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in today's issue of The Island, a daily newspaper in Sri Lanka: http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=8084 By Charles Wesley Ervin Women played a significant role in the progressive movements that emerged in colonial Ceylon in the early twentieth century. Susan de Silva was one of those pioneers who defied the conservative status quo, raised her voice against injustice, and worked for the betterment of society. She was active in the nationalist movement in the ‘twenties, spearheaded the Youth Leagues, participated in the Suriya Mal protests of the early ‘thirties, and was a founding member of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), the country’s first socialist party. Yet, for all her involvements over many years, she faded into obscurity. She never wrote memoirs, nor has she attracted the attention of historians. Curious, I sought to find out more about this intriguing shadowy figure. A Liberated Woman Everyone who knew Susan remembers her as a very Westernized woman. She wore her hair short, used cosmetics, wore slacks, and was very outspoken. One of her comrades in the LSSP later recalled in his memoirs that Susan "had the marks of a liberated woman, wearing short hair and smoking." 1 Indeed, she was more "Westernized" than many English women in Ceylon in that era. Full: http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=8084 ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: [email protected] Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
