D. S. Senanayake

D. S. Senanayake became the first Prime Minister of independent Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on September 24, 1947, following the country's independence from British rule. He led the United National Party (UNP) and oversaw the transition to self-governance.

Senanayake negotiated the Ceylon Independence Act with the British government, granting Ceylon dominion status within the British Commonwealth. This act established Ceylon as a sovereign nation with a parliamentary system, effective February 4, 1948.

Senanayake launched the Gal Oya Development Scheme, a major irrigation and resettlement project in eastern Ceylon. The project aimed to boost rice production and provide land for landless peasants, becoming a cornerstone of his agricultural policy.

Senanayake introduced the Paddy Lands Act to regulate land tenure and protect tenant farmers in paddy cultivation. The act aimed to reduce landlord exploitation and improve agricultural productivity, though its implementation faced resistance.

D. S. Senanayake died on March 22, 1952, after falling from a horse during a visit to the Gal Oya project. His sudden death left a leadership vacuum in the UNP and marked the end of the first phase of independent Ceylon's political development.