Time Line of Sri Lankan History 1948-2018

Time Line* - Sri Lankan History: By M. R. Mohamed, M.A. (Economics) Local Kingdoms; 3rd C – 16th C (1505) Table 1: Western Colonialist Era: 1505-1948 No. 01 02 03

Time Line 1505-1658 1658-1796 1769-1948

Western Colonialist Portuguese Dutch British Empire

Total years of Western Colonialism in Ceylon

*Time Line: Subject to difference of opinions

Years 153 138 179

470

Remarkable Events 1638-Treaty was signed between Dutch & Ranasinghe II (King) 1815-United Ceylon, Kandy kingdom was eliminated.

1818-Uva Rebellion, 1848-Matale Rebellion, 1935-LSSP estd.

1948-1972: Country remained as dominion status (British) Summary: Western Colonialism - Nearly 5 Centuries in Sri Lanka

Table 2: Since independence, Heads of State of Sri Lanka / 1948-02-04 (70 years)

No

Left Wing

Right Wing

01

1948-1952

02 03 04

1952-1953 1953-1956

05 06 07

1956-59

1959-60 1960-July 1960-1965

08 09

1965-1970 1970-1977

10

1977-1988

11

1989-1993

12 13

1993-1994 1994-2005

14 15 16 17

2001-2004 2005-2015 2015-2018 2018 Coalition Govt.’s turmoil was initiated by controversial President Maitripala Sirisena, in October 2018

Heads of State

Political party

Rt. Hon. DS Senanayaka (1st PM, Hero of Freedom Str.) Dudley Senanayake (01st Time) Sir Johan Kotelawala (PM) SWRD Bandaranaike (PM) (Sinhala Nationalism)

UNP (1946-UNP was estd.)

UNP UNP SLFP+MEP coalition

W. Dahanayake (PM) Dudley Senanayake (02nd Time) Mrs.Srimavo B. (PM) (1st Women Leader in the world) Dudley Senanauake (03rd Time)

UNP UNP SLFP/ULF coalition

Mrs. Srimavo b. (2nd time PM) (1972-Status of Republic given by British) JR Jayawardana (President) (1st Executive President) (1978-New Constitution emerged)

SLFP

R. Premadasa (President) (Lalith & Gamini Diska. were marginalized) DP Wijeythuge (Temp-President) Mrs.Chandrika BK (President)

UNP

Ranil Wikramasinge (PM)

UNP

Mahindha Rajapaksa (President)

SLFP/UPFA alliances

Maithripala Sirisena (President) Controversial President Maithiripla; 01. PM Ranil Wik. was removed 02. Mahinda Raja. was appointed as a PM illegally; Political turmoil emerged 03. Supreme court Judgement came, on 18/12/2018, again Ranil Wik. became as a PM (Prime ministers)

SLFP+UNP SLFP+UNP+UPFA

UNP coalition

UNP

UNP SLFP

Controversial Events 1953-Hartal ‘Tug of war’ within 1955-SLFP estd. – then 1956 Sinhala only Act, Finally 1959-SWRDB was assassinated by a Buddhist Monk

Assimilated with the Left Wing (World) 1935 LSSP estd.

1965 JVP estd.

1971 April-JVP Uprising 1976-LTTE Estd.

1983-Black July 1987-89 JVP insurrection LTTE uprising Lalith, Densil Kob, Vijey Kum., were killed -Minor attack by LTTE -Lukshman Kadirkamar was killed by LTTE -Tag of war -LTTE power Up 2009-LTTE (26Y Civil war ended) ‘Yahapalanaya...?’

-At a time 02 Prime ministers; elected 01 & appointed 01 - Abused executive presidential power - Political deadlock & turmoil emerged

Advantages/Contribution of Western Colonialist positive impacts in Sri Lanka; 01. All local kingdoms were eliminated-system of Democracy was established, Election process and voting rights were given (Universal suffrage-1931).

02. Western style parliament system was emerged. Freedom of thinking - political party operations opposition voices were recognized.

03. English education was introduced. Pace of Modernization took place. Western Europe education was introduced, Private education was empowered.

04. Intellectual Thoughts and changes took place. Transition of cultures towards modernization.

05. More open to Global institutions, Pace of Globalisation-internationalization process were emerged.

06. Modern tertiary sector and progressive industrialization were re-engineered. Primary sector was restructured.

07. Sri Lankans got Europe nationalities. More jobs were generated both locally and internationally.

08. Women sector was modernized. Women and Economic Development were recognized.

09. Privatisation process and Private sector role were initiated.

10. Radical changes took place; in culture, religion, local traditions, politics-political establishments, economics, entertainment industry, etc. (More will be updated...!)

Consequences of Western Colonialist impacts in Sri Lanka (Negative); 01. Civil war and ethnic conflict were emerged, Arm struggle (1976-2009) was fuelled due to weak political system, poor democracy and establishments.

02. Sinhala Marxists took arms against Sri Lankan government in 1971, & 1987-89 (JVP uprising) 03. Poverty level increased, income inequality widened, Rich-poor gap has been expanding.

04. Deterioration of value based education-political thinking, economic activities in public affairs and personal lives of Sri Lankans.

05. Women’s values started diminishing, more women came abroad alone (Middle East) to earn money, hence, their children and families were isolated.

06. Controversial side of Open economy and Western ‘weak’ thoughts were not debated and not reshaped according to Sri Lankan value-based traditions. (More will be updated...!)

70th Independence Day talk/Presentation by: Mr. M. R. Mohamed (Economist) /// Appendix: Sri Lanka’s Religions and Ethnic ratios; Buddhism: 70.2%,

Hinduism: 12.6%,

Islam: 9.7%, Christianity: 7.4%

By: Mr. M. R. Mohamed, M.A. (Economics), P. hD. (Reading) E mail: mrmksar@gmail.com / mrmslttuk@gmail.com +966557519801, +94761833347 FB/TW/ITG/mrmecon Ends/(20/12/2018)

Others: 0.1%