41 Facts About Leslie Goonewardene

Leslie Simon Goonewardene was a prominent Sri Lankan statesman.

Leslie Goonewardene founded Sri Lanka's first political party, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, in 1935, and served as its General-Secretary from 1935 to 1977.

Leslie Goonewardene was designated as a National Hero of Sri Lanka for his leadership in the independence movement, and his efforts are celebrated each year on the Sri Lankan Independence Day.

Leslie Goonewardene was shaped by the widespread Marxist teachings of the time, notably conflicting with his own privilege, resulting in him pursuing the study of government from the London School of Economics.

Leslie Goonewardene rose to prominence leading the party through World War II, when it was key to the anti-war movement, culminating in its proscription and his escape from Ceylon to India.

Leslie Goonewardene was a significant figure in the Quit India Movement alongside Mahatma Gandhi, leading to India's independence from Britain in 1947.

Whilst initially declining a cabinet position, by 1970 Leslie Goonewardene believed he could implement his views best through a coalition government and brought about the United Front government.

Leslie Goonewardene's government was elected that year with an overwhelming majority, leading to his taking up senior cabinet roles.

Leslie Goonewardene remained a key figure in the Non-Aligned Movement and the Fourth International, past his retirement in 1977 and until his death in 1983.

Leslie Goonewardene was born on 31 October 1909 in Panadura, south-western Ceylon, to the wealthy Leslie Goonewardene family, which was active in local colonial-era politics.

Leslie Goonewardene was the son of Andrew Simon Goonewardene, a reputed doctor who served as President of the Panadura Maha Jana Sabha and chairman of the Urban Council.

Leslie Goonewardene was from the well-known Fernando family of 'Whitehall' Katana, one of the wealthiest families in Ceylon, privately owning very significant amounts of land.

Leslie Goonewardene inherited all the wealth from his mother and, as his eldest son, a major share from his father.

Leslie Goonewardene's family were prominent figures of the Methodist Church of Ceylon, and his father was a lay preacher and treasurer of the Home Mission Fund.

Leslie Goonewardene was admitted to the bar at Gray's Inn, one of the four Inns of Court in London, in 1933 but never practised law.

Leslie Goonewardene met Vivienne Goonatilleka, who was the niece of two of the leading leftist politicians in Ceylon, at a political meeting.

Leslie Goonewardene's uncle Philip Gunawardena was the "Father of Socialism" in Ceylon, and another uncle, Robert Gunawardena, was a prominent Sri Lankan politician and diplomat.

Leslie Goonewardene was kept a virtual prisoner at home, and Goonewardene was forced to file a habeas corpus writ, a recourse in law through which a person can report an unlawful detention or imprisonment to a court, to get her released.

Leslie Goonewardene returned to Ceylon from Britain in 1933 and helped found the Lanka Sama Samaja Party on 18 December 1935.

The group at the commencement numbered six, composed principally of students who had, like Leslie Goonewardene, returned from abroad, influenced deeply by the ideas of Karl Marx and Lenin.

Leslie Goonewardene was the LSSP's first General-Secretary and served in that role from 1935 to 1977.

Leslie Goonewardene published a Sinhala-language journal, Kamkaruwa, allowing the party to become involved in the 1933 Suriya-Mal Movement, whose aim was to generate financial support for indigenous veterans through the sale of native Suriya flowers.

Leslie Goonewardene, whilst evading the colonial authorities, led the conference at which the Lanka Sama Samaja Party conceived a new constitution and manifesto, both of which were accepted by the delegates.

Leslie Goonewardene was a key contributor to the party publications, writing under the pseudonym, K Tilak.

From April 1942, Leslie Goonewardene primarily focused his efforts on the Quit India Movement, a movement with the demand to end the British Rule of India.

Leslie Goonewardene remained uncaptured throughout the war years both in Ceylon and India.

In 1953, Leslie Goonewardene sheltered Jeanne Hoban from the authorities when she was threatened with deportation for organising plantation workers unions.

Leslie Goonewardene stood as the LSSP's candidate for Panadura at the 1956 parliamentary election.

Leslie Goonewardene was re-elected at the March 1960, July 1960,1965 and 1970 parliamentary elections.

In 1959, despite being one of the largest landowners in Sri Lanka through inheritance, Leslie Goonewardene re-introduced inheritance tax to the country, despite the opposition of wealthy established parliamentarians.

In 1968, Leslie Goonewardene orchestrated the LSSP joining the SLFP and the Communist Party of Sri Lanka in a United Front.

Leslie Goonewardene supported the government stance opposing the development of an Anglo-US communications centre in the Indian Ocean, maintaining that the area should be a "neutral, nuclear-free zone".

Leslie Goonewardene took measures to build up local industry, and the CTB became well equipped with foundries and workshops: the central workshop at Werahera became the largest in South Asia.

Sri Lanka, under Leslie Goonewardene, granted Pakistan International Airlines the aforementioned rights at the request of the Pakistani government.

On 2 September 1975 all LSSP ministers in the government, including Leslie Goonewardene, were dismissed, and the United Front was dismantled.

Leslie Goonewardene was finally defeated in the 1977 parliamentary election by United National Party candidate Dr Neville Fernando in the Panadura electorate.

Leslie Goonewardene strongly opposed the Sinhala Only Act introduced by the SLFP government in 1956 and was chief among the Sinhalese and Marxist politicians to do so.

The Sinhala Only Act, opposed by Leslie Goonewardene, helped lead to the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Leslie Goonewardene stood for re-election at the 1977 parliamentary election but was defeated by UNP candidate Neville Fernando.

Leslie Goonewardene was designated as a National Hero of Sri Lanka for his leadership in the independence movement, and his efforts are celebrated each year on the Sri Lankan Independence Day.

Leslie Goonewardene's first cousin Cholomondeley Goonewardene was a prominent LSSPer.