15 Facts About Bernard Soysa

Bernard Soysa was born 20 March 1914 in Colombo, Ceylon.

Bernard Soysa attended the Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya, S Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and then Ananda College.

Bernard Soysa dropped out of university, and after brief stints at Sri Lanka Law College and in teaching, he joined the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, a Trotskyist political party.

Bernard Soysa was arrested in Bombay in July 1943, months after the struggle was crushed, where he was detained for 50 days before being returned to Ceylon, and released on parole.

Bernard Soysa didn't run in the subsequent 1948 by-election, following the dismissal of the sitting member for Colombo South, Reginald Abraham de Mel, which saw the election of Theodore Frederick Jayewardene, representing the United National Party.

Bernard Soysa did however challenge Jayewardene at the 2nd parliamentary election, held between 24 May 1952 and 30 May 1952, failing to secure the seat by 5,180 votes.

Bernard Soysa was elected to the Colombo Municipal Council from the Tibirigasyaya Ward, defeating Kusala Abhayavardhana.

At the 3rd parliamentary election, held between 5 April 1956 and 10 April 1956, Bernard Soysa ran again for the third time for the seat of Colombo South.

In July 1960, Bernard Soysa was re-elected and JR Jayewardene was elected in the place of Samarawickrema.

Bernard Soysa supported the coalition, United Front, government that was formed in May 1970 between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party and the Communist Party.

Bernard Soysa served as the Minister of Housing in the Second Sirimavo Bandaranaike cabinet.

Bernard Soysa contested the Colombo East electorate, finishing third, losing to Edmund Samarawickrema.

Bernard Soysa was appointed the Minister of Science and Technology in the Kumaratunga cabinet.

Bernard Soysa died on 30 December 1997 at the National Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Bernard Soysa was the brother of Dr Ananda Soysa and brother-in-law of Dr Priyani Soysa.