Avishka Mario Seneviratne, in FACEBOOK, where the title runs thus: “Colvin vs. Jayasinghe: The Battle for Wellawatte–Galkissa, 1952 and Beyond”
In the early years of Sri Lanka’s post-independence democracy, few figures stood as tall—both intellectually and politically—as Dr. Colvin R. de Silva. A Marxist firebrand, brilliant lawyer, and founding member of the LSSP, he was famed for his thunderous oratory and razor-sharp debates in Parliament. But in the 1952 general election, following the sudden death of Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake, the winds shifted. Even as an MP, Colvin maintained a flourishing legal career and was widely regarded as one of the country’s top criminal lawyers. His most famous courtroom victory came when he was defending national cricket hero Mahadevan Sathasivam, accused of murdering his wife. Though doing only his job, the case left a bitter taste among many voters in Colvin’s own electorate, who saw the defense as ethically troubling. The middle-class Tamils, especially in Colombo and its suburbs felt uneasy with the case.
One day, when Colvin was campaigning in his constituency, one Tamil lady had asked him “At this rate, none of us will be safe in our beds.” Colvin’s reply was “Madam, that is a matter related to your husband, not to me!”
Running against Colvin was a newcomer—S. de S. Jayasinghe, an enterprising bus magnate and political novice. Many expected an easy victory for Colvin. Yet, Jayasinghe’s campaign was smart, strategic, and resonated with the rising middle class seeking stability over ideology.
The result? A political earthquake.
Jayasinghe: 16,388 votes
Colvin: 11,888 votes
The mighty had fallen.
But Colvin, ever defiant, stood atop a police van that evening and addressed his stunned supporters. His voice, full of fire, echoed through the streets. The Times of Ceylon called it: “Red Chief and Minister Beaten”, a moment immortalized in headlines and memory.
Jayasinghe, elated, told his supporters, “He frightened me at first, but I faced him like David did Goliath.” The line caught fire. Soon, The Times published a now-iconic cartoon by G. S. Fernando: Jayasinghe as David (labelled Democracy), toppling a towering Colvin as Goliath (Marxism).
But this was no biblical ending.
Colvin struck back in 1956, reclaiming his seat in a landslide. Their rivalry would stretch over two decades—a fierce, witty, high-stakes duel of two visions for Sri Lanka.
One, a revolutionary intellectual with a thunderous voice.
The other, a grounded businessman-politician who won hearts with calm resolve. Colvin lost his seat to Jayasinghe in March 1960 and won again defeating Jayasinghe in July 1960. However, Jayasinghe won again in 1965 and 1977 (becoming Minister of Fisheries), but lost 1970. Colvin though losing in 1965, entered parliament again by a by-election in Agalawatte, and was re-elected in 1970, becoming Minister of Plantations and Constitutional Affairs under Mrs. Bandaranaike. He was behind the drafting of the 1972 Constitution of Sri Lanka.
During one of their fierce electoral face-offs for the Wellawatte–Galkissa seat, S. de S. Jayasinghe, brimming with confidence, stood before a crowd and declared, “Nonawaruni! Mahathwaruni! I am winning this election, for my name begins with ‘Jaya’, Jaya for victory!” A few days Colvin, who had heard Jayasinghe’s remark replied in another meeting saying: “Come election day, I shall be the winner, for my name ends with ‘Win’, Col-Win!”
This wasn’t just politics—it was theatre, it was democracy in motion, and it made Wellawatte–Galkissa (later Dehiwala–Mt. Lavinia) one of the most electrifying battlegrounds in Ceylon’s electoral history.
Colvin vs. Jayasinghe: A duel of titans that defined an era.
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A NOTE by The Editor, 2025:
Speaking from memory I beleive Mrs Sathasivam was killed by their servant one William. But Midle-class Tamils seem to have considered Satha to be the culprit because he was a notorious philanderer. It is possible that William’s role came to light in time; and that this was of some value to colvin during the 1956 election –though the groundswell of the Sinhala Only camapign was the mainspring of the victory for the SLFP-Marxist party combination…the MEP.
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I was there at the time. We lived in 192, Alan Avenue, Dehiwela. Uncle Colvin was a close friend of my father. He would come home after a meeting, held oppoite the Dehiwela Police station and get my mother to prepare a cup of tea for him. He had a lovely sence of humour.
TREASURE such memories.
Colvin’s defense team was assisted by an English lawyer?
Yes DR Colvin was a man with wit and common sense. I was the Security Officer to Late Felix Dias Bandaranaike and accompanied him when he attended the Cabinet Meetings. After a cabinet meeting Colvin met Felix and posed a question to him saying “Felix what do you think of my draft of the Constitution?” to which Felix responded and said “Colvin there are several loopholes in that!”. To this Colvin said “FELIX, Both Of us are Practicing Lawyers. If there are no “LOOP Holes” how are both of US going to Practice?” For once Felix was stumped!