C.P. de silva: The prince among Sri Lanka's politicians
C. P. de Silva, the Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Irrigation, Power and Mahaweli Development and Leader of the House in all governments from 1956 to 1970, died at a young age of 60 on October 9, 1972.
There was a period, where politicians and government servants were highly respected for their efficiency and empathy with the people. C.P. de Silva was a prince amongst them all.
His dedication, efficiency and ability as a public servant and later as a politician, were attributed largely to his brilliance as a student and academic. He won the coveted Gregory Scholarship and Miller Award at S. Thomas’ College for his outstanding performance in Mathematics and Science. He was also appointed the Head Prefect of S. Thomas’ in his time. CP graduated with a BSc Special Degree in Mathematics ( 1st class) from the University College and entered Ceylon Civil Service as a 23-year-old in 1935.
Since his demise 47 years ago, several politicians, journalists and retired public servants lauded CP’s long period of service in an inhospitable environment in Rajarata. His insight into the sad plight of the Rajarata peasantry, the deep knowledge he had of the NCP landscape, the courage and resilience with which he fought off the scourge of malaria and his resolve to work without basic amenities living in a circuit bungalow, were often highlighted with gratitude. It was rare for a brilliant young man from a middle class background to dedicate his young life for the hapless farmers living in the thick jungles of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
Eight years after he took to politics, CP collapsed after drinking a poisoned glass of milk meant for SWRD Bandaranaike in the Cabinet on August 25, 1959. CP was only 47 years old at that time. The Prime Minister, 60 years at the time, was shot exactly one month later on September 25 and died the next day. When Bandaranaike died, his trusted deputy CP, was in England fighting for his life. Upon recovery, his voice was slurred and the family was advised that ill effects of the poisoning would take its toll in about 10 years. Like Bandaranaike, CP was also, only 60 years old, when he passed away in 1972.
After being dealt with the twin blows, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party was in disarray. The SLFP faced political manoeuvrings by Sir Oliver Goonatillake. The SLFP Cabinet did not trust the new PM Wijeyananda Dahanayake. Dahanayake was named by Bandaranaike to act for him while attending the UN General Assembly end September, since CP was in a UK hospital at the time.
Several moves were made within the SLFP to have a new leader. The public reason given was that he was not charismatic. The less publicised reason was that despite all the credentials, CP did not belong to the Govigama caste. He was from the Salagama caste. So desperate were some SLFP leaders, that they even approached Sir John Kotelawala and Dudley Senanayke, who politely declined the offer. Therefore, sections of the SLFP had reasons to seek a substitute for CP. However, CP established his leadership as there was no possible replacements at that time. Finally, in December 1959, proposed by A.P. Jayasuriya and Maithripala Senanayake, C.P. de Silva was elected the leader of the SLFP uncontested. CP de Silva thus became the second leader of the SLFP.
The new Prime Minister Dhanayake was under siege. He had no option but to dissolve parliament and call for an election in March 1960. CP’s main task was to keep the SLFP together and lead the campaign to recapture power. Mrs Bandaranaike kept a low profile during the campaign. The SLFP obtained 46 seats and the UNP obtained only a four- seat majority. Sir Oliver refused to appoint CP as the Prime Minister, despite the SLFP successfully electing T.B. Subasinghe (MP for Katugampola ) as Speaker and defeating the UNP at the next vote in parliament -- the Throne speech. The entire opposition appealed to the Governor General to appoint C. P. de Silva as the Prime Minister as officially informed to Sir Oliver and as shown by the results at the first two votes in Parliament. Instead, Sir Oliver dissolved parliament and called for another election in July 1960.
Circumstances leading to the Bandranaike assassination and rumours circulating of an intra party conspiracy saw demoralisation set in. At this point, pragmatic CP realised the urgent necessity to revitalise the party for the July 1960 elections and inspire voters to vote for the SLFP. So CP and other SLFP stalwarts persuaded Sirimavo Bandaranaike to accept the leadership of the party. Unlike present day leaders, CP showed rare qualities in inviting Mrs Bandaranaike to lead the SLFP. He agreed to lead the government in parliament as Mrs Bandaranaike opted not to contest a seat.
Due to his inspirational career as an exemplary public servant and subsequently a principled politician without any allegations or blemish what so ever, C.P. de Silva is considered a Prince amongst politicians today. In this context, it is pertinent to recall how from 1952 to 1956 and as a senior Minister thereafter upto 1970, he travelled to his electorate by train. The GA and other officials used to meet him at the Hingurakgoda railway station and take him on circuit to the most inaccessible areas deep inside the jungle. No government official took the risk of travelling without a one inch map of the area, without a knowledge of the issues affecting the people and without a note book in hand, since the Minister had a personal knowledge of the terrain and an insight into hardships of farmers.
As a young 23 year old civil servant, his cadetship was in Jaffna. CP functioned as AGA in Puttalam, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa for 10 years. In 1946, he became the Assistant Land Commissioner and in 1949 Director of Land Development. CP soon became the undisputed hero of the people of Rajarata and was widely acknowledged as the Minneriya Deviyo – an unambiguous honour bestowed on a human being.
In fact, after prematurely resigning from Government Service, he was persuaded into poltics. One year into politics, he easily won the Polonnaruwa seat f or t he SLFP in 1952. Polonnaruwa included the current Minneriya and Medirigiya seats. He retained for the SLFP the entire Polonnaruwa District from 1952 to 1965 despite it being the heartland of Senanayake’s and the UNP. After leaving the SLFP in 1964, he formed his own party – Sri Lanka Freedom Socialist Party (SLFSP) registered hurriedly and helped Dudley Senanayake to form a UNP government in 1965.
C. P. de Silva had a broad perspective of developing the country without limiting it to the confines of his native area. Outside the North Central Province he served, CP started the massive Udawalawe development project in 1969, the sugar plantations in Kantale, Sevanagala, Galoya and Pelawatta with adequate water resovoirs for all.
There is no other in Sri Lanka with educational distinction, who served the people as a public servant in the fields of agriculture, lands and irrigation for 17 years and as a politician in the same field for 18 years. He was truly the Minnerya Deviyo and a Prince amongst all politicians.
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