E. J. Samarawickrame (1876 – 1940): the “Conscience of the nation”

E. J. Samarawickrame, one of the important pioneers of the Reform Movement was born a hundred years ago – on November 20 1876. ‘To the younger generation of today, with but a few exceptions among those who read the law reports, his name means very little.

When I first came to know “E. J. S.” over fifty years ago, he was one of the bright lights of Hulftsdorp, the leading chamber lawyer consulted by the great advocates of the time like B. W. Bawa, H. J. C. Periera and A.St. V. Jayawardene, learned, subtle and quick to grasp the real issues of any litigation.

He helped me “pro bona publico” when I was once charged with contempt of court. I admired him not for his forensic skill but as a patriot and one of the great formative influences in Ceylon’s struggle for freedom. He had a brilliant mind, great gentleness and absolute integrity. He was a practising and respected Catholic which made him all the more effective as a nationalist. He was as it were the Keeper of the Nation’s Conscience and a peacemaker at all times.

The great service which the Press rendered to the Reform Movement was largely inspired by his activities behind the scenes. Leading newspapermen like D. R. Wijewardene, Armand de Souza and S. J. K. Crowther, went to him regularly for advice and counsel. In the early 1920s Samerawickrame was much involved, in spite of a busy practice at the Bar, in such organisations as the Ceylon National Association, the Reform League and the Ceylon National Congress. He drafted their memoranda, resolutions and memorials to the British Governors in Colombo and the Secretaries of State in London. Despite an illness which impaired his power of speech, he gave himself fully to the national cause.

There is no public memorial to “E. J. S.” As Editor of the “Ceylon Daily News” for seventeen years, I owed him a debt which I cannot repay. I often received letters as the following:

28 February 1940. Please allow me to lend a hand to the Ministers of the State Council, by giving room in tomorrow’s issue of your paper to the letter sent herewith. 6th March 1940. Your editorial is a splendid selection and arrangement of the salient points. I drafted a letter to be sent to the Press, but as the debate will probably be over before it can appear, I am sending it to you to use it otherwise. It may be used as part of a Councillor’s speech or be shown to a few of them or used in any other way that may occur to you.

Not all successful men are public-spirited. Samarawickrame had a high sense of duty. Despite physical handicaps he exerted himself to the last, to serve his fellow-men. He did not seek power, wealth or office. He was humble.

First published in Nov. 1976