Susantha de Fonseka

Infobox MP
honorific-prefix =
name = Sir Susantha de Fonseka
honorific-suffix =
KBE


caption =
order =Deputy Speaker of the State Council of Ceylon
order1 =First Ceylon's Ambassador to Japan
order2 =First Ceylon's High Commissioner to Burma
constituency_MP =
parliament =
majority =
term_start =
term_end =
predecessor =
successor =
birth_date = 1900
birth_place = Panadura
death_date = 1963
death_place = Colombo
nationality = Sri Lankan
party =
otherparty =
spouse =
partner =
relations = Arthur de Silva
children =
residence =
alma_mater = Downing College, Cambridge,
Royal College, Colombo
occupation = Politician, Diplomat
profession = Lawyer
net worth =
religion = Buddhist
rank = Sub-Lieutenant
branch = Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force
unit =
allegiance = Ceylon
serviceyears = (1937-1939)
awards = KBE


website =
footnotes =
Sir Kalutaravedage Deepal Susantha de Fonseka, KBE (1900 - 1963) was a Sri Lankan statesmen and diplomat. He was the Deputy Speaker of the State Council of Ceylon [http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=518 The Winter of Discontent (from 1961 to 1964)] ] and following Ceylon's independence from Britain her first High Commissioner to Burma and first Ambassador to Japan.

Early life and education

He was born to Dr C. P. De Fonseka and Muthutantrige Leonora Fernando Sri Chandrasekara a daughter of Muthuthanthrige Simon Fernando Sri Chandrasekera. Susantha de Fonseka was raised by his uncle W Arthur de Silva who was a Minister of Health and a member of the Legislative Council.

Fonseka was educated at the prestigious Colombo Academy (now Royal College Colombo) and went on to study at Downing College, Cambridge, there he gained his MA. After leaving Cambridge entered the Inns of Court and qualified as a barrister. Apron his return to Ceylon he became the principal of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura after which he went on to become the editor of the "Morning Leader".

Political career

Following his journalism career he entered the State Council as member for Panadura for the first time in 1931 and again after the 1936 general election. During the second State Council, when Sir Vaitilingam Duraiswamy was elected speaker, the Fonseka contested the post of Deputy Speaker and won against Major E. A. Nugawela, who later became a Minister in the first Cabinet of D. S. Senanayake. During this time he became a commissioned officer in the Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force, but had his commission withdrawn, for daring to say that the British were under-pricing our rubber. He lost his seat in the 1947 general election to a candidate from the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, marking the end of his political career.

Diplomatic career

In 1949 Susantha de Fonseka was appointed as Ceylon's first High Commissioner to Burma. There he was very popular figure in Rangoon, often making speech's in Burmese language. Ambassador de Fonseka built up such close contacts with the Burmese leadership that he was associated with Prime Minister U Na when Karen guerillas surrendered. There after D. S. Senanayake sent him on an important diplomatic assignment to Peking in 1952. It was this assignment, which laid the foundation for the rubber-rice pact between Ceylon and China.

Fonseka later became, Ceylon's first Ambassador in Japan. While there, he together with the Professor G P Malalasekera, organized a conference of the World Fellowship' of Buddhist. He propagated Theravada Buddhism and built a dagoba in Japan.

Susantha de Fonseka was made a Knight Commander of the The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire on the 12 April, 1954.

Legacy

Sir Susantha de Fonseka is remembered as one Sri Lanak's pioneering diplomats that is early days. In his memory the "Sir Susantha De Fonseka memorial Prize for Arts" is awarded annually at Royal College Colombo.

See also

* Sri Lankan Non Career Diplomats

External links & References

* [http://www.defonseka.com/personal_pages/pp_susanthadef01.htm DPL who won all hearts, Jinadasa Fernando Gunasekera - Ceylon Daily News, 24th March, 1988.]
* [http://www.defonseka.com/pe0015.htm Arise, Sir Susantha]