Felix Dias Bandaranaike

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For other people named Felix Bandaranaike, see Felix Bandaranaike (disambiguation).

Hon.
Felix Dias Bandaranaike
Minister of Finance
In office
3 September 1975 – 18 May 1977
Prime MinisterSirimavo Bandaranaike
Preceded byN. M. Perera
Succeeded byRonnie de Mel
In office
21 July 1960 – 24 August 1962
Prime MinisterSirimavo Bandaranaike
Preceded byJ. R. Jayewardene
Succeeded byC. P. de Silva
Member of Parliament
for Dompe
In office
1960–1977
Preceded byConstituency Established
Succeeded bySarathchandra Rajakaruna
Personal details
Born5 November 1930
née Jayasundera)
ChildrenChristine
Alma materRoyal College, Colombo, University of Ceylon
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer

Felix R. Dias Bandaranaike (

1971 JVP Insurrection.[1][2][3][4][5]

Early life and education

Born on 5 November 1930 to

Colombo Law College, carrying away most of the prestigious prizes. Taking oaths as an Advocate
, Felix Dias started his practice as in civil law.

Political career

First Bandaranaike administration

Following the assassination of

Grama Sevaka.[9]

Second Bandaranaike administration

He retained his seat in the

Sirima Bandaranaike, he supported her in having the government extended by two more years using its majority in parliament, then the six years it was elected for ended in 1975. In 1977, SLFP faced a major defeat in the 1977 general election in which he lost his seat to Sarathchandra Rajakaruna of the United National Party
.

Loss of civic rights

Felix filed several cases to prevent the abuse of power by the Government led by President

Junius Richard Jayawardena. On 10 February 1978 the UNP government passed the Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Law No. 7 of 1978[10] to inquire into matters relating to alleged corruption during the 1970 – 1977 period. Felix successfully challenged the power of the Special Presidential Commission appointed to inquire against him.[11] Immediately thereafter the Parliament passed the Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry (Amendment) Act No. 4 of 1978[12]
to enable the Commission to re-inquire into the allegations.

Thereafter, Two Supreme Court Judges and One Court of Appeal Judge was appointed to inquire into the allegations including those against Felix. Appearing in person and arguing on the basis that one Judge, K. C. E. de Alwis was unfit to hear cases due to his financial involvement with a person being investigated A. H. M. Fowzie. The Supreme Court held (2:1 majority with Neville Samarakoon CJ dissenting) that de Alwis was a person unfit to hold the office of a Commissioner.[13] In this landmark case, it was held by Samarakoon CJ. that "Right‑minded people would not be unjustified if they look askance at other decisions of the 1st respondent. It might undermine that faith in the Commission itself which is necessary to command respect for its recommendations. This must be avoided, whatever the cost" reiterating emphatically the need to maintain judicial integrity and impartiality at all costs.[14] He was deprived of his civic rights. Later he was diagnosed with cancer and left active politics. He died on 26 June 1985.

Family

Mrs.Lakshmie Dias Bandaranaike
(wife of Felix Dias Bandaranaike)

Felix Dias Bandaranaike married Elizabeth Muthulakshmi Jayasundera (known as Lakshmie Dias Bandaranaike) in 1953. She is a graduate of the University of Ceylon and Ceylon Law College and later became a member of the Inner Temple. They had a daughter named Christine. The family lived in the historic Maha Nuge Gardens in Colombo and he had his country seat at Weke Walawwa in Kirindawela.[15]

See also

Reading

  • Sri Lanka: Third World Democracy (Studies in Commonwealth Politics and History, No 6) by James Jupp[16]

References

  1. ^ "18th death anniversary of Felix R. Dias Bandaranaike". Rootsweb. 26 June 2003.
  2. ^ "Help build a united Sri Lanka – Felix tells Tamils". Daily News. 5 November 2005. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2008.
  3. ^ "Democracy and co-existence in a pluralistic society". Daily News. 5 November 2001. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Felix Dias undertook series of measures to modernise public service performance – Dr. Amunugama". Daily News. 28 June 2005. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Delayed Revolt". Time. 3 March 1961. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
  6. ^ "1960 election results" (PDF). Department of Elections.
  7. ^ "1960 election results" (PDF). Department of Elections.
  8. ^ Jayawickrama, Nihal. "Felix R Dias Bandaranaike: On His 86th Birth Anniversary". Colombo Telegraph. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  9. ^ Bradman Weerakoon (2006). Rendering Unto Caesar: A Fascinating Story of One Man's Tenure Under Nine Prime Ministers and Presidents of Sri Lanka. Vijitha Yapa Publications.
  10. ^ "Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Law". lawnet.lk. Retrieved 12 November 2012.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ CA/WRIT/01/1978
  12. ^ "Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Law". lawnet.lk. Retrieved 12 November 2012.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Bandaranaike v. de Alwis". lawnet.lk. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  14. ^ ibid at p. 675.
  15. ^ "The National Security Council and police intelligence". Island. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Publisher: Routledge, Date : 1 edition (20 July 1978), Language: English ,
    ISBN 978-0-7146-3093-9
    "

External links
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