British Ceylon
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D. S. Senanayake
Botale (Mirigama), British Ceylon
Archival Overview
Founding Father and first Prime Minister of independent Ceylon (Sri Lanka) known as 'The Father of the Nation', who restored ancient dry zone irrigation reservoirs and led Ceylon to freedom in 1948.
Biographical Record
Don Stephen Senanayake (1884–1952) worked as a graphite miner and plantation superintendent before joining the temperance movement and the Ceylon National Congress. As Minister of Agriculture under colonial rule for fifteen years, he spearheaded the restoration of ancient dry-zone irrigation tanks (including Minneriya), resettling landless peasant families.
In 1946, he founded the United National Party (UNP) and negotiated Ceylon's peaceful transition to independence on February 4, 1948, without bloodshed. He championed agricultural self-sufficiency and communal peace across Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim populations.
Key Life Milestones
Restoration of the Minneriya Irrigation Scheme
Pioneered the restoration of ancient agricultural reservoir systems in the dry zone.
Independence of Ceylon
Became first Prime Minister upon Ceylon's peaceful transition to independence on February 4, 1948.
Memorial Guestbook & Tributes
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Final Resting Place
Perpetual MemorialColombo, Sri Lanka