Don Stephen Senanayake

Don Stephen Senanayake , 1884-1952, prime minister (1947-52) of Ceylon (later Sri Lanka). He entered politics in 1922 and became a prominent leader before independence from Great Britain (1948), serving as minister of agriculture and lands (1931-47) and as leader of the council of state (1942-47). He was succeeded as prime minister by his son Dudley Senanayake, 1911-73, who had followed his father as minister of agriculture and lands (1947-52). Dudley Senanayake served three times as a right-of-center prime minister (1952-53, 1960, 1965-70) and led the opposition United National party in 1960-65.

Senanayake, Don Stephen (1884–1952) Sinhalese statesman, Prime Minister of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka; 1947–52). In 1919 he cofounded the Ceylon National Congress, and during the 1920s and 1930s held ministerial positions on Ceylon's legislative and state councils. He became Prime Minister in 1947, and the following year presided over Ceylon's achievement of full dominion status within the Commonwealth.

Senanayake, Don Stephen (b. 20 Oct. 1884, d. 22 Mar. 1952). Prime Minister of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1947–52 A devout Buddhist, he worked on his father's rubber plantation before entering politics. He was elected to the Ceylon Legislative Council in 1922 and became Vice-President of the State Council in 1936. In 1931 he was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Land, an office he held until 1947, during which time he encouraged the development of cooperative farms and of hydroelectric schemes. As leader of the United National Party he negotiated full independence from Britain in 1947, and the new Constitution for Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), of which he became Prime Minister. He was firmly committed to a multi-ethnic Ceylon, though he was unable to allay the fears of the Tamil minority against discrimination by the Sinhalese. He was killed in a riding accident and was succeeded by his son Dudley Shelton Senanayake, who was Prime Minister 1952–4 and again 1965–70.