Wilfred Senanayake (10 November 1918 — 26 May 2008) was a Sri Lankan politician who served as member of Parliament for Homagama.

Biography

He was educated at

Nalanda College Colombo ''Āpadāna Sobhinī Panñā'' , motto_translation = Character Illumines Wisdom , established = , founder = Patrick de Silva Kularatne , type = National , grades = 1 ...

and later, unbeknownst to his parents, joined the army. He joined the

Lanka Sama Samaja Party The Lanka Sama Samaja Party, often abbreviated as LSSP (Literal translation, literally: Lanka Socialist Party, Sinhalese language, Sinhala: ලංකා සම සමාජ පක්ෂය, Tamil language, Tamil: லங்கா சமசமா� ...

and was the first Leftist chairman of the Village Council in his area. When LSSP members who were imprisoned by the British were released in 1945, Wilfred Senanayake took the initiative to organise rallies throughout the country. He led the Hartal in the Kelani Valley in 1953.

Career

He was elected to Parliament from Homagama in 1970, in which capacity he built a reputation as a representative of the poor and ordinary people. He protested that the extent of lands that could be owned by one person should be limited to while there was a suggestion that it be limited to under the 1972 Land Reform. Later the extent was limited to . In 1982, together with politicians Anil Moonesinghe, Cholomondely Goonewardena and G. E. H. Perera he formed the Sri Lanka Sama Samaja Party (SLSSP).

Legacy

In appreciation of his yeoman service to the people of Homagama, the Wilfred Senanayake Ground was established there.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Senanayake, Wilfred Lanka Sama Samaja Party politicians Sri Lankan socialists Sri Lankan Trotskyists Members of the 7th Parliament of Ceylon Sri Lankan Buddhists Alumni of Nalanda College, Colombo 1918 births 2008 deaths Sinhalese politicians Sinhalese military personnel Ceylonese military personnel of World War II