SLFP celebrates its 61st Anniversary on an unprecedented grand scale
The 61st Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will be held on a very grand scale with the participation of several hundred thousand people from all corners of the country at the Kegalle Urban Council grounds today under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapakse.At the Sinhala Mahasabha Meeting held on July 11, 1951, under the Chairmanship of the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike members of the Sinhala Mahasabha and patriot politicians of Sri Lanka adopted several resolutions to divert Sri Lanka from the Imperialist slavish policies and introduce several policies to give prime place to the Sri Lankans to steer the country towards indigenous development policies.
When these resolutions were forwarded to Dudley Senanayake who was the leader of the United National Party at that time he did not accept the proposals and the United National Party rejected these proposals. This compelled MrS.W.R.D. Bandaranaike to leave the United National Party. Even the MPs who voted for the proposals at the Madampe meeting did not leave with Bandaranaike except the late D.A.Rajapaksa who followed Bandaranaike in the historical crossing over in the Parliament as the own shadow of Bandaranaike.
Subsequently the late S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike together with D.A.Rajapakse, H.Sri Nissanka, T.B.Ilangaratne, A.P.Jayasuriya, Badiudeen Mahumud, and several others established the Sri Lanka Freedom Party on 2nd September, 1951.
In 1952, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party contested for the elections first time after its establishment in 1951. Eight among the then Members of Parliament contested under the Party. They were S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike from Attanagalla, George R. De Silva from Colombo North, D.S. Gunasekara from Udugama, Thamara K. Ilangaratna from Kandy, A.P. Jayasooriya from Horana, Jayaweera Kuruppu from Balangoda, H. Sri Nissanka from Kurunegala and D.A. Rajapaksa from Beliatta. Among them, Mr.S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike and D.A.Rajapaksa were able to enter Parliament.
The party achieved a mammoth victory in the 1956 General Election by contesting the elections together with the party of Mr.Philip Gunawardene under the name of Mahajana Eksath Peramuna reducing to 8 the number of UNP members elected in that election. This was the turning point in Sri Lanka’s political history and political analysts and the people of the country hailed it as a people’s revolution. .The 1956 government made huge changes in the political process of Sri Lanka and the significant work done by this government included declaring May 1st as a Holiday, establishment of the Employees Provident Fund, upgrading Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara pirivenas to university status, nationalization of Colombo harbour and bus services, acquiring the Katunayake airport and Trincomalee harbour by sending the British forces from these strategic locations and introduction of the Paddy Lands Act which gave due recognition to the toiling farmers.
After the assassination of Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranaike on 26th September 1959, Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike assumed the leadership of the Party on the compulsion of the veteran members of the Party, and winning the General Election held in July became the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on 21st july 1960 and thus became the first female Prime Minister of the world. During her tenure of office, Madam Bandaranaike despite being a novice to politics displayed her commitment and dedication for the welfare of the country continued the progressive measures launched by the late Prime Minister and nationalised the fee levying schools, petroleum industry and insurance services, and established state banks. It was also during her tenure of office that Sirima – Shasthri, Sirima – Indira agreements were signed to solve the problem of Indian origin people living in the hill country.
The SLFP led United Front that won 1970 general election with a 2/3rd majority, and this election introduced young political leaders such as Mahinda Rajapakse to the Sri Lankan political arena. .It was during this period that a Republican Constitution and a National Agricultural Policy was introduced and Kachchativu was acquired by Sri Lanka.
The United National Party which came to power in 1977 made all efforts to destroy the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Madam Sirimavo Bandaranake was disenfranchised for a period of 7 years. It was Mahinda Rajapakse whom many Sri Lankans consider as the political child of Madam Sirimavo Bndaranaike who took the responsibility to rebuild the party at that time and to safeguard the leadership of Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaykr. Mahinda Rajapakse was successful in mustering the support of the people towards the Sri Lanka Freedom Party by holding political activities such as foot walks, Jana Ghosha, Human Chains etc. during the period of UNP’s 17 years of iron rule. These activities resulted in the People’s Alliance led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party come to power under Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in 1994.
Mahinda Rajapakse became the President of Sri Lanka turning a new chapter in Sri Lanka in the year 2005. He assumed the leadership of the party within the short period and started a huge political journey of strengthening the life standards of the Sri Lankan people. It was his dedication to the welfare of the country he fulfilled the promise given in the 2005 Presidential election and ended the 30 years of brutal terrorism and established a peaceful atmosphere throughout the country. Sri Lanka Freedom Party occupies a special place in the Sri Lankan history, and it was the Sri Lanka Freedom Party that was capable of producing a leader who could march Sri Lanka to make it a wonder nation of Asia
The Party now has 122 members in the current Parliament and this is the highest number of Parliamentary seats held by any party of Sri Lanka in its history. Info dpt
