Let us build on foundation laid by Dr. N. M. Perera for Sri Lanka to become a developed economy

Dr. N. M. Perera's 46th Death Anniversary falls on 14 August 2025. After a brilliant academic career, which enabled him to obtain a PhD and DSc at the London School of Economics of the University of London, he returned to Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, in 1933. It was then a colony of Britain and the people were exploited and suffering from extreme poverty. Only the English speaking elite and the local capitalist class benefited from the British rule. The situation was made worse by the widespread malaria epidemic. NM immediately joined the “ Suriyamal Movement” and went to one of the worst affected areas, the Kegalle District. He went from village to village providing Quinine tablets and food for the starving people using the money collected by the sale of Suriya Mal, instead of the Poppy flowers sold by British rulers for their own people. The people whose heart NM won fondly referred to him as Parippu Mahathaya (Dhal Gentleman). That confidence never died. It was strengthened when NM, along with Philip and Colvin, formed the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) in 1935 and began the fight for complete freedom from British rule, and to develop the economy to overcome the poverty and suffering of the people. He laid the foundation for this. We of the LSSP, too, must win the confidence and trust of the people if we are to become a developed just society on the foundation laid by NM.

- PRoF. TisSA VITARANA (LEADER, LANKA SAMA SAMAJA PARTY)

NM and Philip used the Constituent Assembly, and the Parliament formed after 1948, to become the real voice of the people. The United National Party (UNP) did a few irrigation and agricultural schemes, which benefited some supporters, but not the vast mass of people. In contrast NM fought to bring down the price of essentials. As Finance Minister he gave weight to develop the Cooperatives so that essentials were available at prices affordable to the poor. NM had earlier led the Hartal of 1953 to oppose the UNP Government when it placed the burden of the economic crisis on the poor by raising the price of a measure of rice from 24 cents to 72 cents without putting any burden on the rich. He helped the schoolchildren by providing adequate low priced transport through the Ceylon Transport Board (CTB). This also helped the workers and other employees. As Finance Minister, NM stopped price hikes by middlemen through establishing direct linkages between producer and consumer cooperatives through the Marketing Department. He promoted the development of value adding industries, locally, instead of the low priced export of natural and agricultural raw materials. By setting up the Gem Corporation he ensured that the country got the full value from the gem industry. NM was for making Sri Lanka a selfsupporting industrial country with minimal foreign exploitation. Though the society was capitalist NM stood for employee ownership of institutions. It was the LSSP that fought for free health and free education (from Prison, NM produced a book on "the Case for Free Education""). N