]
  • Beginning and 25 Years of Progress People's Bank
    aim of making large profit? by finan­ BEGINNING AND 25 YEARS OF PROGRESS cing big industry". PEOPLE'S BANK BEGINNINGS AND 25 YEARS OF PROGRESS Clarence Fernando The Commission also noted that the Bank had not given any financial or other assistance to any approved Mr Clarence Fernando was a former Editor, Ceylon Daily News and Reuters Correspondent in Sri Lanka and for several decades has been a regular commentator on Sri Lankan events. society or cultivation committee during the period under review. In­ deed no society had been approved by The People's Bank, which began clusion (para 203) was "The People's formal order of the Minister to receive bi siness in unpretentious "hole-i--the Bank has carried out the intention of such assistance under the provisions of wall" offices in the Y.M.B.A. building the framers of the Act that the com­ the Act, nor had any assistance been and in Duke Street in Colombo's Fort mercial business of the Bankshouldbe rendered by the Bank to cultivation 25 years ago, can pat itself on its back used as a source for financing the committees, according to the evidence modestly on the giant strides it has co-operative sector". placed before the Commission by taken to become the largest and most officers of the Bank. influential bank in the Island handling However, the general conclusion over 60 percent of all Sri Lanka's the Commission reached on an overall "To that extent at least, it must be commercial bank customers including review of the position on its first term held that the Bank has failed to carry peasants, workers, industrialists,, pri­ of reference, that is the extent to out in full the purposes as set out in vate and public organisations, coope­ which the Bank has, during its first Section 4 of the Act, ie.
    [Show full text]