Former President Ranil says J. R. Jayewardene’s 17‑year revolution transformed SL

Former President and United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the 17‑year revolution launched by Sri Lanka’s first Executive President J. R. Jayewardene reshaped the country’s economy, strengthened democracy, and uplifted living standards.

Speaking at a scholarly discussion organized by the D. S. Senanayake Political Chair at the National Library to mark Jayewardene’s 120th birth anniversary, Wickremesinghe recalled how Jayewardene’s vision decentralized property ownership, expanded education, and improved housing and electricity access.

He noted that school enrollment rose from 2.5 million to 4.1 million during Jayewardene’s tenure, while electricity coverage expanded from 10 percent of households to 95 percent. Housing standards also improved, with permanent roofs and cement walls rising from 40 percent to 80 percent of homes. “Isn’t this a revolution?” Wickremesinghe asked, emphasizing that the reforms elevated ordinary citizens’ quality of life.

Wickremesinghe also highlighted Jayewardene’s constitutional reforms, including Article 3 of the 1978 Constitution, which enshrined sovereignty, fundamental rights, and voting power within the people. He said these measures ensured that the President, as head of the Executive, was directly elected by the voters, and that judicial power over fundamental rights was guaranteed through Article 126.

Paying tribute to leaders such as Ranasinghe Premadasa, Gamini Dissanayake, and Lalith Athulathmudali, Wickremesinghe said their efforts in advancing housing, the Mahaweli project, and Mahapola scholarships were part of the broader revolution. 

He added that the UNP’s 80th anniversary activities are now underway and invited members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to join in continuing Jayewardene’s legacy. (Newswire)

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