Wilfred Senanayake

Who is Wilfred Senanayake?

Wilfred Senanayake former MP representing 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 while there was a suggestion that it be limited to 250 acres under the 1972 Land Reform. Later the extent was limited to 50 acres.

In 1982, together with politicians Anil Moonesinghe, Cholomondely Goonewardena and G. E. H. Perera he formed the Sri Lanka Sama Samaja Party.

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.