M. S. Themis

Manuel Savariyappa Themis (1932 - May 2016) was a Ceylonese politician and trade unionist.[1][2]

Early life and education

Manuel Savariappage Themis was born in Thulhiriya in 1932, the son of an electrician.[3] He grew up in Colombo, where his family had moved for numerous economic reasons. He attended the Dedigamuwa Junior School and then Gauthama Sastralaya, Wellampitiya.

Early trade union career

He was employed as a telegram messenger in the Ceylon Postal Department, where he joined the trade union movement. In 1950, at the age of 18, Themis was elected the Vice President of the All Ceylon Post and Telecommunications Union and the following year was elected as its Secretary.[4]

Political career

At the 3rd parliamentary election held in April 1956 was elected as the third member from Colombo Central, a multi-member constituency, beating Dr. M. C. M. Kaleel of the United National Party by 46 votes into fourth place.[5] On 7 July 1959 he resigned from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and left the government, along with Philip Gunawardena to form Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (People's United Front).[3][6] At the 4th parliamentary election held in March 1960, the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna only obtained ten parliamentary seats, with Themis failing to retain his seat in the March 1960 general election and unsuccessfully contesting the July 1960 general election.[7] In 1965 Mahajana Eksath Peramuna joined with the United National Party to form a government under Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake. At that point Themis left politics and commenced a career in printing and publishing. Themis established his own stationery company, Royal Mailhouse Pvt. Ltd.[4]

In 1993 Themis returned his parliamentary pension, in response to several of his peers requesting the Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Haniffa Mohamed, make gratuity payments to them.[3]

References

1. "Hon. Themis, Manuel Savariyappa, M.P." Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
2. "Members of the Legislatures of Ceylon, 1931-1972". Parliament of Sri Lanka. 1972: 161. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
3. "MP Themis upheld the dignity and decorum of Parliament: First peon to sit in the House". Sunday Observer. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
4. "M. S. Themis remembers". The Island. 18 February 2001. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
5. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1956" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
6. Abeynaike, H. B. W.; Ameratunga, H. P. (1970). "Parliament of Ceylon, 1970". Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited: 23. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
7. "Result of Parliamentary General Election March 1960" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 10 October 2017.