Preceded by Gamini Jayasuriya Name Wilfred Senanayake Party Lanka Sama Samaja Party Nationality Sri Lanka Role Member of Parliament Residence Homagama, Sri Lanka | Spouse(s) Yasawathi Dolaweera Died May 26, 2008 Succeeded by Gamini Jayasuriya Occupation Politics | |
Political party Lanka Sama Samaja Party Alma mater Nalanda College Colombo | ||
Education Nalanda College, Colombo | ||
Wilfred Senanayake (10 November 1918 - 26 May 2008) was a former MP, who represented the electorate of Homagama.
He was educated at Nalanda College Colombo. Unbeknownst to his parents, he joined the Army.
He joined the Lanka Sama Samaja Party and was the first Leftist chairman of the Village Council in his area.
When LSSP members who were imprisoned by the British were released in 1945, Wilfred Senanayake took the initiative to organise rallies throughout the country.
He led the Hartal in the Kelani Valley in 1953.
He was elected to Parliament from Homagama in 1970. The late Wilfred Senanayake was a representative of the poor and ordinary people. He protested that the extent of lands that could be owned by one person should be limited to 25 acres (100,000 m2) while there was a suggestion that it be limited to 250 acres (1.0 km2) under the 1972 Land Reform. Later the extent was limited to 50 acres (200,000 m2).
In 1982, together with politicians Anil Moonesinghe, Cholomondely Goonewardena and G. E. H. Perera he formed the Sri Lanka Sama Samaja Party (SLSSP).
He offered his lands to the poor people when their lands were acquired for road development projects.
In appreciation of his yeoman service to the people of Homagama, the Wilfred Senanayake Ground was established there.