Fredrick Richard Senanayake

F. R. Senanayake
Colombo Municipal Councilor
In office
1912–1926
Personal details
Born (1882-10-20)October 20, 1882
Botale, Mirigama, Ceylon
Died January 1, 1926(1926-01-01) (aged 43)
Calcutta, India
Spouse(s) Ellen Attygalle
Relations D. S. Senanayake (brother)
Children R. G. Senanayake
Alma mater Downing College, Cambridge,
Royal College, Colombo,
S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
Profession Barrister

Fredrick Richard Senanayake (known to as F. R. Senanayake ) (October 20, 1882 – January 1, 1926) was a Ceylonesen lawyer and independence activist. A leading member of the Sri Lankan independence movement, he was an elected member of the Colombo Municipal Council. He was the principle supporter of the early political career of his younger brother D. S. Senanayake, would go on to lead Sri Lanka's independence movement, becoming the first Prime Minister of independent Sri Lanka in 1947.[1][2]

Early life and education

D.S. Senanayake, with brother-in-law F.H. Dias-Bandaranaike, brothers Don Charles and Don Stephen, sister Maria Frances, father Mudaliyar Don Spater, and mother Dona Catherina Elizabeth Perera. (circa. 1902)

He was born in the village of Botale in the Hapitigam Korale on October 20, 1882 to Don Spater Senanayake (1847–1907) and Dona Catherina Elizabeth Perera Gunasekera Senanayake (1852–1949). Spater Senanayake had made his fortune in graphite mining and at the time he was expanding into plantations and investments in the arrack renting franchise, later he would be awarded the title of Mudaliyar for his philanthropy. F. R. Senanayake had an elder brother, Don Charles "D. C." Senanayake; a younger brother Don Stephen Senanayake and one sister, Maria Frances Senanayake who married F. H. Dias Bandaranaike.[3][4]

Educated at S. Thomas' College, Mutwal,[5] Royal College, Colombo and Downing College, Cambridge, he became a Barrister at the Lincoln’s Inn, London in 1905.[6]

Career

On his return to Ceylon he took oath as an Advocate in the Supreme Court of Ceylon and started a legal practice in the criminal courts. The three Senanayake brothers were involved in the temperance movement formed in 1912. When World War I broke out in 1914 they joined the Colombo Town Guard. The brothers were imprisoned without charges during the 1915 riots and faced the prospect of execution since the British Governor Sir Robert Chalmers considered the temperance movement as seditious. He was released after 46 days he was released on a bail bound.

Although, capable of gaining membership to the Legislative Council of Ceylon, he didn't pressure a seat in the Legislative Council. He stood for and was elected to the Colombo Municipal Council in 1912 and held the seat till his death. He formed the Lanka Mahajana Sabha and assisted in the formation of the Young Men's Buddhist Association. He was a strong supporter for his brother D. S. Senanayake being elected unopposed to the Legislative Council from Negombo in 1924.

Death

He died on January 1, 1926 in Calcutta, India following an appendicitis operation. He was on pilgrimage to Gaya when he became ill. A statues of F. R. Senanayake has been erected in the Viharamahadevi Park facing the Colombo Town Hall.

Family

He married Ellen Attygalle, the youngest daughter of Mudaliyar Don Charles Gemoris Attygalle and they had eight children. His eldest son Richard Gotabhaya Senanayake went on to become a member of parliament and Cabinet minister.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sri Lanka's Independence movement
  2. ↑ "The Don Bartholomews Senanayake Family Tree". Sri Lankan Sinhalese Family Genealogy. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  3. ↑ Don Stephen Senanayake, the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka by H. A. J. Hulugalle
  4. ↑ Nobodies to Somebodies: The Rise of the Colonial Bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka, Kumari Jayawardena, pp. 192-3 & 267 (Zed) ISBN 9781842772287
  5. ↑ F R Senanayake’s death anniversary:Selfless servant of people
  6. ↑ "Senanayake, Frederick Richard (SNNK900FR)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
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