S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike government and language reforms (1956-1959)

1. Mahajana Eksath Peramuna wins 1956 election

   Apr 5, 1956Labels: Mahajana Eksath, S W

   • Election 1956
   • Elections Dept

2. Bandaranaike forms government as prime minister

   Apr 12, 1956Labels: S W, Cabinet of

   • Cabinet
   • Bandaranaike

3. Federal Party satyagraha attacked at Galle Face

   Jun 5, 1956Labels: Federal Party, Galle Face

   • 1956 pogrom
   • Sinhala Act

4. Official Language Act makes Sinhala sole official language

   Jul 7, 1956Labels: Official Language, Sinhala language

   • Sri Lanka Law
   • Sinhala Act

5. Bandaranaike–Chelvanayakam Pact signed

   Jul 26, 1957Labels: Bandaranaike Chelvanayakam, S J

   • B C Pact
   • Chelvanayakam

6. Government suspends capital punishment

   May 1, 1958Labels: Bandaranaike government, Capital punishment

   • Assassination
   • Bandaranaike

7. Bandaranaike abandons B-C Pact under pressure

   May 1, 1958Labels: Bandaranaike, Buddhist monks

   • B C Pact

8. Islandwide anti-Tamil riots erupt

   May 22, 1958Labels: Anti-Tamil riots, Tamil community

   • 1958 pogrom
   • Sinhala Act

9. State of emergency declared amid 1958 riots

   May 27, 1958Labels: State of, Governor-General

   • 1958 pogrom

10. Tamil Language (Special Provisions) Act passed

    Aug 1, 1958Labels: Tamil Language, Parliament of

    • Britannica
    • Sinhala Act

11. Bandaranaike shot at his Colombo residence

    Sep 25, 1959Labels: Assassination attempt, Talduwe Somarama

    • Assassination
    • Bandaranaike

12. Bandaranaike dies; Dahanayake becomes caretaker premier

    Sep 26, 1959Labels: S W, Wijeyananda Dahanayake

    • Bandaranaike
    • Cabinet