A. Ekanayake Gunasinha
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2016) |
Burma and Indonesia | |
---|---|
In office 1954–1956 | |
Personal details | |
Born | |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Trade union leader |
Sri Lanka's "Father of the Labour Movement" | |
Alexander Ekanayake Gunasinha (1 May 1891 – 1 August 1967) was a Sri Lankan trade unionist and politician. A pioneering trade union leader, known as the "Father of the Labour Movement", he was the founder of the
Early life
A. E. Gunasinha was born 1 May 1891 in Kandy as the son of a tea estate superintendent, George Ekanayake Gunasinha. He first attended Dharmaraja College and completed his education at St. Joseph's College, Colombo and Wesley College, Colombo. Upon completion of his studies, he sought employment as a clerk in the Ceylon railway department, but later turned his attention to journalism.
He was prominent in forming the "Young Lanka League" on 2 March 1915 along with barrister C. H. Z. Fernando, Edwin Wijeyeratne, A. P. Thambayah and Valantine Perera, later joined by Victor Corea, a lawyer from Chilaw in the fight against colonialism.[1] He also formed the Gandhi Association – inspired by the Indian independence movement – and the Lanka Workers' Association.
The
His association with
Advocate of the poor
Gunasinha did his best to help the poor by guiding them on how to improve their qualities of life. In his desire to educate the uneducated, he started education programs launching night schools for Ceylon's shanty dwellers. He set in motion social service programs which were of immense benefit to the poor.
The colonial government which ruled Ceylon at the time levied a tax of Rs. 2.00 per year starting in the 1890s. Those who did not pay had to work on the roads for one day in lieu of the tax. Gunasinha campaigned against the tax and convinced his members of the "Young Lanka League" not to pay the tax and instead work on the road. Gunasinha himself joined the movement, breaking rocks by hand between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM with a recess time of half-an-hour for lunch. The revolt against the tax grew and it was repealed in 1923 on a motion by
Trade union leader
The campaign against the tax brought Gunasinha into contact with Ceylonese workers. He found that the workers were poorly paid, with wages averaging between 30 cts. to Rs. 1.00 for a day's work, sometimes as long as twelve hours. He was determined to get the working class better and more equitable wages. As a result, members of the working class looked to Gunasinha as the leader they had longed for.
Organizing trade unions
Gunasinha organised Sri Lanka's first trade union, the "Ceylon Labour Union" in 1922. Initial membership was approximately 25. Gunasinha was the secretary; longtime partner Victor Corea was made President. Some months after the formation of the union, Gunasinha assumed duties as president. That trade union is known today as the Ceylon Mercantile Union (aka "Ceylon Mercantile Industrial and General Workers' Union") and was led by Bala Tampoe till his death in 2014. Tampoe was one of the seniormost trade unionists in the country, having been part of the movement since 1948.
In 1928, Gunasinha was instrumental in forming the "All Ceylon Labour Union Congress", and later in 1935 the "Ceylon Trade Union Congress" was formed by the amalgamation of several Unions including the Ceylon Mercantile of which he was the President for 20 years. Reaching the workers, educating them about their rights and privileges, holding propaganda meetings he swelled the membership of the CLU.
Government Railway strike (1923)
Mr. Gunasinha led a series of successful strikes, and the first General Strike occurred in February 1923, when the
Harbour Workers' strike (1927)
Though the battle was lost, the workers remained defiant and working class unity was strengthened. Gunasinha next led a strike of the
Tramcar Workers' strike (1929)
He next launched the strike by
Galle Face Hotel and Lake House strikes
He also led strikes at the Times and the
During Colonial period in which Ceylon was ruled by the British Empire, Gunasinha was brave and courageous to meet any eventuality to fight for the rights of the workers, and due to his daring qualities, he was known among Workers as the "Maha Kalu Sinhaya".
Labour Day
Labour Day or May Day was first held in Ceylon, in 1927 under the leadership of Mr.Gunasinha. The May Day Rally held in 1933 under his leadership had new features introduced. Men wore a white sarong and a red striped banian. Women workers were dressed in red coloured cloth and jacket. There were drummers and dancers. Mr.Gunasinha walked under a red banner, where there was no political slogans displayed or shouted-out. Working class songs being sung, was a conspicuous part of the rally. The demonstrations started from Price Park and the rally was held ultimately at the Galle Face Green.
The first May Day Rally under Marxist leadership in Ceylon was held in 1935. May Day was declared public holiday by the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna Government led by Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, in 1956.
Political career
Ceylon Labour Party
Gunasinha's political career marked the formation of the
Gunasinha accompanied by C. H. Z. Fernando represented Ceylon at the British Empire Labour Conference held in London in 1928.[2] The Labour Party campaigned for the unrestricted granting of Universal Adult Suffrage from the Donoughmore Commission. He along with C. H. Z. Fernando were also responsible for the abolishing of the Poll Tax in 1925.[1][2]
State council
He was elected to the State Council of Ceylon in 1931, on the Labour Party ticket as member for Colombo Central Electoral District and was re-elected in 1936 and served till 1942 and was succeeded by M. C. M. Kaleel.
Mayor of Colombo
He was elected to the Colombo Municipal Council and served as Mayor of Colombo from January 1940 to December 1940.[3]
Minister
In the
Ambassador to Burma and Indonesia
In 1954, he was appointed Ceylon's Ambassador to
Death and legacy
A. E. Gunasinha; prominent freedom fighter, social worker, advocate of the poor, politician and trade union leader is remembered today as the father of the country's Trade Union Movement. This national hero died on 1 August 1967, and was carried through the streets of Colombo by workers, to the cemetery, where he was laid to rest in peace.
Gunasinha's devoted disciple and follower, the President Ranasinghe Premadasa, converted Price Park and the environment in Pettah, as "Gunasinhapura" as a tribute to this leader of the workers. Price Park was where Gunasinha and held the trade union and political meetings led by him, and where large crowds gathered to listen to the eloquent speeches of Gunasinha and other contemporary leaders. This area is now renamed as "Gunasinha Park".
As a mark of honour; his statue has been erected at the entrance to Gunasinha, depicting him with a hammer in hand breaking rock stones for Civil Disobedience in not paying Poll Tax. This statue is garlanded every May Day.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Traversed new paths making History, Ananda E. Goonesinha (The Island) Retrieved 2 November 2015
- ^ a b CEYLON'S BATTLE, The Straits Times (13 November 1929) Retrieved 2 November 2015
- ^ First Labour Leader: SundayTimes
- ^ Parliament of Sri Lanka: Chief Government Whips Archived 24 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Ambassadors of Sri Lanka to the Union of Myanmar". Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- Jayasekera, Upali S. (1 May 2003). "Remembering A. E. Gunasinha Father of the Labour Movement". Daily News. Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2010.