Author – Ananda W.P. Guruge
Publisher – Godage Publishers
ISBN 978-955-30-1531-0
It is a pity, as Dr. Guruge explains, that the writings of Sir Don Baron had not been preserved systematically and most of his early writings are no longer available. But what has been recuperated show the range of his interests, the values he stood for and his leadership style as a Buddhist activist. This volume includes all his early speeches in the legislative Council in which he spelled out what had to be done to prepare the nation to self-rule and eventual independence. The three pillars of national development he indentified were self-sufficiency in food, education for all and universal healthcare. In these very detailed and eloquent speeches, he urged the colonial British administration to give them priority. Of course the colonial power was more interested in what Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) did for them rather than what they did for Sri Lanka. We have to wait for a second volume of his speeches to the State Council from 1931 to 1943, which display Sir Don Baron’s ingenuity in getting his programme implemented through the Agriculture and Land Ministry of Right Honorable D.S. Senanayake, the Education Ministry of Hon. C.W.W. Kannangara and the Health Ministry of Hon. Panabokke and S.W.R.D. Bandaranayake. The massive irrigation projects and village expansion schemes, the free education and central schools and the expansion of national health facilities became operational in the 1930s and early 1940s under his guidance and leadership.
W.J. M. Lokubandara
Former Leader of the House and the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province
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