Born on 20 December 1856 to T Martinus Pieris and Apolonia de Soysa,[4][5] a wealthy and a traditional ship-owning family, who faced comparative poverty 15 years later along with the death of his father.[6][7][8][9] Peiris was educated at Colombo Academy (now Royal College, Colombo) where he excelled in studies winning the Turnour Prize and the Shakespeare prize. He won the English University Scholarship in 1877 and proceeded to St John's College, Cambridge at the University of Cambridge. At Cambridge he had the rare distinction of obtaining a double first – a first class in the Law Tripos and a first class in the Moral Science Tripos.[10] There he was the first non-European to be elected President of the Cambridge Union, in the Michaelmas term of 1882. Peiris was called to Bar at Lincoln's Inn in England thus becoming a barrister. He refused to join the Ceylon Civil Service and instead started a law practice. In 1902 he accepted for a short time the office of District Judge of Galle. As an advocate he played a pioneering role in constitutional reform.[11]
Peiris was elected Vice-President of the Legislative Council of Ceylon in 1924. The President was the Governor of Ceylon.
Political career
In 1892, as President of the Ceylon National Association (founded by Sir Charles Henry de Soysa), Peiris led the campaign to abolish the 'paddy (grain) tax', for which he was recognised by the Cobden Club.[12] It was the first instance that the tax was abolished in the recorded history of the island.[13] Peiris's entry into politics was as a Member of the Colombo Municipal Council from 1898 to 1908 representing the Slave Island ward, and served on the Public Works Council.[14] Though a reluctant politician at first, Peiris initiated constitutionalreforms such as the abolition of the then system of racial representation and the introduction of the elective principle in place of nomination.[12][15][16]
In 1915 Peiris led the campaign for a Royal Commission of Inquiry and the vindication of the reputations of those who had been falsely accused during the riots of 1915.[17] Peiris was the chairman of the committee which was protesting the British Governor's handling of the riots and the unfair and discriminative treatment being meted out to Sinhala Buddhist leaders. As a Christian, although he was offered privileges and pressured by the ruling British, he fearlessly refused them and stuck to his principles.[16] Seeing the horror unleashed by the governor and his advisers, he initiated and drafted a memorandum in great secrecy supported by other prominent members of society to bring it to the attention of the King and His Majesty's Government. It was taken to England hidden in the sole of a shoe by E. W. Perera, later joined by Peiris.[6] As a result of this the governor Sir Robert Chalmers was recalled.[18]
In 1920 Peiris was elected President of the Ceylon National Congress staunchly supported by D.S. Senanayake and F.R. Senanayake.[19][20] Forming the Congress was a self-sacrificing effort by Peiris and the National Association, up until that time the most powerful lobby in Ceylon.[16] He continued the struggle for reforms and promoted greater representation of natives in the government bureaucracy and the judiciary.[15] He also campaigned to abolish the poll tax.[12]
There was wide support for Peiris' nomination to the Legislative Council of Ceylon. On two occasions when nominations had to be made for the position of "an educated Ceylonese" James Peiris was passed over, notwithstanding his ability and integrity. Peiris also was opposed to the principle of nomination.[6][16] Immediately the elective principle was introduced into the Legislative Council, Peiris was elected unopposed.[16] At the same election his brother-in-law Sir Henry De Mel was also elected unopposed, on behalf of the Low Country Products Association.[21] In 1922 Peiris led the fight against the Supply Bill which sought to increase taxation and led a walkout from the Legislative Council in protest.[12][16]
In 1924 the legislative council was reconstituted with a majority of elected representatives. Peiris was elected as Vice-President – a position he held until his death in 1930. The post of President was held nominally by the Governor and Peiris presided over the Council and acted as Officer Administering the Government.[1][16] Peiris accepted in 1925 a knighthood from the King and was a Justice of the Peace for the whole island. He was the first Ceylonese occupant of Queens House as Acting-Governor.[2][3]
Peiris was first to propose the creation of a University College in Colombo and the means of financing it. Following the establishment of the University College, Colombo (later to become the University of Ceylon), Peiris was a Member of the Advisory Council of the new University College.[12]
Peiris is considered as one of the few distinguished Sri Lankan statesmen prior to its independence and is often referred to as the Father of Constitutional Reforms.[11] Those vindicated due to his efforts became the subsequent leaders of the nation. When his portrait was unveiled in Parliament, the then Prime Minister, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike stated: "Like Moses, James Peiris brought his people within sight of the promised land, but did not live to see its fulfilment".[16][30] In his honour one of the major streets in Colombo is named Sir James Peiris Mawatha and so is Sir James Peiris Hall a Hall of Residence at the University of Peradeniya. The Sir James Peiris Memorial Prize is one of the prizes awarded annually at Royal College, Colombo.
^ abcLife of Sir James Peiris, W. T. Keble and Devar Surya Sena, pp. 24, 59 & 62 (University of California)
^ abCeylonese Participation in Tea Cultivation: Coastal Trade & LCPA, by Maxwell Fernando: History of Ceylon Tea Website, Retrieved 5 December 2014
^The pre Plantation Economy 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine De Fonseka.com Retrieved 5 January 2015
^Lanka’s rich maritime heritage By Ravi Ladduwahetty The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) (LANKALIBRARY) Retrieved 5 January 2015
^"Peiris, James (PRS878J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ abEncyclopedia of Sri Lanka, by Charles A. Gunawardena, p.278 (Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.)
^ abcdefgSir James Peiris (Public Life), by L.J.M. Cooray (Ourcivilisation Web), Retrieved on 28 November 2014
^From Coffee to Tea Cultivation in Ceylon, 1880-1900: An Economic and Social History by Roland Wenzlhuemer, p. 151 (Brill Academic Pub) ISBN9789004163614
^ abWright, Arnold (1999). Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon. Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company. p. 563. ISBN978-8120613355.
^SOME PILLARS FOR LANKA’S FUTURE by Michael Roberts, FRONTLINE VOL. 26, No 12, 6–19 June 2009, Retrieved 31 May 2015
^OUR REVERED BENEFACTORS - SIR JAMES AND LADY PEIRIS (cheshirelanka.org) Retrieved 23 December 2014
^ abcTales of a lifetime: A perfect gentle knight, The Island (Sri Lanka), Retrieved 23 December 2014
May 04, 2023
james, peiris, december, 1856, 1930, prominent, leader, lankan, independence, movement, first, elected, vice, president, legislative, council, ceylon, first, native, governor, ceylon, acting, jpvice, president, legislative, council, ceylonin, office, 1924, 193. Sir James Peiris JP 20 December 1856 5 May 1930 was a prominent leader in the Sri Lankan independence movement the first elected Vice President of the Legislative Council of Ceylon and the first native Governor of Ceylon Acting 1 2 3 Hon Sir James PeirisJPVice President of the Legislative Council of CeylonIn office 1924 5 May 1930PresidentWilliam Henry ManningCecil ClementiEdward Bruce AlexanderHugh CliffordMurchison FletcherHerbert StanleyPreceded byPosition establishedSucceeded byD B JayatilakaPersonal detailsBorn 1856 12 20 20 December 1856Died5 May 1930 1930 05 05 aged 73 NationalityCeyloneseAlma materSt John s College Cambridge Royal College ColomboOccupationPoliticianProfessionBarrister Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Political career 3 Family and personal life 4 Legacy 5 See also 6 Sources amp External links 7 ReferencesEarly life and education Edit The young James Peiris was educated at the Royal College Colombo Born on 20 December 1856 to T Martinus Pieris and Apolonia de Soysa 4 5 a wealthy and a traditional ship owning family who faced comparative poverty 15 years later along with the death of his father 6 7 8 9 Peiris was educated at Colombo Academy now Royal College Colombo where he excelled in studies winning the Turnour Prize and the Shakespeare prize He won the English University Scholarship in 1877 and proceeded to St John s College Cambridge at the University of Cambridge At Cambridge he had the rare distinction of obtaining a double first a first class in the Law Tripos and a first class in the Moral Science Tripos 10 There he was the first non European to be elected President of the Cambridge Union in the Michaelmas term of 1882 Peiris was called to Bar at Lincoln s Inn in England thus becoming a barrister He refused to join the Ceylon Civil Service and instead started a law practice In 1902 he accepted for a short time the office of District Judge of Galle As an advocate he played a pioneering role in constitutional reform 11 Peiris was elected Vice President of the Legislative Council of Ceylon in 1924 The President was the Governor of Ceylon Political career EditIn 1892 as President of the Ceylon National Association founded by Sir Charles Henry de Soysa Peiris led the campaign to abolish the paddy grain tax for which he was recognised by the Cobden Club 12 It was the first instance that the tax was abolished in the recorded history of the island 13 Peiris s entry into politics was as a Member of the Colombo Municipal Council from 1898 to 1908 representing the Slave Island ward and served on the Public Works Council 14 Though a reluctant politician at first Peiris initiated constitutional reforms such as the abolition of the then system of racial representation and the introduction of the elective principle in place of nomination 12 15 16 In 1915 Peiris led the campaign for a Royal Commission of Inquiry and the vindication of the reputations of those who had been falsely accused during the riots of 1915 17 Peiris was the chairman of the committee which was protesting the British Governor s handling of the riots and the unfair and discriminative treatment being meted out to Sinhala Buddhist leaders As a Christian although he was offered privileges and pressured by the ruling British he fearlessly refused them and stuck to his principles 16 Seeing the horror unleashed by the governor and his advisers he initiated and drafted a memorandum in great secrecy supported by other prominent members of society to bring it to the attention of the King and His Majesty s Government It was taken to England hidden in the sole of a shoe by E W Perera later joined by Peiris 6 As a result of this the governor Sir Robert Chalmers was recalled 18 In 1920 Peiris was elected President of the Ceylon National Congress staunchly supported by D S Senanayake and F R Senanayake 19 20 Forming the Congress was a self sacrificing effort by Peiris and the National Association up until that time the most powerful lobby in Ceylon 16 He continued the struggle for reforms and promoted greater representation of natives in the government bureaucracy and the judiciary 15 He also campaigned to abolish the poll tax 12 There was wide support for Peiris nomination to the Legislative Council of Ceylon On two occasions when nominations had to be made for the position of an educated Ceylonese James Peiris was passed over notwithstanding his ability and integrity Peiris also was opposed to the principle of nomination 6 16 Immediately the elective principle was introduced into the Legislative Council Peiris was elected unopposed 16 At the same election his brother in law Sir Henry De Mel was also elected unopposed on behalf of the Low Country Products Association 21 In 1922 Peiris led the fight against the Supply Bill which sought to increase taxation and led a walkout from the Legislative Council in protest 12 16 In 1924 the legislative council was reconstituted with a majority of elected representatives Peiris was elected as Vice President a position he held until his death in 1930 The post of President was held nominally by the Governor and Peiris presided over the Council and acted as Officer Administering the Government 1 16 Peiris accepted in 1925 a knighthood from the King and was a Justice of the Peace for the whole island He was the first Ceylonese occupant of Queens House as Acting Governor 2 3 Peiris was first to propose the creation of a University College in Colombo and the means of financing it Following the establishment of the University College Colombo later to become the University of Ceylon Peiris was a Member of the Advisory Council of the new University College 12 Family and personal life EditIn 1889 Peiris married Grace de Mel daughter of Jacob De Mel 1839 1919 and Dona Helena nee Ferdinando 1850 1906 14 22 and had two sons and two daughters Ethel Louise Leonard and Devar Suriya Sena 23 24 25 26 27 His nephews were artists Harold Peiris Harry Peiris and Bishop Lakdasa De Mel He was a devoted Christian and a standing committee member of the Church of England synod He was a Fellow of the Colonial Institute a President of the Sinhalese Sports Club founding Secretary of the Royal College Union member of the Orient Club 28 founder of the Low Country Products Association the Ceylon Social Service League the Ceylon Social Reform Association and the Cheshire Home 7 12 29 30 He was also known for his ability and interest in horsemanship and farming 12 30 Legacy EditPeiris is considered as one of the few distinguished Sri Lankan statesmen prior to its independence and is often referred to as the Father of Constitutional Reforms 11 Those vindicated due to his efforts became the subsequent leaders of the nation When his portrait was unveiled in Parliament the then Prime Minister S W R D Bandaranaike stated Like Moses James Peiris brought his people within sight of the promised land but did not live to see its fulfilment 16 30 In his honour one of the major streets in Colombo is named Sir James Peiris Mawatha and so is Sir James Peiris Hall a Hall of Residence at the University of Peradeniya The Sir James Peiris Memorial Prize is one of the prizes awarded annually at Royal College Colombo See also EditList of Cambridge Union Society presidents Sri Lankan independence movement Sri Lankan independence activist Legislative Council of Ceylon National Heroes of Sri Lanka George E de SilvaSources amp External links EditTHE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF SIR JAMES PEIRIS by L J M COORAY Sir James Peiris 1856 1930 Scholar Orator Lawyer and Statesman Life and times of Sir James Peiris The Orient ClubReferences Edit a b PEACE AT LAST IN PARADISE Ananda Guruge p 213 AuthorHouse Publishing ISBN 9781463418373 a b Chapter 5 SRI LANKA THE UNTOLD STORY K T Rajasingham Asia Times Retrieved 7 November 2015 a b Seventy five years of Rotary Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine The Sunday Leader Retrieved 8 January 2016 Yasodara in black Archived 4 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ceylon Today Retrieved 23 December 2014 Keyt s classics at Gothami Vihara Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine Sunday Observer Sri Lanka Retrieved 23 December 2014 a b c Life of Sir James Peiris W T Keble and Devar Surya Sena pp 24 59 amp 62 University of California a b Ceylonese Participation in Tea Cultivation Coastal Trade amp LCPA by Maxwell Fernando History of Ceylon Tea Website Retrieved 5 December 2014 The pre Plantation Economy Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine De Fonseka com Retrieved 5 January 2015 Lanka s rich maritime heritage By Ravi Ladduwahetty The Daily Mirror Sri Lanka LANKALIBRARY Retrieved 5 January 2015 Peiris James PRS878J A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge a b Encyclopedia of Sri Lanka by Charles A Gunawardena p 278 Sterling Publishers Pvt Ltd a b c d e f g Sir James Peiris Public Life by L J M Cooray Ourcivilisation Web Retrieved on 28 November 2014 From Coffee to Tea Cultivation in Ceylon 1880 1900 An Economic and Social History by Roland Wenzlhuemer p 151 Brill Academic Pub ISBN 9789004163614 a b Wright Arnold 1999 Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon Lloyd s Greater Britain Publishing Company p 563 ISBN 978 8120613355 a b Working towards reform The Sunday Times Sri Lanka Retrieved 23 April 2015 a b c d e f g h Sir James Peiris Sri Lanka s champion of the elective principle The Island Sri Lanka Retrieved 23 December 2015 The architects of independence in Sri Lanka Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine By Shimazie Adjumain The Ceylon Independent Retrieved 01 March 2015 Sri Lanka s Independence movement The Sunday Times Retrieved 01 March 2015 The Ceylon National Congress and its intrigues By K T Rajasingham Asia Times Online Retrieved 23 April 2015 Chapter 18 Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle by T Sabaratnam Ilankai Tamil Sangam Retrieved 01 March 2015 Allister MacMillan ed 1928 Seaports of India and Ceylon Asian Educational Services pp 439 40 ISBN 978 8120619951 Edith M G Fernando 1989 Journey of a family The Mahavidanelage De Mels Colombo R F S De Mel p 16 Who s Who of Sri Lanka The lives and times of forty eight personalities Gamini Akmeemana Daily Mirror Retrieved 8 January 2016 Of Sri Lanka I sing The Sunday Leader Retrieved 23 December 2014 Of Danno Budunge Hymn for Sri Lanka amp Opera Nayomini Weerasooriya Weerasooriya Web Retrieved 23 February 2016 Devar Surya Sena Archived 21 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine De Fonseka Web Retrieved 23 February 2016 A milestone for Gemunu By Lenard R Mahaarachchi The Sunday Times Sri Lanka Retrieved 23 December 2014 SOME PILLARS FOR LANKA S FUTURE by Michael Roberts FRONTLINE VOL 26 No 12 6 19 June 2009 Retrieved 31 May 2015 OUR REVERED BENEFACTORS SIR JAMES AND LADY PEIRIS cheshirelanka org Retrieved 23 December 2014 a b c Tales of a lifetime A perfect gentle knight The Island Sri Lanka Retrieved 23 December 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Peiris amp oldid 1144762620, 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