N.M. Perera

Sri Lankan politician

Nanayakkarapathirage Martin Perera, commonly known as Dr. N. M. Perera (Sinhala එන්.එම්.පෙරේරා [en em pe reaira]; 6 June 1904 – 14 August 1979), was one of the founding leader of the Sri Lankan Trotskyist Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP). He was also the first Trotskyist politician to become a cabinet minister. He served two terms as Minister of Finance and Leader of the Opposition.[1] He also served one term as the Mayor of Colombo.[2]


N. M. Perera
එන්. එම්. පෙරේරා
1st Leader of the Opposition
In office
19 April 1956 – 5 December 1959
Prime MinisterS. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Preceded byS. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Succeeded byC. P. de Silva
In office
14 October 1947 – 8 April 1952
Prime MinisterD. S. Senanayake
Dudley Senanayake
Succeeded byS. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Minister of Finance
In office
10 May 1970 – 2 September 1975
Prime MinisterSirimavo Bandaranaike
Preceded byU. B. Wanninayake
Succeeded byFelix Dias Bandaranaike
In office
11 June 1964 – 17 December 1964
Prime MinisterSirimavo Bandaranaike
Preceded byT. B. Ilangaratne
Succeeded byU. B. Wanninayake
Mayor of Colombo
In office
13 August 1954 – 28 February 1956
Preceded byT. Rudra
Succeeded byV. A. Sugathadasa
Member of the Ceylon Parliament
for Yatiyantota
In office
1960–1977
Preceded byseat created
Succeeded byK. Vincent Perera
Member of the Ceylon Parliament
for Ruwanwella
In office
September 1947 – 1960
Preceded byseat created
Succeeded byH. G. Somabandu
Personal details
Born(1904-06-06)6 June 1904
Sri Lanka
Died14 August 1979(1979-08-14) (aged 75)
NationalitySri Lankan
Political partyLanka Sama Samaja Party
Spouse(s)Selina Perera
Alma materUniversity College, Colombo, London School of Economics
OccupationEconomist

References change

  1. Wijenayake, Walter. "Dr. N. M. Perera: a politician ahead of his times". Island. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  2. "Dr. N. M. Perera: A true visionary". Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2013.