What was Ceylon in 1948 became the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka towards 1972 and that explains the difference between Dominion and Republic; Lanka had the British monarch as its Head of State and it became a Republic with a self-governing Constitution in 1972.
To have the white lords driven away home was a mistaken prophesy back then. The whites of course bade adieu, but their spirits stayed on - at least in the country’s politics. What D.S. Senanayake had enjoyed as the first premier under a dominion was not what Sirimavo Bandaranaike had in her third official term.
“Social upheavals have at least one advantage,” writes ER Sarachchandra for an anthology of Sinhalese literature, “they provide rich material for literature.” Professor Sarachchandra was precise in his analysis since post-independence politics is plump with upheavals offering a host of rich material for literature.
Things geared up towards the opening of 1978 when the Office of President rose into the most significant institution with more executive powers vested. The executive nature of the power was much beyond what the pre-1978 Prime Minister had been enjoying and exercising. Before the 1978 power shift, the Prime Minister was the highest political authority.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Dudley Senanayake enjoyed three terms in office. Politics was a windfall for widow Bandaranaike, but she marked her position in history as the world’s first woman Prime Minister and the first ruler of the Sri Lankan Republic. With the J.R. Jayewardene chapter stirring up Sri Lankan history with the open economy policy and a full-powered executive presidency, the premiership was confined to a ceremonial rank. Exceptions were, nevertheless, unforeseen till 2002 when the President and the Prime Minister of the majority camp were from two different parties. The Constitution had to be reworked and rethought.
Mrs B was not the only one to come to power following her husband’s death. Dudley Senanayake became premier after his father’s death. The same pattern was observed in later politics. Wijayananda Dahanayaka succeeded upon the assassination of SWRD Bandaranaike. D.B. Wijethunga succeeded Ranasinghe Premadasa.
Mirigama representative Don Stephen Senanayake knew his onions thanks to his experience in the pre-Independence State Council. Senanayake had balanced diplomatic relations with Britain. He refused the knighthood but maintained good links with Britain. Dudley Senanayake is well respected for his frank politics and stress on the nationalist economy. The landmark of Sir John Kotelawala - famously nicknamed as Bandung Donkey for his political faux pas in Indonesia - is his introduction of the country to the United Nations.
Despite his Oxford credentials, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike is ironically famous for nationalistic movements. His tenure is well remembered along the political corridors for his drastic changes and for being the first high-up political victim of daylight murder. His successor Wijayananda Dahanayaka was not too lucky to remain in office for long.
Charismatic authority is a concept of leadership developed by the German sociologist Max Weber. It involves a type of organization or a type of leadership in which authority derives from the charisma of the leader. This stands in contrast to two other types of authority: legal authority and traditional authority. Sri Lanka’s executive presidency is 44 years old. Yet only seven holders have occupied that covetous position. Each of them held charisma in their own right. They deserve individual episodes in the chronicle of the Sri Lankan Executive Presidency.
Junius Richard Jayewardene moved to a presidency with executive powers before long. Ranasinghe Premadasa can be deemed the very first one from a modest family to reach premiership, which was naturally followed by the executive presidency. As in Dahanayaka’s becoming acting Prime Minister D.B. Wijetunga became acting President following the death of President Premadasa. He is well known for his simple attitudes as both Premier and President.
Ranil Wickremesinghe is the youngest Cabinet Minister who held the premier post twice - first following Wijetunga’s ascension into the presidency and second going along election triumph. The second tenure was short-lived as President Chandrika Kumaratunga dissolved Parliament.
Chandrika Kumaratunga’s victory was inevitable as she brought hope as the daughter of two Prime Ministers. Just like JR Jayewardene, she did not want to be happy with the premiership and aimed at being the world’s fourth woman President, which was no hurdle in the least.
Mahinda Rajapaksa won a hard battle for premiership over a few other opponents. He was the unanimous choice of the party first for the opposition leadership, second for the Premiership and later for the Presidency. President Maithripala Sirisena, who ran against his party leader, won the presidency and later appointed his opponent as PM in an interesting turn of events.
Family links are a pivotal factor in South Asian politics. Governor-General Lord Soulbury had chosen Dudley Senanayake as his father’s successor over his cousin Sir John Kotalawela, who - quite a paradox - succeeded him as the third premier. Sirimavo Bandaranaike who entered the scene following her husband’s death later set the stage for their daughter.
Four-time Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe first entered the Cabinet as the nephew of President J.R. Jayewardene. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa entered the fray as the first non-career politician primarily because of his family roots. Gotabaya Rajapaksa entered the election with a proven track record of administrative efficiency which he proved under his brother’s presidency. Over half of the country accepted President Rajapaksa because of this proven administrative excellence in addition to his family links.
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