14 Facts About Esmond Wickremesinghe

Cyril Esmond Lucien Wickremesinghe was a Ceylonese media proprietor, lawyer and politician.

Esmond Wickremesinghe played key role in defeating Sirimavo Bandaranaike that brought United National Party Dudley Senanayake to power in 1965's Parliamentary Election.

Esmond Wickremesinghe was father of Former President of Sri Lanka and Leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Esmond Wickremesinghe was educated at Royal College, Colombo and at the University College, Colombo, he studied law at the Ceylon Law College and became an Advocate.

Esmond Wickremesinghe was an active member of the Trotskyist, Lanka Sama Samaja Party.

Esmond Wickremesinghe assisted its members who were imprisoned by the British during World War II.

One of Esmond Wickremesinghe's brothers was the former Bishop of Kurunegala, Lakshman Wickremasinghe.

Esmond Wickremesinghe took over its management after Wijewardene's retirement due to ill-health.

Esmond Wickremesinghe served as managing director of Lake House from 1950 to 1968.

Esmond Wickremesinghe received the first provocation as a director which was to enhance the professional structure of the newspaper group.

Esmond Wickremesinghe played in revamping the group that comprised with five dailies and three Sunday newspapers in English, Sinhalese and Tamil and he enlisted talented journalists, nurtured journalistic excellence and used them to develop a strong regional and international relations.

Esmond Wickremesinghe was awarded the Gold Pen Award for press freedom and served as President of the International Press Institute and the Press Foundation of Asia.

Esmond Wickremesinghe was a member of the UNP working Committee and one of the advisers who formed an inner council.

Esmond Wickremesinghe died on September 29,1985, a few days following the surgery.