Colvin R. de Silva
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The Honourable Dr Colvin R. de Silva MP |
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|---|---|
| Minister of Plantation Industries | |
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In office 31 May 1970 – 2 September 1975 |
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| Prime Minister | Sirimavo Bandaranaike |
| Succeeded by | Ratnasiri Wickremanayake |
| Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament for Agalawatte |
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In office 1967–1977 |
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| Preceded by | Anil Moonesinghe |
| Succeeded by | Merill Kariyawasam |
| Member of Parliament for Wellawatte-Galkissa |
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In office 1956–1960 |
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| Preceded by | S. de Silva Jayasinghe |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
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In office 1947–1952 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | S. de Silva Jayasinghe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1907 |
| Died | 1989 Colombo |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Political party | Lanka Sama Samaja Party |
| Alma mater |
King's College London, University of Ceylon, Royal College Colombo, St. John's College Panadura |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Buddhist |
Colvin Reginald de Silva (1907–1989) (known as Colvin R. de Silva) was a former Cabinet Minister of Plantation Industries and Constitutional Affairs, prominent member of parliament, Trotskyist leader and lawyer in Sri Lanka. He was one of the founders of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party – the first Marxist party in Sri Lanka.
Colvin R. de Silva was born in Balapitiya. His father Dr O.A. de Silva, was a registered medical practitioner attached to the Department of Health. His elder brother was Walwin de Silva, a civil servant.
He received his education at St. John's College Panadura and at the Royal College, Colombo and. He then went on to study at the University College, Ceylon. He gained his PhD from King's College London for his thesis: Ceylon Under the British Occupation, later published as a book. Dr De Silva died on 27 February 1989. A Sri Lankan news source credits him with coining the famous response to the slogan The Sun never sets on the British Empire: "That's because God does not trust the British in the dark."
During the Second World War he fled to India, after escaping from Bogambara Prison, where he had been imprisoned for anti-war activities. In India he became part of the leading nucleus of the Bolshevik-Leninist Party of India, Ceylon and Burma (BLPI). After the war he returned to Ceylon and became the main leader of the Bolshevik Samasamaja Party. In 1947 he was one of five BSP candidates who were elected to parliament. His constituency was Wellawatte-Mount Lavinia. After the reunification of LSSP and BSP, de Silva became an important leader of LSSP.
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