Maurice de Mel

Colonel Maurice Ann Gerard de Mel is a Ceylonese army officer. He served as Chief of Staff of the Ceylon Army and Commandant of the Ceylon Volunteer Force. He was one of the principals accused of the 1962 Ceylonese coup d'état attempt.

Colonel

Maurice de Mel
AllegianceBritish Ceylon
Ceylon
Service/branchCeylon Defence Force,
Ceylon Army
Years of service1940-1949,
1949-1962
RankColonel
Service numberO/50006
UnitCeylon Garrison Artillery,
Ceylon Artillery
Commands heldCeylon Volunteer Force,
1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
Battles/warsWorld War 2

Early life

Born to a wealthy Roman Catholic family, he was educated at Saint Joseph's College, Colombo, where he excelled in athletics and cricket. He had five brothers, which included Royce de Mel, later a Rear Admiral and Captain of the Royal Ceylon Navy and Reverend Joseph de Mel, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Colombo and Rector of the National Seminary, Ampitiya.[1][2]

Military career

Following the out break of World War 2, de Mel joined the Ceylon Defense Force and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Ceylon Garrison Artillery. With the formation of the Ceylon Army in 1949, he was transferred to it with a regular commission as a Major in the 1st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Ceylon Artillery. In 1953, when a third artillery regiment as the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment was formed, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. De Mel was appointed the commanding officer, 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment as the 1st regiment was renamed. He was promoted to colonel, and appointed Chief of Staff of the army on 10 February 1955 and served till 13 November 1959. He was thereafter appointed Commandant of the Ceylon Volunteer Force.[3]

Attempted military coupe
Main article: 1962 Ceylonese coup d'état attempt

On 29 January 1962, Colonel de Mel was arrested for plotting to topple the government of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and remanded, pending trial, in a special section of the Welikada Prison called the Magazine Section. In 1964, the trail at bar, found Royce De Mel along with eleven of the 24 accused guilty and sentenced then to ten years in jail and confiscation of property. However, on appeal to the Privy Council, it ruled on December 1965 holding Special Act of 1962 ultra vires of the Ceylon constitution and said that the Act had denied fair trial. According to the Privy Council the law had been specially enacted to convict the men, under trial they did not have the protections that they would have had under general criminal law. It acquitted all eleven.[4]

Family

De Mel married Daisybelle Rodrigo, eldest daughter of Sir Philip Rodrigo and Lady Rodrigo. They had three children Srimali, Manilal and Ranjith.[5]

References
  1. "Fr. Joe: All that is not given is lost". Times. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  2. "Joe-Pete '48 game a heart stopper…by Supun Perera". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  3. History of the Sri Lanka Artillery
  4. "Joe-Pete '48 game a heart stopper". Daily News. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  5. Puvimanasinghe, Shyami Fernando. "She made everyone feel special". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
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