Claude Corea was a Sri Lankan politician and diplomat.
Background
Claude Corea was born on January 29, 1894 to a well known Ceylonese political family hailing from the Western seaboard town of Chilaw. His father was Alfred Winzer Corea who was an officer in government police and his mother was Sarah Elizabeth Herat. In the late 19th Century the Corea brothers, wealthy landed proprietors, set up the Chilaw Association, as a political action group.
Education
Claude Corea was educated at Wesley College, Colombo.
Career
Claude Corea started his political career in wartime Ceylon, entering the State Council in 1931. He acted as a Minister of Home Affairs in 1933, becoming Minister of Labour, Industry and Commerce in 1936, coincidentally with his marriage to Lilie Karmani Chitty. He continued as Minister of Labour, Industry and Commerce until 1946.
Corea took up the post of Ceylonese Representative in the United Kingdom in 1946, two years prior to independence. It is as a diplomat par excellence that he is remembered. His contribution as a diplomat has given him legendary status among the cognoscenti. He was a chairman of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, a chairman of 5th Commission of United Nations in 1958, and a chairman of Security Council in 1960.
Achievements
Connections
On January 19, 1933 Claude Corea married Karmini Chitty. They have three children: Nihal, Harindra, Chandra.