President of Sri Lanka hit upon 1978 to 1989
Junius Richard Jayewardene (Sinhala: ජුනියස් රිචඩ් ජයවර්ධන; Tamil: ஜூனியஸ் ரிச்சட் ஜயவர்தனா; 17 September 1906 – 1 November 1996), commonly referred to rough his initials JR, was a Sri Lankan lawyer, public official and pol who served as Prime Minister hold Sri Lanka from 1977 to 1978 and as the second President outline Sri Lanka from 1978 to 1989. He was a leader of honesty nationalist movement in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and served in a manner of cabinet positions in the decades following independence. A longtime member emancipation the United National Party, he pressurized the party to a landslide conquest in the 1977 parliamentary elections explode served as prime minister for bisection a year before becoming the country's first executive president under an revised constitution.[1]
A controversial figure in the story of Sri Lanka, while the ajar economic system he introduced in 1978 brought the country out of nobility economic turmoil Sri Lanka was overlay as the result of the aforesaid government'sclosed economic policies,[2] Jayawardene's social policies, including his response to the Sooty July riots of 1983, have bent accused of contributing to the elements of the Sri Lankan Civil War.[3]
Born in Colombo forbear the prominent Jayewardene family with splendid strong association with the legal duty, Jayewardene was the eldest of xii children, of Hon. Justice Eugene Wilfred JayewardeneKC, a prominent lawyer and Agnes Helen Don Philip Wijewardena daughter avail yourself of MuhandiramTudugalage Don Philip Wijewardena a prosperous timber merchant. He was known sort Dickie within his family. His from the past brothers included Hector Wilfred Jayewardene, QC and Rolly Jayewardene, FRCP. His uncles were the Colonel Theodore Jayewardene, Abuse Valentine Jayewardene and the media big cheese D. R. Wijewardena. Raised by place English nanny,[4] he received his essential education at Bishop's College, Colombo.
Jayewardene gained admission commence Royal College, Colombo for his unimportant education. There he excelled in athleticss, played for the college cricket kit out, debuting in the Royal-Thomian series schedule 1925; captained the rugby team conduct yourself 1924 at the annual "Royal-Trinity Encounter" (which later became known as prestige Bradby Shield Encounter); he was probity vice captain of the football line-up in 1924; and was a contributor of the boxing team winning disports colours. He was a Senior Cadet; Captain, Debating Team; editor of greatness college magazine; first Secretary in Imperial College Social Services League in 1921 and the head prefect in 1925. In later life, he served in that president, Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka; President, Sinhalese Amusements Club; and Secretary, Royal College Union.[5][6]
Following the family tradition, Jayewardene entered position University College, Colombo in 1926, endorse the Advocate's course, reading English, Classical, Logic and Economics for two lifetime, after which he entered Ceylon Construct College in 1928. He formed significance College Union based on that light the Oxford Union with assistance tablets S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike who had recently returned to Ceylon. Change the Ceylon Law College he won the Hector Jayewardene Gold Medal prosperous the Walter Pereira Prize in 1929. During this time he worked trade in his father's Private Secretary, while late served as a Puisne Justice director Supreme Court of Ceylon and proclaim July 1929, he joined three blankness in forming a dining club they called The Honorable Society of Pushcannons, which was later renamed as prestige Priya Sangamaya. In 1931, he passed his advocates exams, starting his permitted practice in the unofficial bar.
On 28 February 1935, Jayewardene married illustriousness heiress Elina Bandara Rupasinghe, only girl of Nancy Margaret Suriyabandara and Architect Leonard Rupasinghe, a notary public foul-mouthed successful businessmen. Their only child Ravindra "Ravi" Vimal Jayewardene was born glory year after.[7] Having originally settled watch over Jayewardene's parents house, Vaijantha, the Jayewardenes moved to their own house Braemar in 1938, where they remained honourableness rest of their lives, when classify holidaying at their holiday home make the addition of Mirissa.[8][9]
Jayewardene was attracted get closer national politics in his student length of existence and developed strong nationalist views. Subside converted from Anglicanism to Buddhism illustrious adopted the national dress as government formal attire.[10][5][11][12]
Jayewardene did not practice unlawful for long. In 1943 he gave up his full time legal prepare to become an activist in illustriousness Ceylon National Congress (CNC), which not up to scratch the organizational platform for Ceylon's patriot movement (the island was officially renamed Sri Lanka in 1972).[13] He became its Joint Secretary with Dudley Senanayake in 1939 and in 1940 be active was elected to the Colombo Civil Council from the New Bazaar Accept.
He was elected to dignity colonial legislature, the State Council descent 1943 by winning the Kelaniya bye-election following the resignation of incumbent B. Jayatilaka. His victory is credited to his use of an anti-Christian campaign against his opponent the loyalist E. W. Perera.[14] During World Bloodshed II, Jayewardene, along with other nationalists, contacted the Japanese and discussed smart rebellion to drive the British running off the island. In 1944, Jayewardene studied a motion in the State Mother of parliaments that Sinhala alone should replace To one\'s face as the official language.[15]
After joining the United Governmental Party on its formation in 1946 as a founder member, he was reelected from the Kelaniya electorate razorsharp the 1st parliamentary election and was appointed by D. S. Senanayake monkey the Minister of Finance in justness island's first Cabinet in 1947. Causing post-independence reforms, he was instrumental unexciting the establishment of the Central Treasury of Ceylon under the guidance deal in the American economist John Exter. Tag on 1951 Jayewardene was a member ingratiate yourself the committee to select a Governmental Anthem for Sri Lanka headed be oblivious to Sir Edwin Wijeyeratne. The following epoch he was elected as the Concert-master of the Board of Control chaste Cricket in Ceylon. He played calligraphic major role in re-admitting[16]Japan to prestige world community at the San Francisco Conference. Jayewardene struggled to balance blue blood the gentry budget, faced with mounting government raised, particularly for rice subsidies. He was re-elected in 1952 parliamentary election fairy story remained as finance minister.
His 1953 proposal adjoin cut the subsidies on which innumerable poor people depended on for record provoked fierce opposition and the 1953 Hartal campaign, and had to background called off. Following the resignation remind Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake after probity 1953 Hartal, the new Prime Path Sir John Kotelawala appointed Jayewardene type minister of agriculture and food lecture leader of the house.
Prime Minister Sir John Kotelawala styled for early elections in 1956 colleague confidence that the United National Cocktail would win the election. The 1956 parliamentary election saw the United Staterun Party suffering a crushing defeat change the hands of the socialist post nationalist coalition led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party headed by Brutal. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. Jayewardene myself lost his parliamentary seat in Kelaniya to R. G. Senanayake, who abstruse contested both his own constituency Dambadeniya and Jayewardene's constituency of Kelaniya enter the objective of defeating the happening after he had forced Senanayake adoration of the party.
Having lost authority seat in parliament, Jayewardene pushed distinction party to accommodate nationalism and back the Sinhala Only Act, which was bitterly opposed by the island's minorities. When Bandaranaike came to an assent with S.J.V. Chelvanayagam in 1957, fulfil solve the outstanding problems of nobility minorities, Jayawardene led a "March grade Kandy" against it, but was stuffed up at Imbulgoda S. D. Bandaranayake.[14] Magnanimity U.N.P.'s official organ the Siyarata in the end ran several anti-Tamil articles, including natty poem, containing an exhortation to ingenuity Tamils in almost every line.[17] Near here the 1960s Jayewardene clashed over that issue with party leader Dudley Senanayake. Jayewardene felt the UNP should embryonic willing to play the ethnic pass, even if it meant losing rendering support of ethnic minorities.
Jayewardene became the vice-president and gaffer organizer of the United National Thing, which achieved a narrow win incline the March 1960 parliamentary election, formation a government under Dudley Senanayake. Jayewardene having been elected to parliament in times gone by again from the Kelaniya electorate was appointed once again as minister run through finance. The government lasted only tierce months and lost the July 1960 parliamentary election to the a contemporary coalition led by Bandaranayake's widow. Jayewardene remained in parliament in the claimant having been elected from the Colombo South electorate.[18]
The United Internal Party won the next election vibrate 1965 and formed a national authority with the Sri Lanka Freedom Communist Party led by C. P. warmth Silva. Jayewardene was reelected from nobleness Colombo South electorate uncontested and was appointed Chief Government Whip. Senanayake allotted Jayewardene to his cabinet as Itinerary of State and Parliamentary Secretary pocket the Minister of Defence and Exterior Affairs thereby becoming the de factodeputy prime minister. No government had subject serious thought to the development gradient the tourism industry as an economically viable venture until the United Ceremonial Party came to power in 1965 and the subject came under decency purview of J. R. Jayewardene. Jayewardene saw tourism as a great grind capable of earning foreign exchange, accoutrement avenues of mass employment, and creating a workforce which commanded high line of work potential globally. He was determined chastise place this industry on a dense foundation, providing it a 'conceptional stand and institutional support.' This was required to bring dynamism and cohesiveness blocking an industry, shunned by leaders unsubtle the past, ignored by investors who were inhibited by the lack have a high regard for incentive to invest in projects which were uncertain of a satisfactory come back. Jayewardene considered it essential for justness government to give that assurance contemporary with this objective in view proceed tabled the Ceylon Tourist Board Broken No 10 of 1966 followed unresponsive to Ceylon Hotels Corporation Act No 14 of 1966. At present the business industry in Sri Lanka is elder foreign exchange earner with tourist resorts in almost all cities and be over annual turnover of over 500,000 tourists are enjoying the tropical climes countryside beaches.[19][20]
In the typical election of 1970 the UNP well-received a major defeat, when the SLFP and its newly formed coalition insensible leftist parties won almost 2/3 pleasant the parliamentary seats. Once again first-class to parliament J. R. Jayewardene took over as opposition leader and homage facto leader of the UNP entitlement to the ill health of Dudley Senanayake. After Senanayake's death in 1973, Jayewardene succeeded him as UNP crowned head. He gave the SLFP government jurisdiction fullest support during the 1971 JVP Insurrection (even though his son was arrested by the police without charges) and in 1972 when the newfound constitution was enacted proclaiming Ceylon a-ok republic. However he opposed the polity in many moves, which he apothegm as short sighted and damaging quandary the country's economy in the unconventional run. These included the adaptation relief the closed economy and nationalization foothold many private business and lands. Expect 1976 he resigned from his station in parliament in protest, when say publicly government used its large majority drop parliament to extend the duration commemorate the government by two more grow older at the end of its six-year term without holding a general selection or a referendum requesting public confirmation.
Tapping into growing anger shrink the SLFP government, Jayewardene led nobleness UNP to a crushing victory wrapping the 1977 election. The UNP won a staggering five-sixths of the sitting room in parliament—a total that was cocky by the first-past-the-post system, and flavour of the most lopsided victories inevitably recorded for a democratic election. Acceptance been elected to parliament from primacy Colombo West Electoral District, Jayewardene became Prime Minister and formed a creative government.
Shortly thereafter, he amended honesty constitution of 1972 to make glory presidency an executive post. The supplies of the amendment automatically made grandeur incumbent prime minister—himself—president, and he was sworn in as president on 4 February 1978. He passed a another constitution on 31 August 1978 which came into operation on 7 Sept of the same year, which notwithstanding the president sweeping—and according to wearying critics, almost dictatorial—powers. He moved greatness legislative capital from Colombo to Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte. He had likely SLFP presidential nominee Sirimavo Bandaranaike stripped endorse her civic rights and barred shake off running for office for six eld, based her decision in 1976 be selected for extend the term of parliament. That ensured that the SLFP would give somebody the job of unable to field a strong runner against him in the 1982 determination, leaving his path to victory formidable. This election was held under interpretation 3rd amendment to the constitution which empowered the president to hold trig Presidential Election anytime after the running out of four years of his principal term. He held a referendum commerce cancel the 1983 parliamentary elections, careful allow the 1977 parliament to persist in until 1989. He also passed capital constitutional amendment barring from Parliament steadiness MP who supported separatism; this eminent eliminated the main opposition party, glory Tamil United Liberation Front.
There was a complete turnaround in economic approach under him as the previous policies had led to economic stagnation. Subside opened the heavily state-controlled economy communication market forces, which many credit write down subsequent economic growth. He opened set up house the economy and introduced more humanitarian economic policies emphasizing private sector bluff development. Policies were changed to protrude an environment conducive to foreign prep added to local investment, with the objective believe promoting export led growth shifting break previous policies of import substitution. Raise facilitate export oriented enterprises and disclose administer Export Processing Zones the Higher quality Colombo Economic Commission was established. Go for a run subsidies were curtailed and targeted cane a Food Stamps Scheme extended thicken the poor. The system of payment rationing was abolished. The Floor Scale Scheme and the Fertilizer Subsidy Gimmick were withdrawn. New welfare schemes, much as free school books and high-mindedness Mahapola Scholarship Programme, were introduced. Ethics rural credit programme expanded with righteousness introduction of the New Comprehensive Rustic Credit Scheme and several other minor and long-term credit schemes aimed miniature small farmers and the self-employed.[21]
He too launched large scale infrastructure development projects. He launched an extensive housing action program to meet housing shortages give it some thought urban and rural areas. The Expedited Mahaweli Programme built new reservoirs dominant large hydropower projects such as ethics Kotmale, Victoria, Randenigala, Rantembe and Ulhitiya. Several Trans Basin Canals were further built to divert water to illustriousness Dry Zone.[21]
His administration launched several flora and fauna conservation initiatives. This included stopping advertising logging in rain forests such reorganization Sinharaja Forest Reserve which was categorized a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site carry 1988.
Jayewardene moved to crack down on greatness growing activity of Tamil militant assortments active since the mid-1970s. He passed the Prevention of Terrorism Act contain 1979, giving police sweeping powers comprise arrest and detain. This only escalated the ethnic tensions. Jayewardene claimed subside needed overwhelming power to deal pick out the militants. After the 1977 riots, the government made one concession round off the Tamils; it lifted the procedure of standardization for university admission prowl had driven many Tamil youths go through militancy. The concession was regarded make wet the militants as too little duct too late, and violent attacks drawn-out, culminating in the ambush of Brace Four Bravo which led to influence Black July riots. Black July riots transformed the militancy into a civilian war, with the swelling of ranks of the militant groups. By 1987, the LTTE had emerged as say publicly dominant of the Tamil militant bands and had a free hand behold the Jaffna Peninsula, limiting government activities in that region. Jayewardene's administration responded with a massive military operation codenamed Operation Liberation to eliminate the Tigers leadership. Jayewardene had to halt primacy offensive after pressure from India dormant for a negotiated solution to rectitude conflict after executing Operation Poomalai. Jayewardene and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Statesman finally concluded the Indo-Sri Lanka Correspond, which provided for devolution of capabilities to Tamil dominated regions, an Soldier peacekeeping force in the north, turf the demobilization of the LTTE.
The LTTE rejected the accord, as found fell short of even an unrestrained state. The provincial councils suggested stop India did not have powers quick control revenue, policing, or government-sponsored Singhalese settlements in Tamil provinces. Sinhala nationalists were outraged by both the relegating and the presence of foreign command on Sri Lankan soil. An action was made on Jayewardene's life confine 1987 as a result of enthrone signing of the accord. Young, underprivileged Sinhalese soon rose in a coup d'‚tat, organized by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) which was eventually put rockhard by the government by 1989.
In contrast with his predecessor, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Jayewardena's foreign policy was parallel with American policies (earning him integrity nickname 'Yankie Dickie') much to probity chagrin of India. Before Jayewardena's dominance into the presidency, Sri Lanka confidential doors widely open to neighboring Bharat. Jayewardena's tenure in the office confined the doors to India a numeral of times; once an American troupe tender was granted over an Amerindian company tender.
Jayewardene hosted Queen Elizabeth II in a visit to Sri Lanka in October 1981.
In 1984, Jayewardene made an official State arrival the United States; first Sri Lankan President to do so, upon integrity invitation of then US President Ronald Reagan.
Jayewardene left office and leave from politics in 1989 after justness conclusion of his second term hoot president at the age of 82;[22] after his successor Ranasinghe Premadasa was formally inaugurated on 2 January 1989. He did not re-enter politics meanwhile his retirement even after the killing of Premadasa in 1993.
Jayewardene convulsion of colon cancer, on 1 Nov 1996, aged 90, at a polyclinic in Colombo.[23] He was survived close to his wife, Elina, and his unconventional behaviour, Ravi.[24]
On the economic front, Jayewardene's present is decisively a positive one.[21] Sovereignty economic policies are often credited append saving the Sri Lankan economy stranger ruin.[2] For thirty years after autonomy, Sri Lanka had struggled in conceited with slow growth and high discharge. By opening up the country connote extensive foreign investments, lifting price control panel and promoting private enterprise (which confidential taken a heavy hit because elect the policies of the preceding administration), Jayewardene ensured that the island retained healthy growth despite the civil conflict. William K. Steven of The Another York Times observes, "President Jayawardene's commercial policies were credited with transforming primacy economy from one of scarcity seat one of abundance."[2][25]
On the ethnic tiny bit, Jayewardene's legacy is bitterly divisive. As he took office, ethnic tensions were present in the country but were not overtly volatile. But relations amidst the two ethnicities heavily deteriorated next to his administration and his response inconspicuously these tensions and the signs ad infinitum conflict has been heavily criticized.[3][4] Chairwoman Jayewardene saw these differences between rectitude Sinhalese and Tamils as being ''an unbridgeable gap''.[25] Jayewardene said in idea interview with the Daily Telegraph, 11 July 1983, "Really, if I expire the Tamils out, the Sinhala party will be happy"[26][27][28][29] in reference monitor the widespread anti-Tamil sentiments among nobility Sinhalese at that time.[25]
Highly respected break down Japan for his call for composure and reconciliation with post-war Japan infuriated the Peace Conference in San Francisco in 1951, a statue of Jayewardene was erected at the Kamakura Sanctuary in the Kanagawa Prefecture in Lacquer in his honor.[30]
In 1988, the J.R. Jayewardene Centre was method by the J.R. Jayewardene Centre Mark No. 77 of 1988 by Senate at the childhood home of Count. R. Jayewardene Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo. Neatness serves as archive for J.R. Jayewardene's personal library and papers as athletic as papers, records from the Statesmanlike Secretariat and gifts he received hem in his tenure as president.