1905 Aug 06   :  Birth
1909              :  Entered the St. Josephs School at Grandpass.
1911              :  Entered St. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia.
1922              :  Entered Ananda College, Colombo.
1925              :  Appointed Captain of Ananda' Cricket Team
                     :  Acted in the principal character of the first film
                        ever produced in Sri Lanka "Rajakeeya Wikramaya "
                     :  Entered the Ceylon University College.
1927  Aug      :  Entered the London School of Economics.
1929              :  Obtained the B.Sc. (Honours) Degree in Economics
                        from the University of London.
1933              :  Obtained the Ph. D. (London)
                        Published a work on "A Comparative Study of
                        Parliamentary Procedure."
                        Submitted his work for the D.Sc. (London)          
1933 Sep       :  Returned to Sri Lanka.
                        Joined the All- Ceylon Youth League and the Suriya
                        Mal Movement.
1935 Dec 18   :  The Origin of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party.
1936 Feb  22  :  At the second general election to the State Council,
                        he defeated Adeline Molamure Kumarihamy by
                        2,975 votes and was elected member for the
                     :  Ruwanwella Constituency.
1936 Aug       :  Proposed a motion in the State Council calling
                        for the distribution of free mid-day meals to school children.
                        This was adopted by the Council.
1937 Jan        :  Participated in the All – India National Congress
                        Sessions as Sri Lanka's representative.           
1937 May 10   :  Setting up of the Ratmalana Railway Workers' Union.
                        Submitted a motion in the State Council, calling for                         
                        an end to the importation of Indian labour into Sri Lanka.
 1936 Mar 06  :  Married Selina Peiris             
                     :  Appointed Treasurer of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party.
                     :  Proposed and successfully steered through the State
                        Council a motion condemning the British Governor for
                        his handling of the "Bracegirdle Affair."
1939 Aug10    :  Setting up of  All – Ceylon Estate Workers' Union.
                        Elected President of this Union. Facing up to the
                        organised thuggery of the capitalist class at public                         
                        rallies held by the Lanka Sama Samaja Party at                         
                        Homagama, Bulathkohupitiya, Loluwagoda, Mirigama,
                        Nattandiya, Madampe etc.
1940 Jan        :  Organization of the massive working class struggle                         
                        at Mooloya.
1940 Jun 17    : Banning of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party and the
                        arrest and incarceration of N.M. and other leaders.                        
                        For 18 hours out of 24 he was confined to a prison cell.
1941 Jul         :  Participation from prison in a political discussion
                        with Indian leaders like Kamalesh Bannerjee,
                        Sankarnath Sastri, Indra Sen Gupta etc. held in Kandy.
1942 Apr 05   :  Escape from Bogambara jail.
1942 Jul         :  Escape to India.
1942 Aug       :  Participated in the "Quit India " struggle. Worked
                        under the name of Dr. Visvanath as Secretary of                        
                        the Bombay Discount Bank.
1943 Jul 15     :  Re-arrest at Ahmedabad in India.
1943 Dec        :  Brought back to Sri Lanka from India under tight security.
1943 Dec 28   :  Arraigned before the Kandy magistrate on the                        
                        charge of escaping from Bogambara Jail, and                         
                        sentenced to six months' rigorous imprisonment and                         
                        a fine of Rs. 100/-
1944 Feb.       :  Publication of his book "The Case for Free
                        Education", written while in jail.
                     :  Award of the D.Sc. (London) while in prison.
1945 Jun. 18   :  Led the Hunger – Strike in jail, of the detainees
                        against harsh prison conditions. Disobeyed prison orders.
1945 Jun 24   :  Release from jail after five years.
                     :  Became President of Ceylon Fedration of Labour
                        Organised the All – Ceylon Harbour & Dock Workers' Union.
1946              :  Organisation of the massive government workers' strike.
1946 Oct 23    :  Re-arrest while functioning as advisor to the
                        government workers' trade unions. Rejection of the                         
                        request made by the Governor that he should come                         
                        for discussions to Queen's House under police guard.

• Participation in discussions with the Governor in his capacity as advisor to the government workers' unions after his release.      
• Among the demands won for government workers through this struggle. and the ensuing discussions was a wage increase, free railway warrants, houses or rent allowances, limitation of the working – week to 45 hours.
• Enabled the conversion of regular daily – paid workers to a monthly – paid status.

1947 June      :  Organisation of another massive working class strike.
                        Led a massive strikers' demonstration to                         
                        hold ameeting. N.M. and few others were injured,.                         
                        Kandasamy shot dead.
1947 Sep 20   :  At the general election held under the Soulbury –
                        Constitution, was elected to the House of                         
                        Representatives as Member for Ruwanwella.
                     :  Appointed first Leader of the Opposition.
1948 Jul 17     :  Elected member of the Colombo Municipal                                 
                        Council for the Borella Ward.                 
1948 Sep 13   :  As President of the Wellawatte Spinning and
                        Weaving Mills' Workers' Union, successfully won a
                        number of workers' demands, including: the 08                 
                        hour-day, increase in the basic wageby 20 per cent,
                        increase in the number of days of Casual                         
                        leave by 10,right to submit "Ayurveda" Medical
                        Certificates for Sick Leave, increase in the cost of living
                        allowances etc. Negotiated collective                         
                        agreement with the employers.
                     :  Represented Sri Lanka at the Inter-Parliamentary
                        Conference held in Stockholm.
1949 Dec 20   :  Re-elected as a member of the Colombo Municipal
                        Council for the Borella Ward.
1952 May 30   :  Re-elected to the House of Representative as                         
                        Member for Ruanwella
1953 Aug 12   :  Led the Mass Hartal
1954 Aug 24   :  Led the Sri Lanka Delegation to the
                        Inter- parliamentary Conference held in Vienna.
1954 Jul 24    :  Re- elected as a member of the Colombo Municipal
                        Council for the Borella Ward.
                     :  Elected Mayor of Colombo.
1955 Sep 24   :  Signing of a Parliamentary No-Contest Pact with the                         
                        leader of the S L F P , Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.
                     :  This pact was one of the main causes of the mass                        
                        victory of 1956.
1956 Feb 28   :  Removal from the post of Colombo's Mayor.
1956 Apr 05   :  Re-elected to the House of Representatives as
                        member for Ruanwella.
                     :  Appointed Leader of the Opposition for the
                        second time.
1957 Feb 03   :  Chosen as the "Personality of the Year – 1956" by                         
                        the votes of 39,892 news paper-readers.          
1959 Feb 12    : On account of opposition to the New Amendments                         
                        to the Public Security act, was removed bodily from                        
                        the Chamber of the House of Representatives.
1959 Mar 03   :  Organised the first political strike in Sri Lanka,                         
                        which declared opposition to the Public Security Act.
                     :  Conducted a relentless battle as Leader of                         
                        Opposition demanding proper official action and full                        
                        investigation of the assassination of
                        S.W.R.D.Bandaranaiake.
                     :  Visited Yugoslavia.
1959 Nov 21   :  Led the strike organized by the Government                         
                        Workers' Trade Union Federation, and won a                         
                        general Rs. 17.50 cost of living allowance for all                         
                        sectors of the working-class.
 1960 Mar 19   :  Elected to the House of Representatives as Member
                        for Yatiyantota.
1960 Ma. 19    :  Signing of a Parliamentary No-Contest Pact with the S.L.F.P.
1960 Jul. 20    :  Re-elected to the House of Representatives as
                        Member for Yatiyantota.
1961              :  Visited Cuba.
1962              :  Led the struggle against the Budget Proposals of the
                        Government to cut the Rice Subsidy
1963              :  Founding of the United Left Front.
1964 Jun 11   :   Sworn in as Finance Minister in the S.L.F.P. – L.S.S.P.
                        Coalition Government
1964 Jul 30    :    Presentation of first Budget as Finance Minister.
                         Among the budgetary proposals were :- a five day
                         working week, Poya days to be public Holidays.
                         Publication of School Text book by Government;
                         reduction of the price of Bus season-tickets for
                         school children under 12 years by half; imposition of
                         Customs duty on gems; imposition of a tax on
                         commercial newspapers Advertisements;
                         increase of the increments of government employees from
                         Rs. 12/- to Rs. 30/-; reduction of teachers' contributions to the
                         Pension Fund to 03  per cent; control of Agency Houses;
                         establishment of a State, Gem Corporation; establishment of Rural Banks.
                     :   Proceeded to Britan for the Finance Ministers'
                         conference.
1965              :  Won the Yatiyantota Seat once again at theParliamentary Election.
1968              :  Joined in founding "Janadina" and "Janasathiya".
1969 Sep 01   :  Exposed in Parliament illegal foreign exchange
                        transactions in which some Directors of Lake
                        House were involved.
1970              :  Re-elected as Member for Yatiyantota at the
                        Parliamentary  Election
1970 May 29   :  Re-appointed Minister of Finance.
                     :  Demonetisations of Rs. 50/- and Rs. 100/- notes.
                     :  Establishment of the National Savings Bank
                     :  Establishment of the State Distilleries Corporation.
                        Proposed and succeeded in obtaining parliamentary
                        sanction for the Business  Under takings Act.
                     :  Establishment of the State Trading Corporation.
                     :  Setting up of network of branches of the People's Bank
                        and the Bank of Ceylon throughout the island.
                     :  Increase in the guaranteed price of a bushel of rice
                        from 14/- to Rs.33/-
                     :  A guaranteed price scheme for local crops like
                        Kurakkan, Maize, Sorgham, Gingerlly, Red onions
                        Chilies etc.
                     :  Loans of easy terms to farmers.
                     :  Registration of Sterling Companies locally;
                     :  Tax on "Sri" vehicles.
                     :  De-centralisation of the Budget.
                     :  Curbing of foreign exchange frauds
                        Joining up of executive grades with the clerical grades,
                        equaling the salaries of skilled workers with clerical
                        grades Increase in the allowances of government
                        corporations and private sector employees.
1975 Sep        :  Removed from the office of Finance Minister
1976 Mar 17   :   Completed 40 years in Parliament.
1977 Jul         :   Defeated at Yatiyantota in the Parliamentary Election.
1978              :   Participation as an advisor at the UNCTAD
                         Conference.
                     :  Elected President of the Board of control for Cricket i
1979 Jun        :  Published 'Critical Analysis of the New Constitution
                        of the Sri Lanka Government
                     :  Re- elected President of the Board of control for
                        Cricket in Sri Lanka.
1979 Aug 14   :  Died.