The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) was formed on 18 December 1935. Its four leaders were Dr. N.M. Perera, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, Philip Gunewardena and Leslie Goonewardene, who also became the General Secretary. It was the 1933 Wellawatte Mills strike that brought them together. The LSSP was the first properly constituted political Party in the country. It was also the first genuine Leftist Party and its political philosophy was based on Marxism-Leninism. It took the name “Sama Samaja”, which means “Equal Society”, as at that time, the people in Sri Lanka were unfamiliar with the term’s socialism and communism. It was quickly accepted by the people and despite the use of State power and thuggery against the LSSP by the local capitalist class, backed by the British rulers, the Party rapidly gained popularity among the people. In the General Election of March 1936, Dr. Perera was elected to represent the Ruwanwella electorate and Gunawardena the Avissawella electorate. Unfortunately, Dr. S.A. Wickramasinghe was unable to retain Akuressa, which he had won in the 1931 Election, and Goonewardene failed to win Panadura due to the use of caste and money unfairly against him. Goonewardene, throughout his political career, refrained from descending to such a low level of politics. But, the LSSP’s stand helped in the process of uniting and the politicisation of the people which was necessary to generate the confidence of the people in their ability to win complete Independence through the democratic process.

Throughout its history, a major role in the success of the LSSP was its provision of support to the struggles of the working class to win their rights. Dr. Perera formed the Ceylon Federation of Labour and as its President, he organised the trade union movement to focus on winning their genuine demands as a class. He negotiated with the employers and won many demands across the table, and resorted to strike action as a last resort. He won the respect of both employees and employers as a leader who did not misuse the trade unions for personal vendettas. He used the Parliament in a responsible manner to fight on behalf of the workers, while also informing the public who suffered as a result of the strikes, that the demands were just, and winning their support as well. The LSSP unions have maintained these values and continue to serve the working class.

The LSSP was aware of the problem of poverty leading to hunger as a major factor that affected the life of a majority of our people. A survey done at the Medical Research Institute about two years ago showed that 63 per cent of families had an income below the poverty line. They could not have three adequate meals per day. Some had two meals and others only one that met their nutritional needs. The children and mothers were particularly vulnerable. The malnutrition level in that study was 14.3%. But the situation appears to be worse now. The Suriyamal Movement led Dr. Perera to one of the worse affected areas, Kegalle. The focus was on malaria eradication, but they had to also address the problems of poverty and hunger. Rice, dhal and coconut sambol was provided, as a result Dr. Perera came to be known as the Parippu Mahaththaya. The LSSP is reviving the Suriyamal Movement which has become an urgent need after climate change. Any help will be welcome.

We celebrated Independence Day, while India celebrated the Republic Day. It is the latter that gave India sovereignty, without which their independence was empty. They won it within three years of them regaining Independence, with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar drafting the Republican Constitution. The LSSP kept on pressing for it but the comprador capitalist class led by the UNP kept delaying as they were happy with the dominion status. The LSSP joined the SLFP and the Communist Party to form the Coalition Government led by Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike in 1970 and Dr. Colvin R. de Silva was made the Constitutional Affairs Minister. He finally drafted the Republican Constitution in 1972. Sri Lanka took 24 years to do this and we can hold our heads up as we are now politically a truly independent sovereign Nation. We remain however, a poor under-developed country with widespread unemployment and underemployment, especially among the youth. Those in poverty are rising while few of the rich are becoming super rich. The gap between these two keeps on widening and it may eventually disintegrate. It is sad to see that Sri Lanka is far away from the welfare State the LSSP led Dr. Perera targeted. As the Finance Minister, he kept the cost of living down, balanced the Budget and did not tax the poor (there was no indirect tax, Value Added Tax, etc.). He had a high direct tax on those who could afford to pay this. Unlike now, the priority was given to use the limited forex to buy essential medicines not luxury vehicles.

As the Science and Technology Minister, I started the Vidatha Movement to provide the technology and finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) island-wide, one centre headed by a science graduate in each division. I am told that more than 50,000 entrepreneurs have emerged marketing their products sustainably. More than 1,000 are exporting their products. I appeal to the National People’s Power Government to continue to support them. We must develop into an industrial Nation if we are to emerge from poverty. The LSSP and I will give all our support. 

The writer is the Leader and General Secretary of the LSSP

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The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication